Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)

Members are no wiser today than they were three weeks ago during the debate on the Private Members' motion tabled by my party, at which time the Minister stated they should know within a short time. I pressed the Minister at the time and was led to believe Members would know within weeks. The Minister has confirmed his proposals have gone to Deputy Howlin's Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Has that Department reverted to the Minister with questions or queries regarding the submissions? Will the Cabinet make a decision on these proposals prior to the summer recess? When the Minister finally lets Members into his thinking on the amalgamations and regarding the bodies under critical review, does he intend to publish his cost benefit analyses to enable everyone to see the rationale in this regard? I have spoken at length, both during the debate on the Private Members' motion and at other times, on Fianna Fáil's thinking in respect of the merger of these cultural institutions. Fianna Fáil believes that if the Government proceeds with what has been reported, it would constitute an attack on the autonomy of those cultural institutions and would be extremely short-sighted. The Minister should clarify this point to Members.

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