James Bannon (Fine Gael)

I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív, to the House for a debate on the directive and guidelines issued to Údarás na Gaeltachta on the sale of properties by its elected board. It is important that we are given an update on the conditions for tendering and the criteria used in the evaluation of tenders. We need to examine whether tenders have been properly advertised to the public and whether valuations were sought on those properties. These are issues of great concern to the public in light of the sale to the third highest bidder of some properties in the west. It is important that we have a serious debate and bring about transparency in this area.

It is also important that the Minister for Defence, Deputy Smith, explains to the House how prepared we are for a terrorist attack, a major emergency or catastrophe. There is much public concern that we are ill-prepared for such an attack. It is the Government's duty and responsibility to show what measures are in place in the event of a catastrophe.