It is proposed to take Nos. 17 and 4.
Order of Business.
In view of the fact that two more statutory monopolies, Telecom Éireann and BGE, have announced that it is their intention to increase their prices as a result of Government decisions, will the Taoiseach direct these bodies not to proceed with these price increases until the promised Competition Bill, which will regulate these monopolies, is introduced in the House by the Minister for Industry and Commerce?
Is legislation promised in this area?
It is.
Yesterday and the day before, Deputy Bruton raised the matter of competition legislation. I have dealt comprehensively with the situation in regard to it.
May I ask the Taoiseach if he would agree to direct these two statutory monopolies not to proceed with these increases until that legislation, for which he is responsible, is introduced in this House?
Deputy Bruton——
It is not reasonable that customers should be asked to bear increases of this kind because of the actions of statutory monopolies in the absence of promised Government legislation.
Deputy Bruton, you will have to learn to obey the Chair.
(Interruptions.)
I must insist that Deputy Bruton obeys the Chair. This is not good enough. This gross disorder on the Order of Business is something I cannot tolerate.
This is not gross disorder.
The Deputy is engaging in a rehash of yesterday's Order of Business. If the Deputy feels strongly that these matters should be raised there are ways and means of doing so.
The Deputy is a hypocrite.
I am glad to see some of those silent have found their voice at last.
(Interruptions.)
I deem that the manner in which the Deputy is going about it day after day is not in order.
Day after day prices are increased by monopolies which are not regulated because of the Government's failure to introduce legislation.
There are ways and means of raising such matters.
This is the way to raise it. Yesterday when I sought to raise the matter with the Taoiseach I was in order and the Taoiseach sought to personally insult me.
This is not the way to do it.
I was just asking a question and was perfectly in order, but the Taoiseach did not know the answer and all he could resort to was a personal insult.
Deputy Bruton——
I am entirely in order.
I deem this to be a gross abuse of the procedures of this House appertaining to the Order of Business and it must stop.
I have respect for you——
If you wish to raise this matter in another place or in another way, do so.
I defer to you, Sir, and not the Government, who are failing in their responsibilities.
Deputy Spring.
I would like to point out that most of the charges that Deputy Bruton made yesterday were to the effect that the Minister for Finance and myself stated at the time of the budget that the VAT increases would be absorbed by the companies, but that is totally untrue. Let me suggest to Deputy Bruton that sound and fury do not take the place of proper parliamentary procedures.
Deputies
Hear, hear.
Might I suggest——
I am sorry, but I have called Deputy Spring.
I would like to respond to the unnecessary remark by the Taoiseach, who is not in charge of his Government.
This is not a debating matter.
(Interruptions.)
You allowed the Taoiseach to make an uninterrupted response of a political kind. Please allow me to reply.
On a point of order——
I will hear no point of order when I am dealing with disorder. Deputy Spring.
We are all equal in this House, Sir.
The Deputy should resume his seat.
I wish to raise a point of order.
I have answered the Deputy.
I wish to raise a point of order.
I have told the Deputy that I will not entertain a point of order when I am dealing with gross disorder. Deputy Spring.
I insist on my right to make a point of order.
No, Deputy, not now.
I have a point of order to raise.
Deputy Spring.
I am trying to be heard, a Cheann Comhairle.
I want to raise a point of order.
Deputy Mitchell, please resume your seat.
On a point of order——
I have answered the Deputy on a number of occasions. The Chair——
You have not heard what my point of order is.
I am dealing with disorder, Deputy.
Sit down.
Deputy Spring.
Over the last number of months I sought information from the Taoiseach——
I have a point of order to raise and I ask you to hear it.
I shall not be intimidated in this matter.
There is no way——
I have told the Deputy three or four times that we have a situation this morning of disorder. I am seeking to cope with it and will not be sidetracked by the Deputy in that regard.
I have a point of order to raise.
If the Deputy persists I shall have to ask him to leave the House.
I am entitled——
I will not be challenged, Deputy.
Under what Standing Order are you preventing me——
I have told the Deputy quite succinctly that the Chair cannot be expected to entertain points of order when he is clearly dealing with disorder.
On a point of order——
Deputy Mitchell, resume your seat.
I wish to make a point of order.
If the Deputy persists I shall have to insist on him leaving the House.
You have told the Leader of the Opposition——
Deputy Mitchell, I think you had better leave the House.
May I raise a point of order, Sir?
No, I have called Deputy Spring.
How can you rule out a point of order before you have even heard it?
It is, Deputy, when I am dealing with disorder.
For which the Deputy is responsible.
Over the last number of months I have sought some information from the Taoiseach in this House in relation to the Brooke initiative. Given the difficulties it seems to have run into at present, does the Taoiseach intend making a statement to the House on the Brooke initiative?
Deputy Spring will have to find another way of raising that matter.
I have sought a number of ways of raising this matter. I have tried to raise it here on the Order of Business a number of times arising from a decision of the House on 19 January in relation to the Gulf War. Will the Taoiseach make time available next week in the House for a debate on the current situation in the Gulf and specifically in relation to the peace initiative which is on the way at the moment? Will he encourage——
It does not arise now, Deputy De Rossa.
——discussion on the issue and I will leave it in the hands——
Deputy Gilmore.
The Taoiseach might be interested in responding to my question.