Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 10 Dec 1991

Vol. 414 No. 4

Order of Business.

The Tanáiste

It is proposed to take Nos. 6 and 8. It is also proposed subject to the agreement of the House that: (1) business shall be interrupted at 10.30 p.m. tonight; (2) the sitting shall be suspended today from 6.30 p.m. to 7 p.m.; (3) the proceedings on all Stages of No. 6 if not previously concluded shall be brought to a conclusion at 5 p.m. by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only amendments set down by the Minister for Finance.

Private Members' Business shall be No. 36-Motion 46.

An Ceann Comhairle

Is the proposal for the late sitting today satisfactory and agreed?

Mr. J. Bruton

Agreed.

Mr. McCartan

In respect of that proposal and the Order of Business generally, the late sitting this evening——

An Ceann Comhairle

We are taking the items seriatim. Is this in respect of the first proposal that business be interrupted at 10.30 p.m.?

Mr. McCartan

Yes. The ordering of a later sitting this evening is specifically to facilitate the Government taking, in part, the Second Stage of the B & I Line Bill, 1991. The Workers' Party are implacably opposed to rushing this Bill through the House; indeed they are opposed to it being taken today in view of the evidence emerging that the Government have not had proper or due regard to the staff/management buy-out proposals and the other matters with regard to the financial deal being presented to the proposed purchaser. We are asking the Government——

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy should not embark on a speech. I take it the Deputy is opposing the proposal that business be interrupted at 10.30 p.m. this evening? Is that the position?

Mr. McCartan

Yes, Sir, on the grounds——

An Ceann Comhairle

No, the Deputy has said sufficient on the matter.

Mr. McCartan

We are signalling our opposition to the Government ramming this Bill through the House.

The Tánaiste

A Cheann Comhairle, it was agreed between the Whips last week.

An Ceann Comhairle

I am putting the question: "That business be interrupted at 10.30 p.m. tonight."

Question put.

The Dáil divided: Tá, 61; Níl, 15.

Tá

• Ahern, Dermot.
• Ahern, Michael.
• Aylward, Liam.
• Barrett, Michael.
• Brady, Gerard.
• Brady, Vincent.
• Brennan, Mattie.
• Brennan, Séamus.
• Briscoe, Ben.
• Browne, John (Wexford).
• Callely, Ivor.
• Clohessy, Peadar.
• Coughlan, Mary Theresa.
• Cowen, Brian.
• Cullimore, Séamus.
• Daly, Brendan.
• Davern, Noel.
• Dempsey, Noel.
• Dennehy, John.
• de Valera, Síle.
• Ellis, John.
• Fitzgerald, Liam Joseph.
• Fitzpatrick, Dermot.
• Flood, Chris.
• Flynn, Pádraig.
• Gallagher, Pat the Cope.
• Harney, Mary.
• Hillery, Brian.
• Jacob, Joe.
• Kelly, Laurence.
• Kenneally, Brendan.
• Kirk, Séamus.
• Kitt, Michael P.
• Kitt, Tom.
• Lawlor, Liam.
• Lenihan, Brian.
• Leonard, Jimmy.
• Lyons, Denis.
• McDaid, Jim.
• McEllistrim, Tom.
• Molloy, Robert.
• Morley, P.J.
• Nolan, M.J.
• Noonan, Michael J.
• (Limerick West).
• O'Dea, Willie.
• O'Donoghue, John.
• O'Hanlon, Rory.
• O'Malley, Desmond J.
• O'Rourke, Mary.
• O'Toole, Martin Joe.
• Power, Seán.
• Quill, Máirín.
• Roche, Dick.
• Smith, Michael.
• Stafford, John.
• Treacy, Noel.
• Tunney, Jim.
• Wallace, Mary.
• Wilson, John P.
• Woods, Michael.
• Wyse, Pearse.

Níl

• Byrne, Eric.
• Gilmore, Eamon.
• Gregory, Tony.
• Howlin, Brendan.
• Kavanagh, Liam.
• McCartan, Pat.
• Mac Giolla, Tomás.
• Moynihan, Michael.
• O'Shea, Brian.
• O'Sullivan, Gerry.
• Quinn, Ruairí.
• Rabbitte, Pat.
• Ryan, Seán.
• Sherlock, Joe.
• Spring, Dick.

Tellers: Tá, Deputies D. Ahern and Clohessy; Níl, Deputies McCartan and Gilmore.

Question declared carried.

An Ceann Comhairle

May I now ask if the proposal that the sitting today be suspended from 6.30 p.m. to 7 p.m. is agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 6 agreed? Agreed.

Mr. J. Bruton

Can the Tánaiste let the House know the arrangements the Government propose to make next week to allow the House discuss the findings of the inspectors appointed to investigate the affairs of Greencore-Irish Sugar? That report will come out next week and it is important that the House should have an opportunity to discuss it before it goes into recess for Christmas.

An Ceann Comhairle

It does not relate to the Order of Business.

The Tánaiste

I am sure any such arrangements can be made with the agreement of the Whips.

Mr. Spring

Can I take it from what the Tánaiste said there will be a debate on the report?

The Tánaiste

I simply said that whatever business is on next week will be agreed by the Whips.

Mr. J. O'Keeffe

And will not be vetoed by the Taoiseach?

Mr. Spring

I love the clarity of those replies. Can the Tánaiste inform me, first, if a committee on European affairs will be set up before the end of this session, and, second, if the Government's proposals to amend the Health (Family Planning) Act will be published before the end of this session?

The Tánaiste

Whatever promises have been made with respect to those two matters will be adhered to.

(Interruptions.)

Mr. J. O'Keeffe

Which of the promises relating to the foreign affairs committee will be adhered to? Two conflicting promises were made and neither has been kept.

An Ceann Comhairle

Before Members rise and address the House they should be called by the Chair. Deputy Deasy.

Mr. Deasy

May I ask the Tánaiste if the Minister for Labour, the former Minister for Agriculture and Food, Deputy O'Kennedy, will come before the House to make a personal statement to explain why he misled the House on 15 May last?

The Tánaiste

I am in a position to state that the Minister for Labour, the former Minister for Agriculture and Food, did not mislead the House.

Mr. Deasy

Yes, he did and it is on the record.

An Ceann Comhairle

Please, Deputy. Deputy Pat McCartan.

Mr. McCartan

May I ask the Tánaiste if the Government will consider bringing forward as a matter of urgency the legislation to amend the law relating to the matrimonial rights of spouses to an interest in the matrimonial home, and if they will use the time before the Christmas recess to rush that legislation through the House rather than the B & I Bill which is not essential and necessary——

An Ceann Comhairle

Please, Deputy McCartan, one thing at a time.

Mr. McCartan

Such legislation would have far greater impact on the needs of the people of this community than the B & I Bill.

The Tánaiste

I suspect that the enthusiasm for a matrimonial Bill is less important than giving the Deputy an opportunity to talk about the other Bill. I want to repeat that as soon as the Supreme Court decision was announced the Minister for Justice announced to this House and the country that he had legislation ready.

Mr. McCartan

If the legislation is ready, why not rush it through the House?

An Ceann Comhairle

Please, Deputy. I call Deputy Paul Connaughton.

Mr. McCartan

Why can we not debate such legislation before Christmas instead of debating the B & I Bill——

An Ceann Comhairle

There can be no debate on the matter now.

The Tánaiste

The Government order the business of the House, not Deputy McCartan.

Mr. McCartan

You have a very warped sense of priority in Government.

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy McCartan may not ignore the Chair. He does so at his peril.

Mr. McCartan

Apologies.

Mr. Connaughton

May I ask the Tánaiste if the Government have discussed the problems which now beset Teagasc? What do they intend to do about the proposed closures?

An Ceann Comhairle

It is not a matter which should be raised now, Deputy.

Mr. Connaughton

It is a matter for the Government and I should like to know where they stand on it.

The Tánaiste

I understand Teagasc have made a statement that the matter is confidential as of now.

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy Enright was offering earlier.

Mr. Enright

May I ask the Tánaiste if, in view of the widespread public concern about the Carysfort issue on which statements were made by a normally reliable source——

An Ceann Comhairle

I thought Deputy Enright had something relevant to raise.

Mr. Enright

——that meeting took place?

An Ceann Comhairle

The matter is on the Order Paper for today and tomorrow and may not be pursued now.

Mr. Enright

May I ask the Tánaiste——

An Ceann Comhairle

No, you may not ask something that is out of order.

Mr. Enright

——if in view of the widespread public concern about this matter he will allow time in this House for a debate on the matter?

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy Éamon Gilmore.

Mr. Enright

This would be in everyone's best interests.

An Ceann Comhairle

Please, Deputy Enright.

Mr. Enright

What happened is outrageous, and it should be debated here.

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy Gilmore.

Mr. Enright

There is widespread public concern and deep anxiety about the matter.

(Interruptions.)

Mr. J. O'Keeffe

It cannot be swept aside. The truth will out.

Mr. Farrelly

The ladybird has fled the nest.

Mr. Gilmore

I wish to refer to the Roads Bill. In view of the public statement made yesterday by the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment that she has problems with that Bill, may I ask the Tánaiste if the Government have plans to withdraw the Bill in the form it was published?

The Tánaiste

I am not aware of the difficulties of the Aire Stáit, but I have the greatest confidence that my dear friend and constituency colleague, the Minister for the Environment, will deal with any matters which may arise.

(Interruptions.)

Mr. Spring

It is a high moral difficulty.

Mr. Howlin

May I——

Mr. Farrelly

A Cheann Comhairle——

An Ceann Comhairle

I want to call Deputy Howlin.