It is proposed to take No. 6, motion re. Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions; No. 34, Statements on European Summit (Cologne); No. 7, motion re. Agreement Regulating Technical Assistance between the Government of Ireland and the Government of the Republic of South Africa; and No. 2, Regional Technical Colleges (Amendment) Bill, 1999 – Order for Second Stage and Second Stage. It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that: (1) No. 6 shall be decided without debate; (2) the proceedings on No. 34, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion after 70 minutes and the statements shall be confined to the following Members who shall be called upon in the following sequence and the following arrangements shall apply: the statements of the Taoiseach and of the main spokespersons for the Fine Gael Party and the Labour Party shall not exceed 20 minutes in each case and the Minister for Foreign Affairs shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; (3) the proceedings on No. 7, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 7 p.m. and the following arrangements shall apply: the opening speech of a Minister or Minister of State and the main spokespersons for the Fine Gael Party and the Labour Party shall not exceed 15 minutes in each case; the speech of each other Member called upon shall not exceed five minutes in each case; Members may share time and a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed five minutes. Private Members' Business shall be No. 54, Whistleblowers Protection Bill, 1999 – Second Stage. The proceedings on the Second Stage thereof, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 8.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 16 June.
Order of Business.
There are four proposals to be put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 6 agreed?
On that issue, I had a number of questions disallowed by your office. I have already been in contact with your office and I have received a communication from it. I would like an opportunity, although not on the floor of the House, to discuss the matter with you because I do not accept the tenor of the ruling. I ask for that to be facilitated and for the questions which were disallowed to be put back on the Order Paper for tomorrow.
Deputy Quinn should speak to the Ceann Comhairle about this in his office, which is the appropriate place to discuss the matter if he is dissatisfied with the Ceann Comhairle's ruling.
Thank you.
Is the proposal for dealing with No. 6 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 34 agreed?
(Dublin West): The proposal for dealing with No. 34 makes provision for 20 minutes each for the Government, Fine Gael and the Labour Party and for a ten minute reply by the Government. Why has no time been made available for the five Deputies who are not in those parties and are not supporting the Government by arrangement? Does the Taoiseach think this is democratic? Will he change the order?
Before the Taoiseach replies, I call Deputy Gormley on the same issue.
It is important that we hear a variety of views on this issue. The Green Party and the Socialist Party might have views on the summit different from those of other parties. If we are to have a proper debate, at least five minutes should be allowed for each of those parties, if that is possible.
If any of the members of those parties wish to contribute to the debate they should have a word with the Government and Opposition Whips.
We should have proportionality in regard to the allocation of time – the more votes a party gets, the more time it should get.
I agree with that, as long as we get some time to make our views known. That is all we are asking for.
Is the proposal for dealing with No. 34 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 7 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with Private Members' Business agreed? Agreed.
In the context of the statements we will have on Europe, I welcome the Government's U-turn on junior hospital doctors' hours. It is surprising the Government took the line it did in Brussels, now that it has agreed—
That is not appropriate to the Order of Business.
As a member of the medical profession yourself, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle—
Hardly a junior one.
He is used to working around the clock.
There will be a debate—
—you have come to the aid of many Members of this House, although they might have been suffering from self-inflicted wounds.
There will be statements on the European summit—
I am sure that as someone who was a junior hospital doctor at one stage in his career, you would like to welcome the fact that your political colleagues have seen sense.
When will the legislation to reform the citizenship and nationality legislation, as promised under the Good Friday Agreement, be introduced?
It is due shortly this session.
In the light of the fact that the European elections were seen as a barometer of public opinion on the Partnership for Peace and the fact that the Green Party is—
Under Standing Order 26—
Will the Taoiseach introduce legislation for a referendum on Partnership for Peace?
That is not appropriate to the Order of Business.
(Dublin West): In view of the disgraceful attempts to evict people from their homes in Charlemont Street yesterday, as a result of speculators' actions, what legislation does the Taoiseach have in mind to defend the vulnerable in the context of the horrific housing crisis?
It is not appropriate to ask about housing legislation unless it is promised.
(Dublin West): It would be appropriate, in view of the fact that—
It is not appropriate to ask what legislation is proposed. It is appropriate to ask about promised legislation.
We were promised the Green Paper on abortion would be published in June 1998. We still have not seen it. When will it be published? It is now a year later.
The Cabinet sub-committee is dealing with that issue. It will be September before the Green Paper is published.
Is that the same subcommittee which is dealing with the question of the abolition of ground rents?
That is a subterranean committee.
It has ground to a halt.
The Taoiseach mentioned September but he did not say which year.
When will the full provisions of the Refugee Act come into force? I am sure the Taoiseach, like the rest of us, has been getting numerous representations on this issue.
The Minister is to bring forward amendments to that Act.
How are the amendments being brought forward? Will there be a new Bill?
That is not appropriate. I call Deputy Michael Higgins.
It is legislation.
It is not appropriate. Deputy Barrett was allowed a certain amount of latitude to put the question.
They are being brought forward under the Immigration Bill.
What is the position in regard to the legislation which allowing for representation of parents on vocational education committees? Will those committees now be composed without parent representation or will the composition of the committees wait until after the legislation allowing for parent representation is introduced in this House?
The heads of the Bill are being prepared. It is hoped they will be circulated this month. The legislation will be introduced this autumn.
Where is the legislation with regard to work permits for non-EU citizens and asylum seekers? Has that been resolved yet?
No, and it will not be.
It is hoped that matter will be dealt with shortly.
Not according to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform at the meeting of the select committee last week.
Has the Government considered the McDowell report? Will legislation be brought forward as a result? Will the Taoiseach permit a debate in the House on the report?
Is legislation promised?
Not yet. The report has been presented and it is being discussed by the Department of Enterprise and Employment and the Department of Finance.
I call Deputy Fitzgerald.
But is—
I have called Deputy Fitzgerald. We cannot have a debate now.
It is the same issue – I am trying to establish if legislation is contemplated.
It is not appropriate to ask about contemplated legislation. Under Standing Order 26, Members are allowed to ask about promised legislation.
This legislation is widely anticipated.
And it was promised.
I call Deputy Fitzgerald.
I think the Taoiseach would like to reply, Sir.
Before the working group was set up, the company law enforcement Bill was to be ready early next year. The McDowell group has completed its work and the implications of its findings are being examined by the two Departments. I am not certain, but I assume that will have an influence on the company law enforcement Bill and might require different legislation. However, that decision has not been made yet.
Has the Taoiseach yet received the report from the interdepartmental committee which is examining the implications of the original child care report? Does he plan any legislation in relation to child care?
It is only appropriate to ask about promised legislation.
Will the mental health Bill be published before the summer recess? Has a date been set for that, given how close we are to the recess? Will the Committee Stage be taken over the summer, given the frequent references to its urgency?
I have said it will be ready this session. I know there is pressure to proceed with it. I hope it will ready this session but there is some delay with it.
Will the Taoiseach ask the Whips to consider providing time for an urgent debate on proposed changes in the community employment scheme especially as it affects all participants? It would be very welcome to have an opportunity to discuss it before the recess.
It is not appropriate to ask for this on the Order of Business.
I am asking the Taoiseach to ask the Whips to consider this.
It is a matter for the Whips and I suggest the Deputy raises it with the Whips.
Is the Government considering proposals to designate additional areas in urban centres such as Dublin for special tax status for development?
This is a matter for a parliamentary question, but other than the present designated areas I do not think there are other proposals.
The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform announced at Question Time the imminent publication of the trafficking in illegal immigrants Bill, approved by the Government today, and I should like to know if it is proposed to seek to have that enacted before the end of this session, so that what happened in previous summers at Rosslare port can be averted this year.
The Minister would like to do that, if it were possible, but it may not be. It is a matter that he will discuss with the spokespersons.
Is the Taoiseach in a position to indicate a publication date for the wildlife amendment Bill?
Next week, I hope.
Is the Government contemplating legislation on the registration of lobbyists and is the Taoiseach aware that the Labour Party is originating such a Bill in the other House?
It is not promised at this stage. I call Deputy Sargent.
The Government is not contemplating it? Sir, I would like to hear from the Taoiseach rather than the Chair, who is in an independent position at present.
I have called Deputy Sargent. It is not appropriate, Deputy Rabbitte, to ask about legislation unless it has been promised. We would be here until midnight if everybody were to ask about legislation that is not promised.
Is the Government contemplating any legislation on the registration of lobbyists?
That is not an appropriate question for the Order of Business.
Why is that?
Under Standing Order 26 it is appropriate to ask about legislation that has been promised, but it is not appropriate to ask whether the Government will offer legislation. I have called Deputy Sargent.
In the interests of promised legislation, will the Taoiseach indicate the problem with the mental health Bill, given that it had been promised to take it before the summer recess?
Next I will hear questions on when the bad weather will come.
(Mayo): I understand that at today's meeting the Government approved legislation to make arrangements for pension payments to the retired Supreme Court and High Court judges and the court registrar. Is it anticipated that this legislation will be published and be brought before both Houses before the summer recess?
Did they find the file?
That is the intention.
Does a file on this matter now exist in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform?
Will the Taoiseach explain the delay in the introduction of the new liquor licensing laws? We are the laughing stock of western Europe because our bars close at 2 p.m. on Sundays, a time when they can serve food to the nation.
We will be able shortly to resolve Deputy Sheehan's problem about eating and drinking between 2 and 4 p.m. on Sundays.