It is proposed to take business in the following order, Nos. 10 (resumed) 11 and 12 (resumed). Private Members' business will be taken from 7 to 8.30 p.m., No. 44 by agreement.
Order of Business.
I am listening to this business of agreement day in, day out. Nobody has ever asked me whether I agree about these things nor does the Chair seem to have any regard for the protection of the rights of those who are not of major party status in the House.
That is a very unfair comment.
It is one which I make, not with vindictiveness, but purely as a statement of fact as I know it.
The Chair has always displayed its concern for minorities in the House.
Fair enough; I will have recourse to the Chair then.
When is it intended to circulate item No. 21 on today's Order Paper, the Safety, Health and Welfare of Workers in Industry Bill, 1976?
I shall find out from the Minister and let the Deputy know.
Is the Taoiseach aware that this Bill was introduced before Christmas and circulation of it was promised during the Christmas Recess? Is he further aware that at a seminar held this weekend an officer of the Department of Labour who was sent to the seminar, to quote a newspaper report, outlined the measures to be contained in the Safety, Health and Welfare of Workers in Industry Bill? Does the Taoiseach agree that this procedure is correct before the Bill is circulated to Members of the House? Or, does he condone what is obviously a pre-election gimmick by the Minister to compensate for his lack of effort in that field in the last four years? Would the Taoiseach explain why an officer of the Department of Labour was deliberately used to attend a seminar and give the contents of a Bill before these contents are circulated to Members of the House?
I was not aware of what the Deputy has said.
Would the Taoiseach have a report on this for tomorrow's Order of Business?
I shall have a report on when the Minister will circulate the Bill.
Is the Taoiseach not going to answer the question as to whether he condones this sort of pre-election gimmickry by some of the Ministers?
This ought not lead to argument. Item No. 10, Bula Limited (Acquisition of Shares) Bill, 1977.