It is proposed to take Nos. 1, 4, 8, 9, 10 and 11. Private Members' Business will be taken from 7 o'clock to 8.30 p.m., No. 56 by agreement.
Order of Business.
I wish to give notice of my intention to raise on the adjournment tonight the position with regard to the archaeological site at Wood Quay which was declared a national monument and the Government's decision in relation to that site.
I will communicate with the Deputy during the afternoon.
The Chair has ruled on a question of mine to either the Minister for Labour or the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy, asking what steps will be taken to ensure a continuity of electricity supply, that neither Minister is responsible for this matter. Who exactly in the Government is responsible for arranging a priority programme if there is to be a continuing shortage of electricity over the winter months?
The Deputy's question was ruled out and he may not raise it now by devious means.
To which Minister do I address the question? Is it the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy or the Minister for Labour?
The Chair has no function in that matter. By statute it is a matter for the ESB.
Who is responsible for the ESB?
When I was Minister for Transport and Power I answered such questions.
(Cavan-Monaghan): I sought permission today to put down a Private Notice Question to the Minister for the Environment.
When Private Notice Questions are ruled out, as they frequently have to be, it is not in order to raise the matter in the House. Deputies are aware that this is a device to discuss the matter.
Surely we could expect a comprehensive statement on the electricity situation from the responsible Minister.
A political blackout.
(Cavan-Monaghan): I do not propose to discuss any question. I want to ask the Minister for the Environment if he is aware that sets of traffic lights in Dublin city are not functioning.
The Deputy is now asking the question.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Will he consult with Dublin Corporation with a view to getting them going again?
We cannot al-low this practice to develop by the Chair permitting it. Deputies are abusing the permission they are given sometimes to raise matters.
(Cavan-Monaghan): This is a matter of life or death.
I am not per-mitting the Deputy to raise it now.
(Cavan-Monaghan): People may be killed before we sit here tomorrow.
I am calling the next business.
I wish to raise on the ad-journment the subject matter of any one or all four of the questions I put down to the Minister for Foreign Affairs on Thursday last in connection with the H Block and other related matters in our prisons North and South.
Could the Deputy be more specific about which one?
I have not got the numbers because I have not got last Thursday's Order Paper. They are quite clearly identifiable.
All four?
Or any one.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
(Cavan-Monaghan): I wish to raise on the ad-journment the fact that certain traffic lights in the city of Dublin and elsewhere are not working and I want to know what steps the Minister for the Environment or the Minister for Justice will take to remedy that position as a matter of extreme urgency.
I wish to give notice of my intention to raise on the adjournment at the next available opportunity Question No. 513 on the Order Paper for Tuesday 7 November. I raised this last Thursday.
When the Deputy says "the next available opportunity", if he is not permitted to raise it tonight he will have to raise the matter in the House again.