It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 3, 6 (resumed), 7 and in 7 Votes Nos. 37, 38, 39, 40, 47, 49 and 29. Private Members' Business will be taken from 7.0 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. No. 16 (resumed).
Order of Business.
Does the Taoiseach propose to make a statement on the Summit?
The timing of a statement is a matter for consideration. The Deputy will appreciate that the position is being considered by the Government. I can tell him that it is intended to arrange for a debate in the House on the Brussels Summit next week.
There will be a debate in the House next week on the Brussels Summit and no statement from the Taoiseach this week?
I cannot say that it is positive about no statement but I think that would be the position.
But the debate will take place?
Yes.
Could I ask the Tánaiste, as I did yesterday, is it intended to sit in Christmas week and if not what arrangements will be made? As well as a debate on the disastrous results of the EMS negotiations will there be the normal Adjournment Debate? Apart from the difficulties which we are now in, internationally, in connection with the EEC, there are very many matters of Government responsibility of a domestic nature which need to be debated in the House before the recess.
Ignoring the Deputy's instant reaction and comment on an episode which is not yet finished, he will be aware that it has been planned to have a debate which, as of now, I understand would include an Adjournment Debate and a debate on the EMS. I am not quite sure what the current state of play is in regard to discussions between the Whips.
I am not aware that there was any agreement that there would be an Adjournment Debate that could include discussions on the EMS. As I understand it, and as has been confirmed by the Tánaiste in his reply to Deputy Barry, the Government are offering a separate debate on the EMS. I am concerned that that will not exclude the normal Adjournment Debate which could deal with matters of Government responsibility in the domestic, economic and social field.
There is no intention, as far as the Government are concerned, of trying to exclude anything.
Could I take it from that reply that if it is not the Government's intention to sit in Christmas week that we could have an extended sitting next week, when part of the time would be allocated to a discussion of the EMS and part of it to a normal Adjournment Debate?
As far as the Government are concerned we are not opposed to sitting in Christmas week if this is necessary but the arrangements in that regard will have to be worked out between the Whips.
It is not a question of whether or not we sit in Christmas week. That is a matter for the Government. The real issue is that we will have adequate time to discuss separately the EMS outcome and the Adjournment Debate. What time is fixed for that discussion is a matter for the Government.
There is no need to labour that point.
Could the Tánaiste clarify one point about the summit yesterday? It appeared from reports last night and this morning that a final decision in our case has not been taken and that a decision may be conveyed at the meeting of the Finance Ministers later this month. Is that correct?
The first part of the Deputy's question is correct. The second part as to its being conveyed at a meeting of the Finance Ministers may not be correct. It may be that the conveying of the final position, when all the various options have been explored, may be before the Finance Ministers meeting.
The decision will be conveyed in the House before the Finance Ministers meeting—is that what the Tánaiste is saying?
I am saying what I have said.
I do not understand what the Tánaiste is saying. I want to know when the Government will say what is our position now as regards the EMS.
I cannot put a time limit on it but I believe it will be in advance of the Finance Ministers meeting which will be on Monday week.
And it will be made in this House?
I did not say that but the Deputy can rest assured that the House will not be left in ignorance.
We have had the problem before where we have read Government decisions, which should have been given in the House, in the press. We would prefer to have a decision given in the House.
(Interruptions.)
With regard to the statement by the Taoiseach could the Tánaiste tell the House, whenever that statement may be made by the Taoiseach, if it will include an assessment of the surprising gap between the expectations and the disappointing results?
We cannot have a discussion on matters which will be the subject of debate.
We cannot at this stage have a discussion on the merits but in view of what Deputy O'Leary said perhaps I might be permitted to point out that from the conditions laid down by Deputy Cluskey on behalf of the Labour Party, including £650 million and not a penny less and a whole lot of other conditions, and Deputy FitzGerald's suggestion that we should be looking for ten times more than we were, it is quite clear which of the parties in this House were in closer touch with the realities of the matter.
What about the expectations raised by the Government during the negotiations and the gap between those and the results?
(Interruptions.)
Now that we are back, as a result of yesterday's result, to preparation for the budget, could the Tánaiste tell the House when it is proposed to publish the Book of Estimates?
The Deputy will be informed of that in due course. He will be aware from his experience that it would be normal to indicate that at this time.
We expect it will be within the next week or two unless the Minister has been so preoccupied elsewhere.
Can the Tánaiste say anything about the budget date now that the complications referred to yesterday appear to be out of the way?
I did not refer to complications in relation to the announcement of the budget date but to the actual date itself.
(Interruptions.)
Will the White Paper appear before Christmas?
(Interruptions.)