It is proposed to take Nos. 7, 8, 9 and 10 (resumed). Business will be interrupted at 3.30 to take Nos. 8, 9 and 10 and the order will not be resumed thereafter. Private Members' Business will be taken from 7 to 8.30 p.m., No. 18 (resumed).
Order of Business.
Might I ask the Taoiseach if he would inform the House as to the nature of the official complaint lodged with the RTE Authority regarding the fading out of the Taoiseach's speech on Saturday evening last?
That is not a matter appropriate to being raised on the Order of Business.
Surely if an official complaint was lodged with the RTE Authority the House is entitled to know its nature.
Not on the Order of Business.
Its nature.
Not on the Order of Business and the Deputy is well aware that he is not allowed to raise that now.
(Interruptions.)
Was it on the basis that there was a breach of time allocated——
I am calling the first item on the Order of Business.
(Interruptions.)
On the Order of Business, I asked yesterday about the Committee Stage of the Safety in Industry Bill, 1978. Could the Taoiseach say when it will be taken?
I will consult with the Minister for Labour and I will have word conveyed to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Could the Taoiseach say whether it is the intention of the Minister for Finance to make a full statement to the House on the result of the talks with the farming organisations yesterday?
No.
It is not the Taoiseach's intention?
No.
Surely the Taoiseach is not serious that the result of these discussions which affect——
(Interruptions.)
There is to be no report made to the House on the nature of the discussions held?
No.
Surely that would be unprecedented. The Government, according to the newspapers, have agreed to a substantial modification of what was proposed in the budget. Surely that must be brought before the House and we are entitled to hear what has happened.
The farming organisations are meeting jointly together—this is known—and the result of the talks is contingent on agreement being reached on a taxation system by 1 May next so there is no point in making it the subject of discussion now.
The newspapers this morning have reports to the effect that agreement has been reached regarding the continued imposition of VAT, after a certain point, contrary to what was said in the budget statement, unless and until agreement is reached otherwise. Surely the House is entitled to be told what has happened and not to have to pick up the newspapers and try——
Nothing is happening.
——to detect from newspaper reports what is happening in regard to the budget.
On the Order of Business, there is a debate proceeding on the budget at present. There are newspaper reports of agreement being reached on alteration in the budget provisions yesterday. Surely the House is entitled to know what alterations in the taxation of the rest of the taxpayers' code may be arranged over the next few days. We cannot proceed with a debate on the budget——
There is an appropriate time for raising it but it is not now. The Deputy is well aware of that.
Surely it makes nonsense of a parliamentary debate on the budget if an agreement is concluded outside the House and the House has no details of that agreement.
That is no function of the Chair.
Surely that is without precedent.
Could the Taoiseach assure the House that there will be no more changes in the budget?
I am calling item No. 7.
Could the Taoiseach assure the House that there will be no more changes?
The budget debate will be on tomorrow.
Surely the Taoiseach holds the House in greater respect than this—to conclude an agreement outside the House without informing the House?
(Interruptions.)
Can we now take it that the Taoiseach——
Order. The budget debate before the House has not been concluded.
(Interruptions.)
Can we now take it that the Taoiseach is treating the House with contempt and that in fact he supports street politics?
Surely a major change in Government decision-making should be reported to the House.
(Interruptions.)
Would the Taoiseach tell us if Mr. Paddy Lane intends to bring in a supplementary budget?
(Interruptions.)
Might I ask the Taoiseach whether he would be prepared to give further consideration to this matter; whether, on reflection, he might give consideration to the next Minister speaking in this debate reporting to the House on what has happened so that we shall not be dependent on newspaper reports for the subsequent debate? Otherwise the House could be debating the budget under a total misapprehension as to what is the situation. That would be intolerable in parliamentary terms. I am sure the Taoiseach, on reflection, will realise that.
I said there was a discussion yesterday. As everybody knows it ended in an agreement and that agreement is——
(Interruptions.)
If Deputies do not want to hear it, they do not get it.
Is it the case that the position of Opposition Deputies is that the only place we will get information on the talks yesterday——
I was going to talk but apparently I will not be let. Deputies want to get in all the time.
The Taoiseach is leaving us in the position in which it is impossible for us to find out what happened yesterday.
Order.
(Interruptions.)
Is it now a fact that Deputy Meaney did not over-react but that the Government over-reacted?
I am calling item No. 7.
(Interruptions.)
I have asked the Taoiseach a question. I am anxious to get a reply which the Taoiseach seemed willing to give——
The matter is now closed, Deputy.
(Interruptions.)
I was shouted down by the Deputy's colleagues. Let me say what I was going to say—if the Deputy will resume his seat. I said an agreement was reached yesterday as a result of several hours debate. The agreement will be endorsed, I hope, at a meeting tomorrow so there is nothing to tell the House at this stage.
Does the Taoiseach intend making a fuller statement to the House on the entire matter?
The matter will be fully discussed in due time. The budget debate is on. I cannot be sure that what was agreed——
(Interruptions.)
You cannot control them.
Order.
(Interruptions.)
Is it not a fact that the Taoiseach——
(Interruptions.)
Order, please.
(Interruptions.)
If Deputy Harte does not cease interrupting I will have to ask him to leave.
Why does the Ceann Comhairle pick on me? There are interruptions coming from Wicklow over there. Deputy Murphy has been interrupting since the House started.
(Interruptions.)
I consider that to be unevenhanded justice.