It is proposed to take Nos. 5 and 6 (resumed).
Order of Business.
Mention was made some time ago about the introduction of a Constitutional Amendment Bill relating to university seats in the Seanad. I am wondering if the Bill will come in time to have it processed through the House and to have a referendum in July?
I will pass word on to the Deputy as soon as I see the Minister for Education.
The Taoiseach will appreciate that, unless the Bill is introduced immediately in the House, it will not be processed.
The Taoiseach indicated to the House some time ago that he would be making a statement shortly on the Government's plans to provide a free legal aid scheme. As the Taoiseach is aware, the free legal aid group are closing down their clinics. Could the Taoiseach indicate to the House when he will be making the comprehensive statement previously indicated?
I am not yet in a position to do so. But I can say that the memorandum to which I referred on the last occasion is now before the Government and the Government are in the process of examining it with a view to introducing a scheme or legislation as may be necessary.
The Taoiseach is aware that the free legal aid group are closing down their existing centres and there will be widespread——
We cannot have a debate on this now.
In view of the scheme mentioned by the Taoiseach, is there any possibility that he could indicate to the House very rapidly what is to be done?
I am afraid I could not indicate at this stage.
Is this not a case where the honour of this country is at stake? Counsel gave an assurance on the authority of the Government—despite what a Minister said subsequently to the contrary, as I understand—that they would be introduced. That Counsel has himself been so personally embarrassed about what has happened that he has made a public statement to the FLAC people that their only alternative is to close down as the Government have not implemented the assurance he gave on the Government's behalf. Surely it is urgent that the honour of the country should be redeemed in this respect at once?
I think that is rather an exaggeration of what happened, or at least is a colouring of the situation which is not in full accord with what happened. The Council told a court in Europe that legislation would be introduced this year and we expect to do that.
It is evident from the subsequent statement of the person concerned that he feels that he was misled in the matter by the Government instructions given to him.
As the Taoiseach is aware, there are hundreds of people who require free legal aid who will not have it after June unless something is done very rapidly in Dublin.
We cannot have a debate on this now.
There are a lot of people who cannot afford legal advice and the centres are closing down.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Might I ask the Taoiseach—I have not given him notice of this—if the position of the local elections and the European elections has been considered arising out of——
The Deputy may not raise a question of this type without notice. The Deputy is well aware that we must set our faces against this sort of practice.
(Cavan-Monaghan): I was merely going to ask the Taoiseach if he had considered certain things, or if he would have them considered. I think this is as good an opportunity of raising them as any other.
Everything could be raised if the Chair permitted. But the Dáil must proceed in accordance with some order of procedure and in accordance with Standing Orders. The Chair is merely interpreting Standing Orders as they are known to every Deputy.
(Cavan-Monaghan): I was merely trying to be helpful. If they walk into a mess be it on their own heads.