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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 28 Nov 1979

Vol. 317 No. 2

Order of Business.

It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 4 (resumed), 5 (Votes 30, 31, 32 and 33), 6, 7, 9 (resumed), 10, 11, and 8. By agreement, Votes Nos. 30, 31, 32 and 33 will be taken without debate but they may be discussed in the debate on Vote No. 35, Higher Education, which will be taken next week. Business will be interrupted at 3.30 p.m. to take item No. 8. The Order will be resumed thereafter with the exception of items Nos. 6 and 7. Private Members' Business will be taken from 7 p.m. to 8.30 p.m., No. 22 (resumed).

May I ask the Tánaiste if, in view of the situation in relation to electricity, bottled gas and coal supplies and indeed the situation with the banks and buses, the Government will be providing time for a debate on industrial relations and such proposals as they may have to resolve the situation?

That is not a matter to be raised on Other Business.

I am asking if the Government will be providing time.

I understand the Deputy's anxiety but the matter may not be raised in this manner.

Is it in order to seek Government time for a debate on the labour relations' situation and ask if the Government have any proposals to bring before the House?

The Deputy knows very well that the Whips usually discuss these matters. It is not a matter for the Chair.

They have no confidence in their Whips.

And you have none in your leader, which is worse, in your own Taoiseach.

(Interruptions.)

We can always depend on Deputy Murphy to give the opening.

May I draw attention to the fact that the fuel situation has deteriorated in the past 24 hours and that there is now a strike in the bottled gas area? May I ask the Tánaiste if he can do anything except sit there silently doing nothing about the industrial relations situation?

You will supply hot air.

People have been without coal in this city for the past eight weeks and the Minister makes a joke of it talking about hot air. Nobody produced more hot air since he came into the House than the Minister did.

(Interruptions.)
(Interruptions.)

I am calling Deputy Cluskey.

Is the Tánaiste in a position to say whether the Taoiseach intends to conform with normal practice and make a statement next week relating to the outcome of the Summit meeting?

I would anticipate that the Taoiseach would do so.

There seems to be some slight reservation in the Tánaiste's reply and I have come to the position of not taking anything for granted from those benches. Could the Tánaiste ascertain from the Taoiseach between now and tomorrow morning whether or not it is the Taoiseach's intention to conform to normal procedure?

The only reason for any note of reservation which the Deputy might have detected is that I have not in fact discussed this matter with the Taoiseach but I have no reason to believe that he would not follow the normal procedure.

Could the Tánaiste ascertain between now and tomorrow morning whether he will do so?

Thank you.

May I ask the Tánaiste if the Dáil may expect to see legislation reimposing taxation on cars of less than 16 h.p.?

That is not relevant.

I understand that question was answered yesterday.

By the Minister for the Environment, who has no responsibility for it. May I know whether legislation is envisaged to reimpose that taxation?

The Deputy knows very well that the answer to that is as given yesterday.

By whom?

By the Minister for the Environment in this House.

Who has no responsibility for taxation.

Does the Deputy want the tax re-imposed?

May we take it that it definitely will not happen?

I have already said so.

It is my responsibility.

(Interruptions.)

(Cavan-Monaghan): Is it a fact that the Minister is not prepared to say because he will not be Minister for Finance next January and that Deputy O'Malley will, according to the papers.

Why is the Minister for Health smiling? What is the explanation for the big grin?

May we take it the Tánaiste wants to keep his options open at the very least? May we put it that way?

(Interruptions.)

On a point of order——

(Interruptions.)

When Jack's away the rats will play.

That is the Muppet Show.

In view of the absence of any comment by the Government on the industrial relations situation, I give notice that I wish to raise the question of the present industrial relations situation on the adjournment this evening.

I will communicate with the Deputy.

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