It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 4 to 25, inclusive, and No. 28. Private Members' Business will be from 7 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. After conclusion of the proceedings on item No. 44 which will be taken at 7 p.m., the House will take the Second Stage of the Local Government (Building Lands) Bill, 1980.
Order of Business.
In accordance with the Standing Order No. 88, with the agreement of the Whips and as announced on the Order of Business today, I move:
"That the Second Stage of the Local Government (Building Lands) Bill, 1980 be taken in Private Members' Time".
Question put and agreed to.
Last week I endeavoured to raise by way of question the matter of the non-operation for the summer of 1980 of the special train to Youghal for Cork schoolchildren but the Chair said that this was a matter internal to CIE and I was not allowed to put down a question. I then sought to raise the matter on the Adjournment and the Chair gave a similar ruling. I am seeking the advice of the Chair as to when I can raise the matter. As Minister for Transport I answered questions in relation to CIE which were allowed in this House. Even though I know the Government are reluctant to come into this House and face their responsibilities, I think that precedent should be followed.
I think the Deputy will agree that if a question was answered it was an exceptional case.
They were answered at that time because the then Minister was anxious to give information to the House—not to hide it.
The statutory and legal position is that the Minister has no responsibility.
If that is the statutory and legal position, why did it not obtain three years ago?
The Chair is not in a position to say why that did not happen three years ago, but it is the position.
Does the Chair not think that there should be some machinery under which I can raise a matter that is of concern——
The Deputy may raise that matter elsewhere.
CIE are a semi-State body. Surely there must be some way I can raise the matter——
The Chair had no ulterior motive in taking the decision.
I accept that, but I do not see how the same procedure that was followed three years ago cannot be followed now. It is a matter of some concern to a large body of the less well off of my constituents whose children will not be able to go to a seaside resort on Sundays during the summer.
The Deputy will agree that this is not the place or way to raise the matter.
I do not agree. I think it is the place to raise the matter.
If the Deputy wishes to seek a change in the statutory regulation with regard to accountability he should raise the matter elsewhere.
I am asking that the precedent which was established three or four years ago be followed now.
Many questions came up in the meantime that were disallowed.
Perhaps the person or persons who sought to raise the questions were not as familiar as I am with the fact that there was a precedent.
I do not know. However, the same legal and statutory reasons existed.
Is there any way I can bring this matter before this House? There will be no train services available——
It would not be the function of the Chair to enlighten the Deputy.
If similar questions were allowed on the Adjournment three years ago, I do not see why they cannot be allowed now.
The Chair has ruled on the matter.
I accept that very reluctantly.
CIE are the most expensive social service in the country. Their affairs should be discussed here.
Last week I gave notice that I intended to seek from the Taoiseach Government time to debate the deteriorating industrial relations situation. The House will be aware that there is a serious situation at International Meat Producers at Ringsend, in Aer Lingus and in Cement Ltd. In view of this, will the Taoiseach give Government time for a debate on industrial relations?
That is a matter that should be raised in the first instance with the Whips and discussed as part of the Dáil programme. As I understand it, the present position is that the Whips are in fairly regular contact on the programme of business with which we shall be dealing between now and the recess. I suggest to the Deputy that he have it raised in that quarter first, at any rate.
While I thank the Taoiseach for his guidance, I draw his attention to the fact that the jobs in International Meat Producers this week and the Aer Lingus and the Cement disputes are very urgent matters. The House and the country are entitled to know what action the Government are taking to solve those problems immediately and to improve the framework in which they arise.
We cannot discuss this matter now. I am moving on to the Financial Resolutions.
Does the Taoiseach not consider that this matter is urgent and does he not think that he should have informed the House of what action the Government are proposing to take?
All the issues the Deputy has mentioned are the subject of constant and unremitting attention by the Minister for Labour and the Public Service. In my view some of the more experienced Deputies would perhaps suggest that sometimes it is better not to raise particular industrial action in the House during the course of that industrial action, but that is a separate issue. If the Deputy wishes to have any of these particular matters discussed, or any aspect of industrial relations discussed, I suggest that he follow the normal procedure and have it raised with the Party Whips to see what can be achieved.
Would the Taoiseach not agree that it is the business of the House to keep up the pressure so that a resolution of those disputes can be achieved and also to keep up pressure so that the Taoiseach will live up to his word and make this the year of industrial peace by action by the Government? The House is entitled to know what action the Taoiseach proposes to take to improve industrial relations.
The Government and the Minister for Labour and the Public Service are very active indeed, as the Deputy should be aware, in endeavouring to procure progress in all these areas. As I said, I am not sure that to have a general debate on industrial relations at this stage, while certain industrial actions are under way, would be in the best interests of all the parties involved. The Deputy can be assured that the Minister for Labour is in constant touch with all the situations that the Deputy has outlined.
We cannot debate this matter at this time in this way without notice.