It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 1, 2, 7, 11, 12, and in No. 12 Votes 41, 18, 19, 20, 36, 46 and 39 (resumed). Private Members' Business, No. 88, will be taken between 7 p.m. and 8.30 p.m., by agreement.
Order of Business.
On the Order of Business, could the Tánaiste tell me if the Taoiseach intends to follow normal procedure in reporting back to the Dáil on the outcome of the Summit Meeting and, if so, when the report will be made?
I have not discussed that matter with the Taoiseach but I have no reason to believe that he will not follow the normal procedure. As to when, I cannot say, but obviously it will be very shortly.
Would the Minister for Energy have an opportunity today to make a statement in relation to the quality of oil being sold throughout the country?
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
This matter arises at the moment.
It does not arise on the Order of Business and it is disorderly to continue on it.
Would the Tánaiste be able to tell us whether the Government have made a decision yet on the request which the Fine Gael Whip made this morning and which I made informally on his behalf yesterday afternoon, that Government time be given for a debate on the NESC report?
One has to take into account that there is a substantial amount of business to be taken between now and the Christmas recess. As the Deputy is aware, we had a major debate on the economy recently. There will be a further major economic debate early in the New Year when the budget is introduced. In these circumstances I cannot undertake anything in response to the Deputy's request. I think that the matter could best be discussed between the Whips.
Deputy Kelly, and just a question, please.
It was with that intent that we inaugurated this inquiry through the Whips so that we would not be told from the Government benches that the Whips could discuss this. The request was made through the Whips but I ask the Tánaiste in this connection if he would not recognise that it would have been very helpful to us in the economic debate in October, which he has just mentioned, if the NESC report — which at that stage was already available to this House——
This is turning into a debate.
Would you, Sir, agree also that there is no use in referring this to the Adjournment Debate or the budget debate——
This is turning into a debate.
——because there will be questions on the North and so on and by that time the NESC report will have gone cold?
When the Tánaiste was replying to Deputy Kelly he mentioned the major industrial debate, the motion of no confidence earlier and the budget debate after Christmas. He did not make any reference to an Adjournment Debate. Can the Tánaiste confirm that an Adjournment Debate will be held?
The whole programme between now and the recess has to be discussed between the Whips. I would draw Deputy Kelly's attention to the fact that I referred to the opportunities there had been and would be for major economic debate and to the amount of work which has yet to be got through and I suggested that the matter should be discussed between the Whips. It is true that it was put to our Whip this morning but there has not been an opportunity for discussion. I have not undertaken that a time would be given for such a discussion but neither have I said "No". It depends on what programme of work can be achieved between now and the recess.
I am calling item No. 1.
I would ask the Tánaiste to bear in mind that his side has encountered no obstruction from this side of the House during the past three years.