It is proposed to take Item No. 9 (Resumed).
Order of Business.
On the Order of Business I would like to draw your attention, a Cheann Comhairle, to the fact that on Tuesday on the Order of Business I raised the question of the releasing on bail of the defendant following the death in brutal circumstances of a woman. The Minister for Justice said he would examine the situation with a view to seeing what legislation might be suitable, which is the reason I raised the question. But the Taoiseach intervened on Tuesday to say that he had no notice of this question and that he would return yesterday to me with some information. Yesterday I raised it on the Order of Business again and the Taoiseach explained to me that he could not in fact make any statement on this question or do anything about it because it was sub judice and that it was his understanding that an appeal had been lodged. I accepted that in good faith because the only place an appeal could have come from under the circumstances was the State, because the defendant was free.
Could you come to your question?
I am getting to the question. I have to explain the background to my question.
But you are not allowed to make a speech on the Order of Business.
It is not a speech, it is an explanation. The situation now is that I was informed by the office of the Minister for Justice yesterday that no appeal has been lodged. This is an extraordinary situation. We now have a case where a person is out on bail; a woman is dead who has been brutally sexually assaulted.
It is not in order on the Order of Business to make a speech like this because it is not a matter for the House now.
I want to explain what my original question on the Order of Business was. Does the Minister for Justice intend to introduce legislation to deal with a situation where a woman can be sexually assaulted and brutally killed and a man can be free on bail for one year? I asked that question on Tuesday and I got no answer yet. I would like an answer now.
The Deputy can put that down by way of parliamentary question or raise the matter on the adjournment but it is not a matter pertinent to the Order of Business.
It is a matter of grave concern because the Taoiseach——
I have allowed you to elaborate on the point because it appears that you were given some assurance, but I cannot delay any further.
The Taoiseach came back to me yesterday and said something that was not true on the Order of Business. It was permitted on the Order of Business yesterday and on Tuesday. Now I need an answer to my original question.
I apologise to the Deputy if I said something that was not correct. But my information was that the matter was sub judice and I asked the Department of Justice to get in touch with the Deputy and give her full information about the case. Unfortunately, that is all I know about it. If the case is not under appeal I can only say that I have been misinformed and I would like time to go further into this matter and perhaps give the Deputy further information about it at the end of Question Time today or something like that. On the question of legislation about bail, this is under consideration by the Government at the moment.
I would like to raise on the adjournment this evening the question of the delay in fixing EEC farm prices.
When does the Minister for the Environment propose to introduce regulations clarifying the operation of the Housing Finance Agency?
The agency is now in operation and loans have been approved as and from Monday. I made a clarifying statement on it yesterday and have arranged for a copy to be given to every Deputy. The agency is in communication with the local authorities on some minor details, but that is all.
Every Deputy in this House has received a lot of inquiries in relation to this excellent legislation. Can the Minister say if there is any substantial change in the original arrangements that were introduced.
No. At this stage the agency is operating as introduced by my predecessor and the Government intend to review the situation in a White Paper to be published before the end of the year.
Why was there a delay and statements in the papers suggesting that this agency was not to be proceeded with?
That is not in order.
Could the Minister say why public confusion was created by statements that the whole matter was being delayed or that it might be changed?
When does the Minister for Energy intend to introduce legislation dealing with the Whitegate refinery?
Legislation is in the course of preparation at the moment and it is hoped to introduce it before the end of this session.
In regard to the forthcoming tour by the Irish soccer team to Argentina, in view of the fears for the safety of the team if the tour takes place, could I have an explanation as to why this question was moved down for the Minister for Foreign Affairs? It was down to the Taoiseach.
The Government can have a question transferred to the relevant Department.
I understand that, but in view of the urgency of the matter if the tour goes ahead, I wanted to put it down to the Taoiseach.
Would the Taoiseach think it appropriate that he should make a statement to the House on the Government's initiative regarding the situation in the South Atlantic? I might add that I personally agree with the Government's initiative, as I think it was fully compatible with our position as a neutral country. Would the Taoiseach not think it appropriate and helpful if he made a statement in the House which would endorse the Government's position.
I will consider that favourably and will arrange with the Whips to meet immediately to discuss it.