It is proposed to take Nos. 1, all Stages, 3 and 4. When business is concluded today the Dáil will adjourn until 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 26 January 1983.
Order of Business.
On the Order of Business, is the Taoiseach in a position to announce the Ministers of State? I understand that the main purpose of our coming back here this morning is to see the list of the hopefuls.
The Leader of the Opposition is incorrect. It is not the main purpose of coming back here, which is to deal with legislation one item of which was not circulated yesterday and another on which agreement between the Departments concerned has not been reached on an issue which had been decided in principle by the previous Government. I would wish to announce the names of the Ministers of State to the Dáil if it is still in session when I am in a position to announce the list which will be later on this morning.
Has the Taoiseach any problems?
I have grave problems indeed. There is a wealth of talent amongst which it is very difficult to choose.
I have no intention of pressurising the Taoiseach in this matter, but it would be desirable if precedent could be followed and the Ministers of State could be announced to the Dáil. I really could not contemplate the whole Christmas period and all those troubled hearts beating anxiously.
(Interruptions.)
For both these reasons, so that precedent could be followed to the greatest extent possible and simple humanitarianism, could the Taoiseach please announce them before we adjourn today?
These words come strangely from the Leader of the Opposition — for whom when Taoiseach the difficulties in this matter were notorious. I propose to announce the names later today. If the Dáil is in session then I will announce them in the Dáil——
We will wait.
If the Leader of the Opposition feels that it is a matter of importance that they should be announced in the Dáil and if the business of the Dáil has concluded before I am in a position to announce them, the Dáil can be adjourned for a short period.
I would ask the Minister for Defence if he could give some information as to the progress in regard to the investigation into the deaths of three soldiers in Lebanon over two months ago.
In order to avoid misunderstanding at an early date in this session, I do not think that this matter arises properly on the Order of Business and the Deputy will have to find another way of raising it. I am taking this attitude at this stage only so that we will have matters that are relevant on the Order of Business and only matters that are so relevant raised on the Order of Business.
There is no Question Time today and there will be no opportunity for the Dáil to hear this statement for another month if the Dáil is to adjourn today until 26 January. It is a matter which the public presumably are very concerned about and this is a reasonable request to make.
I would not entirely disagree with the Deputy, but I fear that I will get off on the wrong foot if I allow matters to be raised on the Order of Business that are not properly relevant. That is the only issue I am raising.