It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 (resumed). Private Members' Business will be No. 14 (resumed). By agreement there will be joint debate on Nos. 4 and 5.
Order of Business.
May I ask the Minister for Education if she will make here the statement as issued last night with regard to school transport charges?
I do not think that arises on the Order of Business.
Would the Taoiseach facilitate the House, in view of the urgency of this matter, in finding some way today whereby we could debate this fundamentally important change in the school transport scheme? Dáil reform, you know.
I do not know if this has been raised with the Whips. Has it been raised with the Whips, a Cheann Comhairle?
The Chair would not know that.
It is the normal procedure. I am not aware that it has been raised with them but that would be the appropriate way to tackle it.
At this stage the Whips would have nothing before them. On a matter of public importance, I, as Leader of the Opposition, am asking the Taoiseach, as the person responsible for arranging our business today, if he could find some way to provide the House with an opportunity of coming to grips with this very important issue.
I think it should be raised through the Whips and it could then be considered.
I understand the Taoiseach to say that the Whips can discuss the possibility of finding a method of dealing with it today.
May I take it that the Taoiseach will be prepared to facilitate some arrangement between the Whips?
I have no notice of this and I would have to consider it in relation to other business.
The Taoiseach must be the only one in the country who has no notice of it.
I have no notice of a proposal to discuss it in this House today and we will need time to consider it. If the matter had been raised with the Whips in the usual way we might have been in a position to take it further.
I wish to give notice of my intention to raise on the Adjournment the following matter, in the light of the enormous claim raised against Kildare County Council yesterday and indirectly, therefore, against the State, namely, whether it is appropriate that we should still be applying in modern conditions the mediaeval principle which underlines the entire malicious injuries code.
The Chair will communicate with Deputy Kelly.
I just wish to say, in case you are disposed to turn me down on the grounds of sub judice, that I have no intention of raising the particular case but only the general principle.
Does the Taoiseach have an idea yet when the Second Stage debate on the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution is to conclude? Also could he indicate when the Finance Bill will be introduced?
The Second Stage will conclude when the speakers have completed their speeches. I cannot project that. It could conclude today or, if not, next week. I cannot predict who will speak or how long it will take. The Finance Bill will be available on or before 19 April.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs has announced within the past few days that legislation will be brought before the House shortly, which I will be discussing with the Government Whip, concerning a change in the date for local elections to 17 May next year. How soon will that legislation be ready? Can we take that there will be no change in the electoral boundaries, since it is only a year away?
I did not announce that. I said that if the Government decided to hold the local elections on the same day as the European elections then legislation would be necessary. Of course, that would be discussed with the Whips.