asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when the Postal and Telecommunications Services Bill will be restored; and when the Committee Stage will be taken.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Postal and Telecommunications Services Bill .
3.
: It is intended that the Bill will be reintroduced on Committee Stage in the near future.
: How does the Minister interpret "near future"? Does he envisage any substantive amendments other than those mentioned by me at the end of the Second Stage as being acceptable?
: The "near future" I hope will be in the next few weeks. It is intended to introduce a number of amendments to improve the Bill and to meet some of the points raised by staff associations and trade unions.
: Do I take it from what the Minister said that he is accepting the amendments I said were acceptable to me at the end of the Second Stage debate?
: The Deputy should not anticipate a Committee Stage debate, but I can assure him that there will be a great deal of agreement on both sides of this House.
: Is the Minister having any difficulty reconciling the differences between the Fine Gael and Labour Parties in relation to this Bill?
: That does not arise on this question.
: Is he having difficulty honouring a commitment given by Mr. Peter Prendergast, a well known Fine Gael operator——
: The Deputy is out of order.
: ——who said there would not be a loss of civil service status for the staff?
: I am calling Question No. 4.
: I am asking the Minister to reply.
: I am calling Question No. 4.
: On a point of order: are you deciding whether the Minister will reply to my question?
: I decided that the first two points made by the Deputy were arguments rather than questions.
: I disagree with that. I am asking the Minister whether he can reconcile the differences——
: The Deputy is not in order debating this matter with the Chair.
: ——between the Fine Gael and Labour Parties because the Labour Party opposed the Second Stage of this Bill.
: I can assure the Deputy that we will have much less difficulty reconciling the positions of different Members on this side than Fianna Fail——
: Question No. 4.