Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 7 Jul 1983

Vol. 344 No. 9

Order of Business.

The Taoiseach

It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 5, 7 — and in No. 7 Votes 3, 4 and 5 — 8, 4 and 3. By agreement, No. 7 (Votes 3, 4 and 5) and the Supplementary Estimates being introduced today, will be debated together and this debate will form the Adjournment Debate for this Dáil session. Business will be interrupted at 7 p.m. to take items which will be brought to a conclusion according to the following schedule:

No. 8, Committee and remaining Stages, 10 p.m.

No. 4, Order for Second Stage and all Stages, 12 midnight.

No. 3, Order for Second Stage and all Stages, 12 midnight.

Mr. Haughey

Among the Estimates is one for the Department of the Environment. May I ask the Minister for the Environment about a matter of considerable urgency? All of us are condemned to be in this badly ventilated building in this sunny weather while our fellow citizens can be disporting themselves on the beaches, about which we are all very glad. It is a welcome relief to have this delightful sunshine, but for most of the people of Dublin the situation is being marred by the fact that all the popular beaches are being seriously polluted because of the Dublin County Council strike. In view of the special situation and the fact that we rarely get weather of this quality, would the Minister for the Environment, as a matter of urgency, intervene to have something done about this strike — I understand it would not take much to settle it — so that our people will have their beaches unpolluted at this happy time of the year.

An Ceann Comhairle

Would Deputy Haughey indicate the question he wishes to ask? I must rule it is not in order at this stage.

Mr. Haughey

It is a very humanitarian issue.

An Ceann Comhairle

We are now embarking on the Adjournment Debate and there will be ample opportunity to raise it then.

Mr. R. Burke

The Ceann Comhairle will be aware that this matter has been raised by me during the past two days when I attempted to have it discussed by way of Private Notice Question. I would appreciate if you gave me permission to raise it today. I am asking you to give special consideration to this matter. I am asking the Minister for the Environment to intervene in this dispute, even before 3.30 p.m. because of the seriousness of the situation. Even the drinking water is polluted.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Chair will give the request the usual very serious consideration.

Mr. De Rossa

Item No. 3, the Housing (Private Rented Dwellings) (Amendment) Bill, 1983, is for debate at 10 p.m., but will we be allowed to debate it?

An Ceann Comhairle

That item will be debated between 10 p.m. and midnight, with No. 4, and will be concluded at midnight.

Mr. R. Burke

The Minister for the Environment may be able to give us some indication that he will intervene in the Dublin County Council strike. I crave your indulgence to allow him, though it would not be strictly in order. Because of the urgency of the situation, he may be prepared to make a statement. I am sure the Minister would agree with me about the seriousness of this.

Mr. B. Allen

I have been trying to raise an issue during the last five weeks. It is a matter of serious interest to the country, but I have found it impossible to do so by Private Notice Question. I ask to be allowed to raise it on the Adjournment. It concerns the dumping of nuclear waste. The dumping has been started again this week by Britain.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. R. Burke

I accept that nuclear waste is very important and a grave danger, but we have a grave danger nearer home, on the beaches of Portmarnock and Malahide. The Minister is there prepared, I am sure, to make a statement.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Chair is waiting to get on with the business.

Mr. Skelly

On a more serious matter——

Mr. R. Burke

The Deputy has nothing to do with the beaches in Portmarnock and Malahide.

Mr. Skelly

I wanted to raise a matter that is serious from the point of view of the lives, health and wellbeing of the people of Ireland and western Europe and I should like to support Deputy Allen who has been trying to raise it during the past five weeks.

Mr. O'Kennedy

May I ask the Taoiseach whether, before the House rises, he will be making a statement on the discussions that he and Members of the Government recently had with Mr. Kissinger?

An Ceann Comhairle

That is not in order. We have an Adjournment Debate where all these things can be discussed.

Mr. Haughey

I understand it was about baked beans.

Mr. O'Kennedy

I tabled a question to the Taoiseach on this matter which, as usual, has been transferred to the Minister for Finance. I do not know what his function in this is. I am anxious to know whether there are guidelines for receiving private citizens when half our Government receive private citizens——

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy will have an opportunity on the Taoiseach's Estimate in a few minutes. It is the first item on the agenda.

Mr. Leyden

Would the Taoiseach indicate whether his appearance on the Pat Kenny Show was by order or request? It reminded the older Members of this House of Roosevelt's speeches in the thirties — fireside chats during the depression. Does the Taoiseach propose to carry this on on a regular basis? Was it by order or request?

The Taoiseach

By request. Always happy to respond.

(Interruptions.)

Mr. P. Gallagher

If the Taoiseach would refrain from interrupting I want to raise the question of the Government's refusal to fulfil the commitment to the people of Arranmore Island when they refused to grant them £15,000 this year to repair their roads?

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy will be communicated with.

Mr. Begley

I wish to raise the subject matter of Question No. 618 on yesterday's Order Paper on the Adjournment.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy will be communicated with.

Mr. Durkan

I should like to support the request from Deputy Allen to raise on the Adjournment——

An Ceann Comhairle

This is a new dodge. Item No. 5.