It is proposed to take Nos. 7 and 8. By agreement Private Members' Business will be No. 14.
Return to Writ: Dublin Central. - Order of Business.
Now that Deputy Tom Leonard is safely restored to these benches, may I ask the Taoiseach what is the position about the Book of Estimates? He must be aware that if there is to be any possibility of our having any sort of discussion as promised they should be in our hands now.
Work has proceeded on the Book of Estimates and it will be available in December, as I told the Deputy previously.
On Christmas Day?
(Interruptions.)
I would not like to bring the Deputy in here on Christmas Day.
I need not recall the fact, Sir, that the Taoiseach promised it in September, October and November and the last undertaking he gave here was that it would be published early in December. Do I understand from his reply that the word "early" has been dropped?
They will be published in December and published with a view to giving an opportunity to the Dáil to discuss them in December. We do not propose that the Dáil sit on Christmas Day.
(Interruptions.)
One final thing on the Estimates and then I will leave my colleague to take over. Can the Taoiseach be sure that when they are adopted all the members of the Government will have participated in the exercise of adoption?
That is not a question; that is argument.
They have been there so long that they will be hatched.
I would like to ask the Taoiseach if, in view of a serious outbreak of avian 'flu in my constituency and the consequent destruction of 6,000 turkeys, he will ask the Minister for Agriculture or, if he is absent, one of the two Ministers of State at the Department of Agriculture, to take very special care with regard to this lest the whole country be affected.
It does not arise on the Order of Business.
Will the Taoiseach inform the House as to the date of the local elections in 1984?
No decision has been taken on that yet.
Will the Taoiseach indicate to the House when a decision will be taken in this matter? Is he prepared to inform the House as to when he will make a decision as to the date when local elections will be held?
I would like to raise on the Adjournment the matter of the discontinuance of CIE services to west Tallaght, County Dublin, after 6 p.m. as a result of vandalism against bus crews.
The Chair will communicate with Deputy Taylor.
In view of the fact that tomorrow is 30 November can we have details placed in the Library of the House of the agreement worked out in connection with Clondalkin Paper Mills?
It does not arise on the Order of Business.
It does not arise at all.
I understand how it does not arise in view of the fact that we were told in the House that an arrangement had been worked out with certain conditions attached up to 30 November. As tomorrow is 30 November surely it arises on the Order of Business to ask now when full and final information will be given to the House.
The Chair is not aware that any public undertaking was given to bring it before the House.
The House was "informed"— I would put that word in inverted commas — that a certain deal was taking place which, subject to another company not showing an interest or renewed interest before 30 November, would then become real. In view of the fact that tomorrow is 30 November can we be told what the position is? It is understandable that the Clondalkin workers are anxious to know the real position and whether it was a cooked-up exercise in view of the Dublin by-election.
The Chair regards that as an ad hoc or impromptu question.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the proposed closure of the Wadco factory in Tralee.
The Chair will communicate with Deputy McEllistrim.
(Limerick West): When do the Government intend to restore the grants under the Farm Modernisation Scheme?
That matter will arise in due course in relation to the Estimates.
(Limerick West): We were promised them early in the autumn and it is now winter.
Deputy Daly.
(Interruptions.)
Deputy Fitzgerald should not interrupt Deputy Daly.
I ask the Taoiseach if the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry will make a statement on the closure at Scarriff in view of the very serious situation.
The Deputy knows that that does not arise on the Order of Business.
I ask the Taoiseach——
I have ruled it out of order.
May I ask if means will be made available to Cork County Council for the building of eight houses for the Heather Mills in County Cork which were completely destroyed by fire——
Deputy O'Keeffe, please.
It is very serious.
This is seriously disorderly because Deputy O'Keeffe handed in a question on Private Notice and it was ruled that it was not in order because it was not of sufficient urgency. Now he comes in to ask the very same question.
Seven families are homeless in my constituency, so this is serious.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the decision of the Government to cancel the decentralisation of the Department of Agriculture to Cavan town.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
I would like to raise on the Adjournment the reasons why a citizen of this country, a lady who was confined in Mountjoy, was denied the right to speak to a visitor in the Irish language.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
I would like permission to raise on the Adjournment the report that the Construction Industry Federation have instructed their members to cease sponsoring first-year apprentices at AnCO training centres. I gather that about 1,000 young persons are involved.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the question of the Western Package, especially in view of the fact that the Farm Modernisation Scheme has been suspended and has not been restored.
We have seen the new Bill dealing with landlords and tenants during the weekend. I wish to know if it is the intention of the Minister to circulate an explanatory memorandum.
Limerick East): I will consider the matter and communicate with the Deputy.
With the permission of the Chair, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the apparently exorbitant overcharging by the Department of Posts and Telegraphs to subscribers for a telephone service.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.