It is proposed to take items Nos. 1, 4, and 5. By agreement, it is proposed, that notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, statements in relation to the Action Programme for Education may be made at the conclusion of item 5, subject to (1) with the exception of the Minister for Education no Member shall make more than one statement; (2) the statements of the opening speakers for the Government and Opposition parties shall not exceed 60 minutes; (3) the statement of each subsequent speaker shall not exceed 30 minutes; (4) if at 7 p.m. the statements are in progress, business will be interrupted to take No. 16 (Private Members' Business) and the statements will not be resumed thereafter today. Private Members' Business will be No. 16 (resumed).
Order of Business.
Are the arrangements, as announced, for the making of statements on the Action Programme for Education agreed?
Agreed.
I understand it is proposed to take item No. 8.
On the Order of Business, Sir——
We can still raise questions on the Order of Business——
We will clear items Deputies wish to raise before going on to item No. 8.
I wish to raise on the Order of Business the matter of a very important document dealing with wages, salaries and incomes generally which apparently has been circulated to some bodies and organisations in the country, an account of which appears in the public press this morning but which has not been given to Deputies. I should be grateful, if the Minister involved could offer some explanation to the House or tell us what exactly is the position in regard to this document.
It does not arise on the Order of Business, Deputy Haughey.
Where does it arise then? It is such an extraordinary matter that some explanation should be offered to the House. Apparently it is a document of pretty fundamental importance to the running of the economy and to the level of salaries, wages and incomes in the coming year. A full account of it is given in most of the papers this morning.
If I may intervene for a moment, Deputy. If Deputy Haughey is asking why it has not been circulated to Deputies I will allow that question but I will not allow any discussion or debate on it.
The document relating to employment is one that has been circulated—arising from discussions last week with the social partners — to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and to the employers' organisations as an indication of the Government's views and as a basis for discussion. It was agreed that it would be sent to them, that it would, in the first instance, be sent to them privately rather than published to enable them to give consideration to it.
Would the Taoiseach indicate whether the version of it that appears, particularly in the Irish Press this morning, is correct? Secondly, now that it has appeared in the national press could we, as Deputies, perhaps have a look at it or be given some indication of what is in it? We would have an interest in a matter like this.
There are speculative stories in this morning's papers. I have not examined or correlated them and I am not in a position to indicate to what extent the speculations have any basis. But the fact that such a document was to be sent emerged from one of the social partners — the press knew about that — and there is inevitably speculation as to its contents.
I want to press the Taoiseach a little on this. In the interests of the dignity and status of the House — now that apparently the document has been leaked, and that a fairly substantial account of it has been given in the newspapers with fairly serious repercussions — does the Taoiseach not think that as a matter of simple courtesy at the very least Deputies of this House should now be given a copy of the document?
I do not think that the process of consultation with the social partners would necesarily be helped by breaching the arrangement made with them, that we would send them a document for their consideration in accordance with procedures that have been adopted in the past by Governments at different times. I would think that, for the moment, the matter should be left there.
I want to ask the Taoiseach to reflect on this and then perhaps give us some information about it later on during the day because the situation at present is one that we can hardly be expected to tolerate.
I have been reasonable.
I accept you have been very reasonable. I might just make this final point, that a version of the document is now given in the national press. That has apparently excited a great deal of comment and agitation in various quarters. In those circumstances — even though the document was first of all given in confidence to the social partners — surely the Taoiseach should accept that the situation has now changed and, even if he has to seek the consent of the social partners for the process, I think he should now arrange to circulate the document to Deputies.
I would have to examine the papers and see to what extent the speculation in them is anything other than speculation. However, I will reflect on what the Deputy has said and recognise his legitimate concern with regard to the matter.
With the permission of the Chair, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the closure of Avair and the consequential job losses and also the seriousness of the closure in regard to the economic, industrial and tourist life of Cork in particular.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
(Limerick West): Will the Taoiseach state when we are likely to have legislation on land leasing?
I am not sure I can give the Deputy a date at this stage.
This is the way we do our business now.
I think Deputies might give notice beforehand. In view of the number of Bills pending it is not possible for me to retain in my head the date for every Bill. I understand it will probably be in March.
Will the Tánaiste state if he has been in contact with the Cork Gas Company——
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
May I raise on the Adjournment——
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I have not told the Chair yet what I wish to raise. With the permission of the Chair, I should like to raise on the Adjournment the matter of gas service in Cork city in view of the announced redundancies in the Cork Gas Company.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
With the permission of the Chair, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the serious position that exists at Irish Biscuits, Tallaght, which has been announced this morning and of which the Government had been made aware. The workers have not received any communication from any of the Ministers concerned.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
With the permission of the Chair, I should like to raise on the Adjournment the same matter as mentioned by Deputy Walsh.
You are like rats leaving the sinking ship.
With the permission of the Chair, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the matter of regional water schemes and grants in Cavan-Monaghan.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
Now that the Taoiseach has the legislative programme in front of him, will he indicate what company law legislation he proposes in this term?
Several Bills are proposed.
I am referring to the legislation dealing with limited liability.
It would be better if Deputies gave notice with regard to questions. I am more than happy to assist Deputies but it is a waste of the time of the House if one has to look up each Bill and attempt to assess it.
Will the Taoiseach's office communicate with me on the matter?
Yes, of course. I will do so quite happily.