It is proposed to take No. 9. By agreement and not withstanding anything in Standing Order No. 123 (1) and the order made on 15 December 1982, the divisions demanded on the Estimates for the Public Services, 1984 — Votes 28 and 47 — will be postponed until 8.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 28 March 1984. Private Members' Business will be Nos. 19 and 58.
Order of Business.
Are the arrangements for the taking of divisions on Votes 28 and 47 agreed? Agreed.
I wish to know why the Chair ruled out of order a very important Private Notice Question which I had tabled to the Minister for Communications regarding the jamming of a broadcasting station in Dublin by RTE. I wish to know if the Minister approved of the action by RTE in the circumstances.
The Deputy insists on being out of order. I ruled the question out of order because it did not meet the criteria laid down in the relevant Standing Order for Private Notice Questions. It is as simple as that.
Is the Chair aware that the Minister has communicated to Fine Gael Deputies a certain line in relation to the jamming of Radio Sunshine——
I am not prepared to allow a discussion on the matter. It does not arise now.
The Minister is taking action and it should be discussed here.
It does not arise now. I am calling Deputy Leonard.
With the permission of the Chair, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the danger of the spread of fowl pest from Britain by the movement of vehicles between Britain and here and also between Northern Ireland and here.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
With the permission of the Chair, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the matter just raised by Deputy Leyden. I had a Private Notice Question last Thursday which was also disallowed regarding the jamming of Radio Sunshine.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
There is another matter I should like to raise, namely, the unsatisfactory reply to a question relating to community policing in the Finglas area and the resources necessary for it.
I do not think it is in order to give notice of intention to raise more than one matter on the Adjournment.
I understand there have been occasions when eminent Independents have had up to seven matters listed for attention.
On the Order of Business, I wish to ask the Taoiseach if he will make available to Cork Deputies a copy of the report prepared and submitted last week by the Government-appointed task force to examine job creation in the Cork region?
That does not arise now.
I should like to know why my Private Notice Question was disallowed regarding the making available of timber to the home-grown timber factory at Fermoy. My reason for putting down the question was because of the delaying tactics of the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry in agreeing a tender——
It is not in order for the Deputy to make a statement. I ruled it out because it was not in order.
With the permission of the Chair, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the matter of the nonaction of the Government with regard to the report.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
As the Minister is in the House, will he confirm he has indicated it was not the wish of the Government that RTE should jam Radio Sunshine.
That is not in order.
The Minister has so indicated. There would be no need to raise it if the Minister would indicate the position to the House.
The Minister has no extra rights in so far as Standing Orders are concerned than any other Member.
With the permission of the Chair, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the request by the Minister for the Environment to Dublin County Council to accept up to 500 tonnes of asbestos waste which is listed as toxic and dangerous by the EEC when this waste was refused entry into the United Kingdom, the traditional area for disposal. In view of the imminent danger of the first load arriving, I wish to raise this very serious matter on the Adjournment.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to ask the Minister for the Environment why he refused to grant Donegal £2.5 million and, secondly, I wish to ask the Taoiseach why the historic province of Ulster has been completely ignored in the tentative itinerary of President Reagan? Will the Taoiseach use his influence and ensure that the problems of Ulster and particularly Donegal, are not ignored——
I will communicate with the Deputy on his request to raise the matter on the Adjourment.
Will the Chair ask the Taoiseach to communicate with me in regard to the matter?
(Dublin North-West): I wish to ask the Taoiseach a question regarding the introduction of legislation that will enable pirate radios to operate under licence.
It does not arise now. The Deputy did not give notice——
(Dublin North-West): I am entitled to a reply.
We do not intend to bring in legislation to license pirate radios but legislation in respect of local and community radio will be introduced and it is hoped to have it enacted before the summer recess.
Will the Taoiseach confirm that RTE are in breach of the airwave regulations at the moment in jamming Radio Sunshine.
That does not arise. I allowed a question that asked when legislation would be introduced but I will not allow a debate on the matter.