It is proposed to take items Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 10. Private Members's Business will be No. 56.
Order of Business.
I should like to reiterate a point I have made perhaps three times in the course of the last four weeks. Today again, and for this week's business, there are Bills which will be ordered for Second Stage today, their Second Stages to be taken tomorrow, with Committee, Report and Final Stages then being taken and then they will go to the Seanad and be enacted by the end of the week. While I am happy to do this in some circumstances, nonetheless I am somewhat upset when I hear the Tánaiste and other members of the Government say how successful the Government have been in clearing legislation through the House. It is not the Government who pass legislation here but rather the House. Surely co-operation here is based on every Member of the House endeavouring to render such legislation as effective as possible. If any one Member endeavours to claim credit for that, I take exception, as would other Members on this side of the House.
For a number of weeks past I have been endeavouring to ascertain what legislation will be taken this side of the summer recess so that I could inform our Front Bench spokesmen of what they should be researching and what is coming up for debate. But I do not have any idea. Each Tuesday morning when we meet to discuss this matter I seem always to be saying to the members of our Front Bench, "I do not know what will be taken over the next eight weeks but I can tell you what will be taken in the next 48 hours because there has been a Bill circulated which has been ordered for today, all Stages of which will be taken tomorrow".
Instant coffee.
I think the Taoiseach would agree that such procedure is most unreasonable for a Chief Whip regardless of whoever that may be. While I am glad to agree to today's business perhaps the Taoiseach would endeavour to ensure that this matter is dealt with in a somewhat more courteous manner and that people do not go outside claiming to have done things with which they really had no connection.
I appreciate the co-operation of the Opposition in regard to the legislation before us and I will endeavour to give as much notice as possible of impending legislation. Deputies opposite will be aware of the difficulty of forecasting precisely what legislation will come forward. I would like to give as much notice as possible as long as it is not held against us if something does not come up at the time which was indicated. It is only reasonable that the Opposition should be given as much notice as possible.
The Minister for Communications said that he would send me replies to certain matters which I raised when the Estimate was taken. He said he would send me information within a few days. When will I get the information?
It is on its way.
Will the Taoiseach confirm if the Government have abandoned their proposal to publish a White Paper on housing? If this is so, will he inform the House why this decision was arrived at?
I will not make an ad hoc statement on this without considering it further. I will take it that the Deputy has given me notice of this and will come back to it.
I asked the Taoiseach if the Government have decided to abandon their proposal to publish a White Paper on housing.
I will come back to the Deputy on that and give him the necessary information.
This matter was raised last week. The Tánaiste took the question but was not aware of the Government's position. His secretary contacted me and informed me that it was not the Government's intention to proceed with the publication of the White Paper. I am asking the Taoiseach, who must have participated in the government decision, to give the reasons for this to the House. Surely he is aware that there is a serious housing crisis. This move by the Government is a clear indication that they do not intend to take any action.
I cannot allow a debate on this.
If the Deputy wishes to know the reasons for action I will let him know in due course but I do not wish to ad lib on the subject.
Obviously the Taoiseach does not know.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of my Private Notice Question which was disallowed today. It referred to the recently reported pollution of the Liffey between Newbridge and Clane, County Kildare.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment my Private Notice Question which was disallowed. It sought to obtain from the Minister some guarantee of continuing employment at Gentex 1975, Athlone.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
When will the Children Bill come before the House?
This question was asked last week.
I answered that last week.
When will the House be informed about the Children Bill? The Criminal Justice Bill is now before the House and there are items in that Bill which are relevant to children.
There will be more than one Children's Bill and the first will be before the House after the Easter recess.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of question No. 375 of 3 April relating to the appointment of a paediatrician at the general hospital, Portlaoise.
I will communicate with the Deputy.