It is proposed to take Nos. 1,5,6. By agreement, the Dáil shall sit later than 5.30 p.m. today and not later than 12 midnight. Also by agreement the proceedings on each of the following Bills, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at the time indicated by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall in relation to amendments include only amendments set down by the Member in charge of the Bill. No. 5 Fourth and Fifth Stages, 10.30 p.m. No. 6 Third, Fourth and Fifth Stages 12 midnight. At the conclusion of business today the Dáil shall adjourn until 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 10 October 1984.
Order of Business.
Are the arrangements in relation to sittings and business agreed?
I do not see the Criminal Justice Bill going through the whole day. If it does, it might be reasonable to have a sos from 1.30 p.m. to 2.30 p.m. This point may arise later.
The Whips will make the appropriate arrangements in consultation with the Minister and the spokesman for the Opposition during the course of the day.
On the Order of Business, would the Taoiseach like to comment on the way he misled the House last Friday in making a euphoric statement about the state of the national economy in contrast to the reported shock received by his party Deputies and Senators yesterday following the report by the Minister for Finance on the economic situation?
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
In view of the fact that there is no Question Time to-day, could I ask the Minister for Labour if he intends to intervene in the bus dispute in Phibsboro?
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
I understand we have no opportunity to put down a Private Notice Question.
There is nothing I can do about it.
Can I raise it on the Adjournment?
There is no provision for a question on the Adjournment today.
(Dublin North-West): I want to call on the Minister for Transport to make arrangements to call in the Army to provide some sort of transport service for the public.
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
Will the Taoiseach make a statement about the Bill to legalise independent local radio? As the Taoiseach is aware, on 22 March he informed the House that he would bring the Bill before the House before the summer recess. We are now close to the summer recess and the Bill has not yet been published.
It was my intention and hope that that would happen. I am sorry it has not happened. It would not be possible for the House to deal with that Bill before the summer recess in any event. It will be published shortly.
I should like to ask the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism if he is aware that all legal opinion is that the PMPS have a very winnable case.
That has nothing whatever to do with the Order of Business.
I have no other way of raising this important matter.
Will the Deputy please sit down?
Can I ask the Minister——
You cannot. It has nothing to do with the Order of Business. Please resume your seat.
Is the Minister for Labour aware of a serious industrial dispute at the premises of Skeyghel Ireland, Limited, in Loughrea, County Galway? Will he make a conciliation officer available to investigate and negotiate?
That has nothing to do with the Order of Business.
On the matter of promised legislation, can the Taoiseach tell us if any progress has been made since his last statement to the House with the promised legislation on the take-over by the Bank of Ireland of the Civil Service Building Society?
As I informed the House, discussions are in progress which might render the introduction of the Bill unnecessary. It is our hope that that will be the outcome of the negotiations, which have not yet reached a conclusion.
When the Taoiseach said he hopes it will be unnecessary to introduce legislation, does that mean the Government are giving approval to the take-over by the bank of the building society?
The Government have not given approval to the take-over. If the requirements of the Government in respect to the mutualisation of the society were to be met by agreement, it would not be necessary to bring in legislation to achieve that objective. It is our hope to achieve that. If we do not, we will bring in legislation.
Do the Government agree with the general principle, or do they share my concern about a major banking concern moving into the building society area?
That is not the basic issue.
It is very much so.
The basic issue concerning the Government is the mutualisation of the society. The question of relationships between financial institutions is a matter on which there can be various opinions. There is a school of thought that there could be considerable advantages in greater inter-penetration in circumstances in which the public interest was adequately protected. Our concern is to ensure that the public interest is adequately protected in this instance.
Does the Taoiseach see nothing wrong with the general principle?
I wish to raise on the Adjournment with the Minister for Labour the continuing dispute at the Phibsboro garage.
There is no arrangement available for an Adjournment debate tonight.
In that case, will you permit the Minister for Labour to respond now to my request to him to intervene in the dispute?
I am sorry, but that does not arise on the Order of Business.
In what way can I raise it in the Dáil today?
It cannot be raised today, unfortunately.
I have heard the points that have been raised by the various Deputies and, while not wishing to be out of order, I wish to state that action will be taken.
Will the Minister inform the House if he will agree to meet personally with representatives of depositors in the PMPS which he has refused to do up to now?
I wish to know the latest position with regard to the Bill dealing with local government elections.
The position is that preliminary work is in progress on local government reform with the clear objective and timetable of having it completed so that local elections can take place next June.
Will the Taoiseach inform the House——
Will the Taoiseach agree to meet the new Lord Mayor of Dublin——
Will Deputy Burke please allow Deputy Fahey to proceed with his question?
Will the Taoiseach inform the House when the proposed legislation on raising the criminal age of responsibility to 18 years will be introduced? Further, will he inform the House of the number of items of legislation that were promised before the end of the term but which have not yet been introduced?
The legislation to which the Deputy referred will be introduced early next session.
Will the Minister for Communications or the Minister for Labour state if they intend to introduce an emergency Army transport service into the Finglas area——
It does not arise on the Order of Business.
A commitment was given last week during a debate on the matter.
The Chair has no control over commitments.
Is the Taoiseach aware of the hardship imposed on many people because of the knock-on effects of the dissolution of the PMPS?
I am calling item No. 1.