It is proposed to take No. 5 and to take No. 65 in Private Members' time.
Order of Business.
Can the Taoiseach inform the House as to what progress, if any, he made during the long trip back from India with the British Prime Minister in regard to the time, format and agenda of the meeting he proposes having with her in regard to Northern Ireland?
I am not sure whether that is in order.
It is a simple question to the Taoiseach.
I will allow an answer to the question.
There was no discussion of the matter.
What was the Taoiseach doing during that time — watching films?
During the trip both of us had work to do but we did have an opportunity to have dinner together. There was no discussion of what the Deputies are envisaging.
Would the Taoiseach ask the Minister for the Public Service to place before the Dáil, for information purposes, details of the agreement with the British Government on the exchange of civil servants, especially in regard to which Departments are involved? Also what steps are proposed in order to ensure the security of the State and which grades of civil servants are to be involved?
That does not arise on the Order of Business. I understand that there is a question concerning the matter on the Order Paper.
The information to which the Deputy refers has been available in the Library since the 24th of last month.
It is for information purposes I am requesting that the agreement be laid before the House or be placed in the Library.
If the Deputy had looked in the Library for the agreement at any time since 24 October, he would have found it.
I looked there for it only 20 minutes ago.
Is the Taoiseach aware of the attempts being made by agents of the British courts to involve Ireland in the National Union of Miners dispute and would he make a statement on whether he considers this to be an interference with the sovereignty of the State?
That does not arise on the Order of Business. It does not arise at all.
It is a question of whether this State should involve itself in the NUM dispute and one which has a bearing on the hundreds of thousands of people in Britain who are involved in what is now an eight-month old strike.
The Deputy is aware that the matter was ruled out of order today on the basis that it is a matter for the courts.
I propose to raise on the Adjournment the position regarding our submission to the EC for an extension of the severely handicapped areas.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the question of the prolonged strike at the New Ireland Assurance Company.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
I should like to raise on the Adjournment the matter of the proposed development of Greencastle Harbour.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
Can the Taoiseach give an assurance that in regard to the promised legislation on the reform of industrial relations, no industrial dispute that may be in progress in another country may be brought to the Irish courts?
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
It is a matter of industrial relations legislation.
The Deputy seeks to go into detail on legislation that has been promised. If the Chair were to allow that, we could have a hypothetical Committee Stage on every Bill that was promised. That would amount to an absurdity.
Is the Bill hypothetical?
Mr. Cowen
I should like to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of a Private Notice Question that I have not been allowed but which is of major importance to my area. I refer to the proposal for a detention centre at Kinnity Castle, County Offaly.
The Chair will communicate with Deputy Cowan.
I should like to raise on the Adjournment what steps, if any, the Government intend taking to ensure that no loss of social welfare benefits will be suffered by any family as a consequence of the European equality directive.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.