It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 2, 3 and 4. By agreement, and notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, the speech of every Member contributing to the debate on item No. 3 shall not exceed 15 minutes with the exception of the Minister of State at the Department of Finance who shall speak for not more than 30 minutes. Also by agreement, if a division is challenged on item No. 4 today the taking of such a division shall be postponed until 8.30 p.m. next Wednesday.
Order of Business.
Are the arrangements for taking today's business agreed?
Yes.
On the Order of Business, I notice that we have neither the Taoiseach nor the Tánaiste here this morning. I should like to draw your attention, Sir, to at least an implication in the Constitution that the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste should not be absent from the country at the same time. It is extraordinary that the Tánaiste should find it appropriate at this time to go on a junket to the United States——
That cannot be raised on the Order of Business.
——when this country is falling apart. That by the way, may I ask the acting head of the Government, Minister Bruton, if it is proposed to provide time in any shape or form today for the House to discuss what is probably the most single important matter——
We had this twice yesterday. I ask the Deputy not to start a debate on the matter now.
I will not start a debate on it but the question of bank and mortgage interest rates is of crucial importance at the present time, not least because the document Building on Reality was based——
I cannot allow this.
I will not pursue the matter. I will leave it to the commonsense of the House to understand the importance of the matter. As you know, it was suggested yesterday that the Whips should get together and try to come to some agreement. As I understand it, no agreement has been forthcoming between the Whips. The Chair ruled out Private Members' Questions on it. I should like to ask the Government what, if any, arrangements they can make for the House to discuss this crucially important matter today.
I will allow a yes or no but I will not allow a debate on the matter.
The Tánaiste, to whom the Leader of the Opposition referred, is in the United States on industrial development business and I am confident the results will be of considerable assistance to the country. As to the request made by the Opposition for a debate on interest rates, the Opposition have already indicated their agreement to the Order of Business for today which concerns three other matters——
We do not have to have agreement to the Order of Business, only to certain arrangements for taking it.
The position is that the Government have considered this request and they do not think a debate of the kind sought by the Opposition would be either appropriate or helpful in view of the statutory functions conferred by this House on the Central Bank in relation to the management of interest rates.
I am not going to enter into any disputation. The Minister referred to a debate of the kind sought by the Opposition. We are not wedded to any particular form of debate. We would settle for a Private Notice Question. We would be prepared to have a short one, two or three hour discussion or we would be prepared to settle for a statement to the House by the Minister for Finance to which party leaders could reply. I suggest to the Government that this is a matter of great urgency and of deep concern to many people. It is obvious that if bank interest rates rise mortgage interest rates will also rise. Surely because of its fundamental importance——
The Deputy assured me he was not going to start a debate.
Do not be surprised at that.
Because of the importance of the matter the House in some way should take cognisance of this important development.
I am sorry I cannot help. I am calling Item No. 2.
In the view of the serious statements that have been made by Mr. Frank Chao of Hong Kong with regard to Irish Shipping, will the Government please let the House know now exactly what is the alternative to liquidation and will they postpone the relevant date? It is a very serious matter.
It does not arise on the Order of Business.
I know the Ceann Comhairle very well. I know he has the interest of the country at heart. Would the Government please make some effort to arrange that this matter would be discussed seriously before it is written off?
I know Deputy Wilson very well and have considerable respect for him. He is an energetic man and I suggest that he would direct some of his energy to changing the procedure of the House so that he could attain his object. I can only work within Standing Orders.
I wish to ask if the Government are satisfied that they have discharged their statutory obligations to the House in regard to the Irish Shipping legislation.
This does not arise in this way. Difficult and all as my task is, that is the task that has been given to me.
You are Chairman of the House and you have a fundamental responsibility to ensure that the House and its authority will not be by-passed. Therefore, I am asking you if the Minister for Finance, particularly, would lay before the House details of the guarantees given by the Minister for Finance under the Irish Shipping Act?
It does not arise in this way.
We have no means of knowing whether the legal obligation of the Government to the House——
You will have to find some other way.
It is important that the Government would let us know the legal basis——
In regard to the Protection of Employees Bill I should like to ask——
That business is before the Seanad.
In view of the fact that there is concern about the wages due to employees of Irish Shipping would it not be possible to suggest the speedy passage of this Bill through both Houses?
It is before the Seanad and we have no control over it.
Does Deputy Mitchell not know that Deputy Séan Barrett is Chief Whip of the Fine Gael Party and that he can address questions like that to him?
(Interruptions.)
Order.
Now that this saga of the Mitchell family is over could I ask the Acting Deputy Leader of Fine Gael what has happened to the six month old promise of the Taoiseach to have legislation introduced — we promised its speedy passage — to provide a free port for Cork? Why has there been such a delay in the preparation of such a simple piece of legislation?
I am happy to be able to tell the House that the Minister for Communications is having intensive work done in the preparation of the legislation. The legislation is important from the point of view of Cork.
On the same subject, could I ask the Deputy Leader of Fine Gael——
There is no such position.
—— when will we have before us that legislation which would be of such benefit to Cork?
The legislation is obviously of considerable moment in its drafting. It will innovate something which we have not had in this form before and therefore care must be taken by the Minister concerned in drafting it. It will be introduced immediately it is ready.
When will the local radio Bill come before the House? The Acting Leader of the Government may remember that the Taoiseach promised the Bill on two or three occasions. Now we are only two weeks before the Christmas recess——
I am not in a position to give the Deputy the information he is seeking, without notice. I will arrange to have any information available communicated to the Deputy during the day.
Was the Bill before the Cabinet or is there a major dispute between Labour and Fine Gael?
The Deputy has a question on the Order Paper about this.
It is not the custom to discuss in the House matters that were discussed in Cabinet.
It will never be brought in because the Government will not be coming back after Christmas.
I am trying to deal with the business of the House. If I am not allowed I have only one option.
Would the Minister tell the House if the absence of legislation on the duty free port has in any way affected the IDA programme——
That is not in order.
Yesterday I tried to raise by Private Notice Question the present position in regard to Irish Shipping. You asked me to raise it in another manner. Perhaps you would give me the benefit of your wisdom and guide me as to how I might get some indication from the Government of what the position is.
I referred the Deputy to Standing Orders.
I should like to ask the Acting Leader of the Government whether a receiver has been appointed to Verolme Dockyard.
That does not arise on the Order of Business. We had it yesterday.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the question of marine studies in the Regional Technical College, Cork.
Would you allow a yes or no reply from the Minister for Communications regarding the provision of a ferry service for Cork? We have been waiting for this decision for months. It is very unfair to the House.
It does not arise. I am calling No. 2.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment——
We are on Item No. 2.