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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 29 Jan 1985

Vol. 355 No. 4

Order of Business.

It is proposed to take Nos. 3, 4, 9 and 1. By agreement, Private Members' Business shall not be taken this week.

Is it agreed that Private Members' Business will not be taken this week? Agreed.

May I ask the Taoiseach whether in view of recent statements by the Minister for Communications on the Ballyfermot shooting incident——

I had a question from Deputy Ahern——

——in which the Minister——

——and I——

Wait, let me finish.

I ruled it out of order.

The Minister pre-empted the functions of the Garda, the DPP and the courts.

The Deputy knows that I ruled this question as not in order for Private Notice.

Would the Taoiseach not consider it appropriate to make a full statement to this House on the matter and to say in that statement whether he agrees with the Minister——

Deputy Lenihan is being disorderly.

——and what he proposes to do about it?

Deputy Lenihan should not proceed. I am appealing to Deputy Lenihan to obey the Chair.

An Irish Government——

Deputy Lenihan should not ignore the Chair. Deputy Lenihan is being disorderly.

The Taoiseach realises that this is important.

Deputy Lenihan is being grossly disorderly. If he does not resume his seat I will——

How in this House is it possible to get fair play? The Deputy proceeded to ask this question and persisted with it——

(Interruptions.)

——knowing, Sir, that you would not allow me to answer it and could not in order allow me to answer it. I am afraid that he was permitted to continue.

The Chair can only do his best.

(Interruptions.)

I am asking you, Sir, that, in any instance where you are not going to allow me to respond as it would be disorderly, you would prevent the question being asked rather than allow it to be asked.

I will consider, Taoiseach, if I can devise or think of any way of bringing a speech to an end.

It would be difficult to get the Taoiseach out of his problems.

Let me ask the Taoiseach when it is proposed to introduce the legislation promised last session to legislate for the control of the testing of drugs on human beings.

I could not give the Deputy an answer to that offhand. It is in preparation but I cannot give him a date for it. I will communicate with him.

With your permission, Sir, I am seeking to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of the detention of a family or families as reported on a news bulletin at 1.30 p.m. today and the perceived breakdown in law and order. I would ask the Minister——

I will communicate with Deputy Andrews.

It gives the Taoiseach an opportunity of replying to the charge——

That is disorderly. The Deputy has given the Chair notice that he wants to raise it on the Adjournment.

Would the Taoiseach or any member of the Government make a statement in relation to the breakdown of law and order? It is a simple request. The Government talk about the economy and everything but they will not talk about the breakdown of law and order.

Deputy Andrews is not in order.

May I raise it on the Adjournment?

The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.

When does the Taoiseach propose to implement the EC Directive promised in the last session on equalisation of social welfare benefits? I understand we are over a month behind on it now. Will we be brought to the courts over it? What is the position?

There is an Order for Second Stage.

There is a Bill on the Order Paper about that.

I had a Private Notice Question down today. I wish to ask your permission to raise it on the Adjournment.

The Chair will communicate with Deputy McEllistrim.

In view of the importance of a car ferry to the south-west and the fact that the Government committed themselves to support it by giving £500,000, let me ask the Taoiseach what is very important now——

It is not in order.

My question is to ask the Taoiseach if he will now instruct B & I or ICL to operate that ferry and give them the £500,000 to do it.

Deputy Lyons is out of order.

This is the first time I have been ruled out of order. I ask the Taoiseach to ensure that we have a car ferry service for the south-west this year, 1985.

The Deputy must resume his seat.

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