It is proposed to take Nos. 1, 10, 11 and 12. By agreement, proceedings on the Second Stage of No. 10 shall be brought to a conclusion not later than 7 p.m. today and the Minister for Social Welfare shall be asked to conclude at 6.40 p.m. Private Members' Business will be No. 25.
Order of Business.
Are the arrangements for item No. 10 agreed? Agreed.
Will the Minister for Communications have an opportunity today to report to the House on the unofficial strike at Limerick sorting office——
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
The Minister may have had an opportunity on his ballooning trip yesterday to drop into Limerick sorting office. I wish to raise on the Adjournment the serious situation which has developed as a result of the dispute in the sorting office in Limerick.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the question of whether any progress has been made in discussions between the Post Office Workers' Union and the Minister for Social Welfare in relation to resolving the dispute affecting the delivery of social welfare cheques in the Dublin north-west area.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the serious situation existing in prisons where people who have been sentenced to serve six months are released within a week.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment attacks on the elderly in the north-west and west.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the question of the continuation of the rescue scheme for farmers in financial difficulties.
I will communicate with Deputy Walsh.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the proposed curtailment of VHI services.
I will communicate with Deputy Manning.
Could I ask the acting Taoiseach if he could now tell us the date of the local elections in view of the many promises that have been made in that respect?
I cannot give a precise date. The Deputy knows that although the local elections must be held in June, the precise date has not been decided by the Government.
The Minister is aware that we have been given an assurance by the Taoiseach——
I allowed a question but I cannot allow an argument.
Could I ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that the Taoiseach informed the House before Christmas that local authority house rents would be increased by 1 January 1985?
That is another question. I cannot allow these items on the Order of Business.
This information was given to the House and I want to ask——
We are trying to order Second Stage of a Local Government Bill.
Deputy Molloy is very anxious to see rents increased.
I want to know what is happening, as tenants are in a very awkward position. The Taoiseach made statements in this regard on two occasions but nothing has happened since. It is a very unsatisfactory situation.