It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 11; Private Members' Business will be No. 76.
Order of Business.
On the Order of Business, I should like to ask the Tánaiste and the Minister for Communications to confirm or deny that the draft Bill leaked to the RTE programme "This Week" is a copy of the draft Bill that is allegedly before the Cabinet at this stage.
That does not arise on the Order of Business. I am ruling it out of order.
Will the Minister state if he is carrying out an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the leaking of this document——
We have just had one hour of questions.
Will the Minister confirm if it was one of the national handlers or himself who leaked the document to RTE to try to embarrass the Labour Party——
I am ruling the Deputy out of order.
RTE know who leaked it. It was not leaked from this side of the House.
The Minister probably leaked the document himself.
Order, I am calling Deputy Mac Giolla.
Section 2 of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act, 1985, which was passed three months ago is due to expire next week on my calculations. Will the Tánaiste state if it is intended to renew that section and, in view of the short time given for discussion of the Bill, will there be a full discussion on renewal of that section next week?
In relation to the measure referred to by the Deputy, I am not in a position to answer his question but I will communicate with him.
In relation to the Bill dealing with independent local radio, will the Tánaiste inform the House if the Bill will be brought before the House? Will he also state if it is being considered by the Government? It is an absolute scandal the way this matter is being treated.
I will allow the Deputy to ask the question. He can relax.
To allay the Deputy's anxiety, I can inform him it is hoped that the Bill will be before the House before the summer recess.
Will the Tánaiste state if the Bill has been approved by the Cabinet? I want to get a simple answer, either yes or no.
No.
With the permission of the Chair I wish to raise on the Adjournment the worsening situation in Nicaragua arising from recent events.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
With the permission of the Chair, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the efforts which the Minister for Agriculture is making to ensure that the price to be paid for milk is based on the percentage of butter fat contained in it.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
Will the Tánaiste say what action the Government are taking on the Ombudsman's report, particularly the recommendations made with regard to amending legislation in connection with social welfare and a number of other proposals he made.
I do not think that arises on the Order of Business.
I am asking the question on the basis of amendments to the social welfare legislation. I wish to know if anything has happened in regard to the promised legislation.
As far as the Chair is aware, I do not think any legislation has been promised.
We have had three debates on the matter. The Minister for the Public service stated that when the report was issued the Government would consider urgently what they could do with the recommendations.
There are two separate aspects to the question. One is that it is a matter for the Whips to decide when the report will be discussed by the Dáil and, secondly, it is a matter for the appropriate Ministers to bring forward any amending legislation on the basis of any report that is published.
For over 12 months the Taoiseach has been promising me that very shortly legislation to deal with the Cork freeport would be brought before the House. That has not been done so far. I ask the Tánaiste once again when it is intended to do this. I am sure we can anticipate hearing about it before the local elections.
The legislation should be circulated this month, well in advance of the local elections.
With the permission of the Chair, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the dramatic increase in unemployment in County Wexford and the case for designating that county as a disaster area in need of special attention.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.