It is proposed to take Nos. 9 and 10. Private Members' Business will be No. 75.
Order of Business.
Where is the Taoiseach and why is it that he is not in the House to discharge his responsibility on the Order of Business?
He was poisoned with salt in tea.
I hope the Taoiseach is not putting local election campaigning before his duties in the House.
The House should be aware that the Taoiseach has left the country to go to the signing of the accession of Portugal and Spain into the EC.
Is he the only Head of State doing that?
I hope the Leader of the Opposition does not get jet lag this time when the Taoiseach is out of the country.
He would go anywhere and do anything to get away from his responsibility.
I hope he does not look for a lift home.
I should like permission to raise on the Adjournment the serious difficulties facing the saw milling industry with particular reference to the threat to 50 jobs at the Woodfab factory in Mountrath, County Laois.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
With the permission of the Chair, I should like to raise on the Adjournment the position in regard to special funding through the Department of Health for 21 year old Olive Fitzgerald from Tralee who is suffering from a very rare disease which cannot be treated here. As a result she has been referred to the Mayo Clinic in the US.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
Two weeks ago I received an assurance from the Taoiseach that the workers, members of the IPU, belonging to the Irish Press Group, would receive social welfare benefits.
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
Will the Tánaiste indicate if anything can be done about that? The responsible Minister is present. The workers concerned are not receiving any benefit.
The matter does not arise on the Order of Business.
When does the Tánaiste expect to be able to bring before the House the complicated Tara-Bula deal at present being negotiated?
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
That was a cheap shot. Where has the Deputy been for the last hour and a half?