It is proposed to take Nos. 12 (Vote 21) and 11. By agreement the Dáil shall sit later than 9 p.m. today and not later than 11.30 p.m. and business shall be interrupted at 11 p.m. Also by agreement the question necessary to bring the proceedings on Vote 21 to a conclusion shall be put forthwith and decided without debate provided that if a division is challenged on the Estimate the taking of such division shall be postponed until 8.30 p.m. tomorrow. Vote 21 may be debated in conjunction with the remaining Estimates in the Public Service group. Private Members' Business shall be No. 77.
Order of Business.
Are the arrangements for today's sitting agreed and are the arrangements for a division, should it be challenged on Vote 21, agreed? I take it they are agreed.
I tabled a Private Notice Question asking the Minister for Labour to intervene to settle a strike in the Tuff shoe factory in Killarney town where 100 jobs are in danger.
I ruled that out of order for the reasons given to the Deputy by my Private Secretary.
In view of the fact that the company have served notice on the union that they are winding down operations I should like to ask the Chair to allow me to raise the question.
Does the Deputy wish to make a request?
I am asking the Chair to allow the question in view of the fact that the company have given notice to employees that they will start a winding down operation of the company tomorrow morning.
Does the Deputy mean that he wants me to allow the matter to be raised on the Adjournment?
I should like permission to raise the matter on the Adjournment.
I will consider that and communicate with the Deputy.
I put down a Private Notice Question about the death of a man on the train between Limerick and Dublin and I wanted to know if the Minister for Communications had any comment to make on the inability of anybody to communicate with any person outside the carriage in which the man died except by throwing a piece of paper through the window at Sallins railway station and hoping that the wind would blow it like the Sibyls leaves.
I ruled that out of order and communicated with the Deputy.
All I heard was that it was not accepted.
The Deputy probably heard a bit more than that.
I should like to ask the Taoiseach if he has yet decided on the date the next general election will be held.
I suggest that the Deputy put down a question.
The Deputy should not hold his breath.
I never saw the Government side so demoralised in my life.
Is that all the seats that are left? They are all running for cover.
Demoralised.
I know what that nervous laugh of the Minister means.
The Deputy should.
(Interruptions).
The Opposition have nothing to shout concerning any Member across here.
We will be expecting two seats in East Mayo the next time.
The next time we send the Minister to Australia we will not bring him back.
I should like to raise on the Adjournment the disbanding of the special Garda unit attached to Gurranebraher and Mayfield Garda stations in Cork. That was a retrograde step. Those units were very effective.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I should like to raise on the Adjournment the lack of progress in connection with the opening of Clonmel Foods.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I should like permission to raise on the Adjournment the need for the provision of an all-Irish second level school at Ballymun?
I will communicate with the Deputy. I am calling No. 12, Estimates for the Public Service, 1985, Vote 21 and the Minister to move it without a speech.
I should like to ask the Taoiseach a question.
We have passed the Order of Business. I have called item No. 12.
The matter I wish to raise is of vital importance.
The Deputy should have been on his feet quicker.
I should like to ask the Taoiseach if he will give some indication if he intends to make a statement on the future of Irish Steel.
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
The Deputy will have to bring that matter up at the parliamentary party meeting because the front bench spokesman is asleep.
(Interruptions.)