It is proposed to take Nos. 19 and 20. By agreement item No. 20 will be taken at 3.45 p.m. today if not reached earlier. Also by agreement at the conclusion of business today the Dáil shall adjourn until 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 30 October 1985.
Order of Business.
Are the arrangements for taking item No. 20 and for the Adjournment agreed?
Deputies
Agreed.
On the Order of Business, let me ask the Taoiseach what is the position in regard to the publication of the Book of Estimates this year.
Examination of the Estimates is continuing and the Government will present them to the Dáil as soon as possible after the completion of this examination. It is not possible to indicate a date at this time.
I did not hear what the Taoiseach said.
I heard him perfectly clearly.
I am sorry if Deputy Haughey has such a difficulty with his hearing.
(Interruptions.)
Examination of the Estimates is continuing and the Government will present them to the Dáil as soon as possible after completion of the examination. It is not possible at this stage to indicate a likely date.
The Taoiseach will recall that this Government made a firm commitment at one stage in their erratic career to have the Book of Estimates published in time to be debated fully during this session of the Dáil. The Taoiseach will recall that last year the Book of Estimates was published on 15 November.
I cannot hear.
The Taoiseach is becoming increasingly incoherent and unintelligible but I will endeavour to ask my question. It is a fact——
Deputy Haughey, please.
(Interruptions.)
The Taoiseach stated solemnly across the floor of this House that examination of the Book of Estimates has been started by the Government.
The work on the Estimates is proceeding. I have told the Deputy that.
Has the examination of the Estimates started by the Government?
Yes, it has started and is proceeding at present.
Can the Taoiseach then give me some specific date when the Book of Estimates will be published?
No, I told the Deputy that quite loudly.
He cannot at this stage indicate when we will have the Book of Estimates?
For the third time, no.
Will it be in this session?
Indeed it will.
He cannot tell me that it will be before the Dáil rises.
The Deputy asked for a specific date and I told him that I could not give it to him. They will be published, of course, during this session.
They will be published in this session?
Yes.
We know that the Government have not started work on the Estimates.
(Interruptions.)
More backstairs tittle tattle.
Could I have order please?
I do not know what the Minister for Finance is saying. I tell him that they have not started work on the Book of Estimates.
(Interruptions.)
I appeal to all sides of the House to make the Chair's work a little easier.
(Interruptions.)
I wish we were not engaged in it. It is not pleasant work.
We must welcome this new quality that has been developed by the Taoiseach. He is becoming a simple man instead of a complicated man. On behalf of the founder members and shareholders of Bula Mines, let me ask the Taoiseach to state in the House what the position is with our property out there, if the receiver, about whom we have heard for the last two weeks, has been activated and if he has taken charge of the company and their assets.
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
On behalf of the shareholders here and outside this House, we have property which is supposed to be in receivership for two weeks——
Deputy Reynolds knows perfectly well that that is not in order.
I do not know that it is not in order. We have a Minister for Energy in the House and I ask him please to tell me what the score is.
We have a great deal of other business to do. Let me ask the Taoiseach what the position is about further elaboration in this House on the hotchpotch cobbled together in the economic statement he made yesterday. Is it all going to be announced by press conference, by the handlers outside this House, or is this House to have an opportunity to discuss it?
The Deputy knows that if he wishes to have a debate in this House the matter can be discussed between the Whips in the ordinary way.
It has been discussed by the Whips.
What is the Deputy complaining about?
It has been discussed by the Whips but there has been no decision, and our information is that these Ministers, as usual in the hands of the handlers, propose to make all the important announcements today at press conferences. Is that the position?
(Interruptions.)
The Deputy should discuss this with his Whip, who is beside him there.
I am asking the Taoiseach whether an announcement of any significance in regard to this matter will be made outside the House today?
I understand that normal consultations are taking place and I am sure that a debate could be arranged if that is what the Deputy wishes.
The Taoiseach has not answered my question. Will Ministers give press conferences outside the House today about this statement, such as it is?
They will give any clarification necessary in accordance with normal procedures. Yesterday I considered it courteous to give to the House by way of a statement the outline of all the main features but that seems to have caused some perturbation on the other side of the House. They did not seem to like the statement at all. Sorry about that. If they wish to have the matter debated next week that can be arranged but it is a matter for the Whips.
The Taoiseach is becoming increasingly unintelligible.
On a point of order, is the Taoiseach aware that last evening the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism indicated that there would be a debate in the House on these measures?
That is not a point of order.
(Interruptions.)
I appeal to Members to behave calmly. I am appealing to all Deputies in this matter.
Is new legislation to be brought before the House regarding the appointment of the sheriffs he mentioned in his statement yesterday?
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
It concerns future legislation and is very important.
We cannot have a sheriff without first swearing him in.
Can the Taoiseach let us know in general terms the powers these sheriffs will have, whether they will be confined to the collection of outstanding income tax, as the Taoiseach indicated, and is he aware that an interdepartmental committee are sitting to consider this area but have not yet reported? The belief is that the county registrars could do this work if they were provided with adequate staff.
The latter part of the Deputy's question is not in order because it goes into the matter in detail. I will allow the question of whether the introduction of legislation is proposed.
As I indicated yesterday, some legislation may be necessary at some point in regard to the powers of the sheriffs.
You very kindly allocated time last night to allow me to raise on the Adjournment the matter of the closure of MacCormack's products, Killeshandra, County Cavan, but the vote deprived me of that opportunity. Consequently, I am asking the Chair's indulgence regarding allowing me to raise the issue on the Adjournment of the House today.
The Chair will consider the matter and will communicate with the Deputy.
In view of the announcement of a further increase of 5 per cent in the price of bread, can the Taoiseach say whether it is intended to reintroduce price controls? Bread has increased in price by 50 per cent in 12 months, that is, from 47p to 68p.
This does not arise on the Order of Business.
I am asking whether it is intended to reintroduce the price controls because they are essential if we are to control the price of this basic food.
The Deputy is out of order.
If price controls are not to be reintroduced, has the Taoiseach any other plan to deal with this area?
I have told the Deputy that the matter does not arise on the order of Business.
The issue is very important.
I am not disputing the importance of the issue but the Deputy must find another way of raising it.
Surely a simple question is the obvious way of eliciting the information.
Yesterday I asked the Taoiseach a question regarding the arrangements for the inauguration of Gaisce but I was not very successful in my efforts. Therefore, I am asking him again, since a ceremony in this regard is to be held on Monday next, if he will make a statement to the House about this very important scheme and give us some indication of what might happen in regard to it.
I do not propose to make any statement on the matter.
This is something that——
I allowed the question although I was doubtful as to whether it was in order.
——would attract all party agreement and support. It is on that basis that schemes of this sort are introduced. So far as we are concerned we know nothing about this scheme except that some ceremony regarding it is to take place on Monday.
A Fianna Fáil Minister of State introduced a memo on the subject about four years ago.
The Taoiseach must give some information about the scheme.
The Chair is ruling that the question cannot be raised in this way.
Perhaps you would guide me as to how the Taoiseach might be directed to say something about some issue and to say it in a coherent, intelligible and audible manner.
Deputy Haughey is as experienced in these matters as I am and I am sure he will find a way out of his difficulty.
If I cannot smoke the Taoiseach out on this piece of politicisation, I should like to raise on the Adjournment this evening — that is with all due deference to Deputy Wilson — the subject matter of Question No. 38 on yesterday's Order Paper.
My request was in first.
I have no wish to be involved in that formidable contest but I shall consider the matter and communicate with the Deputy.
Prior to the summer recess the Taoiseach promised that legislation would be introduced in this session relating to the reform of local government in the Dublin area and to the regularisation of a situation whereby there are 78 members of Dublin County Council. Prior to the election there was a promise to break up the council into three councils. Does it remain the Taoiseach's intention to introduce the relevant legislation in this session and can he tell us what stage communications have reached in regard to the preparation of that legislation?
The legislation is in course of preparation. I thought I promised the legislation for the first session after Christmas but as usual I am willing to be corrected should I be proved wrong.
It was promised for the autumn session. I can let the Taoiseach have the reference if he so wishes.
When will the Local Radio Bill be before the House again? I understand this is not a matter for the Whips.
The Government do not like to hear that.
It is on the Order Paper and is a matter for the Whips.
Would it be possible for the Whips to discuss it this morning and arrange to have the Bill before the House during next week, perhaps?
That is a matter for the Whips.
It might be more appropriate to direct the question to Deputy Cluskey.
Legislation was promised regarding the introduction of a new insurance Bill. A few months ago we were told that the Bill would be before the House during this session. Is that still the intention? The Bill is intended to regulate the position of intermediaries and brokers.
The legislation is in course of preparation.
Will it be introduced during this session?
It will be introduced in early 1986, I should think.
Some time ago the Minister for Finance promised a more detailed Book of Estimates. When will this be published?
We had that matter earlier this morning.
I am referring to the more detailed Book of Estimates that has been promised.
The one showing comprehensive expenditure programmes.