Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 18 Dec 1985

Vol. 362 No. 14

Order of Business.

The Taoiseach

It is proposed to take Nos. 23, 13, 14 and 15. By agreement, the Dáil shall sit later than 9 p.m. today and not later than 12 midnight and business shall be interrupted at 11.30 p.m. Also by agreement, proceedings on the remaining Stages of item No. 23 shall be brought to a conclusion not later than 12.30 p.m. by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only amendments set down by the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism. Also by agreement, the proceedings on items Nos. 13 and 14 shall be brought to a conclusion not later than 1.30 p.m. Also by agreement, Government Business shall not be interrupted today at the time fixed for Private Members' Business. Also, by agreement, the debate on item No. 15 shall commence at 3.45 p.m. today. The speech of each Member contributing to the debate on the motion for the adjournment for the Christmas recess, today and tomorrow, shall not exceed 30 minutes with the exception of the Taoiseach and the Leader of the Fianna Fáil Party.

The debate on the motion for the Adjournment for the Christmas recess shall be adjourned at 4.25 p.m. tomorrow, whereupon the question necessary to bring the proceedings on the First Stage of the Appropriation Bill, 1985, shall be put forthwith and decided without debate. The proceedings on the remaining Stages of the Appropriation Bill, 1985, shall be brought to a conclusion at 4.30 p.m. tomorrow by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall in relation to amendments include only amendments set down by the Minister for Finance. The proceedings on the motion for Adjournment for the Christmas recess shall be brought to a conclusion at 4.30 p.m. tomorrow.

An Ceann Comhairle

Are the arrangements for taking the business today and tomorrow agreed?

Mr. Haughey

Is that the longest Order of Business we have ever had?

An Ceann Comhairle

I have not been here forever.

(Interruptions.)

An Ceann Comhairle

Is it agreed? Agreed.

Mr. B. Ahern

As neither the Minister for Labour nor the Minister for Communications is here this morning I would ask the Taoiseach to make a statement about two major issues, the CIE strike and the pending B & I strike. Do the Government intend any action——

An Ceann Comhairle

I explained at some length yesterday that this does not arise on the Order of Business. There will be ample opportunity for dealing with it today on the Adjournment debate.

Mr. O'Kennedy

They are discussing it on every radio programme. There was a discussion about it today on the Gay Byrne show, but we cannot discuss it here.

Mr. B. Ahern

To avoid difficulty I asked yesterday if I could raise another Private Notice Question, as there are only today and tomorrow to debate this matter in the Dáil. Everyone knows the difficulties involved. We on this side of the House are trying to be helpful in giving the Ministers an opportunity to appeal to those who can avert a major disruption for almost 50,000 people who wish to be here for Christmas.

Mr. Prendergast

I should like permission to raise on the Adjournment the question of the imminent closure of the GAC Bus Manufacturing Company at Shannon and the threat to over 200 jobs there.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. Allen

Could I raise on the Adjournment the contents of the allparty British House of Commons report on the British nuclear industry which describes the discharge from Windscale as primitive in the extreme and which recommends——

An Ceann Comhairle

It is not necessary for the Deputy to go into details. The Deputy has referred me to a report. I will consider it and communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. G. Brady

In the absence of the Minister for the Environment may I ask the Taoiseach if it is still his intention, even at this late stage, to introduce the clean air Bill during this session as the Minister for the Environment gave the House such an assurance within the last three weeks?

The Taoiseach

Some drafting problems have arisen with the Bill. It will be ready in the very near future but, unfortunately, not in time to be introduced before the Dáil adjourns tomorrow. I regret that very much indeed.

Mr. G. Brady

May I just mention to the Taoiseach that in effect that means that the entire question of introducing smokeless zones stays on ice for another year?

The Taoiseach

In any event, if the Bill were published now obviously it could not be taken in this session. It will be published during the recess and available to be taken in the next session.

Mr. Haughey

As we are about to break up for Christmas there is something that has been intriguing me throughout this session. I would like your enlightment on it, Sir, if possible before we depart——

An Ceann Comhairle

I hope it is in order.

Mr. Haughey

Of course it is in order. Do you think I would raise it if it were not in order? What intrigues me, a Cheann Comhairle, is this with regard to Fine Gael and Labour backbenchers — do they not have party meetings at which they could raise these matters?

(Interruptions.)

Minister for Finance (Mr. Dukes)

They are allowed to speak at meetings.

(Interruptions.)

An Ceann Comhairle

I am sorry, Deputy, you are out of order.

(Interruptions.)

Mr. Haughey

I am concerned with your position, a Cheann Comhairle, because you are confronted time and again with these obstreperous Fine Gael and Labour backbenchers raising issues here with which they could deal through their Ministers if they spoke to them in the privacy of their rooms.

(Interruptions.)

Mr. Flynn

The Minister for Finance is too busy fixing deals for them.

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy Haughey could best demonstrate his concerns for my position by obeying me.

The Taoiseach

I should like, in the Christmas spirit, to apologise to the Leader of the Opposition, for the embarrassment caused him by the degree of free speech in our parties.

Deputies

Hear, hear.

Mr. Haughey

Oliver, where are you, Alice, where are you? Patrick Cooney, where are you?

(Interruptions.)

Mr. P. Gallagher

Might I take the opportunity of raising with the Taoiseach a particularly important problem for the country, for all of us and, indeed, for the fishermen in particular? We must take the opportunity of asking the Taoiseach if he would take a personal interest in fish quotas, particularly the mackerel quota——

The Taoiseach

We always have.

An Ceann Comhairle

That does not arise on the Order of Business.

Mr. P. Gallagher

The chickens have come home to roost.

The Taoiseach

We have three times the volume of fish in 1976.