It is proposed to take Nos. 14, 3, 5 and 15. By agreement the Dáil shall meet at 10.30 a.m. tommorrow and shall adjourn not later than 4 p.m. and business shall be confined to statements on the report of the Joint Committee on Marriage Breakdown.
Order of Business.
Are the arrangements for tommorrow agreed?
Yes.
They are agreed.
Is the Taoiseach aware that last evening the Minister for Justice indicated that the Government are opposing the Larceny Bill which we are bringing forward in Private Members' Time? He indicated that there were defects in the drafting of the legislation. In view of that and if the Government propose to follow through and defeat this Bill, could the Taoiseach give any assurance as to when the Government will bring forward some legislation in this area since I think he would agree, as the Minister agreed last night, that this is an area where urgent action is required?
The Chair feels that this question would be more appropriately put and answered during the debate on item No. 12 on yesterday's Order paper which will be before the House from 7 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. on Tuesday next.
The Minister indicated last night that the Government would bring forward legislation, so perhaps on that score it is in order now.
I accept that.
Thank you.
I note the point made by the Deputy. I am not in a position at the moment to say what time it will take to produce alternative legislation. I will look into the matter and communicate with the Deputy.
I want to assure the Taoiseach that we are quite anxious and prepared to deal with the matter on a totally non-party basis, if that would be of any assistance.
Thank you.
Would the Taoiseach allow Government time to debate item No. 103 on yesterday's Order Paper which seeks the rescinding of the order made under the Broadcasting Authority Act, 1960, section 31?
It is not in order to raise the matter in this way. If the Deputy wants Government time he should approach the Whips.
In view of the fact that this order has been made annually for the past ten years and that there has never been a debate on it in the Dáil during that period, would the Government allow time to debate it, since Standing Orders preclude us from having this motion moved?
It cannot be raised in this way.
Would the Taoiseach indicate whether he is prepared to allow a debate?
Would the Taoiseach allow Government time for a statement by the Minister for Finance on Government exchange rate policy having regard to the——
It is not in order.
This is a matter causing great concern to business interests and mortgage holders and I wish, with your permission, to raise it on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
(Limerick West): I wish to raise on the Order of Business the fact that the Government and the Minister for Agriculture have totally reneged on their commitment to disease eradication less than a year after making that commitment. I would ask the Taoiseach to give a commitment——
That is not in order.
(Limerick West):——to restore the necessary funds to meet the commitment outlined in Building on Reality.
Following the Government statement of last week, will the Taoiseach confirm that legislation will be required for the new office of fair trading and to cover the proposed merger of the NPC and Restrictive Practices Commission and the office of consumer affairs? Will he confirm whether legislation is to be introduced and, if so, when this will be done?
I will allow the question. It is borderline as to whether it is in order or not but I will not allow a speech on it.
Legislation will be required in respect of the Office of Fair Trading.
Would the Taoiseach or the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism confirm that the Price Line office will be maintained at full strength until such time as the legislation is put through the House?
Deputy Flynn, that is why these matters are not appropriate for the Order of Business. It is a case that if Deputies get an inch, a span is taken and we drift into a debate.
I appreciate your point, a Cheann Comhairle, but I feel that, in the interests of the consumers in this country——
The Deputy will have to look after consumers in some other way.
It is vital that protection be provided for them. It would appear from the actions of the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism that he would like to indicate to the House what proposals——
The Minister cannot walk through Standing Orders any more than can the Deputy.
Will the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism maintain the Price Line office at full strength until this legislation has been put through the House? Surely the interests of 3,500,000 consumers take precedence over something in this House?
Would Deputy Flynn please resume his seat?
I think the Deputy is interested in the consumer, not the products.
I see the Deputy is being led back into the traps again. He put his nose out last term and got it chopped off. He should be careful.
(Interruptions.)
There are many young fellows over there who will not be back.
I see that the Minister for the Public Service is protecting his neighbour over there; he might be gone too.
(Interruptions.)
I am calling on Deputy Woods.
In relation to item No. 4 on the Order Paper, might I ask the Government when it is intended to take the Gaming and Lotteries Bill, or when it is intended to introduce an alternative Bill? What is the intention of the Government in this area?
The present Bill will not be proceeded with. A general review is being carried out at present to cover all aspects of gaming and lotteries and will be completed as soon as possible.
Did the Taoiseach say that item No. 4 will not be proceeded with?
Yes.
And that an alternative Bill will be brought in as soon as possible?
Yes.
Thank you.
On a point of order, the Taoiseach did confirm that legislation would be required in respect of the matter I raised. Did he say in this session?
The position is that heads of legislation have been approved by the Government and the text is at present being drafted——
For the Office of Fair Trading.
——for the Office of Fair Trading, as I made clear.
Will it be introduced this session?
Possibly.
With your permission, Sir, I should like to raise on the Adjournment the decision to lay off workers at the Thurles and Tuam sugar factories.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
Is the Taoiseach aware of the threatened closure of the GAC Company at Shannon where 400 people will be made redundant?
The Deputy is not in order.
There is a very serious——
The Deputy should not ignore the Chair.
A Cheann Comhairle, I want to ask the Taoiseach if there is documentation at present before the Government for proposals to deal with this issue.
I am calling Deputy De Rossa——
Can it be expected that there will be proposals to save these 400 jobs?
Will Deputy Daly please resume his seat? The Deputy is out of order.
All of these closures are giving rise to great disorder all around the place.
I hope Deputy O'Kennedy is not going to add to the disorder.
May I ask the Taoiseach when it is proposed to reintroduce the Local Radio Bill? In replying to that question could he also indicate if he is prepared to allow a debate on section 31 of the Broadcasting Act?
That is a long playing record.
I could not hear the latter part of the Deputy's question.
I had asked if, in replying to my question regarding the reintroduction of the Local Radio Bill, the Taoiseach would indicate whether he would be prepared to allow a debate on section 31 of the Broadcasting Act.
Deputy, that is not in order. As a matter of fact the Deputy is being grossly disorderly because——
I am not being disorderly. I am simply asking a question about the reintroduction of the Local Radio Bill——
It has been on the Order Paper for years.
——and while he is standing could he say whether he would allow a debate on section 31 of the Broadcasting Act.
I do not understand the question. Is it on the Order Paper?
Perhaps I might explain. The position is that the Government did introduce a Local Radio Bill and it collapsed. When does he propose to——
I take it the Deputy wants to know when it is going to be taken. Could we have an answer to that?
And I should like to know if the Taoiseach would allow a debate on section 31 of the Broadcasting Act.
Would that debate be about the Official IRA as well?
I thought the Taoiseach or the Government were not going to have any connection with the Provos——
(Interruptions.)
I expect that the Local Radio Bill will be taken during the course of this session.
(Interruptions.)
I have to deal with a lot of strange fellows——
They are the only people who will talk to the Minister for the Public Service.
Even out in the constituencies I have to deal with a lot of "quare fellas"——
(Interruptions.)
Could I have order, please? If Deputies do not want the business of the House to proceed there is very little I can do about it.
The Minister for the Public Service is being very obstreperous.
In view of the fact that item No. 4 — the emergency legislation, the Gaming and Lotteries Bill — is not being proceeded with will the Taoiseach now introduce emergency legislation to abolish gaming machines with the same haste with which this emergency legislation was introduced?
That does not arise.
Why does it not arise?
Because no such legislation has been promised. I am ruling it out of order.
Legislation has been promised in the form of the Gaming and Lotteries Bill, 1985.
I am ruling it out of order and I will have no argument with or from the Deputy.
May I make my point, a Cheann Comhairle?
The Deputy cannot. The Deputy will resume his seat, please.
Can I not ask about the Gaming and Lotteries Bill?
A question about it has been answered. If the Deputy has a question that is in order he may put it.
This was a section of the Gaming and Lotteries Bill which was introduced.
I am not going to allow a debate on the Gaming and Lotteries Bill at this stage.
But why is it out of order?
The Deputy will please resume his seat.