It is proposed to take Nos. 17, 3, 21 and 22. Private Members' Business shall be No. 110. By agreement the Dáil shall sit later than 9 p.m. today and not later than 11 p.m. and business shall be interrupted at 10.30 p.m. Also by agreement No. 22 shall be taken at 8.30 p.m. today.
Order of Business.
Are the arrangements for the late sitting agreed?
Agreed.
Is agreement given, as far as it is necessary, to take No. 22 at 8.30 p.m.?
Agreed.
I would ask the Taoiseach the date on which the Finance Bill will be published. Will it before the Easter Recess? What date has he in mind for the Second Stage debate?
The date is on the record.
Is that date still on?
The Deputy cannot keep asking that question.
The Minister opposite has been moved from the job and he should let the Taoiseach answer the question. The Minister for Finance is not here and we will not accept the Minister for Justice as a bad substitute.
Order, please.
Is the date still on?
Yes, and we will naturally arrange with the Whips, for the convenience of the Opposition, the date for Second Stage.
The timetable is very tight.
That is the case every year.
Would the Taoiseach inform the House whether he would consider the desirability of having a debate in Government time on the present highly uncertain position with regard to the future of the Common Agricultural Policy?
Deputy Lenihan is not disorderly very often, but when he is he puts down his head and keeps going. If the Deputy wants to raise that matter he should do so through the Whips.
The Taoiseach is aware that there is growing apprehension throughout the country, particularly among the farming community——
That matter is not in order and I am not allowing it.
It is all very relevant to the current changes being planned in the EC and this House has not been informed about it.
The Deputy may not raise it in this way.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the loss of 380 jobs at the Rowntree Mackintosh factory in my constituency.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
Could the Taoiseach tell the House when it is intended to place on the table of the House the three reports for the years 1982, 1983 and 1984 of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal?
That is not in order. It is not legislation.
There is an obligation on the Government to place these reports on the table of the House.
The Deputy can put down a question if he wishes. It is not in order now.
The Government are attempting to suppress these reports.
The Deputy may say that, or try to say it, in a supplementary question.
They have announced that they are making changes in the scheme and are suppressing these reports.
The Deputy is not in order.
Will the Minister for Finance indicate to the House why he has 12 Indians on his pay roll at Marseilles on board the Irish Spruce instead of Irish Shipping operatives who were there but were expelled from the ship?
That is a very colourful way of raising something that is not in order, but it is still not in order.
The Minister has to pay.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the question of the provision of finance for repairs to St. Grellan's Housing Estate, Ballinasloe.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
Ba mhaith liom labhairt ar an Athló faoi na deacrachtaí atá ag Údarás na Gaeltachta maidir le airgead a fháil ó Roinn na Gaeltachta le fostaíocht a chur ar fáil sa Ghaeltacht.
Cuirfidh mé scéal chuig an Teachta.
Is the Taoiseach aware of the serious financial position of many exporting companies dealing with the United Kingdom? It is very serious.
I always regard the Deputy as serious but he is not always in order.
A total of 40 per cent of our exports go to the UK. I am sure the Taoiseach is aware of the critical situation developing. Have the Government decided on an exchange rate policy? If so, can we expect to hear about it? I know it will not be today or tomorrow and I understand the reasons for that.
I am not allowing this.
We will find that half the exporting companies will be out of business. If that is not critical, what is?
I would ask the Deputy to read Standing Orders.
There will not be a dog able to run in White City after a while.
(Limerick West): I would ask the Taoiseach for the fifth time when the legislation on land reform is likely to be before the House.
The legislation is in preparation but I cannot give a date at present.
(Limerick West): Will it be next term?
I would expect to have it next term, yes.
Are the Taoiseach and his Ministers using the national airline to transport them to the US?
That is not in order.
I understand that one of them is using Concorde. Perhaps two of them are doing so. They may be in that big a hurry to get away from the disasters in this country.
In view of the serious overcrowding at Gorey CBS primary school I would like permission to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy.