It is proposed to take Nos. 2, 19 and 5. Private Members' Business will be No. 67.
Order of Business.
I wish to express my disappointment that a private notice question which I submitted for today's sitting has not been allowed. The question related to the publication of a book of evidence in which 30 prison officers from Portlaoise prison were named, a matter which put at risk their security and the security of their families. The question has not been allowed on the grounds of lack of urgency.
I have conveyed to the Deputy my reasons for disallowing the question. If he is not satisfied with my decision he may discuss the matter with me in my office but he may not proceed to discuss it in this way.
The other reason given was lack of ministerial responsibility. Surely no one here could question the matter of the area of ministerial responsibility in relation to the operation of prisons.
The Deputy must not question the Chair's right to disallow the question.
I have no wish to enter into conflict with the Chair but I submit that the matter concerned is of an urgent nature, that there is ministerial responsibility in relation to it and that consequently this House should have an opportunity to debate the issue.
The question has been disallowed and the Deputy may not pursue the matter in this way.
I wish to raise this issue on the Adjournment.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to object to your decision to rule out of order my private notice question relating to Government inactivity in the matter of the resolution of the crisis in education. I have been informed that the question was disallowed on the grounds of lack of urgency but I would remind the Taoiseach that we regard the issue as very urgent and that we, as well as the parents, are extremely disappointed that the Government do not see fit to give this matter the urgent attention it deserves.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the matter of the contents of my private notice question which related to the impasse in the teachers' pay dispute and to the possibility of appointing a mediator. The question was disallowed.
An Leas-Ceann Comhairle
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
Because of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply given by the Minister for the Gaeltacht to Question No. 5 I wish to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of that question.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the matter of the shortage of staff at Malin Head radio station, a situation that has arisen because of Government cutbacks.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to ask the Taoiseach, now that the free port legislation has been enacted, when it is proposed to make the necessary regulations to enable the establishment of the Cork Free Port.
I will inquire about that and I will communicate with the Deputy.
It does not arise on the Order of Business.
The legislation was recently passed by the House. I beg to differ with you, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. It does arise and, furthermore, no progress has been made after two years.
The Taoiseach did not reply to my question. Does the Taoiseach consider that this matter is urgent enough——
The Chair has indicated to Deputy O'Rourke the reasons why her question was disallowed.
I am addressing the Taoiseach through you, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the problem which has arisen at Woodfab Limited, Fermoy, County Cork, because of the unavailability of adequate supplies of timber to keep the factory in full production.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
The Chair has been advised by the Minister for Justice that he wishes to make a statement under Standing Order No. 38.