It is proposed to take No. 20. By agreement, the Minister for Finance shall be called on to conclude the debate on the Second Stage of the Finance Bill at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, 22 April 1986 and the proceedings thereon and on No. 26 on today's Order Paper shall be brought to a conclusion at 6.45 p.m. on Tuesday, 22 April 1986 by one question. Private Members' Business shall be No. 45.
Order of Business.
Are the proposals for the conclusion of the debate on the Second Stage of the Finance Bill and for the conclusion of the proceedings thereon and on No. 26 on today's Order Paper agreed? Agreed.
On the Order of Business and on the Finance Bill, could I ask if the Taoiseach will also ensure that we will have adequate time to discuss Committee Stage of the Finance Bill? The Taoiseach will be aware of the fact that the introduction of Second Stage of the Bill in the House is two weeks later than the Taoiseach's undertaking. I understand that it is now being proposed by the Government Whip to limit the debate on Committee Stage to three days which will prove to be entirely inadequate for a Bill which contains 108 sections. I would assume that, since as a direct consequence of the Government's decision and the Taoiseach's failure to honour his commitment to the House we are now two weeks late starting Second Stage, he will not make a mockery of this House or allow it to be mocked by pushing through the Committee Stage of a most complex Bill in three days. I ask for an assurance from the Taoiseach that we will have adequate time, not less than five days, to ensure that this House discharges its responsibilities despite the Government's failure to bring in this Bill until much later than they promised.
I do not understand where the three days come from. The question of the timing of Committee Stage is a matter for discussion between the Whips.
That is the proposal which was made by the Chief Whip and he indicated that that is the time limit we will have.
He is very strong on Dáil reform.
I suggested three days but the Opposition Whip was not in favour of that. I then suggested that the Opposition spokesman on Finance and the Minister for Finance would get together and sort out the time scale.
I would be happy to do that.
Perhaps the Deputy should talk to his Whip.
Will the Taoiseach ensure that both he and his Government will respond in a positive manner to the efforts being made by local people to reopen Verolme Cork Dockyard?
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
If the Chair is ruling that this matter of the only ship-building yard in this country is not important enough or urgent enough to raise on the Order of Business, I ask his permission, to raise it on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the staffing problems in the Malin Head radio station. There could be lives at risk here. Seafearing people in the North Atlantic are entitled to the same facilities as they have on the south-east coast.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
(Dublin North-West): I would like to ask the Taoiseach if the Government have any proposals to introduce legislation in this House in relation to a matter about which there is widespread concern at present, that is, the socalled video nasties.
I want to ask the Taoiseach if he would be prepared to place in the Library or make available to Deputies the text of the speech which he made recently somewhere in Europe and in particular if he would give us the benefit of the economic advice he offered to the Heads of Governments of Europe as to how they should run their economies. Secondly, would the Taoiseach tell us if it is his intention to make a ministerial broadcast on RTE this evening in regard to the teachers' strike?
On the Deputy's first point, I am more than happy to place the speech in the Library although I do not think it is known practice that speeches made at party meetings are placed there. If the Deputy wishes, I will place it there but I will not require reciprocity from him in regard to his contribution next Saturday.
You will see it all on television and you will not have to run to the studio.
I want to ask the Taoiseach did he really have the nerve to lecture European Heads of Government?
(Interruptions.)
(Dublin North-West): I asked the Taoiseach a question about legislation to which he has not replied either yes or no — whether the Government have any proposals to introduce legislation as regards video nasties. There is widespread concern about these in the country at present. Is the Taoiseach aware of it or not?
(Interruptions.)
Could I ask the Taoiseach if he thinks it is appropriate when this House is considering a very important matter by way of Private Members' motion, namely the teachers' strike, for him to go outside this House and make a ministerial broadcast on RTE?
Yes.
I would like to ask the Taoiseach following the promise in Building on Reality about the introduction of legislation to extend the hours in licensed premises and also the giving of licences to restaurants, will he be introducing that legislation in this term in view of the fact that the tourist industry is demanding it?
Yes.
In view of the Taoiseach's statements in Roscommon over the weekend in relation to the Minister for Health, does he propose to change the Minister for Health? The Taoiseach stated——
Deputy Leyden, that has nothing whatever to do with the Order of Business.
(Interruptions.)
A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, during Question Time you ruled a question of mine out of order——
It was out of order.
A Leas-Cheann Comhairle may I refer to it now? In the Minister's final reply to Question No. 36 he stated that the South-Eastern Health Board had agreed to close the maternity unit in Carlow. That is a deliberate falsehood and the Minister should withdraw it because it has implications——
You cannot discuss a question I ruled out of order.
A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I understood the Deputy to say it was a deliberate falsehood. Is that in order?
Taoiseach, I have heard so much in the last ten minutes——
(Interruptions.)