It is proposed to take items Nos. 21 and 22. Private Members' Business will be No. 48.
Order of Business.
I welcome the Ceann Comhairle back. I trust that he conveyed our good wishes to the Irish in Australia.
I did, indeed, and met many of them.
May I ask the Taoiseach if he is in a position to give the House an outline of the legislative programme between now and the summer recess? There are quite a number of items which are either on the Order Paper or have been promised. It would be very helpful to everybody if the Government could indicate their programme and what they expect to have coming before the House between now and the summer.
This is a matter which is normally discussed between the Whips. We are endeavouring to do our best to keep the Opposition Chief Whip as fully informed as possible as to the programme of legislation between now and then.
I know that the matter is one for the Whips, but there are individual items which I could ask the Taoiseach about one by one and which he would be compelled to answer because they are on the Order Paper, or have been promised. However, I am sure that by now the Government must have — perhaps not, but one would expect they would have — an outline of what they expect to have put through the Dáil between now and the summer. If we could have an outline of that, it would make for much better conduct of our business.
Certainly the Government Chief Whip would be very happy to discuss the programme of legislation with the Opposition Chief Whip and to the best of our ability to indicate what we would expect and hope to bring before the Dáil at that time. The Deputy will be aware, from his own experience in Government, that what actually happens in the final couple of months before the summer recess does not always correspond precisely with the Government's wishes or intentions.
I totally accept that. I am trying to get some reasonable order to our legislative programme. There are a number of matters which have been promised in one shape or another and which are not yet on the Order Paper. We want some indication from the Government of what they hope to have put into law between now and the summer. I accept that the Whips can get together on this.
I accept the point which the Deputy makes. There is a heavy legislative programme. The volume of Government legislation is very considerable at present and will involve quite a heavy load of work for the Dáil during this period. Obviously, if we can arrange this together in an orderly fashion it will be all to the good.
The Chair will act upon it when it is agreed between the Whips.
(Limerick West): On the Order of Business, would the Taoiseach allow time for a debate in the House on the very serious situation — indeed, the crisis at this stage — in parts of the country——
Deputy, please.
(Limerick West):——especially in the west.
If the Deputy wishes to give notice to raise the matter on the adjournment——
(Limerick West): You do not know what I have to say.
I have a fair idea.
(Limerick West): This is because of the shortage of livestock feeding. I want to let the Taoiseach know that cattle are dying. At this stage emergency action is needed by the Government.
Deputy, please.
(Limerick West): I am asking if the Taoiseach would allow Government time to debate the situation.
The Deputy should get in touch with the Government Chief Whip to discuss the matter. It does not arise on the Order of Business.
The cattle are dying in the fields.
Order, please. Deputy Wilson has given me notice of his intention to seek to raise this matter on the Adjournment of the House tonight and I shall communicate with him.
(Limerick West): Is there any other opportunity to raise it?
The Deputy has many ways to raise it. Order, please.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the failure of the Department of Education to provide school transport for a child to a remote school in County Roscommon.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
Would the Taoiseach consider introducing emergency legislation to deal with the crisis——
I asked Deputies to co-operate with the Chair.
It is legislation to deal with a crisis.
In view of the £3.5 million cutback in the estimates adopted by the North Western Health Board and the serious consequences for the health services, I wish to raise the matter on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
You may be out of touch with the situation in the west since you went away, but there is a crisis and I appeal to you to allow the question to be raised with the Government. I wish to raise on the Adjournment the proposed closure by the Minister for Health of the maternity unit in Roscommon County Hospital and the proposed relocation of the coronary care unit. These changes are being required by the Minister to implement the proposed closure of St. Patrick's Psychiatric Hospital in Castlerea which the Taoiseach said in Roscommon would not be closed.
I cannot allow a speech and I would ask the Deputy to co-operate with the Chair. I will communicate with the Deputy.
Order the jackboots.
On two occasions the Taoiseach indicated his intention to introduce legislation to deal with insurance. Does he intend to introduce it this term? It has been promised for about nine months and there are some very important outstanding matters which would relate to the ICI problem and other matters which must be attended to. Perhaps the Taoiseach would finally indicate when it is intended to introduce the legislation.
We hope to publish it before the summer recess.
In support of Deputy Noonan's appeal for time, I want to explain that we were allowed to raise this matter on the Adjournment last Wednesday but, due to two divisions, time did not permit us to deal with it. Due to the serious situation in the county you represent——
I cannot allow a speech from Deputy Leonard or anybody else.
I propose that you give the matter serious consideration and that you allow it on the Adjournment.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the crisis in hospital services in Longford town because of the inability of the Minister and the health board to provide medical cover for the emergency casualty unit which he opened when he closed the hospital there.
I will communicate with the Deputy.