Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 28 May 1986

Vol. 367 No. 2

Order of Business.

The Taoiseach

It is proposed to take Business in the following order: Nos. 27 and 28.

By agreement, the Dáil shall sit later than 9 p.m. today and not later than 11.30 p.m. and Business shall be interrupted at 11 p.m.

Also by agreement, the proceedings on the remaining Stages of No. 27 shall be brought to a conclusion not later than 7 p.m. today by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall in relation to amendments include only amendments set down by the Minister for the Environment.

Private Members' Business shall be No. 50.

An Ceann Comhairle

Are the arrangements for today's business agreed? Agreed.

Mr. R. Burke

On the Order of Business, may I ask the Taoiseach when legislation will be introduced to give effect to the announcement made by the Minister for the Environment yesterday altering in a fundamental way the operations of the Housing Finance Agency? Will we have a statement from the Minister for Finance as to where the £7 million of public money will come from for the agency?

An Ceann Comhairle

Has legislation been promised?

Mr. R. Burke

I am asking the Taoiseach when legislation will be introduced in view of the fundamental change in the operations of the Housing Finance Agency.

An Ceann Comhairle

That is another question.

Mr. R. Burke

I am asking this question in view of the statement made yesterday by the Minister for the Environment. In my view it is a fundamental change in the HFA that will require amending legislation and I am asking the Taoiseach when the amending legislation will be introduced.

An Ceann Comhairle

The practice has been only to allow questions about legislation if the legislation had been promised.

Mr. G. Collins

In other words, the Chair does not believe them. I do not believe them either.

An Ceann Comhairle

It is arguable whether legislation has been promised.

Mr. R. Burke

I am talking about a statement made by the Minister for the Environment yesterday. There has been a fundamental change in legislation passed by this House that will require amending legislation. I am asking the Taoiseach to state where the £7 million will come from and when the legislation will be introduced.

An Ceann Comhairle

I am ruling that out. I am calling Deputy Ahern.

Mr. R. Burke

The Taoiseach just sits there dumb about the matter.

Mr. B. Ahern

In view of the fact that a number of conciliation and arbitration awards are now overdue, will the Taoiseach state when he intends to bring before the House amendments to those agreements?

An Ceann Comhairle

That has not been promised either.

Mr. B. Ahern

It is under the Act dealing with conciliation and arbitration. It requires the Government to bring an order to the House to amend the legislation. The awards are now overdue.

Mr. Haughey

If we are not careful they will bring in the Army to run the House.

Mr. Lenihan

It is government by decree, not by legislation.

An Ceann Comhairle

It may or may not be brought before the House. I am calling item No. 27.

Mr. B. Ahern

I think what I have raised is in order but I accept the ruling of the Chair. Does the Taoiseach not think that a policy of co-operation rather than confrontation with the trade unions would be a better policy?

An Ceann Comhairle

We dealt with those matters yesterday.

Mr. Naughten

With the permission of the Chair, I should like to raise on the Adjournment the setting up of a River Shannon authority that would embrace the different interests involved.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. Cowen

With the permission of the Chair, I should like on the Adjournment to ask the Minister for the Environment to extend the time that has been allocated to 150 rate collectors who are being requested to take on new responsibilities as revenue collectors without adequate compensation.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.