It is proposed to take Nos. 12, 39, 13 and 1. By agreement, No. 12 will be taken without debate.
Order of Business.
Is it agreed that No. 12 will be taken without debate? Agreed.
Deputy Prendergast rose.
The Limerick competition is getting fairly acute these days.
We look after our constituents. There is no lack of zeal in any case.
May I ask the Taoiseach if it is his intention to make any statement today or to give the House some opportunity to discuss the recent U-turn by the Government on social welfare. It would seem the latest proposals by the Government represent their third attempt to deal with this matter of the equality directive——
It does not arise, Deputy.
It seems to me to be a question where legislation is involved and that there is an implicit undertaking by the Government to introduce legislation.
That has not yet been promised as far as I am aware.
May I put it to you, a Cheann Comhairle, that the Government, in this rather extraordinary statement last night, seemed to indicate there would be retrospection. Such retrospection would necessarily involve legislation. Therefore, I think we can take it that legislation has at least implicitly been promised.
No, I do not accept that.
Moreover, a Cheann Comhairle——
I do not think it has been promised. The Deputy seems to be making a case that it is necessary. That is a different thing.
Will the Taoiseach be prepared to make a statement today or give the House some opportunity of discussing this matter because there is absolute, total, complete and utter confusion? There has been an announcement——
——started when the Deputy was Minister for Social Welfare in 1978.
Just three points, a Cheann Comhairle. There was the first announcement——
I will have to hear Deputy Mac Giolla and other Deputies.
You cannot hear Deputy Mac Giolla; he is in South America.
I might be requested to hear his worthy deputy. I might have difficulty refusing him.
I will give way to the Taoiseach at this point to see if he will indicate whether he is prepared to make a statement or give time to the House——
I think the Deputy should discuss this with the Whips.
May I then ask the Taoiseach if he will seriously consider removing from office this unfortunate lady, who seems to have an infinite capacity to mishandle every major issue presented to her.
(Interruptions.)
It is the Deputy who always resents what he calls personal remarks.
If the Taoiseach wants to say something he should get up and say it like a man.
(Interruptions.)
Order, please. I am calling Deputy Prendergast.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I should like to raise on the Adjournment today the subject matter of my Private Notice Question which was disallowed yesterday referring to the continuing hunger strike, now in its 22nd day, of Mr. Michael Fitzgerald of Reenavanna, Doon, County Limerick.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I would be delighted if the Government had done a U-turn on the social welfare cuts but they have not. All they have done is made a vague promise.
That is not normal, Deputy.
Can I ask, in view of the commitment made in this House two days ago by the Minister for Social Welfare that regulations will be introduced to alleviate the social welfare cuts, when we will see those regulations in the House? The cuts are already taking place.
I will allow that question.
The people cannot wait two months to see what the Government are going to do about it.
As I said the other day, the regulations are already being drawn up in my Department and all the recipients who would be entitled to some extra alleviating measures will be notified personally by my Department in the next week or ten days.
Can I ask the Minister for Social Welfare why she did not take our advice initially.
That is not in order.
We tried to prevent the Government——
Deputy McCarthy, that is not in order.
——from taking the steps they are now trying to rescue themselves from.
Deputy McCarthy will resume his seat.
I would like——
If Deputy McCarthy does not resume his seat he will have to leave the House.
This Government——
I am ordering Deputy McCarthy to leave the House. He should leave now. He has defied the Chair.
We have had worse than that.
Deputy McCarthy cannot defy the Chair. He will leave the House now.
Perhaps if he apologises——
Every morning?
I cannot change the rules. Deputy McCarthy will leave the House, please. He is leaving me no alternative.
This is unbelievable behaviour. I protest against this behaviour.
Deputy McCarthy withdrew from the Chamber.
Will the Taoiseach announce in the House today whether legislation is imminent with regard to a transportation centre in the inner city of Dublin?
Why do you not put him out?
I do not think any such legislation was promised.
There was a promise that there would be an announcement with regard to this which would involve legislation.
My understanding is that a promise was given——
(Interruptions.)
The Deputies should do the Chair the respect of listening when he is speaking. My understanding is that the Government gave an undertaking that a decision would be made on the matter in question today.
This involves legislation? Will it be announced in the House or outside?
A positive decision would necessitate legislation, a negative decision would not.
I ask permission to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of Question No. 19 on yesterday's Order Paper, the subject matter being Blarney Garda station.
I will communicate with Deputy Lyons.
When is it proposed to publish the Book of Estimates? Has a date been set yet for the budget?
I have already answered that question. Work on the Estimates is proceeding and the Estimates will be published as soon as possible.