Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 27 May 1987

Vol. 372 No. 13

Order of Business.

The Taoiseach

It is proposed to take Nos. 10, 11, 12 and 13, (Vote 38). It is also proposed that 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. tonight. It is further proposed that the proceedings on the remaining Stages of No. 10 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.

It is further proposed that notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, Vote 38 shall be taken at 8.30 p.m. tonight and the proceedings thereon shall be brought to a conclusion not later than 11 p.m. and the following arrangements shall apply:

(i) the opening speech of the Minister for Labour shall not exceed 30 minutes;

(ii) the speech of any other Member shall not exceed 20 minutes;

(iii) no Member shall speak more than once, with the exception of the Minister for Labour who shall be called on to conclude not later than 10.50 p.m. tonight and the order shall not resume thereafter.

Subject to an order for the taking of the Second Reading of the Bill being made today, Private Members' Business shall be No. 2.

An Ceann Comhairle

Is the arrangement for the late sitting agreed? Agreed. In respect of Item No. 10, the Air Pollution Bill, is the procedure agreed? Agreed. Are the arrangements in respect of Vote 38 agreed? Agreed. We shall now proceed to deal with the Air Pollution Bill, 1986, in Committee.

Mr. Keating

On the Order of Business, is it the intention of the Taoiseach to introduce in the context of the legislative programme another budget this year? There was some speculation prior to the weekend arising from some correspondence which came to various Ministers that there might be that prospect.

An Ceann Comhairle

That does not arise on the Order of Business. The Deputy will have to find other ways and means of raising that matter.

Mr. Keating

With respect, it is legitimate in the context of information.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy heard me say it does not arise on the Order of Business.

Mr. Keating

May I ask the Taoiseach whether he has initiated any form of inquiry into the leaking of that document? I consider that to be a matter of urgency on which the Taoiseach might wish to comment. He does not.

Tomás Mac Giolla

May I ask the Taoiseach if any alteration has been made in his Department in regard to responsibility for the Government Information Services? It is still the responsibility of the Department of the Taoiseach.

The Taoiseach

I do not know what the question was.

Tomás Mac Giolla

Questions in relation to the business of the Government Information Services were transferred to the Department of Foreign Affairs. I want to know is responsibility for the GIS still in the Department of the Taoiseach or has it been transferred?

An Ceann Comhairle

That is not an appropriate question, either, for the Order of Business.

Mr. Dukes

The electorate are foreign to the present Government.

Tomás Mac Giolla

That is the Department where we know the responsibility lies.

The Taoiseach

One of the informants might leak something to him.

Mr. McCoy

On the Order of Business, may I ask the Taoiseach if it is his intention to introduce the Harbours Bill, 1986, during this session? Will he make a statement?

The Taoiseach

Yes, the matter will be discussed by the Whips.

An Ceann Comhairle

I call Deputy Colley.

Mr. Griffin

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the circumstances under which an Irish national was recently expelled from China.

An Ceann Comhairle

I shall communicate with the Deputy.

Mrs. Barnes

With regard to legislation, promised by the Taoiseach himself, may I ask when the necessary reform to legislation in relation to rape and child sexual abuse will be introduced into the House, as recommended by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Women's Rights?

The Taoiseach

Yes, I am aware of that recommendation. I have no information for the Deputy at the moment but will look into the matter immediately.

Tomás Mac Giolla

The purpose of my question to the Taoiseach was that two questions in relation to the Government Information Service were moved to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Could I ask your assistance in eliciting from the Taoiseach the purpose of transferring questions in regard to the Government Information Service to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

An Ceann Comhairle

That is not unusual, the transfer of questions by Ministers.

Mr. Keating

That is standard practice at every opportunity.

Tomás Mac Giolla

It is most unusual.

Mr. Dukes

So far as the present Government are concerned, dealings with the electorate are foreign to them. They have moved out.

Miss Colley

May I ask the Taoiseach if the Government propose to bring forward a plan for proposed legislation for this session? If so, when might we have that plan? Secondly, how much of that proposed legislation does the Taoiseach envisage the House getting through before the summer recess? Thirdly, does the Taoiseach consider that with the amount of urgent legislation which is before this House and is proposed we should not take the usual length of break we normally take since there is legislative work to do?

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy may not develop an argument.

Mr. Keating

It is very constructive.

The Taoiseach

The Whips are in constant touch about these matters and what the Government would wish to get through before the summer recess and the wishes of the Opposition with regard to particular legislation which might or might not be taken before the summer recess can be considered in that process.

Miss Colley

Have this Government a programme of legislation planned? Have they any plans in given areas to introduce legislation?

Mr. Farrelly

They are working on another behalf.

The Taoiseach

Of course, we have plans for everything.

Mr. Dukes

Plans and plans.

The Taoiseach

More specifically, we have plans for economic recovery to which we will, of necessity, be affording priority.

Mr. Farrelly

They are taking the whole foundation away, the whole construction.

The Taoiseach

Within that context, the programme of legislation will, of course, be assiduously proceeded with. The Deputy knows there is no greater law reformer in this House than my good self.

Miss Colley

A Cheann Comhairle——

An Ceann Comhairle

I am sorry, Deputy Colley, this cannot continue.

Miss Colley

Given that the Taoiseach has claimed to be an ardent law reformer, may I ask him to be more specific about the Bills which he and his Government intend to introduce? At the moment it appears that the Bills that have been introduced were almost to a 100 per cent degree introduced by the previous Government and there does not seem to be any new legislation coming forward.

The Taoiseach

I think a better and more normal way to proceed would be for the Deputy to ask me about some particular legislation in which she had a particular interest and see whether that could be fitted into the programme between now and the summer recess. The Deputy will also understand that because of the nature of the things, the interruption of business — particularly in the parliamentary draftsman's office — that took place because of the general election we are of necessity compelled to proceed in many areas with Bills which are already on the stocks. The Deputy will also further understand that in the weeks immediately ahead the Finance Bill will be taking up a great deal of our time. If the Deputy has legislation in which she has a particular interest, I should be glad to give her any help I can.

Miss Colley

I have an interest in maintaining the efficiency of the House. That is really what I am thinking of.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy should rise when she has a question to ask.

Mr. Birmingham

May I ask the Taoiseach whether the Government's Adoption Bill will be before the House before the summer recess.

The Taoiseach

Yes.

Mr. Sheehan

When does the Taoiseach intend to introduce the Bill dealing with new licensing laws and have it enacted? It will have a tremendous effect on income from tourism. This is in view of the comment he made when opening the hotel in Skellig in Dingle recently.

The Taoiseach

Perhaps we shall deal with the last matter first, the reference to the new hotel in Skellig in Dingle. I will deal with the last matter first. The Deputy will be glad to know that the hotel in Skellig in Dingle is a superb establishment and I cordially invite him to join me there sometime.

Mr. Sheehan

I will take you up on that.

The Taoiseach

Whether or not the two of us will be able to enjoy the facility of some new licensing law by that time I am not too sure at the moment.

Mr. Sheehan

Can he give us any clear indication of when he expects this legislation?

The Taoiseach

There is a general wish to get on with that legislation in the interests of the tourist trade. If possible we will bring it in before the summer recess but I am afraid I can give no guarantee. In any event it is probably a bit too late for this year's tourist season. If the previous Government had the decency to go out of office sooner we could have had it in this year.

Mr. Dukes

They extended the closing time.