Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 11 Jun 1987

Vol. 373 No. 6

Order of Business.

The Taoiseach

It is proposed to take Nos. 17, 18, 19 and 20 (Vote 46).

It is also proposed that the Dáil shall sit later than 5.30 p.m. today and not later than 9.30 p.m. and business shall be interrupted at 9.00 p.m. today.

It is further proposed that the Dáil shall be suspended between 1.30 p.m. and 2.30 p.m. today.

It is further proposed that the proceedings on the remaining Stages of No. 17 shall be brought to a conclusion not later than 1.30 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 Labour.

It is further proposed that No. 20 shall be taken not later than 5.00 p.m. today and shall be brought to a conclusion not later than 9.00 p.m. today and the Order shall not resume thereafter.

It is further proposed that the Dáil shall meet tomorrow at 10.30 a.m. and shall adjourn not later than 5.00 p.m.

An Ceann Comhairle

Is the proposal for the later sitting today agreed? Agreed. Is it agreed to suspend the sitting between 1.30 p.m. and 2.30 p.m. today? Agreed. Is the proposal in relation to No. 17 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal in relation to No. 20 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal to sit tomorrow agreed? Agreed.

Mr. Dukes

I would remind you, Sir, that last week and this week Deputy Bernard Allen asked to be allowed to debate the junior hospital doctors' strike. I would remind you on the Order of Business that Deputy Allen has a Private Notice Question submitted for today. May I ask if the Taoiseach has come to any conclusion on my request of yesterday for time to debate the Hyster matter?

The Taoiseach

I admit I overlooked informing the Deputy, but I will be in touch with him later.

Proinsias De Rossa

I gave notice to you this morning that in accordance with Standing Order No. 30, I was requesting leave to move the Adjournment of the Dáil to discuss a specific and important matter of public interest, namely, the dispute involving the non-consultant hospital doctors and the decision by the doctors to withdraw all services from hospitals from Saturday next.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy gave me notice that he wishes to move the Adjournment of the Dáil today for the following specific and important matter of public interest, namely, the dispute involving non-consultant hospital doctors, and the decision of the doctors to withdraw all services from hospitals from Saturday next. I consider the motion to be one contemplated by the Standing Order. Will the Deputy, therefore, rise in his place and make the necessary request to the House?

Proinsias De Rossa

In accordance with Standing Order No. 30, I request leave to move the Adjournment of the Dáil to discuss a specific and important matter of public interest, namely, the dispute involving non-consultant hospital doctors and the decision by the doctors to withdraw all services from hospitals from Saturday next.

Mr. Dukes

A Cheann Comhairle——

An Ceann Comhairle

I am sorry. I must proceed with the business. Will the Members who support the request please rise in their places? I would remind Deputy Dukes that when the Chair is ruling on a matter of this kind it is particularly disorderly to intervene. Will the Members who support the request please stand in their places?

More than 12 Deputies rose.

Mr. Dukes

I wish to speak on a matter of public interest.

An Ceann Comhairle

The required number of Deputies have risen in their places, so I give leave to make the motion. The time at which the motion will be taken is a matter for the House to decide, perhaps among the Whips.

Mr. Barry

What is the position about not allowing a Deputy to speak on a motion before the House?

An Ceann Comhairle

I was ruling on the matter and it was not in order.

Mr. Dukes

I wish to make the point——

An Ceann Comhairle

I will not be interrupted when making a decision of this kind.

Mr. Dukes

I was making a point of order——

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy may not make a point of order at a time when the Chair is ruling on a matter of importance.

Mr. Dukes

I stood immediately Deputy De Rossa resumed his seat and before you had begun to speak. I wanted to ask you why this week and last week, when the same matter we are now discussing was urgent and was about to come to the point of a strike, you did not see fit to allow my colleague, Deputy Allen, to deal with the matter in this House. The strike has been proceeding, and why is it that it is only now you see it as being urgent to have the matter discussed? It seems to me the matter was urgent last week and would have qualified for consideration then——

An Ceann Comhairle

Is Deputy Dukes aware that the Chair entertained a Private Notice Question from Deputy Allen on this matter last week?

Mr. Dukes

I am.

An Ceann Comhairle

In any event, I will not have my ruling questioned in this way.

Proinsias De Rossa

In relation to statements made, may I ask what is the procedure for fixing the time? Has the time to be agreed by the House?

An Ceann Comhairle

It is a matter for the Whips to decide.

Proinsias De Rossa

Will the Whips consult with me in this respect?

Mr. Deasy

I want to ask the Taoiseach if he will clarify the position regarding the collection of health contributions following the decision in the Youghal District Court two weeks ago.

An Ceann Comhairle

That is not a matter for the Order of Business.

Mr. Deasy

Will the Taoiseach introduce amended legislation to govern the collection of these health contributions from farmers, or is it true that people no longer——

An Ceann Comhairle

There will be another time for raising that matter. It is clearly not in order.

Mr. Deasy

Is new legislation being brought in? When the Taoiseach was Minister for Health——

An Ceann Comhairle

I am not aware that any such legislation has been put on the Order Paper.

Mr. Kavanagh

Will the Taoiseach or the Minister for Education say what action he intends to take because of a typing error in the leaving certificate English paper? It has caused a great deal of confusion and anxiety among students.

An Ceann Comhairle

That is hardly a matter for the Order of Business.

Mr. Kavanagh

I wonder if a statement could be made today during Questions on Education. It is an urgent matter.

Mr. McCartan

Yesterday I asked if I would be allowed to raise on the Adjournment the question of remedial work on houses in the Seagrange area of Baldoyle. I respect your advice about the response from the Minister's office that he did not consider himself responsible because these are all privately owned houses. I suggest that it is a matter that could be discussed on the Adjournment. There are some houses at Seagrange which are still the property of the local authority and occupied by tenants.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy and with Deputy Kavanagh.