It is proposed to take Nos. 9 and 10 and Private Members' Business shall be No. 27.
Order of Business.
Looking at the debate which is now to begin I should like to ask the Taoiseach if he will ensure that during the course of the debate Ministers will use the time available to them to give the House full details of expenditure and of policy changes that underlie the expenditure proposals we have now.
We will do the best we can.
In the context of legislation promised or pending I should like to ask the Taoiseach, or the Minister for Industry and Commerce, whether, arising out of specific commitments given by the Government in the Programme for National Recovery, there is any proposal to introduce legislation to deal with incidents such as that which occurred in regard to H. Williams, particularly in view of the serious loss of jobs.
I am not concerned with programmes of that kind. I am concerned as to whether this is relevant on the Order of Business.
The ambit of legislation promised in the programme should allow the Minister to investigate that serious matter. I am asking whether the Minister intends to take the initiative in that regard either legislatively or otherwise. It has serious implications for the workers and the economy generally.
I am calling Deputy Mac Giolla.
Am I to get an answer to my question?
That is not the function of the Chair.
The Taoiseach is offering to answer if the Chair will permit him.
I am calling Deputy Mac Giolla.
Am I to get an answer to my question or am I to be treated with discourtesy. I want a simple "yes" or "no". I would have got that some minutes ago if the Chair had permitted the Taoiseach to reply.
Is the Deputy saying that such legislation was promised?
The Programme for National Recovery, mark I, said the Government would introduce legislation to deal with this extremely serious issue which warrants an investigation by the Minister. I should like to know whether the Minister intends to do anything about this in the context of the Government's programme.
I am calling Deputy Mac Giolla.
Mr. Keating rose.
I have offered the Deputy an opportunity to put his question.
The Chair did not afford the Government an opportunity to answer my question.
I did.
I will be pursuing the matter later.
I should like to refer to item No. 9 on the Order Paper and the order that has been agreed between the Whips of some of the parties. I should like to point out that The Workers' Party were not involved in those discussions and were unaware of the decision reached. I am sure the Taoiseach would not like to have a series of votes called on the Order of Business as we had to call before. According to item No. 9 the speech of the Taoiseach and the main spokesperson for each of the groups as defined in Standing Orders——
I should like to ask the Deputy to raise that matter when we reach item No. 9. I will facilitate the Deputy at that time.
I should like to put a question to the Chair on the ordering of business during the course of the week. May I take it that, while the debate is going on, Members of the House will have the facility to put written questions to the Government on the details of budgetary and expenditure proposals as set out in the Book of Estimates without being ruled out of order?
That is a hypothetical question. I will deal with those matters as they arise.
It is certainly not a hypothetical question. In the light of previous experience, if you would permit me, Sir, it would be better for all of us concerned that we get a response to it now rather than have a debate on it at a later stage. Might I make a suggestion? It is within your remit. I suggest also that it would help the debate enormously if you could confirm that written questions put down to the Government during the course of this week on the subject matter of the Estimates would be admitted and would be answered.
I should much prefer if Deputy Dukes had given me notice of his intention to raise this matter and I would now be in a position to give him a detailed reply.
Is there a doubt about it?
I shall deal with the question and communicate with the Deputy as soon as possible.
In view of the unprecedented problems on the Stock Exchange both here and abroad yesterday and today and of the enormous consequences that these can have for this country and for employment here, would the Government make their views on the situation known to the House with a view to clearing up the tremendous confusion and fear that exist at present?
That does not arise on the Order of Business. The Deputy may find a more opportune time to raise that very important matter.
It is hard to imagine anything more important than this. Perhaps the Taoiseach would think it appropriate to make a statement on the matter in view of the fact that, as I think, all other western Governments have made statements on the similar problems they are facing.
Would there not be an adequate opportunity for the House and all the Members to raise this matter during debate which is about to take place?
It is all about cuts.
Is it envisaged in the present session to bring forward proposals for the establishment of a joint Oireachtas committee on foreign affairs? Have any discussions taken place between the Government party and any other parties in the House as to the terms of reference of such a committee?
No. The matter is still under consideration. There have not been any discussions with any of the parties.
I wish to seek to raise on the Adjournment tonight the question of the absence of a mathematics and commercial teacher at the Dominican secondary school, Ballyfermot.
I shall communicate with the Deputy.
Would the Taoiseach clarify for me certain aspects of a reply which he gave to a question I raised last week on the appointment by the Government of communications consultants? In his reply the Taoiseach did not outline the terms under which this company were engaged. I would ask him if he would do so now and if he would confirm whether they are engaged on a retainer basis.
I am afraid, Deputy, that this does not arise and could not arise on the Order of Business, properly speaking.
It is a very important matter.
That may well be, Deputy, but you have many ways and means of raising the matter in the House.
I would like to pursue it further. The Minister for the Environment subsequently confirmed that——
I am sorry, I cannot allow the Deputy to continue on that train of thought.
Have I permission to raise the matter on the Adjournment?
I shall communicate with the Deputy.
May I ask, with regard to legislation promised by the Government, when we may expect to have before us the Children (Care and Protection) Bill?
That seems to be on the Order Paper, Deputy, as item No. 6. Is that what the Deputy is referring to?
Yes. Can the Government give us any idea of when the legislation will be before the House for debate?
It will be discussed in the normal way between the Whips.
In view of the fact that the Taoiseach has issued today the text of a Data Protection Bill to deal with the formation of the International Finance Service Centre on the Custom House Dock site, will he assure the House that he intends to bring forward legislation in relation to service marks as opposed to trade marks so as to put our international financial institutions and our markets here on equal pegging with those of other economies in the European Community?
They have all gone down now, anyway.
That is hardly relevant now, Deputy.
May I raise——
I should like to get down to the proper business of the House.
I did indicate.
I have been entertaining questions now for some time.
May I raise on the Adjournment the matter of the Minister for Tourism's reported refusal to fund the Cork-Swansea ferry for next year?
I shall communicate with the Deputy.
Deputy Barnes raised the same question as I had intended to raise. Item 6 is actually Deputy Howlin's Bill, not the Government's——
The Labour Party Bill.
My apologies. It is a Labour Party Bill, not the promised Government redraft or revamp of the Children (Care and Protection) Bill which they dropped on Committee Stage. Perhaps an indication will be given on that?
That is a pertinent point.
I thought that it was the other legislation to which the Deputy was referring. It can be discussed between the Whips as to how soon it can be brought forward.
May I ask your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to raise on the Adjournment the matter of the H. Williams collapse and the need for——
I shall communicate with the Deputy. May we now pass on to item No. 9?