It is proposed to take Nos. 6, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 3. Private Members' Business shall be No. 61.
Order of Business.
Would the Taoiseach clarify for me — in relation to the coming into effect of the Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism — whether it is his intention to make a statement to this House, or whether we are going to have to understand the Government's views in relation to Press speculation which is taking place?
That matter does not arise on the Order of Business.
A Cheann Comhairle, I think the Taoiseach may wish——
The Deputy will have to find other ways of raising that matter. It does not arise now.
It is a very important matter. It would be far more appropriate if this House was informed rather than the back rooms of the Fianna Fáil Party. I am asking the Taoiseach——
The matter may not be debated here this morning.
——if he is going to actually inform this House because, while the present Taoiseach was Leader of the Opposition, he was very adamant and insistent at all times——
I cannot allow this matter to develop. It does not arise now.
——that this House was the proper place to make announcements.
It does not arise now.
It certainly does arise.
Deputy Peter Barry was offering.
May I ask the Taoiseach, in view of the fact that the Minister for Industry and Commerce leaked the contents of the Local Radio Bill a month ago to RTE, and again yesterday to the newspapers, when the Members of this House will have an opportunity of seeing the Bill?
Very soon.
(Interruptions.)
Will we see it before the Minister for Communications sees it? The Minister for Industry and Commerce appears to know all about it.
I know that Deputy Barry was very considerably influenced by the goings on of the Coalition Government of which he was a member but this Government do not work that way.
(Interruptions.)
Order, please.
I put a question down to the Taoiseach asking if he was aware that ransom was being transported to Cork. The question never appeared on the Order Paper. It has been changed and transferred to the Minister for Justice. I asked the question specifically of the Taoiseach and there is no mention of the Taoiseach in the question. I want to know why that question is not being answered as it was asked.
In so far as my office is concerned I will certainly look into the matter, that is, in so far as my office is involved. I am not accepting responsibility in this area.
It is Question No. 64 on today's Order Paper.
When does the Minister for the Environment propose to make known the details of the report on the closing down of An Foras Forbartha, as he indicated to this House?
The report has been received from the interim board. I am at present considering it and hope to be making an announcement concerning that matter in the near future.
Maybe the Minister for Industry and Commerce will leak it to the rest of us.
A Cheann Comhairle, I wonder if you would allow time on the Adjournment of the House for discussion——
(Interruptions.)
Order, please, Deputy McCartan is in possession.
I wish to give notice of my intention to raise on the Adjournment the issue of the failure of the Government to appoint a medical director to the prison service. It is a matter I have raised a number of times. I am hopeful that you will be able to accede to my request on this occasion and allow the matter to be discussed on the Adjournment this evening.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
(Dún Laoghaire): May I seek your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to raise on the Adjournment the question of the decision of the Minister for Justice to suspend the activities of the juvenile liaison and other officers involved in crime prevention?
I appreciate the Deputy's interest and I will communicate with him.
In view of the worsening world food situation, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I wish to raise again the subject matter of Question No. 7 of last Thursday, 12 November, addressed to the Minister for Agriculture and Food when he informed the House that there is no allocation at all in the Estimates for 1988 toward a world food programme.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the matter of the delay in signing the contract for Listowel girls primary school.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I should like to ask the Taoiseach — with all of the goings on in the Fianna Fáil Party at present on the extradition issue——
(Interruptions.)
——if he would confirm to the House that it is still his intention to ratify the European Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism by 1 December, which is a quite separate issue.
The Deputy will have to find another opportunity of raising that matter.
Perhaps she could bug the meetings a Cheann Comhairle.
(Interruptions.)
Her contacts are gone.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of Question No. 21 of Thursday last, 12 November, dealing with the cutbacks in An Foras Talúntais and ACOT.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
May I ask the Taoiseach if he or any of his Ministers intend to make a statement to the House on the special report made to this House by the Ombudsman who indicated that the functions of his office will grind to a halt next year?
That is a matter which can be raised in another fashion. There is ample scope for it to be raised in this House without it being raised now. Deputy Shatter knows full well that he has ample scope for raising that matter.
A Cheann Comhairle, there has been a report on a statutory function.
He might even indicate to me this desire to raise it on the Adjournment if he feels strongly about it. I am calling Deputy Deasy. Would Deputy Shatter please desist?
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the terms of employment of a woodwork teacher in post primary schools in west Waterford.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
Might I ask the Taoiseach if it is still his intention to introduce in this House before Christmas legislation concerning the amalgamation of the functions of the National Board for Science and Technology and of the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards and, if so, when he expects that legislation to be published?
We still hope to get it before the House this session. It is hoped that the Bill will be published next week. Work on it is very well advanced.
A Cheann Comhairle, might I seek your permission to have the matter I raised earlier discussed on the Adjournment this evening?
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I should like to raise on the Adjournment the question of the Government being legally represented at the case of the Birmingham Six which is at present taking place.
I will communicate with Deputy Spring in respect of that matter.
Would the Taoiseach say if there is any proposal to introduce legislation to abolish the National Social Service Board and, if not, if he will indicate to the House how the functions of the board will be subsumed into the Department of Health?
That is not relevant now.
May I raise on the Adjournment the question of a very valuable 8th century cross which was the subject of court proceedings in Athlone yesterday and which is still in the possession of the finder? I am anxious that this cross, which is of historical importance should be taken into possession of the State.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
In view of a commitment given by the Minister for Health with regard to the adoption legislation could I ask the Taoiseach when we can expect to have that Bill put before the House?
The legislation is in the Seanad and it will come here in due course with the wisdom of the Seanad applied to it.
It has been in the Seanad since last July and has made no progress since.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the failure to appoint a contractor to build an extension to Dore national school, County Donegal.
I will communicate with the Deputy in respect of that matter.
With regard to the promised legislation which I have been raising for a very considerable time following on the Raglan House explosion can I ask the Minister for the Environment precisely when we can expect legislation on building by-laws which will make new buildings safe for gas installations?
In the very near future.
I will ask again during the next couple of days.