I move: "That the Second Stage be taken in Private Members' time".
Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Bill, 1987: Order for Second Stage.
Bill entitled an Act to amend the grounds for judicial separation: to facilitate reconciliation between estranged spouses: to provide for the making of ancillary orders in separation proceedings: to amend the law relating to the courts' family law jurisdiction and to provide for connected matters.
Is that agreed to?
Yes, I am very happy to agree to that procedure. On consideration we thought that this was a better way of dealing with it because we are anxious that this Bill be fully considered by the Dáil and we thought that the best way was to have the Second Stage in Private Members' time and to then set up a committee of the House to deal with the Bill in special committee.
Question put and agreed to.
In the Government's Programme for Economic Recovery they indicated that a State forestry company would be established. Will the Taoiseach indicate when the legislation to establish this company will be brought before the House and when the interim board which was also promised will be set up?
The legislation will almost certainly be brought forward early in the next session.
What about the interim board?
We may not proceed with an interim board if we can get the other legislation in place quickly enough.
On the Order of Business last week I asked the Minister for Finance who was acting on behalf of the Taoiseach the position concerning legislation for the amalgamation of AFT/ACOT and it was indicated that the legislation would be brought forward before the Christmas recess. Is that still the position, and if it is not, how is it proposed to fund the wages of the staff from 1 January if no provision has been made for them?
It is proposed to take the legislation next week. The Whips will be discussing the arrangements.
When is it proposed to circulate the legislation for the establishment of a harbour authority in Dún Laoghaire?
I am not aware——
It has been promised.
I will have to communicate with the Deputy. My mind was preoccupied with Shannon.
The Government promised legislation to expand the role of the Combat Poverty Agency. Is it the Government's intention to proceed with this legislation, or is it proposed to reverse the decision affecting the Combat Poverty Agency and the National Social Service Board?
No legislation was promised.
Legislation in that area was not promised.
It was promised in the House two weeks ago.
Will the Minister for the Environment say if legislation will be necessary to give effect to the restructuring of An Foras Forbartha and the establishment of the environmental research unit having regard to the announcement in today's newspapers?
Subject to correction, I do not think that legislation is required in that area.
If the Minister can indicate when he will release full details of the proposals it will be clear whether legislation is required. Perhaps the Minister would clarify that.
No legislation is promised in that regard. The proposals of the Government to deal with that situation will be announced in due course.
Am I in order in asking whether the announcement carried in today's newspaper is an official announcement?
There is no other kind.
Will there be any further details given other than what is carried in today's newspaper?
It is either an announcement official or an unofficial announcement which has been leaked.
A Deputy
Things have changed.
In view of the very heavy schedule promised for the coming week, the last week of the term, will the Government be publishing and circulating the Homeless Persons Bill as promised?
The Government are proceeding as rapidly as they possibly can with their legislative programme and, indeed, that programme would be considerably expedited if some Deputies would stop calling votes which hold up the business unnecessarily.
This question has been raised countless times in this House and we have been promised legislation.
The Deputy has asked the question.
Will the Bill be published next week?
That question has been canvassed both today and yesterday. The question was put yesterday and was answered by the Minister.
It is a simple question. It is still not answered.
May I ask the Taoiseach when it is intended to introduce a Bill giving the ESB powers in relation to the importation and sale of coal?
No such legislation has been promised.
I refer the Ceann Comhairle to a parliamentary question on the day Energy questions were answered in the House when such legislation was promised.
The Taoiseach does not know. He is not aware.
I am not aware at present of the legislation.
A Cheann Comhairle, with your permission I would like to raise on the Adjournment the continuing delay in authorising the signing of a contract for Listowel convent primary school.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
Would the Taoiseach repeat that no legislation was promised in relation to the Combat Poverty Agency and the widening of its role? Is the Taoiseach standing over that assertion?
Perhaps I should amend that to say that as far as I am aware no such legislation has been promised.
May I ask he Taoiseach if that is his understanding?
May I beg the Deputy's indulgence? I will immediately look into the situation and if any legislation has in fact been promised, I will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of Question No. 199 on yesterday's Order Paper.
I will communicate with the Deputy.