It is proposed to take items Nos. 17, 18, 2 and 19. It is also proposed that the Dáil shall sit later than 9 p.m. today and that business shall be interrupted at 10 p.m. It is further proposed that the proceedings on the remaining Stages of No. 17 shall be brought to a conclusion not later than 12 noon 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 Industry and Commerce. It is further proposed that the proceedings on the remaining Stages of No. 18 shall be brought to a conclusion not later than 6 p.m. 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 Social Welfare. It is further proposed that the proceedings on the Order for Second Stage and Second Stage of No. 2 shall be brought to a conclusion not later than 8.30 p.m. and the Minister for the Marine shall be called on to conclude not later than 8.15 p.m. It is further proposed that the proceedings on the remaining Stages of No. 19 shall be brought to a conclusion not later than 10 p.m. 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 of State at the Department of Industry and Commerce.
Order of Business.
Is the proposal for the late sitting agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 17 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal in respect of No. 18 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 2 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal in respect of No. 19 agreed?
On No. 19, may I ask if this effectively means that amendments that have been placed by Deputies other than the Minister will not be voted on at any stage and how are the amendments placed by other Deputies to be dealt with?
Not necessarily. They may be dealt with but if they have not been dealt with by 10 p.m. then the only amendments dealt with at that time will be amendments put down by the Government. That is the standard procedure.
At that stage if somebody wants to move and have a vote called on an amendment that has been placed correctly before the House, I presume that can be done also at the time indicated for the other vote?
At what stage then may Deputies put to the House the amendments they have tabled and have a vote on if they are not agreed?
During the intervening period of the debate, from 8.15 p.m. to 10 p.m. which is the duration of that debate.
Is the Taoiseach in a position to tell the House the proposed date of resumption after Christmas and when we will have the budget proposals?
The budget will be on 27 January. The date of resumption will be announced in the traditional way as we leave tomorrow.
In trying to elicit some information from the Taoiseach and the Government I will remind the Taoiseach that on many occasions in the past four years when he was Leader of the Opposition he quite correctly reminded the Government that important statements should be made in this House. In that context I ask him if a statement will be made in the House in relation to the proposal to abolish the drugs refund scheme as this is the correct venue for such a statement of importance and many thousands of people will be affected by its abolition. I ask the Taoiseach or the Minister for Health to confirm to the Members of this House if the scheme will be abolished as and from 1 January, whether regulations need to be brought before the House and, if necessary, when will those regulations be introduced? Perhaps the Taoiseach will now confirm that the drugs refund scheme is going to be abolished on 1 January.
The matter to which the Deputy refers does not relate to the Order of Business. However, I am not sure whether legislation is required in this matter.
I believe regulations are necessary.
The Deputy is misinformed in regard to the whole matter. Under Standing Orders or procedure, no statement to the House is called for either by me or the Minister for Health at this stage.
A Cheann Comhairle——
Sorry, I have allowed Deputy Spring's question and I cannot allow the matter to develop any further at this stage.
Somebody is misinforming the Labour Party.
I thank the Taoiseach for his explanation in relation to procedures but is he now saying there are going to be no changes in the drugs refund scheme on 1 January?
The matter is not in order now.
Can I raise that matter on the Adjournment?
I will communicate with the Deputy in respect of that matter.
You will have to go back to your sources.
Would the Taoiseach consider——
My source is Dr. O'Han-lon.
Whether or not Deputy Spring is misinformed, will the Taoiseach consider agreeing to the ordering of business today in order to allow a statement to be made to clear up——
I cannot allow any further reference to a matter which does not arise on or relate to the Order of business. I have ruled on that matter, Deputy Keating.
Deputies
Hear, hear.
On a point of order——
I have ruled on the matter. I will not permit any further reference to it.
On a point of order——
Deputy Keating, I am on my feet. I have indicated clearly to the Deputy that I will permit no further reference to a matter I have deemed out of order.
On a point of order——
There can be no point of order on a matter of disorder.
Why have I less rights than Deputy Spring? You have not allowed me even to finish my sentence.
I have ruled on the matter.
I want to know why.
It was audacious of the Deputy to raise the matter, having regard to the ruling in respect of Deputy Spring.
Deputy Keating will now resume his seat.
I will on this occasion but in future I think it is only reasonable that a person might be allowed to finish a sentence——
Deputy Keating, please——
——and a statement is needed as there is incredible anxiety about this matter.
Deputy Roche.
With the Chair's permission I would like to raise on the Adjournment an evident and serious breakdown in the 999 emergency call system which occurred last weekend——
A Deputy
It is called a cutback.
Please, Deputies, let us hear the question.
A serious breakdown in the emergency call system which occurred at the weekend led to a serious delay in the emergency services reaching a fire in the home of the Harveys at Enniskerry, endangering the lives of children.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
(Limerick East): I wish to raise on the Adjournment the reply by the Minister for Health to Question No. 53 of 1 December 1987, in the context of his recent announcement about closing Barringtons Hospital.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
Will the Taoiseach say if time will be permitted to this House before the close of business tomorrow evening for the Minister for Agriculture and Food to make a statement in relation to the Euro currency loan which is due to expire at the end of December? If it is not renewed now it will be too late to renew it by the time we resume.
That is a matter which can be arranged with the Whips.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle——
It is reasonable. Give us a Christmas bonus.
I would like to raise on the Adjournment——
Order. Deputy Charles McCreevy.
I would like to raise on the Adjournment the problems presently being incurred by taxpayers in arrears arising from the imposition of the 10 per cent surcharge for tax returns and accounts which are not delivered by 31 December 1987.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I would like to raise on the Adjournment the present position in the second level building programme of two vocational schools, one at Gort, Country Galway and the other at Prosperous, Country Kildare.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I also want to raise on the Adjournment the question of the extension of facilities at St. Farnan's post primary school at Prosperous, Country Kildare.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
On the Order of Business last week I asked the Taoiseach when the AFT-ACOT Bill would come before the House and he indicated that it would be before the House this week and that it would be arranged by the Whips. There is no sign of the Bill although it has been published. It is not on the Order Paper. Will the Taoiseach now say when the Bill might be taken?
I can give the Deputy an assurance that it will not be taken before Christmas so he will have plenty of time to study it in detail.
Will the Taoiseach say what arrangements have now been made to provide finance for the payment of salaries of the staff, arising from the absence of legislation?
That question does not arise. The Deputy will have to find another way of raising that matter.
Will the Minister for Education be agreable to placing a copy of the most recent education circular 24/87, before the House? Will the Taoiseach say if it is likely that there will be an opportunity some time this week for a discussion on the implications of this most recent circular?
Deputy John Bruton.
On a point of order, will the Chair afford the Minister an opportunity to answer?
I have afforded the Deputy an opportunity.
I am referring to the Minister as she did not answer my question.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of Question No. 199 of last Tuesday week.
I will communicate with Deputy Bruton.
Having regard to the anniversary of an event in Bethlehem which we will all be celebrating in ten days time, will the Minister for the Environment be in a position to circulate the text of the Homeless Persons Bill prior to that anniversary?
Not before that anniversary but before your next birthday.
With the permission of the Chair I wish to raise on the Adjournment the failure of a hotel proprietor in my constituency, on the closing and selling of the hotel, to pay severance pay, holiday pay, or any other entitlements to the staff, in view of the fact that that hotel proprietor is a prominent member of Fianna Fáil in the constituency.
I will com-municate with the Deputy.