Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 28 Jan 1988

Vol. 377 No. 2

Order of Business.

The Taoiseach

It is proposed to take No. 17. It is also proposed that in the debate of Financial Resolution No. 4 in the name of the Minister for Finance, the following arrangements shall apply:

(1) The speech of the main spokesperson nominated by each of the groups, as defined in Standing Order 89 (1) (a), shall not exceed one and a quarter hours;

(2) The speech of each other Member called on shall not exceed 45 minutes.

It is further proposed that statements will be made at 3.45 p.m. under Standing Order 41 on the Stalker-Sampson report and each statement shall not exceed 15 minutes and the order shall not resume thereafter.

An Ceann Comhairle

In respect of Financial Resolution No. 4, is the time limit applying to spokespersons nominated by each group agreed? Agreed. Is the time limit of 45 minutes in respect of Members agreed? Agreed. Is the recommendation in respect of statements agreed? Agreed.

Mr. Keating

In that context I should like to ask the Taoiseach if he would be agreeable, subject to the agreement of the House and if warranted, to extend the scope of that series of statements to embody comment on the judgment of the appeal by the Birmingham Six which is to be announced today? Will it be possible to facilitate reference to that in the context of the statements on the Stalker-Sampson report?

The Taoiseach

I always want to facilitate the House on these matters but what the Deputy has suggested would hardly be appropriate. The Stalker-Sampson affair is a very separate and distinctive issue and our statements on this occasion should be confined to that. I am sure we can find some other way of dealing with any other announcements that may be made today.

Mr. Keating

Will the Taoiseach agree that both matters are germane?

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy should not follow that matter any further. He has been given a reply to his query and the matter must end there.

Mr. Keating

May I simply ask, as both matters are germane to relations between these two countries, if the Taoiseach considers it appropriate to permit comment today or will he facilitate statements being made early next week?

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy may raise that matter again.

Mrs. Hussey

On 22 December, after the House had adjourned, the Government issued a statement explaining that the Taoiseach had taken his own personal initiative in inviting the INTO to meet him and embark on a review of the primary school system. The Dáil was in recess at that time and I tabled a question to the Taoiseach for yesterday's Order Paper to explore that initiative and delve into the background to it.

An Ceann Comhairle

I have allowed the Deputy some latitude but clearly this is not a matter that arises on the Order of Business.

Mrs. Hussey

Your office very courteously explained to me yesterday that you, unfortunately, had no role in this matter.

An Ceann Comhairle

None whatever.

Mrs. Hussey

I am anxious to ask the Taoiseach why he refused to answer the question yesterday.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy will have to find another way of raising that matter.

Mrs. Hussey

In refusing to answer the question I wonder what the Taoiseach is hiding.

The Taoiseach

I did not know the Deputy had put down a question to me.

Mrs. Hussey

What promise did the Taoiseach make to the INTO? Did he tell the Minister for Finance?

Mr. Dukes

The Taoiseach should not stand for that; they are keeping things from him.

Mr. Howlin

I seek the indulgence of the Chair to allow the Taoiseach the opportunity to dispel the great disquiet among the caring organisations in relation to the future of the NSSB. Will the Taoiseach confirm, or deny, statements published in yesterday's national newspapers about the Government's intentions?

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy will have to find other ways and means of raising that matter. It does not arise now.

Mr. Howlin

Perhaps the Taoiseach would willingly give an answer to that question.

Miss Flaherty

Has the Taoiseach an explanation for the continuing failure of the Government to publish a redraft of the Children (Care and Protection) Bill? We were promised it by the end of the last session. Following failure to do so we were then assured we would have it before the Dáil resumed.

The Taoiseach

It is with the parliamentary draftsmen. It will be brought along as quickly as possible. Again I might suggest to the Deputy that we are not doing too badly in this area.

Mrs. Barnes

It is years out of date.

Proinsias De Rossa

Can the Taoiseach indicate how soon we may expect the Homeless Persons Bill to be brought before the House? This Bill has been promised for a time. I would hope that it would be introduced within a week or so.

The Taoiseach

Very soon, but the Deputy will acknowledge that we have done something, if not more important, at least equally important — we are providing money for the problem.

Mr. Allen

May I seek clarification on one point? In December last this House passed a motion requesting the Government to continue the National Social Service Board. In view of press reports in recent days concerning that board would the Taoiseach or the Minister for Health clarify the matter for this House?

An Ceann Comhairle

Would the Deputy please put down a question in respect of that matter?

Mr. Allen

Surely we should have this clarification.

Mr. Quinn

Would the Minister for the Environment say when it is proposed to take the Building Control Bill.

Minister for the Environment (Mr. Flynn)

It is item No. 24 on today's Order Paper.

Mr. Quinn

Since this Bill has been published for quite some time may I ask the Minister when it is proposed to take it?

The Taoiseach

That will be a matter for the Whips.

Miss Flaherty

May I have your permission, Sir, to raise on the Adjournment the matter of the ability of the Children's Hospital in Crumlin to deal with the demand for heart operations for children?

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. Deasy

I wish to raise on the Adjournment the question of the future responsibility for the crane ship, Samson, which is aground on the Waterford coast at Ardmore?

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with Deputy Deasy in respect of that matter.

Mr. Sherlock

May I ask the Taoiseach or the Minister for Health if the local health committees are to continue to be financed by the health boards or whether it is intended to introduce legislation to abolish these committees as not even secretarial help is being provided them by the Southern Health Board at present?

An Ceann Comhairle

I am afraid that does not arise now, Deputy.

Mr. Nealon

I should like to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of Questions Nos. 263 and 264 of the 15 December last.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. Allen

Might I have your permission to raise on the Adjournment the matter of the widespread flooding that took place in the Inniscarra area of my constituency in the last few days of December as a result of a defect at the ESB dam at Inniscarra.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. Durkan

May I seek your permission, Sir — for about the tenth time — to raise on the Adjournment the question of the extra accommodation required at Prosperous VEC school?

An Ceann Comhairle

If it is the tenth time, Deputy, I shall look at it very sympathetically.

Mr. Bell

Might I ask the Minister for Social Welfare how soon he will circulate the Social Welfare Bill to put into effect the budgetary provisions?

An Ceann Comhairle

Would the Deputy please repeat his question?

Mr. Bell

Might I ask the Taoiseach or the Minister for Social Welfare how soon they will make the Social Welfare Bill available to put into effect the budgetary provisions?

The Taoiseach

It will follow the normal course of events.

Mr. Sherlock

I should like to raise on the Adjournment the question of local health committees as they have been abolished without any amending legislation or ministerial order?

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. Sherlock

I should like to ask the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs if they are aware of the serious predicament of a constituent of mine, Miss Fitzgerald, of Skibbereen who is being detained in Long Island, New York.

An Ceann Comhairle

Would the Deputy please pursue that matter through the appropriate channel? It is not in order now.

Mr. Sheehan

Would the Taoiseach make a statement to the House in view of the fact——

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy knows the rules of this House.

Mr. Sheehan

Would the Taoiseach make a statement to the House——

An Ceann Comhairle

Please, Deputy Sheehan.

Mr. Sheehan

May I raise the matter on the Adjournment?

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. Cullen

Would the Taoiseach clarify, as a matter of urgency, the position of the Government with regard to EC Directive 85/339 at present being pursued by the Minister for the Environment. Is the Minister aware that the parent company in the States has now stalled a three million dollars investment in a company in this country for the current year——

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy must find alternative ways and means of dealing with that matter.

Mr. Cullen

——and that the total investment programme of ten million dollars has been delayed because of uncertainty in this area? May I seek your permission to raise the matter on the Adjournment, a Cheann Comhairle?

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. Sheehan

May I ask the Minister for the Marine why he authorised the closure of the Celtic Sea, how it is that fishermen will not observe the law——

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy Sheehan is becoming disorderly——

Mr. Sheehan

Will he afford these people an opportunity of filling their quotas?

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Daly)

They asked me themselves to close it.

(Interruptions.)

The Taoiseach

I want to place on the record of this House that no Minister of this Government ever closed the Celtic Sea.

(Interruptions.)

Mr. Sheehan

——the fishing rights in the Celtic Sea.