It is proposed to take Nos. 11 and 12. It is also proposed that the Dáil shall sit later than 9 p.m. and that business shall be interrupted at 11 p.m. It is further proposed that in the debate on No. 11 the opening speech of the Minister for Social Welfare and the speech of the spokesperson for each of the parties in Opposition shall not exceed 45 minutes and that the speech of any other Member shall not exceed 30 minutes. Private Members' Business shall be No. 31.
Order of Business.
Is the proposal, therefore, to sit later than 9 p.m. tonight and business to be interrupted at 11 p.m. agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 11 — that is 45 minutes for the Minister and the main spokespersons and 30 minutes for every other Member — agreed? Agreed.
As I am becoming weary of anticipating discussion on the budget, and because questions have been refused in regard to matters which may pertain to the budget, will the Taoiseach indicate to the House when he expects the discussion on Item No. 12 to conclude?
Yes, it is about time it drew itself to a close. I should also like to point out to the Deputy that the financial motions by the Minister for Finance for 1987 are still on the Order Paper. We might have hard luck in regard to both of them.
Can the Minister for the Environment say if it is intended to take Second Stage of the Housing Bill, 1988, before the Easter recess?
The Taoiseach responded to that question yesterday by saying that the matter would be decided between the Whips and that is the position.
I understand that the Minister has respect for the decisions of the Whips but I was wondering what his and the Taoiseach's intentions are in relation to this matter because they carry influence at the Whips' meetings.
We are totally subservient to the Whips in these matters.
Is it the Government's policy now to disclose details of legislation to the media before they are announced in this House? On numerous occasions we have asked about the Intoxicating Liqour Bill and were not given a satisfactory reply but we were able to read all about it in The Irish Press today. Can we not get information through proper parliamentary questions in this regard?
I dealt with this yesterday.
I asked the Taoiseach about this two months ago in view of the forthcoming tourist season ——
The Deputy was not here yesterday.
I was.
On the Order of Business, I have attempted over the last number of weeks to have the appalling treatment of the Palestinians by the Israeli security forces raised in this House, without success. Would it be possible for the Taoiseach to arrange with the Whips for a debate in this House early next week so that we may put on record our concern about what is happening in the occupied areas?
Surely that is a matter that might be arranged among the Whips?
I appreciate that but I have tried unsuccessfully for weeks ——
Is the Deputy seeking to raise the matter on the Adjournment?
No. Will the Taoiseach indicate whether he will allow time to debate this matter in the House?
It could be combined with a debate on Afghanistan and the Iran-Iraq war.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the question of the current confusion concerning the obligation of the mná tí sna limistéir Ghaeltachta to register with the Revenue Commissioners and the implicaitons of contradictory statements in this regard in the press ——
I will communicate with Deputy Higgins.
In relation to the Children (Care and Protection) Bill, I gather from my colleague that the Taoiseach indicated last week that it is still with the parliamentary draftsman and that he did not hold out any hope of its being introduced this session. I should like to ask the Taoiseach if the Government have any serious intention of proceeding with this legislation which was promised in the last session and which has been with the parliamentary draftsman for about six months. Will the Government be honest and indicate what is happening in relation to this Bill? Is there a row between the Minister for Education and ——
The Deputy has made her point and there is no need to elaborate.
I gave this information to the House yesterday.
Has this legislation been dropped from the Government's programme?
The Deputy should not be making these wild and ridiculous accusations. I have already informed the House that the Bill is with the parliamentary draftsman. It is very complicated legislation and it will be brought forward as soon as possible.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment a matter to which I referred some weeks ago, the question of the conditions and terms of employment of temporary staff taken on a seasonal basis in the Passport Office in Dublin.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I should like the permission of the Chair to raise on the Adjournment the problem that has arisen in regard to the restoration and preservation of a well known local amenity, Glenbower Lake near Killeagh, County Cork.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
With the permission of the Chair I should like to raise on the Adjournment the decision of the Mid-Western Health Board to downgrade Ennis General Hospital.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I should like the permission of the Chair to raise on the Adjournment the specific criteria used by the Minister for Health to decide on the allocations to the eight health boards and, in the light of his recent discussions with hospitals and health boards, the recommendations he may have made.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I should like the permission of the Chair to raise on the Adjournment the vandalising of local authority houses in west Tallaght and the fact that it will cost about £500,000 of public funds to restore them.
I will communicate with the Deputy.