It is proposed to take Nos. 12, 13, 14 and 15. It is also proposed that the Dáil shall not be suspended at 1.30 p.m. today. It is further proposed that business shall be interrupted at 5 o'clock and that at the conclusion of business today the Dáil shall adjourn until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 22 March 1988.
Order of Business.
Is it agreed the House shall not be suspended at 1.30 p.m. today? Agreed. Is it further agreed that at the conclusion of business today the House shall adjourn until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday next? Agreed.
Ba mhaith liom a fhiafraí den Taoiseach an bhfuil aon bheartas faoi leith in aigne aige do Lá Mór na Gaeilge amárach?
Tá súil agam go n-éireoidh go geal leis.
An bhfuil aon bheartas ag an Taoiseach é féin?
Cén sórt ruda atá i gceist ag an Teachta?
Séard atá i gceist agam ná a fháil amach ón Taoiseach an bhfuil aon socrú déanta aige nó ag an Rialtas, an bhfuil aon bheartas nó fheachtas faoi leith in aigne aige chun an ócáid suntanasach seo amárach a chur chun cinn?
Táimid i bhfábhar an lae agus na scéime agus beimid go léir ag caint Gaeilge ar feadh an lae.
Beidh mé ag tnú le comhrá aigneach a bheith agam as Gaeilge leis an Taoiseach amárach i Sráid Uí Chonaill.
May I ask the Government if it is true that what appears to be a substantial and weighty report on the re-organisation of the Garda Síochána, in the light of recent events is not to be considered, or is to be ruled out, or is the lack of action on this report simply a result of the fact that our Minister for Justice has now become a chronic peripatetic?
That is something that does not arise on the Order of Business this morning. Deputy Dukes will have to find another way of raising the matter.
The re-organisation of the force was something to which the Minister for Justice and the Taoiseach rightly paid a great deal of attention and made a great deal of song and dance about it when the House was discussing major Garda searches some months ago. We now find——
This is not the kind of subject that should be raised on the spur of the moment.
I think the Government should indicate what is their intention.
Following last Wednesday's vote in the Dáil where the Government voted to have a special meeting of the central review committee on the vocational education school cuts, may I ask the Taoiseach if he has now set a date for that special meeting and, if so, when it is to take place?
Again, this hardly arises on the Order of Business.
The Government voted for this committee.
Sorry, Deputy Hussey, clearly that does not arise on the Order of Business.
I seek permission to raise on the Adjournment the matter of the continued killing of Palestinians on the West Bank.
I will communicate with Deputy De Rossa in respect of the matter.
May I ask the Taoiseach when the audit into staffing levels at the Department of Agriculture and Food, AFT and ACOT will be published?
Is that something that was promised?
In order not to be disorderly it is certainly work that is underway but there is no legislation on it.
I appreciate there will be no legislation but it will have a very important impact on legislation which is going through this House and with the merger of AFT and ACOT and the funding that will be available for the new farm body.
Again, on a point of order, it is a matter to be pursued through the normal process of Dáil questions.
My problem is that I put down a question to the Taoiseach and he refused to answer it.
I never refuse to answer questions.
Deputy O'Keeffe must desist.
I do not want to be disorderly.
Arising out of the answers to my Priority Question, No. 68 yesterday, the Minister of State at the Department of Health indicated that the Minister for Health was going to make a statement to the House on the legality of charges being imposed by some health boards. Can the Taoiseach indicate to the House when such a statement will be made so that these illegal charges can be discontinued as soon as possible?
That matter hardly arises now.
When will the statement be made?
Was the statement promised?
The statement was promised yesterday by the Minister of State.
My advice is that something might be arranged between the Whips.
(Interruptions.)
People throughout the country are being subjected to these charges in a situation where the Minister has conceded that they are illegal. This is an urgent matter and we should be given an indication, a statement having been promised to the House, as to when that statement will be made.
The Deputy will have to find other ways and means of raising the matter.
In respect of the Adjournment I seek your permission to raise the non-enforcement of the law relating to illegal gaming in amusement halls particularly in the Dublin area.
I am aware of the Deputy's interest in that matter and I will communicate with him.
(Limerick East): Prior to Christmas the Taoiseach promised two Bills which he said he would introduce simultaneously. One was to extend the role of the building societies and the other was a consequential Bill to extend the remit of the Central Bank to control the activities of the extended building societies. When can we expect these Bills?
I cannot give the Deputy an exact date. They are still being worked on and drafted.
(Limerick East): Will it be before the summer recess?
It is hoped.
(Limerick East): It sounds like a very faint hope.
We are working diligently on the Central Bank Bill. The building societies Bill is for another Minister. At least we are doing something about it. It has been lying around since 1967.
That was when Deputy Haughey was Minister for Finance.
(Limerick East): Is it still the Taoiseach's intention to introduce both Bills simultaneously?
Yes.
Is it the Government's intention to introduce legislation to deal with the area of organ donation and transplantation which has been looked for by many of the bodies concerned?
I sought yesterday to ask a Private Notice Question in connection with the blood transfusion service. Permission was refused. How can I raise this very important matter if I am not allowed to raise it by means of a Private Notice Question?
If the Deputy will communicate with my office we will be glad to assist him to the utmost of our ability.
Is there any possibility that it would be considered and that the Department would not dictate that this matter was not urgent?
The Deputy may not elaborate now and aggravate the situation.
In view of the Kennedy/Simpson Bill passed in the US Senate yesterday I would ask the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs to make immediate representations to President Ronald Regan to withhold any expulsion order against Miss Catherine Fitzgerald of Skibbereen.
Deputy Sheehan must raise that matter in the proper way.
Will they make representations?
(Interruptions.)
Any sign of the Skibbereen eagle down there?
(Limerick East): The Taoiseach sent him off at Shannon Airport.
Do the Taoiseach and the Government envisage that legislation will be necessary to enable Ireland to maximise applications for regional and structural aid from the EC through integrated programmes? Will domestic legislation be necessary to maximise our take to 75 per cent?
The Deputy should raise that matter in the normal way.
It relates to legislation.
There is no legislation promised, as far as I know.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the decision of the MidWestern Health Board to downgrade Ennis General Hospital.
I will communicate with Deputy Carey in respect of that matter.
(Limerick East): As it appears the Government have little or no legislative programme ready to bring to the House, does the Taoiseach intend to alleviate the serious problems arising in the office of the parliamentary draftsman.
I do not know anything about that.
(Limerick East): The Taoiseach should inquire into it.
In view of the fact that the executions planned in South Africa are likely to go ahead before the Dáil will meet again, is the Minister for Foreign Affairs in a position to indicate what steps he might now take to make a further appeal for clemency?
The House discussed that matter yesterday. I will not allow repetition of the matter.
It is not repetition. It was reported on last night's news that the Minister for Foreigh Affairs had issued a request and I commend him on that. This is the last opportunity for both Houses to send an urgent message from an elected assembly calling for an end to these barbarous killings.
I allowed a Private Notice Question on this matter yesterday. It was fully dealt with and replied to by the Minister for Foreign Affairs. It does not arise now.
This House——
This House cannot be blamed in respect of that matter.
——can express its opinions on barbarity. I should like to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with Deputy Higgins.