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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 20 Apr 1988

Vol. 379 No. 7

Order of Business.

It is proposed to take No. 15. Private Members' Business shall be No. 33.

I would like to ask the Taoiseach if the story in this morning's Irish Independent has pre-empted the terms of the Dáil motion which opened the question of the vocational school cuts. According to the Irish Independent this morning 900 jobs will be lost. We understood, as a result of the Dáil motion, that there were discussions going on——

Sorry, Deputy Hussey, this is clearly a matter which does not arise on the Order of Business.

I would like to raise on the Adjournment the devastating closure of hospital beds——

(Interruptions.)

I would like to hear the Deputy. Order.

I would like to raise on the Adjournment of the House the devastating closure of hospital beds in Edenburn hospital in Tralee, County Kerry.

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

(Limerick East): In the autumn of last year the Minister for the Environment announced, with a certain amount of fanfare, that legislation was being introduced to allow building societies to get involved in banking activities. Subsequently, the Taoiseach committed himself and his Government to introducing two Bills, one along the lines announced by the Minister for the Environment and the other to allow the Central Bank to control these activities.

Is the Deputy referring to legislation promised?

(Limerick East): Yes, legislation promised. I understand from newspaper reports this morning of a reply the Taoiseach made yesterday that these Bills are certainly not before the House and are not in the course of preparation. Can the Taoiseach bring us up to date, against the background of the reply he gave yesterday to Deputy O'Keeffe? Are we not now going to have this legislation? Are we going to have it in this session or what is the position?

One of the pieces of legislation is with the parliamentary draftsman and the other is at an advanced stage of preparation. I am very glad to be able to set the Deputy's mind at rest about these two pieces of legislation. They are complex and difficult but this Government are getting on with bringing them to fruition, unlike our predecessors.

(Limerick East): I am very grateful to the Taoiseach for that information. Why were the Bills not listed in the reply the Taoiseach made yesterday?

I am afraid we cannot debate the matter now.

(Limerick East): Why is there a contradiction between yesterday's information and that of today?

This may not lead to an argument at this stage.

The list of legislation published yesterday was for the convenience of Deputies, to give them an idea of the sort of legislation we hope to put through before the summer recess. It was also indicated that other legislation may be brought forward that is not on the list but it is not anticipated at this stage that either of the two Bills the Deputy has in mind will be brought forward in this session, unfortunately.

May I ask the Taoiseach or the Minister for the Environment when precisely in this session it is proposed to take item No. 25, the Housing Bill?

That is a matter which can be discussed by the Whips.

I thank the Taoiseach for the communication from the Whips' Office in regard to the Children (Care and Protection) Bill, which I received subsequent to yesterday's intervention. The one small matter outstanding in that regard is whether the Government intend to reintroduce the previous Government's Bill which will resume on Committee Stage or will an entirely new Bill be introduced?

There will be a new Bill.

Might I ask the Taoiseach by what mechanism the House will be informed of the results of the work of the Central Review Committee within the Programme for National Recovery, on foot of a motion agreed by this House? Will there be a statement made to the House when the committee have completed their work?

That is a matter for consideration. I would be glad to consider what would be the best and most suitable way of dealing with it. It is perhaps a matter that the Whips could talk about.

I wish to raise on the Adjournment the matter of the extension of the disadvantaged areas scheme for County Waterford.

I will communicate with the Deputy.

Yesterday I asked permission to raise a matter on the Adjournment, and I accept your decision that it was not appropriate, but I find it difficult to understand the reasons given, which were conveyed most courteously by your office. The subject I wished to raise was the placing in Stubbs Gazette the names of persons who have not paid the £10 hospital charge. I seek your permission to raise this matter again and to assure you that it is a matter of substance as I have the documentation from the health board concerned and the publishers of Stubbs Gazette concerning the matter.

In view of the information conveyed to my office by the Deputy, I will have the matter further examined.

I seek permission to raise on the Adjournment the two recent unfortunate deaths in Mountjoy Prison.

I will communicate with the Deputy.

(Limerick East): I wish to raise on the Adjournment the matter I raised yesterday, that is, the death of a man in the Regional Hospital in Limerick who had to wait six hours in casualty before he was admitted to the hospital.

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

I seek permission to raise on the Adjournment the possibility of the formation of an integrated plan for the provision of badly needed finances for infrastructure in County Kildare, and perhaps to incorporate adjoining counties.

I will communicate with the Deputy in regard to that matter.

I would like to say it would be a wonderful thing if we could have an Australian delegation in the House every day.

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