It is proposed to take Nos. 8, 18, 4, 9 and 19. It is further proposed that the proceedings on No. 8 shall be brought to a conclusion not later than 12 noon. Private Members' Business shall be No. 33.
Order of Business.
Before the Order of Business is agreed I wonder if the Taoiseach and the Government would consider not taking Items Nos. 8 and 18 today and deferring them——
If the Deputy would bear with me for a moment, I must ask if the Order of Business is agreed, especially in respect of No. 8 which shall be brought to a conclusion not later than 12 noon.
It is in respect of that that I wish to raise a point.
If it is in respect of this matter the Deputy is in order.
I would ask the Taoiseach and the Government to consider deferring Nos. 8 and 18, which are related, and to consider recirculating a Government Bill in respect of the item concerned, the Courts Bill, in view of the fact that the amendments——
The Deputy may not make a speech. I will hear his contention briefly only.
It is two years since we had a Second Stage debate on this in the House. The Government amendments entirely supplant the original Bill as circulated by Fine Gael and Labour when in Government. This is an important issue and I would ask the Government to consider recirculating their own Bill with their own explanatory memorandum of their proposals and let us have a Second Stage debate on the matter.
I would like to support Deputy McCartan in that request.
This is the Order of Business as agreed between the Whips.
I am putting the question then, "That the proceedings on No. 8 be brought to a conclusion not later than 12 noon".
Vótáil.
The question is: "That the proposal that the proceedings on No. 8 be brought to a conclusion not later than 12 noon be agreed." On that question a division has been challenged. Will those Members who claim a division please rise in their places?
Deputies Kemmy, De Rossa, Mac Giolla and McCartan rose.
As fewer than ten Members have risen, in accordance with Standing Orders, I declare the question carried. The names of the Members dissenting will be entered in the Journal of the Proceedings of the Dáil.
I would like to ask if the Minister for Health would make a statement on the announcement by the board of Crumlin children's hospital that they are discontinuing forthwith bone marrow transplants.
Is the Deputy seeking information concerning legislation that has been promised?
Would the Minister be willing to make a statement on the announcement that was made last week in relation to——
That question is not in order.
I seek to raise the matter on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I should like to ask the Taoiseach the manner in which the House will be informed of the progress or lack of progress in relation to the talks being conducted under the aegis of the central review committee of the Programme for National Recovery regarding education.
Is this in respect of legislation?
Yes. The Taoiseach indicated that he was considering the form in which such a statement would be made. On the last occasion I raised the matter on the Order of Business he suggested it was premature. I am repeating my request that there be some clarification as to the manner in which the proceedings of the work of the committee will be reported to the Dáil because of the fact that there was a Dáil motion which set this process in action.
There are two aspects to this. First there is the question of the education issues. The Minister for Education will be on questions next week and I suggest that the Deputy put down questions and elicit all the information he wants through Question Time. The other aspect of it relates to a more general and comprehensive report by the central review committee. It is still too early in the day to make any such report but as soon as it appears opportune I will consider what way the matter can be brought to the attention of the House.
Mr. S. Barrett rose.
Deputy Seán Barrett has been offering. Order, please.
It is on the same matter.
Please, Deputy, I cannot permit the Order of Business to be turned into a mini-Question Time.
With your permission I wish to raise on the Adjournment the need for a harbour authority.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
On a point of order, in view of the fact that the House has just allocated a very limited time to two important pieces of legislation, debate on which must conclude at midday, would the House consider foregoing the luxury of this Order of Business session in order to let the House devote to this very important legislation the time that has been allocated to it?
I should like to ask the Taoiseach if the sub-committee of Cabinet established for the purpose of examining ground rents owned by the local authorities have yet reached their conclusions and whether we will have legislation arising from those conclusions. There was a promise that legislation would follow from the establishment of the sub-committee established to consider the matter of ground rents——
Is this so?
——owned by local authorities.
That is something that could be elicited by way of a question.
May I ask the Taoiseach, in the absence of the Minister for Justice, if and when a statement will be made to the House on the situation in the prisons arising out of the prison officers' strike? There is a very serious and difficult situation arising in the prisons.
I am calling Deputy Quinn.
When will a statement be made on the matter? This is a very serious matter.
Please, Deputy, there are ways and means of raising such matters.
I do not know where I can raise it, except here.
I can discuss it with the Deputy if necessary.
There are prisoners roaming the streets and gardaí going into prisons instead of attending to their proper functions. When will a statement be made in the matter? I am asking for an answer to that question.
Could I, with your permission, Sir, raise on the Adjournment this evening the question of the administration within the Department of Social Welfare whereby people on unemployment benefit and unemployment assistance are being required to produce evidence of having sought work, in the form of letters of refusal of jobs from prospective employers?
I shall communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the matter of the prison officers' strike.
I shall communicate with the Deputy.
I refer to the fact that I tabled a private notice question yesterday on the prison officers' strike. I should like to raise that matter on the Adjournment.
I shall communicate with the Deputy.
About nine months ago, when An Bord Glas was launched in a wave of publicity and an interim board of directors were appointed, in reply to a query from me the Taoiseach indicated that legislation would be introduced to provide a statutory basis for the board. What is the up to date status of the legislation in relation to An Bord Glas?
It is in the queue.
Could I ask the Taoiseach exactly what that means?
It is taking its place in an orderly queue of legislation.
Does that indicate, then, that legislation is in the course of preparation?
Yes, but I should be glad to assure the Deputy, in the meantime, that wonderful work is going on in that area.
When I asked about that legislation, I was given a list——
This is not properly before the House. I am sorry. The Deputy must now desist. I call Deputy Deenihan.
A Cheann Comhairle, could I explain to the House on a point of order——
This is not Question Time. I am sorry, but the Deputy must desist.
Could I raise an issue on a point of order?
On a point of order, yes.
On a point of order, in relation to the veracity of the Taoiseach's reply, he gave me, at the beginning of this session, a list of legislation which is either before the House or in course of preparation and legislation in relation to An Bord Glas was not included.
The Deputy should be slow to call into question the veracity of any Member of this House.
I am merely stating what happened.
If Deputy Deenihan does not offer now, I shall call another Deputy. Deputy O'Keeffe will now resume his seat.
Could the Minister for Agriculture and Food make a statement on the recent European Court judgment?
I am sorry, Deputy. That is clearly not in order.
Could I raise on the Adjournment the matter of the site for the national racecourse, with particular reference to the suitability of the old Baldoyle racecourse to accommodate that proposed racecourse?
I shall communicate with the Deputy.
Might I ask on the Adjournment——
What should I do in a situation where a reply from the Taoiseach is in conflict with an earlier reply which he gave?
The Deputy will have to find some other ways and means of pursuing the matter. He may not do so now.
May I not raise the point, a Cheann Comhairle, that there is such conflict between his reply today and what he said to me last month?
If the Deputy persists in barracking the Chair, I shall have to ask him to leave the House.
I wish to seek your permission to raise on the Adjournment the position of a former Chilean refugee to this country, Luis Tricot Novoa, who has now been seven months in custody in Chile, without trial, on spurious charges?
I shall communicate with Deputy McCartan.
I should like to raise on the Adjournment the question of the reported loan from the H. Williams pension funds and its effect on the employees.
I shall communicate with Deputy Higgins on the matter. I am now proceeding to deal with item No. 8, the Courts Bill, instruction to committee.