It is proposed to take No. 12. It is also proposed that the Dáil shall sit later than 9.00 p.m. today and business shall be interrupted at 11 p.m. It is further proposed that the proceedings on the Committee Stages of No. 12, if not previously concluded, shall be broght to a conclusion at 11 p.m. by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only amendments set down by the Minister for Justice. Private Members' Business shall be No. 28.
Order of Business.
Is the proposal for a late sitting today agreed?
I should like to emphasise my party's concern about the nature of business and the way it is being ordered for this week. I would be fearful that in relation to late sittings and trying to get Bills through the House with the degree of urgency being expressed by the Government we will have a recurrence of what happened in relation to the rod licences. I suggest to the Taoiseach that we have longer sittings, extra days if necessary, to make sure that legislation is properly discussed in the House.
I take it that the proposal in regard to the late sitting is not challenged and that it is agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 12 agreed? Agreed.
Has the Taoiseach made any decision as to when Government time might be made available to discuss the most recent report of the Ombudsman which I raised some time ago? The office has been grossly neglected by the Government but it is not being forgotten by this side of the House.
I have no particular plans to discuss that report.
I am not surprised.
What has happened in the meantime to make the Taoiseach change his mind? The last time I raised the matter with him he seemed to feel that it was a report that merited discussion in the House.
No, I hope I never conveyed that impression, but Deputies will have an opportunity to discuss this, and other matters concerning Government expenditure, when the Estimates come before us.
To conclude, it appears that the Taoiseach does not wish to have a debate in the House on the report made by the Ombudsman which not only deals with the action the Ombudsman is able to take in defence of the ordinary citizen but sets out very clearly the effects of very petty reductions in staff in the overall in that office. It sets out clearly how the Government have emasculated this one office that provides direct redress for the citizen. It is very interesting that we have on the record a statement from the Taoiseach saying that he does not want that report discussed.
I have afforded the Deputy an opportunity of raising the matter but it cannot lead to a debate now.
I should like to point out that everyone of us, all our Departments, have had to undertake major reductions in staff and major reductions in expenditure. I do not think this particular office has had any more difficulties than any others.
That office cannot deal with new queries.
This is part of the Government's programme to reduce Government expenditure.
That office does not even have a director now.
All Government Departments, including my own, have had major cutbacks in staff and expenditure, and I do not think any one office should be exempted no matter what public propaganda they may engage in on their own behalf.
Shame.
(Interruptions.)
This office was set up by statute passed by the House and, indeed, supported by the Taoiseach's current party when in Opposition.
That matter is not in order now and I have said so.
It provides direct redress for citizens. It is not on the same footing as any other Department and the Government have systematically emasculated every avenue of redress for the ordinary citizen against the Administration.
This House, and Deputies of the House, are perfectly legitimate, valid and effective means of defending the rights of all citizens.
That is nonsensical.
Will the Taoiseach admit that he wants to get rid of the Ombudsman? Will the Taoiseach admit that he wants to force him to resign?
Deputies are heckling.
The Ombudsman is probably not the first one I would like to get rid of around here.
Will the Taoiseach say if he wants to get rid of the Ombudsman?
Deputy Keating is offering and I am calling on him.
(Interruptions.)
How many more empty seats would the Taoiseach want to see on the front row?
The Taoiseach should give us the hit list.
How often do I have to call on the Deputy. I am calling Deputy Keating.
Speaking as one of those who is wondering about the implications of the Taoiseach's last remark——
I know what the Deputy's party are trying to get rid of.
(Interruptions.)
The Taoiseach should not worry; we will pray for him at every opportunity we get.
I can see why the Taoiseach was such a good judge of vindictiveness when he lectured the people of Limerick yesterday.
It was not the people of Limerick that I was lecturing.
I should like to ask the Taoiseach and the Minister for the Environment about two items of what appear to be promised legislation. The first concerns the Bill which would facilitate the sale of local authority dwellings arising from the scheme announced by the Government some time ago. The present scheme is in chaos and a Bill of some form or other is long overdue. Secondly, I should like to ask if legislation is in the pipeline arising from the commitment by the Minister for the Environment on the front page of Monday's issue of the Irish Independent in relation to an £8 million sewage treatment plant for Dublin Bay. I am curious to know if that warrants or will lead to legislation.
I am not certain that they are matters appropriate to the Order of Business.
The first was clearly promised at the time the scheme was announced and I would like an answer to my question in relation to it.
If the Deputy takes the time to read the Housing Bill, 1988, he will see that the matter he referred to is dealt with in a section in it.
May I have a reply to the second part of my question?
It did not appertain to legislation.
I was hoping the Minister would be able to give us some details about it.
The Deputy will have to find another way of raising that matter.
That is the Ceann Comhairle's line.
In regard to No. 49 on today's Order Paper, and in view of the fact that the important and non-partisan report of the Committee of Public Accounts on the future role of the Comptroller and Auditor General has been laid before the House, I should like to ask the Taoiseach if before the summer recess a few hours might be made available for the Dáil to debate that report which relates to a fundamental function of Dáil Éireann.
I will ask the Whips to consider that.
I should like to ask the Minister for the Environment, or perhaps the Taoiseach, following the official publication of the census returns, if the Government are now in a position, as previously indicated, to announce the composition of a constituency commission. Will the Taoiseach say when the legislation will be brought in and if a decision in principle has been taken to increase the number of Dáil Deputies as has been the normal line with population increases or will we assume that the existing number will be maintained?
I am not sure that all that is relevant.
I should like to point out for the relief of many Deputies that no legislation has been promised on this matter.
I should like to ask the Chair on what grounds my question to the Taoiseach asking if he had had a meeting with the Archbishop of Tuam, which made no reference to any matter before the courts, could be deemed to be sub judice.
I have communicated my decision to the Deputy and I have nothing to add to it. Should the Deputy require any further elucidation my office will be glad to assist him.
It is the clear wish amongst most Deputies in the Dáil that we should have a relaxation of the sub judice rule when the Ceann Comhairle seems to be broadening its scope and when any matter can be ruled out on the grounds of the sub judice rule?
It is clear to me that the Deputy is being disorderly. The Deputy should resume his seat. Deputy Quinn is offering.
May I ask the Chair the grounds on which he ruled that question out?
No, I do not have anything to add to the decision I conveyed to the Deputy.
I am totally dissatisfied and wish to have this matter referred to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.
I suspect from your response to Deputy Sherlock that the matter I wish to raise is also sub judice and I have nothing further to add.
I have been raising over the past few months the question of regulations to give effect to the order of the Dublin City Council referring to smoke control zones. Will regulations be issued before the Dáil goes into recess?
The matter is being dealt with by Dublin Corporation and the question of appeals on the matter is being taken up this week.
Grants under this scheme cannot be made unless by decision of the Minister following the issue of regulations. Is it his intention to issue regulations in the near future? An order has been made by Dublin City Council but people cannot make decisions until they know——
The Deputy has already put that question.
It is totally out of order.
(Interruptions.)
Is the Taoiseach aware of the decision by the IDA to go ahead with the sale of 425 acres of prime industrial land in Ballylongford, County Kerry?
The Deputy should find some other way of raising that matter.
Will the Taoiseach intervene personally in this matter?
I thought the Deputy was making a point of order.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the on-going industrial dispute at Irish Printed Circuits and the refusal of the management, which has received substantial sums of taxpayers' money, to recognise the right of workers to join a trade union to negotiate on their behalf.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
When does the Minister for the Environment propose to introduce the necessary legislation to implement the payment of grants to assist farmers carrying out anti-pollution measures?
There is no legislation promised.
There is a lot of publicity in today's paper about it. Surely legislation has been promised by implication.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the circumstances of the recent suspension from duties of a prison officer at Portlaoise Prison and the inquiry into the circumstances surrounding those events.
I will communicate with the Deputy.