Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 28 Jun 1988

Vol. 382 No. 9

Order of Business.

Minister for Finance (Mr. MacSharry)

It is proposed to take Nos. 9, 10, 11, 12, 20 and 13. It is also proposed that the Dáil shall sit later than 9 p.m. today and business shall be interrupted at 11 p.m. It is further proposed that Nos. 9, 10 and 11 shall be taken without debate.

It is further proposed that the proceedings on No. 12, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 5.15 p.m. and the following arrangements shall apply: no speech shall exceed ten minutes and the Minister for Tourism and Transport shall be called on not later than 5.10 p.m. to conclude.

It is further proposed that the proceedings on the Committee and Remaining Stages of No. 20, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 7 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 Agriculture and Food.

It is further proposed that the proceedings on No. 13 shall not exceed 1 hour and no speech shall exceed ten minutes. It is further proposed that the divisions on the Estimates for Public Services postponed last week shall be taken at the conclusion of Private Members' Business tonight, which shall be No. 29.

An Ceann Comhairle

Are the proposals for the late sitting today agreed? Agreed.

Is the proposal that Nos. 9, 10 and 11 be taken without debate agreed? Agreed.

Is the proposal for dealing with No. 12 agreed? Agreed.

Is the proposal regarding No. 20 agreed? Agreed.

Is the proposal in relation to No. 13 agreed? Agreed.

Is the proposal for dealing with the Divisions on the Estimates this evening agreed? Agreed.

Mr. Dukes

Since we have the Minister for Finance in loco parentis I would ask him if the Government intend now that the Taoiseach has broken his silence on the inevitable question of tax harmonisation in the European Community, to take an opportunity this week to tell the Dáil what plans, if any, they have to get involved and to plan this process?

An Ceann Comhairle

I am allowing the Question, Minister.

Mr. MacSharry

I did not think that was in order, but as the Chair has allowed it, the Taoiseach will be dealing with his Estimate and will have the opportunity of making any suitable statements he wishes.

Mr. Dukes

That is not what I asked. I asked if the Government intend to break their silence or their total immobility on the issue of tax reform, and particularly tax harmonisation in the European Community. The Taoiseach broke his vow of silence on the issue——

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy will have to avail of another opportunity for raising that extended matter.

Mr. Dukes

——when he indicated that the Government are at least thinking of it.

An Ceann Comhairle

It does not arise now.

Mr. Dukes

I am not talking about the Taoiseach's Estimate. I am talking about indirect taxation and tax harmonisation.

An Ceann Comhairle

It does not arise now.

Mr. Dukes

The Minister has accepted the question.

Mr. MacSharry

No, I did not. I was asked by the Ceann Comhairle to reply to it.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Taoiseach's Estimate will give ample opportunity to deliberate on that matter.

(Interruptions.)

An Ceann Comhairle

Order, please. Deputy Proinsias De Rossa has offered.

A Deputy

The Minister is hiding under the Ceann Comhairle's skirts.

Proinsias De Rossa

In reply to a written question last week the Minister for Foreign Affairs indicated that legislation would be brought in on the advocacy of hatred on racial or other grounds, at an early date. Will the Minister indicate how soon or when such legislation will be brought in? Would he expect to have it before the House before the end of the year?

An Ceann Comhairle

Was this legislation promised?

Proinsias De Rossa

Yes, last week, on Tuesday.

Mr. MacSharry

If it was promised, I have not the details. I will communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. D. O'Malley

In view of the conflicting reports in the press about the proposed agreement with the Nigerian oil company could the Minister for Energy tell the House what the position is, whether it has now been dropped or postponed——

An Ceann Comhairle

That is worthy of an appropriate question or other means of raising it in the House.

Mr. D. O'Malley

——or what is the situation?

Mr. Dukes

You are pouring oil on troubled waters, a Cheann Comhairle.

An Ceann Comhairle

That is what I am trying to do.

Mr. D. O'Malley

The refusal of the Minister to reply makes me feel that it is all the more important that——

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy Des O'Malley knows quite clearly that that matter is not in order now.

Mr. MacSharry

It is not a refusal by me.

An Ceann Comhairle

—— and he has ample other means of raising it.

Mr. D. O'Malley

I do not at this stage. I can only ask now.

An Ceann Comhairle

It is not in order now.

Mr. D. O'Malley

Can I raise this matter on the Adjournment tonight?

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with Deputy Des O'Malley in respect of that matter.

Mr. Keating

On the last occasion on which I raised the question of promised legislation to deal with river pollution I was told by the Taoiseach that such legislation was promised, was pending and would be introduced in the next session. In view of the continuing spate of absolutely appalling incidences of such pollution would the Government be willing to take some initiative this side of the summer, whether by way of emergency legislation or otherwise, to deal with this very serious problem about which every Member is concerned?

An Ceann Comhairle

I would prefer if the Deputy sought a more effective way of raising that matter.

Mr. Keating

I am asking if legislation which was promised could be introduced earlier than promised. It is a reasonable question.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy raised that matter the other day.

Mr. MacSharry

It is hoped that the legislation will be taken in the next session. The Deputy is aware that already the Government have taken action in that regard in relation to the introduction of grants.

(Interruptions.)

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy Ruairí Quinn.

Mr. Keating

May I further ask the Minister——

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy Keating, please resume your seat. I have called Deputy Quinn.

Mr. Quinn

I wish to raise on the Adjournment the continuing difficulties being experienced by people attempting to get residence permits from the Department of Justice, the lack of clear guidelines from that Department, the inordinate delay in replying to requests and the specific case where a woman who is a UK citizen was kept waiting for two years before she could get a reply from the Department of Justice.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. G. Mitchell

I would like to draw attention to Item No. 1 on the Order Paper today. This concerns a report of the Committee of Public Accounts on their review of procedures followed by the Office of Public Works in the management and control of its capital projects. The clerk of the committee wrote to the Whips about ten days ago. It has been discussed in public session by the committee and reported on in the press and if it is not moved before the recess the Members of the House will not be able to find it in the Library until the House comes back after the summer. I seek the permission of the House to move this non-contentious report.

An Ceann Comhairle

Can the Minister help the Deputy?

Mr. MacSharry

I will talk to the Whips about that matter.

Mr. Keating

For all the difference it will make.

Mr. Pattison

I seek permission to raise on the Adjournment the decision by the Minister for Education to issue directions to the VECs which have resulted in the funding for a scheme which provides instruction in self-sufficiency skills for the adult mentally handicapped in Kilkenny being withdrawn.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. Sherlock

I seek permission to raise on the Adjournment the decision of the Department of Education to discontinue using Mallow Vocational School as a centre for training motor apprentices.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. Shatter

May I raise on the Adjournment the rather bizarre conditions the Minister for Finance attaches to the issuing of otter licences which apparently require otter clubs to use every effort to avoid killing otters when they are issued with a licence to kill otters.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate withi the Deputy.

(Interruptions.)

Mr. McCartan

I wish to raise on the Adjournment the question of the correspondence that has passed between the National Association of Tenants Organisations and the Minister for the Environment. That association have been seeking since February of this year to have a further meeting with the Minister and I wish to raise on the Adjournment his total disregard for and disrespect for that association.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with Deputy McCartan.

Mrs. Taylor-Quinn

I wish to raise on the Adjournment the very serious widespread crisis now apparent in the tourist industry.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. Shatter

Before the adjournment of the Dáil will an announcement be made by the Government in this House as to the appointment of a new European Commissioner?

An Ceann Comhairle

That does not arise now.

Proinsias De Rossa

I wish to raise on the Adjournment a question concerning a group known as Association le Patriarch who are transferring Irish citizens out of the state to France — citizens who have drug addiction problems — and the circumstances under which these citizens are being held in France.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. Quinn

In view of the decision of the Council at Hanover yesterday evening to confirm the re-appointment of Mr. Jacques Delors as President of the Commission I wonder if the Tánaiste is in a position to indicate to the House—

Mr. MacSharry

The Minister for Finance.

Mr. Quinn

It is premature promotion. Perhaps the Minister would indicate if a similar promotion has yet been decided on?

An Ceann Comhairle

That does not arise now, Deputy Quinn. I am proceeding to deal with Item No. 9.