It is proposed to take Nos. 1, 6, 9, 10, 11, 14, 12 and 15. It is also proposed that the Dáil shall sit later than 9 p.m. tonight and business shall be interrupted at 10.30 p.m. It is further proposed that Nos. 1, 9, 10 and 11 shall be taken without debate. It is further proposed that Second Stage of No. 14 and No. 12 shall be taken together for the purposes of debate. It is further proposed that No. 12 and all stage of No. 14, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 10.30 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 Finance. Private Members' Business shall be Nos. 25 and 26.
Order of Business.
Is the proposal for the late sitting tonight agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal that Nos. 1, 9, 10 and 11 be taken without debate agreed? Agreed. Are the proposals for dealing with Nos. 14 and 12 agreed? Agreed.
On the Order of Business — I have some little hesitation in asking this since the Minister for Finance is carrying out the office of Taoiseach and/or Tánaiste — I should like to know if the Government intend to announce this week the name of the appointee to the European Commission who will take office next January.
That is not pertinent to the Order of Business.
It is indeed a matter for the Order of Business and not one for coyness on the part of the Government. This matter has been going on for far too long and the Government must know that they are placing themselves in an increasingly ridiculous position.
There are many other ways and means of dealing with this matter.
The Government will make their decision in due course and will, accordingly, inform the Dáil.
In his capacity of Leader of the Government, will the Minister for Finance say when the Taoiseach will be resuming his duties in this House?
That is a clear question.
I do not know if the question is in order and if this is the relevant place in which to raise the matter but I should like to state that the Taoiseach has returned home after his illness, he is recovering and resting there and doing extremely well. He will be resuming duty in the not too distant future and I take this opportunity, on behalf of all Members, to send him our best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Deputies
Hear, hear.
Is the Minister for the Environment aware of the serious health hazard caused by the extremely high smog levels in Ballyfermot over the last few days and if he could clarify——
That should be raised in another way.
Will the Minister clarify to the House——
The Deputy should put down a question about that matter.
The Minister said last night——
The Chair is not concerned about that matter.
What does the Minister mean by saying he thinks he has his mind made up and will make a statement——
That is not in order now.
The matter was raised outside the House and it should be raised in the House so that we may hear an appropriate statement.
Deputy Mac Giolla will resume his seat.
May I ask the Minister for Finance if the Government have yet received a copy of the report of the commission on the electoral boundary? We were informed last week that they had not received it then.
A Deputy
We have a copy of the opinion polls.
(Interruptions.)
In publishing terms, it seems that this report is like a book that has never been published but which has been serialised in every newspaper in the country. Is it not about time that the document was released because I find it very difficult to accept the assurances of the Minister for the Environment that he knows nothing about the contents?
This matter has been adverted to in the House on a number of occasions recently.
If it is in order I should like to tell Deputy O'Malley that the Government have not yet received the report. Any delay in circulating it is only being added to by people like Deputy O'Malley.
I seek your permission to raise on the Adjournment the circumstances surrounding the death of a man at Jervis Street Hospital on Sunday, 10 May 1987 and the failure — I suggested the "refusal" of the Minister previously but I understand a little more about it now — of the Minister to respond to correspondence.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
In relation to the question raised by Deputy Mac Giolla — I congratulate him for belatedly addressing the issue — will the Minister for Finance say if the Government intend to bring in regulations under the Air Pollution Act to control smog in urban areas, particularly in Ballyfermot?
Is this legislation promised? If not, the question is out of order.
It has been promised about 20 times in the House.
The legislation is already in place. I confirm that it is my intention to deal with the special control area order next week.
(Limerick East): He is the Minister for fog.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the position of a married nurse, the mother of five children, who is obliged to continue paying approximately £400 per year to the local government pension scheme, largely for the benefit of her spouse, who has deserted her and left the family totally dependent on her, and the refusal of the Minister for the Environment to amend the terms of the scheme to take account of circumstances involving legal separation.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
In view of the report in The Irish Times of yesterday will the Minister for Finance say if the Government are reviewing the Criminal Law (Jurisdiction) Act? Will amendments to the Act be brought in and, if so, will that be done prior to the debate on the Extradition (Amendment) Bill?
The Tánaiste and the Taoiseach have already said that this matter will be dealt with prior to the date in question, 15 December, in the Dáil.
Mr. S. Barrett rose.
I have allowed the Deputy his question.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the guidelines for the free fuel scheme operated by the Department of Social Welfare.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I asked if amendments would be brought in——
I heard the Deputy's question.
We have given the answer.
On a point of order——
The Deputy may not raise spurious points of order with the Chair.
It is not spurious. A reporter in yesterday's The Irish Times said that the Government are reviewing the Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act. I am asking——
I have allowed the Deputy to raise the matter and he has had a reply.
I have not had a reply to that question. I got a reply in relation to the Extradition (Amendment) Act. I am asking about the Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act.
No legislation is promised on that. The Irish Times is not the Government.
A Cheann Comhairle——
Sorry, Deputy Barrett. The Deputy must desist now. I have given him a fair innings.
I have asked a question——
The Chair has no control over that matter.
Can I ask the Chair if it is possible for him to define why a Private Notice Question was ruled out under the rule of urgency when someone yesterday was nearly killed because of lack of gardaí in an area in County Meath?
The Chair has communicated his decision to Deputy Farrelly and he may not question my ruling in the House. If he wants any elaboration my office will be glad to facilitate him.
How urgent is urgent? Can I ask to raise the subject matter on the Adjournment?
You can. That is another matter.
I would like to raise on the Adjournment the action of the Department of Finance in directing the Department of Agriculture and Food to renege on a commitment given to the parents of St. Paul's Special School in Beaumont which involves Thorndale House in Beaumont being made available as a training centre for their past pupils?
I will communicate with Deputy Birmingham in respect of that matter.
In view of the urgency of the matter of air pollution in Ballyfermot could I——
I am sorry, Deputy, I have already ruled that matter out of order. You may not raise it again.
I am asking to have the matter of Question 160 in my name on today's Order Paper raised on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the serious smog levels in Ballyfermot and the failure of the Minister to deal with the matter with the required urgency.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
(Interruptions).
Can we now proceed to deal with the business of the day?