It is proposed to take Nos. 7 and 1. It is further proposed that the debate on No. 7 shall not exceed 30 minutes and the following arrangements will apply: Speakers shall not exceed five minutes; the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach shall be called on to conclude the debate.
Order of Business.
Are the proposals for dealing with Item No. 7 agreed? Agreed.
On his return from the meeting of the Anglo-Irish Conference yesterday the Tánaiste said the next meeting of the conference in December would be devoted to Article 11 of the agreement, that is the review of the workings of the Conference and Secretariat. He also intimated a few weeks ago that he would not be adverse to a debate in this House on Northern Ireland. Would he agree to have that debate on Northern Ireland and on the Anglo-Irish Agreement in this House before then because there is some contradiction between what the Tánaiste said when he returned from Belfast and what was contained in the communiqué. I should like to tease that out.
I suspect Deputy Barry has got it wrong. What I said and what the meeting was devoted to almost entirely was the setting down of the parameters and methodology of the review process which is now beginning. We were concerned at the meeting yesterday mainly to launch the review process which must begin at the latest on 15 November. The early December meeting will be devoted primarily to the administration of justice and confidence measures associated with that whole area——
At last.
——on which we believe strong emphasis should now be placed, one area in which we believe the conference has not succeeded.
At long last, after 18 months.
But it is being done.
The Tánaiste has also been quoted as saying that the meeting of the conference is now being "wrested" from the officials, which the British Government want, to a meeting between the respective Governments.
I am afraid this is a matter that may not be debated now. It is inappropriate that we should continue the debate now.
I am asking the Tánaiste whether, when that takes place, we can have a debate in this House on Northern Ireland and on a review of the conference working?
With regard to the Deputy's first question I should say that what I want to see established quite clearly is what is written into Article 11 of the agreement, that it is a matter between the two Governments.
That is what the communiqué said yesterday.
Yes, that is what the communiqué said yesterday, so that the respective Governments will have the ultimate responsibility of deciding the shape of the workings of the conference under the terms of the agreement for the future. But I might add that there will be two legs under that: within the ambit of the conference officials on both sides — in committee and so on — will make their recommendations. Outside that then, on the other tier or leg, there is scope for all interested parties, North and South, every party in this House, every party in Northern Ireland, including the two Unionist parties, to make their representations in whatever manner they wish to whichever Government they wish. To come to the final point raised by Deputy Barry I should say that that does not preclude a debate in this House. Perhaps we can reflect on that matter and discuss it further.
Let us await that debate.
A Cheann Comhairle——
I am sorry, I am not permitting any further discussion of this subject.
In terms of the process that the Tánaiste has indicated——
The Deputy heard the Chair.
——can we take it that the Fianna Fáil Party will be consulted about this——
Please, Deputy, this is not in order. I am calling Deputy Hussey.
May I seek clarification of what the Tánaiste said. I take it that he will now arrange for the Whips to discuss the holding of a debate in this House on Northern Ireland before the next meeting of the conference?
No, we will consider it while the review process is under way. I do not see why we should have it from conference to conference, that would be tying us too much. The conference is part of the process that is going on now. In fact more meetings of the conference were held in the past 12 months than were ever held before. I am not making a point of that. The point I am making is that we will have now a few months review period in which we will want the maximum amount of views expressed. In my view that may include a debate here in this House. That is a matter that the Whips may discuss. But I would not have it on the basis of conference to conference or only just because the conference will meet in December. The review process will continue for the next few months into the New Year.
I cannot see the point in that.
At some stage, when it is opportune — and Deputy Barry is well aware of how sensitive is this whole area — we can have a full debate in this House. I believe it is important that we should have a debate in this House. Its timing is a matter for consideration.
I do not want to——
I called Deputy Hussey earlier. I will not permit the Chair's rulings to be disrupted in this fashion. Deputy Hussey, please.
I just want to make one final point.
I am sorry, Deputy Barry, I will not permit any further discussion at this stage. I have called Deputy Hussey three times, I will not call her a fourth time.
It is important that this House be used before the process begins and not at the end of it.
May I ask the Minister for Transport and Tourism — who unfortunately is not here — and also the Tánaiste, who is deputising for the Taoiseach, also in his role as spokesperson on arts and culture for the Government, if he will direct the manager of Iarnród Éireann, Mr. Mooney, to uncover the poster depicting the Taoiseach and Minister for Finance as Vikings——
Please, Deputy Hussey. I presumed the Deputy had something legitimate to raise on the Order of Business. That is not in order, Deputy.
This is censorship by the Government of an artistic project, which is most sinister.
Please, Deputy Hussey, I presumed you had something legitimate to raise on the Order of Business but that is not in order.
It is censorship by the Government——
The Deputy has many other ways and means of raising that matter.
Thanks for the publicity.
I should like to raise on the Adjournment the failure of the Minister for the Environment to deal with the serious air pollution problem in Ballyfermot.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to raise a matter arising out of a reply to a Dáil Question yesterday on which I seek your guidance. In September of this year the Minister for Social Welfare issued a circular in relation to the national fuel scheme indicating that entitlement to fuel allowances——
Clearly, this matter does not arise on the Order of Business.
In relation to the rights and privileges of Members of the House——
Is the Deputy seeking to raise the matter on the Adjournment?
What I regard as the rights and privileges of the Members——
You may not raise that matter now.
How can I raise the matter?
My office will be glad to assist you in that regard but it may not be adverted to now.
The difficulty is——
The Deputy must now resume his seat.
On a point of order, is it not correct that where there is an abuse of the rights and privileges of Members of this House a Member is, therefore, entitled to raise that with the Chair?
Is there a dictatorship?
I have advised the Deputy that he may not raise it in this manner but my office will be glad to assist him. If he feels strongly on the issue he may refer it to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges or he may put down a motion in the House.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the crisis at Galway Regional Hospital and the failure of the Minister for Health to apoint two members from Galway Corporation to the Western Health Board.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I understand that during the debate on the Companies Bill in the Seanad the Minister indicated that the Minister for Justice would be bringing forward legislation to alter the laws of evidence so as to allow computer records to be admitted as evidence in court proceedings. This is being done in regard to company law proceedings under the Companies Bill but, for the sake of completeness, it should be done in respect of other proceedings. Will the Tánaiste inquire from the Minister for Justice whether and when such legislation will be brought forward?
I will have a talk with the Minister for Justice about the matter. I will quote what the Deputy said as I would like to be helpful.
The Tánaiste will appreciate that this is relevant to the debate on the Companies Bill which will commence this morning.
I appreciate that.
In regard to the written reply to Question No. 38 on yesterday's Order Paper regarding cataract operations, I seek permission to raise the matter on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I should like to ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food what the position is with regard to the application to have the whole of Counties Cavan and Monaghan included in severely handicapped areas——
I thought the Deputy was raising a legitimate matter.
(Interruptions.)
Please, Deputy Boylan, desist.
On the Order of Business, in respect of two matters of legislation, when will the Local Government (Planning and Development) (No. 2) Bill, 1988, be taken? Secondly — and perhaps more pertinently — is it the Government's intention to abandon the Committee Stage of the Building Control Bill which has been on the Order Paper since the House resumed after the recess?
The matters which the Deputy raised are quite in order.
The Bill will not be ready until the next session.
Perhaps we are at cross purposes. Since the Government have seen fit to publish the Bill I presume it is ready?
It is ready, but it is not likely to be taken this session.
I appreciate that the Minister for the Environment is not here so perhaps the information is not readily available. However, the Building Control Bill has been on the Order Paper since the House resumed. It has stuck on Committee Stage and, as a result, every fire officer in the country——
The Deputy made his point.
Enormous costs and dislocations have been imposed on the building industry.
Please, Deputy Quinn.
While the Deputy was speaking I discussed the matter with the Minister of State, the Chief Whip, and we will try to debate it this session although it is not in the original list. In view of the Deputy's anxiety and in the interests of the House we will try to do something about it. We will make a special effort to get it in in this session.
I repeat the offer I made before. This is a non-contentious, non-party political matter. It could be dealt with in special committee with provisions to avoid any embarrassment provided the law was enacted.
The matter can be discussed between the Whips and we will try to take it in this session.
Ba mhaith liom cead a fháil ceist a phlé ar Athló na Dála faoi chóras farantóireachta do na hoileáin in Árainn. Tá an cheist práinneach os rud é gur theip ar an Naomh Éanna teastas farraige a fháil le haghaidh an bhliain seo chugainn agus dá bhrí sin ní bheidh sé in ann paisinéirí a iompar ar farraige a thuilleadh. Is í an cheist ná, an bhfuil an Rialtas sásta anois an córas farantóireachta nua, roll-on roll-off, a cheadú?
Tabharfaidh mé freagra don Teachta ar ball.
In view of the serious flooding that occurred in the Cork area recently is it the intention of the Minister for the Environment to reactivate the Local Authority (Works) Act and to amend it?
The Deputy must raise that matter in another way. There are many ways and means open to him.
In June this year the Minister for Justice, in reply to a question, said he would investigate the possibility of increasing the number of gardaí in the Duleek-East Meath area. Has he done anything in this regard?
Please, Deputy Farrelly, that is clearly not in order now and the Deputy knows it full well.
Deputy Farrelly rose.
I must insist that the Deputy resumes his seat, he is quite out of order.
In view of recent reports that the night courts are not operating satisfactorily in the city, may I ask the Minister for Justice——
That is not in order Deputy.
Is legislation proposed by the Government to deal with the absence of these courts in view of an indication given——
The Deputy should put down a question on this matter.
It was indicated in the House a year ago that the Minister was taking steps to have these courts introduced and I am——
I am not aware of any impending legislation on the lines indicated by you. Please put down a question.