It is proposed to take Nos. 9 and 10. It is also proposed that No. 10 shall be taken not later than 3.45 p.m. and the order shall not be resumed. Private Members' Business shall be No. 20 which shall be brought to a conclusion at 8.30 p.m.
Order of Business.
Is the proposal for dealing with No. 10 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 20 agreed? Agreed.
Will the Taoiseach say if it is his intention to make a statement to respond urgently to the outrageous remarks made by the British Prime Minister yesterday and to remind her that this is a sovereign country where the rule of law will be applied? Either the Taoiseach or the Government should make a statement immediately to clarify these matters.
That does not arise now, Deputy.
It is a matter of serious——
That may be so and the House may well agree with the Deputy but it is not in order at this stage.
Perhaps the Taoiseach could indicate if he is going to respond to the outrageous and intemperate attacks made on this country yesterday?
It is not in order now.
Will the Taoiseach intervene and try to do something to save the Irish Association for Victim Support? This organisation is well known——
Deputy Barrett surely knows that that is not a matter appropriate to the Order of Business.
We are talking about small money — a sum of about £10,000.
Deputy Barrett, please desist.
I give notice that I wish to raise a matter on the Adjournment this evening. In this House last week, the Taoiseach when announcing his Cabinet reshuffle indicated that the Minister for the Environment was getting special responsibility in the area of co-ordinating EC structural and infrastructural programmes. A Dáil Question I tabled to the Minister on that issue has now been transferred to the Minister for Finance——
(Interruptions.)
I am afraid the Chair has no control over such matters. I thought the Deputy had a legitimate matter to raise with me for the Adjournment.
What I want to raise on the Adjournment is——
Why not come to the point then, Deputy?
——the question of which Government Minister——
(Interruptions.)
——now has responsibility for EC Structural Funds and the development of infrastructure programmes.
That is not relevant now Deputy. Deputy Shatter must now resume his seat. He is completely out of order.
Will the Chair take notice that I wish to raise this matter on the Adjournment?
I will communicate with the Deputy.
(Interruptions.)
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the threatened closure of the cardiac unit of the South Infirmary, Victoria Hospital, Cork.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
Will the Taoiseach confirm reports that he intends bringing the matter of extradition before the House next week, and that it is the Government's intention to renew the Extradition Act, 1987, in its present form?
Is the proposal anticipated? If it is, it is in order.
It is more or less anticipated. The timing of it is a matter for the Whips. A motion has to be brought before the House to renew the extradition legislation.
Is the Taoiseach aware that there is to be a three hour debate——
(Interruptions.)
Deputy Kennedy is still in possession.
Will the Taoiseach confirm that it is intended to renew it in its present form?
Yes.
I again seek permission to raise on the Adjournment the preparation of the various integrated programmes for the EC Structural Funds which is currently being undertaken by the Government and the fact that public representatives at national and local level are being deliberately excluded from this process.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
For the fourth time, I seek permission to raise with the Minister for Health the future of the accident and emergency unit in the North Infirmary Hospital in Cork and the future of the accident and emergency services in Cork city in general.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
Arising from the response of the Minister for Agriculture to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 121 and 122 on yesterday's Order Paper, I request permission to raise their subject matter on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I would like to raise on the Adjournment the failure of the Department of Education to provide transport facilities for three children from the Knocknagoshel area of County Kerry to the Nano Nagle school for the handicapped at Lixnaw, at very little cost.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I would like to raise on the Adjournment the impending closure of the Babygro factory in Belmullet, County Mayo.
I wish to raise on the Order of Business, arising from the statement of the Minister for the Environment to the Dáil on 26 October last in which the Minister promised to bring forward proposals to implement the report of the constituency boundary commission, the question as to when he might bring that legislation before the House.
A Private Members' motion——
There are some questions on the Order Paper today in respect of that matter.
Surely——
There are at least two questions.
Surley it is promised legislation. Arising from that fact and despite the Chair's previous ruling on the matter, surely I am in order in raising it on the Order of Business.
I will communicate with the Deputy in that regard.
It is promised legislation and I am in order in raising the matter. I have rights in the matter and you have previously denied me my right in this regard.
I must ask you, in all seriousness, to withdraw that remark. I am anxious to facilitate the Deputy in every way——
(Interruptions.)
That kind of allegation should not be made against the Chair.
I have to disagree with you. You have not facilitated me in any way in the matter. I have communicated with your office. It is promised legislation, and I am entitled to raise it on the Order of Business but the Chair has refused me that right on two previous occasions.
Deputy, your questions were answered on two previous occasions.
They were not.
They were answered by the Minister for Finance to my knowledge on two occasions where it was indicated that no legislation was contemplated.
I am in order in raising this on the Order of Business. The legislation is promised. It is on the record of the House.
Please, Deputy I am not going to argue, nor will I be argued with.
You are losing the argument.
On the Order of Business, will the Taoiseach say if it is now Government policy to employ RTE presenters as mediators where disputes arise, and will the Taoiseach be good enough to inform the House of the circumstances surrounding the invitation to Derek Davis to act as a mediator in the rod licence dispute? Will the Taoiseach tell the House if it is a fact——
Deputy Taylor-Quinn, please——
(Interruptions.)
——that the Government will ask RTE presenters in the future to act as mediators in Government——
(Interruptions.)
I would use Derek Davis as my culinary adviser.
He has some very good fish recipes.
Does the Taoiseach like his fish fried or grilled?
I should like to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of Question No. 35 for oral answer last Thursday, 24 November, addressed to the Minister for Energy wherein he refused to indicate to the House the number of tenders received for the sale of immature forests at Dundrum, County Tipperary.
I will communicate with Deputy Griffin in respect of that matter.
With your permission, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the decision to withdraw completely school transport from a national school in Ballyclough, Mallow, County Cork.
I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning that matter.
Will the Taoiseach or the Minister for Agriculture and Food make a statement on the alarming ESRI report issued this morning stating——
The Deputy knows well there is no point in raising this matter on the Order of Business. The Deputy will find another way of dealing with that matter.
They were talking about the time the Coalition were in Government.
Will the Minister make a statement on what action will be taken——
Please, Deputy. I am calling Deputy McCartan.
(Interruptions.)
They were talking about 1979-80 when Fianna Fáil were in Government.
May I ask the Minister for the Environment or the Government at what stage are the proposals for local government reorganisation, and when can the House expect the legislative package promised for the purposes of facilitating local government reorganisation?
Is this legislation promised?
Long promised.
Legislation as such has not been promised. I think everybody in this House has at some time promised to have a go at local government reform.
While legislation may not have been promised — and I misunderstood the position — are the Government actively considering this?
The Deputy may not pursue the matter now. There are other ways and means of dealing with it.
I would like your permission to raise on the Adjournment the matter of the deterioration of the public health services in Galway Regional Hospital and the failure of the Minister for Health to appoint two members of Galway Corporation to the Western Health Board.
I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning that matter.