It is proposed to take Nos. 6 and 7. It is also proposed that the Dáil shall sit later than 9 p.m. today and business shall be interrupted at 10.30 p.m. Private Member's Business shall be No. 33.
Order of Business.
Are the proposals for a late sitting today agreed? Agreed.
In relation to promised legislation, and I refer specifically to the legislation promised by the Minister for Finance in the budget with regard to anti-avoidance measures, may I ask the Taoiseach if the Government have decided at this stage what the operative date for those measures will be: will it be the day of the budget or the date the Finance Bill passes through this House?
I will deal with that matter tomorrow, but the date of the budget has been the practice for many years. If it is announced in the budget then it can be made retrospective to the budget by the Finance Act. I think the statement made by the Minister in his budget speech will be sufficient to cover anything we would wish to do.
Deputy Noonan, (Limerick East), the same subject matter.
(Limerick East): Prior to Christmas the Taoiseach promised legislation to reduce the rate of corporation tax for certain activities in the Custom House Dock to zero per cent or to eliminate it completely. This commitment was not repeated in the Budget Statement. Is it still the intention of the Government to reduce the rate for certain activities to zero and will this be introduced by way of the Finance Bill or by some other mechanism?
It is really a matter for the Minister for Industry and Commerce——
(Limerick East): It is a financial matter.
——but it is intended to proceed with the legislation.
(Interruptions.)
(Limerick East): This was promised before Christmas. It would be normal that this kind of commitment would be reaffirmed in the Budget Statement. It was not. It is a financial matter. The Minister for Finance is responsible for revenue under the Constitution. It is not the Minister for Industry and Commerce, so what is the position?
The position is that the provision will be proceeded with as promised.
(Limerick East): May I ask what statutory vehicle will be used? Will it be the Finance Bill or a separate Finance Bill?
That will be decided.
(Limerick East): Has this become an embarrassment? Should I sit down? Am I embarrassing the Taoiseach?
(Interruptions.)
We have passed from Question Time. This is not Question Time.
The Deputy has a great capacity for making mountains out of molehills.
(Interruptions.)
The Government have already taken a decision and announced the decision, and the Deputy can be assured it will be enacted in the appropriate legislation.
(Limerick East): The Taoiseach's molehills frequently turn into mountains when we explore them. We have had that experience. We want to get to the bottom of this. He is right to move off it. He is ruining his reputation. He is right to pass the ball. It is a good idea——
(Interruptions.)
With the Sugar Company, Larry Goodman and zero rating for the dock site you are home and dried——
In relation to the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Review Group report which was commissioned by the Taoiseach, what is the status of that report and will we have an opportunity of debating it in the Dáil——
That is hardly relevant now. Could we put down a question on that matter?
——before any development takes place at the harbour? Could we have an indication of whether a debate will take place?
It is clearly out of order, Deputy Barrett, and you know that.
It is not. This was a commitment given by the Taoiseach that he would set up this review group.
Sir, with your permission, I seek to raise on the Adjournment the closure of a company at Clonshaugh Industrial Estate, Toho (Ireland) Company Limited, on Friday last with a loss of 36 jobs, in the absence of any response or comment from the Minister for Industry and Commerce and the need for some programme of job replacement for the jobs lost and, indeed, for many people who are unemployed in the Coolock area.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I seek permission, Sir, to raise on the Adjournment the pending closure of the Sugar Company in Thurles.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
In County Tipperary this January will be recorded as black January from an employment point of view. With your permission, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the unemployment issues in both North and South Tipperary with specific reference to Tipperary town.
I will be in touch with the Deputy on these matters.
In the light of the legislative requirement for a report and review of the extradition procedures between this country and Britain and the Minister for Justice's repeated commitment to this House that such a report would be prepared as soon as possible after the beginning of the New Year, why does this not figure in the legislative programme for the Government which has been circulated?
It is not legislation; it is only a report.
When does the Taoiseach envisage time may be made available for such a report?
Fairly soon, within the next month or so.
Is the Taoiseach aware of the difficulties arising in the dental service out of the dentists withdrawing from today from the PRSI treatment benefit scheme? Will he allow Government time to bring forward any proposals the Government might have to resolve this problem?
There are no proposals.
It might be a matter for the Whips.
I would like to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
When is it proposed to introduce the necessary legislation to transfer responsibility for the management and control of Dún Laoghaire Harbour from the OPW to the Department of the Marine?
Is legislation promised in this area?
I am not sure if legislation is needed on that. It may be done by an order, but I will let the Deputy know.