It is proposed to take Items Nos. 5, 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 Members' Business shall be item No. 23.
Order of Business.
Is the proposal for a late sitting today agreed? Agreed.
May I raise the subject matter of the Dún Laoghaire marina on the Adjournment this evening? This is the fourth or fifth time I have asked to raise the matter and I would appreciate the Chair's consideration and indulgence.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
May I seek clarification of the Order of Business today from the Taoiseach? I am somewhat surprised to note that there is no mention of the Finance Bill or budget debate. Would the Taoiseach say if the conclusion of the budget debate has been agreed between the Whips? In posing the question may I urge that that debate be brought to an early conclusion?
The Whips have agreed to adjourn the debate on the budget for the time being. The budget is perfect, everybody is satisfied and happy with it.
Perhaps some people would now like to vote against it.
Deputy Dukes and I have questions tabled about the use of the national lottery funds. Deputy Dukes's question was addressed to the Taoiseach, asking for a Government decision. That question was transferred to the Minister for Finance. This is a matter for the Government and this House. I cannot understand why the Taoiseach got rid of this, as he is doing with a number of other questions.
The Deputy knows full well, first, that it is not a matter for the Chair——
I am asking the Taoiseach, through you, a Cheann Comhairle, why the question was transferred to the Minister for Finance when it is a matter for the Government.
It is indeed a matter for the Government and always has been.
Then how do we get round this matter in that the Chair has no responsibility and neither has the Taoiseach?
It does not arise now, Deputy.
Deputy Dukes's question was to ask the Taoiseach why the Government——
I am sorry, Deputy Barry, I am calling Deputy Molloy if he has a relevant question.
Due to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply given by the Minister for Defence to Question No. 19 and the other questions he took with it, I wish to give notice of my intention to raise the matter on the Adjournment this evening.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I should like to raise on the Adjournment the increases in differential rents by local authorities throughout the country the effect of which is to wipe out the budgetary social welfare increases of many recipients and the budgetary tax relief of the low paid?
I will communicate with the Deputy.
Would the Taoiseach say whether it is the intention of the Government to implement the recommendations of the committee established to investigate problems arising with regard to distribution of the national lottery funds?
That is not in order, Deputy.
A Cheann Comhairle, the committee has reported to the Government. Surely we are entitled to a reply and to be told what is the intention of the Government?
I have already ruled on that matter.
With your permission, Sir, I should like to raise on the Adjournment the circumstances in which Dublin Bus, due to frequent assaults on bus crews, were forced to cancel late night services thereby depriving law-abiding citizens of a public transport service.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
A Cheann Comhairle, in view of the fact that you have disallowed my priority question tomorrow on education in relation to school transport——
——and mine as well.
I would like to raise on the Adjournment the question of the continuing failure of the Minister for Education to make provision for the £5.8 million shortfall in the allocation to CIE to operate the school transport system in 1989.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
Will the Taoiseach or the appropriate Minister make now, or in the near future, a statement with regard to the reported imminent sale of PMPA with particular reference to PMPS?
The Deputy should put down a question on this matter.
May I ask permission to raise the issue on the Adjournment?
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the issue of an obvious discrepancy in the figures for the Southern Health Board as given to the board and for which I have failed to get a satisfactory reply from the officers of the Southern Health Board and the consequent effect of that on the services being provided by the board at present.
I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning that matter.
May I draw to your attention the fact that this House set up an all-party committee because of the grave dissatisfaction that was felt throughout the country about the way the lottery funds are being disbursed? Deputy Alan Dukes put down a question——
I have already ruled that matter out of order.
I understand that, Sir——
I am not going to allow my ruling to be circumvented in this manner. I am going to deal now with item No. 5.
Let me persist for a second. I do not mean to be discourteous but there must be some overzealous civil servant in the Taoiseach's Department who transferred this question. It should be answered by the Taoiseach.
May I raise that subject on the Adjournment?
I will communicate with the Deputy.