Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 15 Feb 1989

Vol. 387 No. 2

Order of Business.

The Taoiseach

It is proposed to take Nos. 6, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11. 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. It is further proposed that the proceedings on the Second Stage of No. 6 and No. 4 shall be taken together for the purposes of debate and if not previously concluded shall be brought to a conclusion at 12.30 p.m. and the remaining Stages of No. 6, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 1.30 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 Justice.

Private Members' Business shall be No. 24.

An Ceann Comhairle

Is the proposal for a late sitting today agreed? Agreed. Are the proposals for dealing with No. 6, the Garda Síochána Bill, and No. 4, the Financial Resolution that goes with it, agreed? Agreed.

Mrs. Doyle

I should like to raise on the Adjournment the enormous contribution to agriculture and veterinary science, both nationally and internationally, of UCD Lyons Estate during the past 25 years or so and the proposals for the future of this estate.

An Ceann Comhairle

I shall communicate with the Deputy in respect of that matter.

Mr. Griffin

I wish to raise on the Adjournment the situation whereby the writ of the Constitution no longer runs in certain parts of Dublin, as evidenced by the cancellation of the public transport services due to thuggery and vandalism, thereby depriving law-abiding citizens of this facility.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will be in touch with the Deputy in respect of that matter.

Mr. Naughten

I wish to raise on the Adjournment the closure of St. Patrick's Hospital, Castlerea.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy in respect of that matter.

Mr. Sherlock

I wish to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of the reply given to me by the Minister for Health to Question No. 112 on Tuesday, 14 February.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will be in touch with the Deputy.

Mr. McCartan

May I ask the Taoiseach to confirm whether the Government have received the consultants' report on the EC integrated plan for Dublin and if it is proposed to publish that report and make it available to Members of the House?

An Ceann Comhairle

I do not think this arises now, Deputy. This is hardly legislation promised.

Mr. McCartan

It is a matter of great importance.

An Ceann Comhairle

It may well be but the Deputy has other ways and means of raising that matter other than doing it now.

Mr. McCartan

Unfortunately, time is of the essence. I am merely asking the Taoiseach to confirm whether the Government have received the report from the consultants.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy may not do that now. He may put down a question.

Mr. Cullen

May I ask the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he intends to take any steps with regard to the price war pertaining in the bakery industry at present and whether he would accept——

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy Cullen, that is clearly not relevant now.

Mr. Cullen

Can the Minister say if he accepts there are grave difficulties in the retail——

An Ceann Comhairle

Please, Deputy Cullen. I am calling Deputy Mary Flaherty who is offering.

Miss Flaherty

May I ask the Taoiseach if he intends to provide time in the House to discuss the recommendations of the all party committee on lottery funding and when he will be in a position——

An Ceann Comhairle

That is not in order, Deputy: I ruled this matter out of order yesterday morning.

Miss Flaherty

Will time——

An Ceann Comhairle

Please, Deputy.

Mr. R. Bruton

In respect of promised legislation, may I ask the Taoiseach whether the Government have forgotten their promise to introduce a radiological protection Bill? This Bill was promised one month after the formation of the Government and promised here in successive sessions but has not yet appeared.

The Taoiseach

It is at an advanced stage of preparation.

Mr. R. Bruton

How advanced is it compared to the advancement in the last session?

The Taoiseach

The Government are turning their minds very attentively to it.

Mr. J. O'Keeffe

May I ask the Taoiseach when he expects the Social Welfare Bill to be circulated?

The Taoiseach

Very soon.

Mr. Farrelly

I wish to raise on the Adjournment the failure of the Government to implement the recommendations of the all-party committee on national lottery funds.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning that matter.

Mr. Harte

Arising out of a Private Notice Question last week dealing with the outbreak of salmonella in Donegal where the Minister was fed wrong information from an unofficial source — I put down a Private Notice Question yesterday which was ruled out of order — I should like to know who gave the Minister for Health the wrong information dealing with the salmonella outbreak in County Donegal.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy will have to raise that matter in another way.

Mr. Harte

A young man is being put out of business because the finger is being pointed in his direction.

An Ceann Comhairle

This matter is not in order now.

Mr. Harte

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I wish to raise the matter by way of Private Notice Question today and if you still rule that out of order I beg your indulgence to allow me to raise it tonight on the Adjournment. This is a very serious question as far as——

An Ceann Comhairle

My office will be in touch with the Deputy concerning the matters he has adverted to. Deputy Cullen is offering.

Mr. Harte

The statement was made by the Minister in this House and his information was wrong.

An Ceann Comhairle

I have indicated that I shall be in touch with the Deputy concerning the matters he has adverted to.

Mr. Cullen

I wish to raise on the Adjournment the grave threat to jobs in the retail, wholesale and the production sectors of the bakery industry because of the price war pertaining in that industry at present.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. McCartan

I wish to raise on the Adjournment the number of deaths in Irish prisons during the past year, the inquests which have been held into those deaths and the recommendations of the juries at the inquests which have not yet been implemented or acted upon by the Minister.

An Ceann Comhairle

I shall communicate with the Deputy.

Miss Flaherty

Would the Taoiseach reassure us that the establishment of the all-party committee was not done simply for optics in relation to disbursement of funds and indicate if he now intends that the funds this year will be disbursed——

An Ceann Comhairle

I have already ruled the matter out of order, Deputy. I am proceeding to deal with item No. 6.

Miss Flaherty

I wish to get further information.