Some weeks ago I asked the Taoiseach if he could indicate when the Child Care Bill would be reintroduced and placed on the Order Paper for discussion here. He indicated that it would be done during this session. Could he now tell us if it is still proposed to bring in that Bill this side of Easter and when it is hoped to have it completed? It is urgent legislation.
Order of Business (Resumed).
Unfortunately I have to tell the Deputy I do not think it will be reintroduced in this session because of the way matters have developed but I assure the Deputy we will try to have it brought forward as quickly as possible.
I would like to raise on the Adjournment the serious situation that has developed in Mallow General Hospital as a result of a cut of 8.7 per cent in its budget by the Southern Health Board. A statement was made by one of the consultants that lives could be at risk as a result of the shortage of staff there.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
In light of the Taoiseach's comment last week, has he considered further whether the draft of the national plan for the obtaining of Structural Funds will be debated in this House, if so, the date it will be debated and when the detail of the plan will be made available to Members of this House to facilitate such a debate taking place?
This is not in order now.
It is important that the House be given an opportunity to debate this matter as soon as possible. As I have said, the matter is still ongoing but I can assure the House that arrangements will be made to have the plan debated here.
I would ask the Taoiseach to clarify one matter. Will he be making available to Members of this House the consultant's report on the Dublin region, including the interim report, which, I understand, will be received by him this week?
This is hardly in order, a Cheann Comhairle.
No, in the first instance I did not think it was in order.
It is the general intention of the Government to facilitate the House to the greatest possible extent.
I would like to ask the Taoiseach when the Government intend to introduce legislation to amend the Fóir Teoranta Act, 1972, in view of the clear obligation placed on them by section 2 of that Act to continue the operations of Fóir Teoranta until such an Act is repealed. Would the Taoiseach view this legislation as urgent, in view of the probable illegality of the Government's action in the absence of such legislation?
Is legislation contemplated in this area?
I dealt with this matter last week.
Is the Taoiseach aware that there is considerable concern among industrialists who have plans under consideration by Fóir Teoranta who do not know where they stand——
We have had all this before, Deputy Bruton.
——due to the fact that the Government decided to abolish this body without introducing the necessary legislation?
Deputy Molloy.
The body was established by this House and the Government do not have the power simply to set aside——
Please, Deputy Bruton. The Deputy should find another time to debate this matter.
I wish to give notice of my intention to raise on the Adjournment the question of the inadequate transport arrangements for the shipment of goods, in particular valuable cargoes of knitting yarns and finished knitwear, to and from Inishmaan on the Aran Islands where, due to the lack of a covered hold on the temporary cargo vessel put in place by the Minister and CIE, expensive knitwear products can be irretrievably damaged, being exposed on deck to all weather.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
My question does not relate to promised legislation and perhaps the Taoiseach may want some notice of this but could he, either today or tomorrow, give an indication, either through his Whip or by himself, to the House when the three Bills in the name of the Minister for the Environment — the Building Control Bill, the Derelict Sites Bill and the Local Government (Planning and Development) (No. 2) Bill — might be further progressed? Is it the intention of the Government to have these disposed of by the summer recess? I do not expect an answer now but perhaps tomorrow when the Taoiseach has had time to review the matter.
I wish to seek your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to raise on the Adjournment the pending application from Dublin Bus for an increase in fares, the response of the Minister to that proposal and the urgent need of Government to increase their subvention to Dublin Bus so as to keep fares at a reasonable and manageable level.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the implications for victims of road traffic accidents arising out of the VHI decision not to cover medical expenses in such cases.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I would like to raise on the Adjournment the proposed closure of a medical and surgical ward in Tralee General Hospital with the resulting loss of 60 long stay beds.
I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning that matter.
I would like to ask the Taoiseach if he could clarify to the House now whether it will be necessary to introduce legislation or amend existing legislation to allow for representation by Galway Corporation on the Western Health Board. The last time this matter was raised the Taoiseach indicated that——
The Deputy should deal with that matter in another way.
The Workers' Party sought to raise, by way of Private Notice Question, the tragic death of Private McNeela in Lebanon. I wish to ask the Taoiseach, in view of the fact that that question was ruled out of order, if he would afford the House the opportunity to make statements on this matter.
It is not in order now.
I appreciate that it may not be strictly in order but the Taoiseach may be keen to allow the House to have statements made as it is a very serious matter that a person serving the State and serving the issue of——
The Deputy has very many other ways and means of raising that matter.
The House should be afforded an opportunity to express its views on the matter. I would ask the Taoiseach to indicate if statements might be made either today or tomorrow.
I wish to ask the Taoiseach or the Minister for Finance if it is proposed to introduce legislation to regularise the position whereby local authorities, having been faced with appeals on evaluation, are now in a quandary about demands for repayments and so on and if it is intended——
The Deputy knows precisely how he should deal with that matter.