Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 1 Mar 1989

Vol. 387 No. 8

Order of Business.

The Taoiseach

It is proposed to take Nos. 6, 7, 1 and 8.

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 Committee and Remaining Stages of No. 6 shall be brought to a conclusion, if not previously concluded at 7 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 Labour.

Private Members' Business shall be No. 22.

An Ceann Comhairle

May I now ask if the proposal for the late sitting today is agreed? Agreed. In respect of the proposal for dealing with No. 6, is that agreed? Agreed.

Mr. Connaughton

Arising on the Order of Business, in the absence of the Minister for Justice, could I ask the Taoiseach to outline to the House if the Government have initiated a major policy change by reducing the number of gardaí assigned to rural areas——

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy Connaughton, you will obviously have to find another time and another way of raising that matter.

Mr. Connaughton

On a point of order——

An Ceann Comhairle

Please, Deputy, let us have no spurious points of order at this stage.

Mr Connaughton

I have to develop what I was saying because I had not finished. I wanted to ask the Taoiseach if he was aware that an area in east Galway the size of County Louth will have only two patrol cars in the future.

An Ceann Comhairle

Please, Deputy Connaughton, it is clearly not a matter for the Order of Business.

Mr. Connaughton

On a point of order, may I raise the matter on the Adjournment?

An Ceann Comhairle

I shall communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. Spring

Could I ask the Taoiseach when the revised Book of Estimates will be published.

The Taoiseach

Next week.

Mr. Cooney

Could I ask the Taoiseach when the legislation to implement the EC Product Directives will be introduced? It is already some seven months late.

The Taoiseach

It will be this session. I shall try to get the Deputy an estimate of when it will be.

Mr. Quinn

Before he goes to Europe.

Mr. Barry

The Minister for Foreign Affairs circulated yesterday a motion to debate the European Community Reports. Could I ask the Taoiseach when that debate will take place?

The Taoiseach

I suggest that it be left to the Whips to arrange it.

Mr. Barry

Will it be this side of Easter?

The Taoiseach

I doubt it.

Mr. Barry

Will there be one?

Mr. J. Bruton

Is it the case that there has not been a debate on these reports for some time?

The Taoiseach

That is the case.

Mr. J. O'Keeffe

May I, with your permission, raise on the Adjournment the matter of Government plans, if any, for the provision of an alternative ferry service between the UK and Cork?

An Ceann Comhairle

I shall communicate with the Deputy.

Mrs. Doyle

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, may I raise on the Adjournment the future of the Lyons estate and its importance to the Faculties of Agricultural Science and Veterinary Science?

An Ceann Comhairle

I shall be in touch with the Deputy concerning the matter.

Mr. Griffin

With your permission, I shall like to raise on the Adjournment the threatened closure of the Central Bakery in Cahir, County Tipperary.

An Ceann Comhairle

I shall communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. Deenihan

With your permission, I would like to raise on the Adjournment the proposed cutbacks in Tralee General Hospital.

An Ceann Comhairle

I shall be in touch with the Deputy concerning the matter.

Mr. Quinn

May I ask the Taoiseach if he is in a position today to give a response to the question I put to him yesterday?

The Taoiseach

Yes. It is the intention that both the Derelict Sites Bill and the Local Government (Planning and Development) (No. 2) Bill will be enacted before the summer recess. The position with regard to the Building Control Bill is that it is really awaiting agreement between the Whips as to when it can be taken.

Mr. Quinn

I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. May I raise on the Adjournment this evening a matter that I have attempted to raise on a number of previous occasions? It relates to the decision of the Department of Education to put out to development competition three schools.

An Ceann Comhairle

I shall communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. Sherlock

I ask permission to raise on the Adjournment the proposal to change the role of Mallow General Hospital by reducing its budget by 8.7 per cent, reducing staff and in consequence putting lives at risk.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy. Can we now proceed to deal with item No. 6?

Mr. S. Barrett

May I ask if it is intended that the Minister for Justice will make a statement to this House when he returns from his visit to London today?

An Ceann Comhairle

That is hardly in order now.

Mr. S. Barrett

It is quite in order to ask the Taoiseach if the Minister for Justice will make a statement on his return from London.

An Ceann Comhairle

This is a matter primarily for the Whips.

Mr. S. Barrett

A priority question of mine has been ruled out of order for today——

The Taoiseach

I have announced the Order of Business for today.

Mr. S. Barrett

——on the grounds that the Minister for Justice had no official responsibility with the Patrick Ryan case.

An Ceann Comhairle

Please, Deputy Barrett.

Mr. S. Barrett

He is in London discussing the case with the Home Secretary and you tell me that it is not the responsibility of this House.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy should raise that matter in another way. He knows the proceedings of this House.

The Taoiseach

I advise the Deputy not to pay too much attention to radio reports.

An Ceann Comhairle

I come to item No. 6, the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Bill, 1988.

Mr. Dukes

There was one radio report this morning that——

(Interruptions.)

Mr. Barry

Account for yourself, boy.