It is proposed to take Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 5 and in No. 5 Votes 19 to 24 and 25. It is also proposed that No. 1 shall be taken without debate.
Order of Business.
May I now ask if it is agreed that No. 1 be taken without debate. Agreed.
On the Order of Business, Sir, may I ask the Taoiseach if he intends to lay before the House the details of the arrangement into which he apparently has entered with Deputy Foxe, referred to by Deputy Foxe in this House as "the best offer that was made to him". May I also ask the Taoiseach if, in keeping with the precedent on a previous occasion where a Deputy who got an arrangement in that way read the whole matter into the record of the House, it would not be desirable that the House should know? Would he further think that it might be desirable for the North Western Health Board to know what is that arrangement?
This is hardly a matter that arises on the Order of Business. It does not arise now.
I am merely asking if that information will find its way into the record?
The Deputy will find another way of adverting to that matter.
May I say, Sir, if the House is not to have information of that kind I deplore it. However, there is another matter I would like to raise with the Taoiseach. May I ask the Taoiseach if he will make arrangements during the course of this week to appoint the Committee of Public Accounts and the Committee on Procedure and Privileges and if he will consider setting up a special committee — as was discussed in the last Dáil — to take the Committee Stage of the child care Bill?
I will be glad to talk to Deputy Dukes and other party leaders within the next day or so about the new committee structure.
Deputy Proinsias De Rossa has offered.
The point I wished to raise was specifically related to the child care Bill and its restoration to the Order Paper and the establishment of a committee of the Dáil to deal with it during the recess. I ask if the Taoiseach would consider that as an urgent matter?
Yes.
Given what has happened to mortgage interest rates in the past week — one building society increased its rates by 1 per cent without consultation or notice — may I ask the Taoiseach if the Minister for the Environment will be meeting with the building societies to try to reduce this, if possible?
It is hardly in order now to raise a matter of that kind.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the recent abduction of a man from a licensed premises in County Louth and his subsequent murder.
I will communicate with Deputy McGahon in connection with that matter.
May I ask the Taoiseach if he would consider having a debate — I suppose after the recess would be the most suitable time — on the proposed enlargement of the European Community following Austria's application to join in the light of the interesting remarks made by the Minister for Foreign Affairs yesterday.
It is hardly in order.
I suggest the question is perfectly legitimate in just the same way as my second question and that of Deputy De Rossa was legitimate. We are entitled to ask——
If it deals with legislation——
——what the Taoiseach's intentions are in the business that will come before the House.
In view of the fact that the Estimate for the Department of Industry and Commerce is to go through without debate, may I ask the Minister if he will make a statement on the sale of Irish Steel and what steps have been taken to protect jobs in that industry? Is the Minister satisfied that the would-be purchaser has a good track record in the steel industry?
I feel sure the Deputy will find another way of raising that matter.
May I raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of the proposed Goodman meat factory which was earmarked for Tuam as a replacement for the sugar factory and if recent statements made by IDA personnel might be suggesting that the project will not materialise?
I will communicate with the Deputy.
With your permission, Sir, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the proposed sale of Carysfort College, Blackrock, and the steps the Government intend to take to protect the public investment in educational buildings and equipment at the college which are estimated to be worth in excess of £10 million.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
With your permission, Sir, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the crisis in which the Civil Legal Aid Scheme finds itself and the difficulties that have led to the closure of the centre in Galway city.
I will communicate with the Deputy in respect of that matter.
In view of the fact that Dublin County Council have paid over £2 million to developers under a compensation claim and that it is now estimated that a further £2 million may be payable to another developer, could the Minister for the Environment indicate how rapidly he intends to circulate again the planning compensation Bill that has been promised?
It is being restored to the Order Paper immediately.
With your permission, Sir, I want to raise on the Adjournment the crisis at St. James's Hospital and the Government's response to the current very serious situation in that hospital.
I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning that matter.
With your permission, Sir, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the continuing crisis in primary school education in the Donaghmede area with the proposed loss of two teachers at Scoil Bríd and one teacher from the complement in Gaelscoil Míde, Dublin.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
With your permission, Sir, may I ask the Taoiseach if he intends giving an account of the Madrid summit to this House before the House adjourns and if he intends to avail of the normal time accorded to such a report? Will he indicate whether the Government propose to re-establish the Committee on EC secondary legislation or to transform it into some form of monitoring committee for 1992?
The usual report will be given tomorrow morning on the Madrid summit. On the question of committees, as I have said I would like to have an opportunity of talking to party leaders about them.
With your permission, Sir, I will add to the long list of questions which Deputies seek to raise on the Adjournment. I wish to raise on the Adjournment the serious situation that has arisen in Ballyfermot as a result of the threat by Semperit to close down its operations simply because of an industrial dispute. I also wish to raise the issue of the IDA's support for the company in this blatant attempt to crush the unions.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
May I ask the Taoiseach when he proposes to introduce legislation to amend the Solicitors' Act, 1954, which has been promised for many years but which we have not yet seen?
That legislation has not been promised by this Government.
With your permission, Sir, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the serious problem of inadequate funding for the North Eastern Health Board.
I will be in touch with the Deputy.
I would like to ask the Taoiseach, in view of the fact that he has given a commitment to reintroduce some legislation, if the rape Bill will be reintroduced?
Yes.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the failure of the Department of Agriculture and Food to take adequate steps to deal with an outbreak of disease on a farm in Mullagh, County Cavan.
I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning that matter.
With your permission, Sir, may I ask the Taoiseach or the Minister for Health if it is proposed either to abolish or to recognise the health advisory committees which have statutory powers under the Health Act, 1970, but which are not being financed at present by the health boards, whether it is intended to bring in legislation to amend the Act so as to abolish the health advisory committees?
Has any such legislation been promised?
No.
May I raise on the Adjournment the question of funding for the Coolock Community Law Centre, which is currently funded under the Combat Poverty Agency, for whom there is no promised funding for the coming year?
I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning that matter.
I wish to ask the Taoiseach when the legislation to regulate telephone tapping, as promised in the Coalition joint programme, will be introduced.
No such legislation has been promised by this Government.
I would correct the Taoiseach by drawing his attention specifically to the provisions of the document entitled The Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats Programme for Government 1989-1993 In The National Interest——
There will be another time for that, Deputy.
——which contains specific reference to legislation to regulate telephone tapping. I would ask the Taoiseach to take note of the contents——
Please, Deputy Bruton, it is not in order now to proceed along those lines.
This is entirely relevant. It is promised legislation——
It is hardly appropriate to make a speech.
I am asking the Taoiseach to indicate when this promised legislation in regard to telephone tapping will be introduced.
And in what capacity Deputy Burke will introduce it, as Minister for Communications or Minister for Justice?
I observe Deputy Seán Ryan on his feet.
The Taoiseach wants to answer.
If the Taoiseach wishes to answer he may do so.
May I ask the Taoiseach if he is aware of the contents of page 28 of the Government's joint programme?
As has always been the case, I interpret the phrase "promised legislation" in accordance with the precedent of this House. No legislation has been promised on the matter in question.
When is a promise not a promise?
Therefore this document counts for nothing.
Order. I call Deputy Seán Ryan.
This document is policy.
Please, Deputy Bruton.
These are not promises.
(Interruptions.)
I am afraid I will have to report Deputy Haughey to Deputy O'Malley.
Order, please.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the reported breakdown of negotiations concerning a new factory in Balbriggan which was promised prior to the general election by the former Minister for Industry and Commerce.
I take it the Deputy is seeking my permission to raise the matter on the Adjournment and I will communicate with him.
Four or five weeks ago, coincidentally during the general election campaign, the Minister for the Environment announced that he intended to extend to a variety of towns around the country urban renewal status under the Urban Renewal Act so that the various tax incentives would apply. Can the Minister indicate to the House when the necessary steps will be taken by him to implement what he promised in that regard during the second week in June?
That should be the subject of a Dáil question.
The Deputy can raise that matter in so many other ways.
It relates to a promise concerning legislation.
Is legislation promised?
The Minister knew what he was talking about and intended to implement the legislation. Has he changed his mind since then?
I am not aware that legislation is promised in this area.