It is proposed to take Nos. 7 and 8.
It is also proposed that the Dáil shall meet tomorrow at 10.30 a.m. and shall adjourn not later than 4 p.m.
Order of Business.
Is the proposal for tomorrow's sitting agreed?
Agreed. With your permission, Sir, may I ask the Taoisach if it is true, as has been reported today, that the Government have set up a new consultation mechanism with the farm organisations. If that is true does this represent a departure from the structure set up under the Programme for National Recovery and, if so, why?
That is not a matter for the Order of Business.
It is a matter which touches on the way the Government have been saying they are having running consultations with the social partners.
Even so, Deputy, there are other ways and means of raising such matters.
Is the Taoiseach now in a position to tell the House when the Minister for the Environment will introduce the regulations necessary to give effect to the EC Directive on Environmental Assessment?
Is this legislation which has been promised?
Much promised.
Over-promised.
It is a matter which is on our agenda. I will try to give the Deputy a definite date for it today.
Is the Taoiseach aware that the Department of Justice have decided to postpone the introduction of the Solicitors Act amendments which are necessary to deal with a range of matters, including legal education, on the grounds that they are awaiting a report of the Fair Trade Commission and the outcome of a Supreme Court case? Would he not agree that any of those matters should be dealt with by way of amendment? Would he direct the Minister for Justice to introduce this legislation speedily and not use yet another excuse to delay long-awaited legislation?
That is not the position. The legislation is at an advanced stage of preparation. The Department and the Minister are considering whether it will be necessary to await the outcome of two different matters, one is the report of the Fair Trade Commission and the other is a case which is before the courts.
When does the Taoiseach expect the Department might be able to make up their minds whether or not they are going to wait?
I know that that type of prudent approach would not recommend itself to the Deputy but it does to this side of the House.
A Cheann Comhairle——
I am sorry, this may not continue, Deputy Bruton. I have allowed the Deputy some questions. The Chair cannot permit the Order of Business to be turned into a mini Question Time.
In the context of this issue would the Taoiseach say what is the difference between expedition and paralysis in dealing with this issue.
Deputy Shatter, I have called Deputy Noonan.
(Limerick East): In the course of the debate on the Finance Bill here in May last, Deputies on all sides of the House voiced concern about the predicament of disabled drivers who could not get certain tax relief. When does the Minister for Finance propose to publish the regulations to implement the changes agreed in the course of the debate on the Finance Bill?
The regulations are with the draftsman at present and we expect them back from him this week.
(Limerick East): Will there be consultation then, as promised, with the different parties before they are published?
Of course. Promises are always adhered to.
(Interruptions).
All I can say is: tut, tut.
May I seek some clarification from the Taoiseach in relation to a matter I raised last week, that is the question of a debate on the state of Anglo-Irish relations and surrounding matters. May I take it from the Taoiseach that that matter will be included in the Order of Business for next week and that he will instruct his Whip accordingly?
The Whips are discussing the matter. We have a difficulty about the absence of the Minister for Foreign Affairs but we will try to arrange it as quickly as possible.
A Cheann Comhairle, may I seek your advice about something broadcast this morning on radio. Are you aware that this House was grossly insulted by Mr. Gay Byrne at approximately 9.25 a.m. in the course of his radio programme when he gave out some very misleading information about the performance of this House? I would request that the Taoiseach get a transcript of the broadcast and take necessary action on the issue. It is about time this House stood up for itself against the series of snide remarks made against the House and its Members.
If the Deputy feels there has been a breach of privilege involved, he has a way out by referring the matter to, or having it raised at, the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.
I will have that matter raised at the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.
(Interruptions).
Yesterday the Minister for Health indicated, in the course of replying to a parliamentary question, that he intended to amend the Clinical Trials Act in view of the fact that hospital-based research in many areas has ceased for almost a year. Would the Taoiseach say when it is intended to bring forward this legislation?
I cannot give the Deputy a date but I will let him know when we hope to bring it forward.
There are three lady Members offering.
I would like to ask the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether they have already been in touch with the UN in relation to the proposal by the South African forces to remobilise in Namibia in view of how disastrous this would be to the election process there and, if they have not done so, would they do so urgently this morning? They could argue that if there should be any mobilisation there, it should be of more UN troops.
I take it that by addressing us as ladies and not addressing the rest of the Deputies as gentlemen, we are the ladies here. I would like to ask your permission to raise on the Adjournment my Private Notice Question yesterday relating to Ireland's stand at the United Nations on 15 November next in relation to the Cambodian representative now sitting in the UN and to note that the Irish UN representative has continued to support, by abstention, the representation by the Khmer Rouge at the UN.
I am aware of the Deputy's concern in the matter and I will communicate with her.
With your permission, I would like to raise on the Adjournment the problems created for public patients by the removal of Mr. O'Neill from Crumlin Children's Hospital and Beaumont Hospital.
I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning that matter.
I would like to ask the Taoiseach, in relation to the establishment of the various committees that this House is required to set up, if he could report to the House the present position on the re-establishment of the EC committee and the possibility of a foreign affairs committee.
I dealt with that matter yesterday in reply to a question from Deputy Dukes.
It was dealt with on yesterday's Order of Business.
I am not sure that the reply was very clear. The Taoiseach indicated that the matter was under consideration. No doubt he has a lot to consider these days but so have the rest of us and, I think the Ceann Comhairle will agree, we do need to get on with our own business. We have effectively seven working weeks left this year. I asked the Taoiseach when he will be in a position to enable the Whips and the parties represented in this House to establish, most importantly of all, the EC secondary legislation committee and the foreign affairs committee?
They will be set up immediately.
I suggest this matter might be discussed by the Whips.
I did not hear the answer.
Immediately.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I would like to raise on the Adjournment the closure of the Viking Adventure Centre in Dublin, given its tremendous success for national and international tourism and indeed the Liberties. I would like to ask the Taoiseach if he will allocate lottery money to ensure that the centre remains open and is not lost to the city.
I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning that matter.
I would like your permission to raise on the Adjournment the crisis in local authority housing throughout the country. Every public representative in this House, and indeed every councillor, is aware of this problem. It is appropriate at a time when the Estimates are being prepared that this House would have an opportunity to put on record that that crisis exists and I hope you will give me that opportunity this evening.
I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning the matter.
I would like to raise on the Adjournment the closure of two post-primary schools in Abbeyleix and one in Durrow, County Laois.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
With your permission, Sir, I would like to raise on the Adjournment the question of collusion by some politicians and some public officials to subvert the planning process in the Dublin area for personal gain.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I would like to raise on the Adjournment the consequences of severe flooding in the west last weekend.
I am aware of the Deputy's interest in that matter and I will communicate with him.
I would like to ask the Taoiseach about a matter that is hopefully dear to his heart and within his responsibiltiy, that is, the date on which the Women's Rights Committee will be set up. We have a lot of urgent business to be completed before the end of this session.
Within the next week.
I would ask the Taoiseach what has happened to promised legislation in the area of radiological protection which the Minister, Deputy Burke, promised around March 1987 and which has not surfaced in any of the suggested lists since? Has this been put off the Government agenda?
He was too busy shutting down Sellafield.
It is in the process of preparation.
Could the Taoiseach give an indication how soon the process might produce some report?
It is not likely to be in this session.
With your permission I would like to raise on the Adjournment the legalised shooting of white fronted geese which started yesterday. This has been deplored by wild life interests and, I understand, that the Minister of State, Deputy Daly, has refused to meet these people.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
Ba mhaith liom a fháil amach go beacht ón Taoiseach cathain a bheidh an Bille um Údarás na Gaeltachta os comhair na Dála agus an mbainfidh sé úsáid as an ócáid sin chun leasuithe cuimsítheacha a chur isteach sa Bhille sin.
Amárach.
In view of the fairly regular occurrence of the circulation of misinformation about the goings on in this House as typified by Deputy Bernard Allen this morning in relation to a particular programme, would the Taoiseach not consider it appropriate that this House should appoint an information officer to have proper information circulated in regard to the administration——
This is a very important question but it does not arise now. If the Taoiseach wishes to intervene he may do so.
I thought we already had 166 information officers.
There are three fewer in the Seanad than he thought.
(Interruptions.)
I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to yourself and the Minister for Health for my failure to attend for the Adjournment debate which I had requested on Thursday last, but it was due to circumstances entirely outside my control. I have been in touch with you and I would like you to accept my apology. Notwithstanding that, again I would like to raise the very serious and grave problem that exists on the north side of Dublin that there is no out-patient physiotherapy service for patients referred by GPs.
I am grateful for the Deputy's remarks and I will communicate with him again in respect of that matter.