It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 7, 8, 9, 17; Private Members' Business will be No. 24.
Order of Business.
Last week the Taoiseach undertook to have a debate on Anglo-Irish relations but I understand from our Whip that the reason it was not held this week was that the Minister for Foreign Affairs could not be present. However, I see him in the Chamber now in glorious technicolor——
Multicolour.
Will the Taoiseach state when the debate will be held?
I understand it has been arranged for next week.
May I ask the Chair to give some information to the House. It appears from the discussion that took place yesterday in this House in relation to the staff dispute that you, Sir, have to take some action. We now have the unfortunate situation that staff of this House are outside in appalling conditions. I ask you to inform Members of this House what action you propose to take to bring this dispute to a resolution.
Deputy Taylor is to raise a question on that matter. He has priority in that regard.
I gave notice under Standing Order 30 seeking leave to raise this matter of public interest which requires urgent consideration, to use the words of the Standing Order. I seek leave to move the Adjournment of the Dáil for the purpose of discussing the matter, that being "that the House deplores the continuing dispute involving staff members of the House and calling on all relevant parties to the dispute immediately to agree to submit the dispute to independent arbitration". The matter is obviously urgent. It is interfering with the normal functioning of the House. It is a matter of intense public interest and I ask the Chair to accede to my request for a debate on the issue under the terms of Standing Order 30. I submit the present circumstances clearly come within the terms of that Standing Order.
I have considered the Deputy's request but I regret it is one I cannot accede to. As Deputies are aware, I allowed two Private Notice Questions on this issue yesterday addressed to the Minister for Finance. The matter was also discussed yesterday at a meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges of this House. I wish to advise the House that I propose to make a statement on the question to the House at approximately 12 noon today.
On the Order of Business and as the Minister for Justice is with us today, in the light of the concern expressed about the Guildfour Four and other cases abroad, may I ask the Minister if he has given consideration to the introduction of regulations under section 27 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, which allows for the tape-recording of inter-views by members of the Garda Síochána in this jurisdiction?
I am not certain this is a matter appropriate to the Order of Business.
The Act is there and it allows for regulations to be introduced. I understood that in time regulations would be introduced. I am asking the Minister if he is acting in the matter and the reason for the delay in their introduction.
Let me ask what is the position with regard to legislation in this area. Perhaps the Deputy would raise the matter in another way.
I accept the ruling of the Chair. We have had this in another context in regard to legislation dealing with marital breakdown and building control legislation.
The Deputy should elicit that information by way of question. It is not in order to raise the matter now. That is quite clear.
This Government are playing hot and cold with regard to protecting the rights of persons in custody.
I will facilitate the Deputy to raise the matter in a proper way if he consults my office. I am calling Deputy O'Keeffe.
There are two matters I want to raise in the context of Deputy McCartan's question. What is the position where we have legislation in relation to the Garda Síochána Complaints Tribunal but because the Minister has refused to allow proper staffing to the tribunal people are unable——
Clearly that is not a matter that should be raised now.
If the Chair will not allow me to raise the matter now, I will raise it in another context. It leads me to the second point I wish to raise on the Order of Business. Will the Taoiseach confirm that he will set up an Oireachtas committee on crime?
The Whips already know that the committee is in the process of being established.
Is the Taoiseach agreeing to the request?
The Whips are already aware that the committee is in the process of being established.
Will the Taoiseach tell the House when the report of the task force set up to examine the safety standards and procedures at major sports stadia following the Hillsborough disaster will be published and if he feels legislation to implement those recommendations is necessary?
Deputy Deenihan, please raise that matter in the usual way.
We have had four months——
It is not in order now.
On the Order of Business, will the Taoiseach tell the House whether he intends the House to debate Ireland's forthcoming Presidency of the EC closer to the end of this session? Does he feel such a debate would be useful to the Irish Government's Presidency and to the country generally?
That does not deal with legislation.
I am not sure that there is any precedent for that suggestion.
In the past, the lack of precedent has not inhibited the Taoiseach's political career and he might take this opportunity to create a precedent. Might I suggest that it is timely for this House to debate one of the reports on community affairs and, in that context, we could possibly combine the two? I believe the Taoiseach should consider giving time for this debate.
The Deputy is not unmindful of the fact that the first business we did after the summer recess was to discuss the NESC report which gave all Deputies a change to debate community affairs in detail.
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 the Beaumont and Crumlin Hospitals.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
May I raise on the Adjournment the removal of Mr. Christy Walsh from his position as acting CEO of the Southern Health Board and the alleged involvement of the Taoiseach in his removal?
I will communicate with the Deputy.
Ba mhaith liom a fhiafraí den Taoiseach an bhfuil sé ar intinn ag an Rialtas Comhchoiste Oireachtas don Ghaeilge a chur ar bun le linn na Dála seo?
Tá.
Cen uair?
Chomh luath agus is féidir.
May I, with your permission, raise on the Adjournment the closure of a number of the legal aid centres in Dublin city and the crisis in the legal aid centres throughout the country?
I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning that matter.
I seek to raise on the Adjournment the rise in the price of bottled gas in the context of the growing concentration in the market for bottled gas.
I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning the matter.
(Limerick East): I wish to raise on the Adjournment the provision of adequate accommodation for post-primary pupils at Hospital, County Limerick.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
May I raise on the Adjournment the question of the provision of a grant for the promised extension to Listowel vocational school?
I will communicate with the Deputy.
May I again ask to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of my question to the Taoiseach yesterday with regard to the Botanic Gardens?
I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning the matter.
May I raise on the Adjournment the non-implementation of the two pilot schemes for a schools' psychological service?
I will be in touch with the Deputy.
I would like to raise on the Adjournment the need for capital expenditure on the rail line facilities on the north side of the city in view of the appalling conditions there and the opinion of the Dublin District Manager of the rail company that the rail conditions along the stations on the north side are some of the worst in the country.
I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning that matter.
With your permission, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the crisis in the housing maintenance department of Dublin Corporation due to the failure of the Minister for the Environment to make adequate sums available for them to carry out essential maintenance.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
May I ask the Taoiseach if the Government intend amending the 1987 Fisheries Act?
(Interruptions.)
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the crisis that exists because of a lack of local authority housing throughout the country and the need for adequate funding to be provided in the Estimates.
I will be in touch with the Deputy.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the need for grant assistance to facilitate those people living in smoke controlled zones, as designated by Dublin City Council, which include Crumlin, because grant asssistance should be provided to facilitate people to turn over from bituminous coal to smoke free fuels and appliances.
I will communicate with the Deputy.