Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 12 Dec 1989

Vol. 394 No. 4

Order of Business.

The Taoiseach

It is proposed to take Nos. 4 and 1 and No. 4a on today's Supplementary Order Paper. It is also proposed that the Dáil shall sit later than 9 p.m. today and business shall be interrupted at 11.30 p.m. It is further proposed that Nos. 4 and 4a shall be taken without debate. It is further proposed that notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders all Stages of No. 1, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 5 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 the Environment.

It is further proposed that notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, in the case of the Supplementary Estimates to which No. 4a refers, the following arrangements shall apply: (1) Votes 26, 28 and 29 shall be debated together and, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 6 p.m. by one question; (2) Votes 35, 44, 43, 13 and 33, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 7 p.m., 9.30 p.m., 10 p.m., 11 p.m. and 11.30 p.m., respectively; (3) speakers shall be confined to the main spokespersons nominated by each of the groups (as defined in Standing Order 89) whose speeches shall not exceed ten minutes in each case and the speech of Ministers replying shall not exceed five minutes in the case of Votes 35, 44 and 13 and five minutes for spokespersons and the Minister replying in the case of Votes 33 and 43; (4) if a division is challenged on any of the Votes, it shall be taken forthwith.

Private Members' Business shall be No. 17.

An Ceann Comhairle

Let me now ask if the proposal for a late sitting today is agreed? Agreed. In respect of the proposal that Nos. 4 and 4a be taken without debate, is that agreed? Agreed. Are the proposals for dealing with No. 1 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with Supplementary Estimates to which 4a refers agreed?

Mr. McCartan

On the arrangements under No. 4a in respect of Supplementary Estimates, I have a simple proposal for amendment of the allocation of time which I seek to move at this stage: That the time 10 p.m. as allowed be changed to 10.30 p.m. in respect of Vote 43, the Energy Supplementary Estimate. I am proposing that that extra half hour be taken from the Estimate in respect of the Attorney General. The purpose of the amendment, which I hope will have the support of the House, is that the Energy Supplementary Estimate deals with a proposal for the payment of a substantial fee to the consultants who recommended the sale of our interest——

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy need not elaborate now.

Mr. McCartan

I believe it requires a little more attention than the Supplementary Estimate for the Attorney General's Office for which there will be substantial agreement among the parties of the House. There is a consequential amendment to paragraph (3) of the Order of Business to substitute "13" for "43" and vice versa. It is a small amendment and I believe it would assist the better conduct of the business here tonight. I hope there will be support for it.

The Taoiseach

I have no particular objection, but these times have been agreed with the other parties. It is hardly a matter for the parties of the House.

Mr. Dukes

There does not seem to be any contention about this and the Whips should get together and come back to us with a modified schedule.

An Ceann Comhairle

Is that agreed?

Mr. Rabbitte

It is Christmas.

An Ceann Comhairle

It is agreed.

Mr. Dukes

Has the Taoiseach yet discovered which of the Members on his benches made a very ignorant and offensive remark last Thursday, and does he intend to arrange for an apology to be delivered in the House?

An Ceann Comhairle

That is a matter we discussed last week.

Mr. Dukes

I would have thought, Sir, you would have been particularly keen to see that the proper order and dignity of this House is properly——

An Ceann Comhairle

There is a procedure for dealing with these matters and a rehash of last week's incident is not appropriate now.

Mr. Dukes

The procedure is to come in here and apologise.

The Taoiseach

My recollection of that event is that both Deputy Dukes and Deputy Bruton were extraordinarily disorderly at the time.

Mr. Dukes

The Taoiseach knows perfectly well it was a Deputy behind him who made that remark.

An Ceann Comhairle

Order. I have ruled the matter out of order now.

Mr. Dukes

This kind of cover up will cut no ice. He has not got the generosity to come in here and admit that one of his backwoodsmen made an ignorant and stupid remark.

The Taoiseach

If any such remark was made by anybody in this House it would be deplorable. I do not accept that it was made by anybody on these benches.

Mr. Dukes

It is on the record.

Mr. Spring

I seek some information from the Taoiseach. My understanding is that the appointment of the office of Ombudsman will cease at the end of this month unless a resolution of this House is passed. Does the Taoiseach intend to bring forward a resolution to this House and to the Seanad before the end of this year for either the reappointment of the Ombudsman or a new appointment?

The Taoiseach

The necessary procedures will be followed.

Mr. Noonan

(Limerick East): In view of the fact that interest rates have risen for the fourth time since April, will the Taoiseach arrange for the Minister for Finance to make a statement in the House on the Government's position on rising interest rates and in particular the Government's plans to alleviate the additional burden on mortgage holders?

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy should raise that matter in the appropriate way.

Mr. Noonan

(Limerick East): Will the Minister for Finance make a statement in the House? That type of question has been replied to quite frequently.

An Ceann Comhairle

That may be, but it does not relate specifically to the Order of Business.

Mr. Noonan

(Limerick East): I would remind the Taoiseach that when he was in Opposition he lectured the Government of the day on the various ways of keeping down interest rates. Would he like now to give us some information on how interest rates should be kept down?

The Taoiseach

My only regret is that the then Government did not take my advice to heart. If they had they might not be on the opposite side today.

Mr. Noonan

(Limerick East): The Taoiseach has nothing to say, no statement to make.

Mr. Rabbitte

Now that the Holles Street and Dunne case has concluded, do the Department of Health intend to carry out any investigation?

An Ceann Comhairle

That does not arise now.

Mr. Rabbitte

It is a serious matter of public concern concerning practice at Holles Street Hospital.

Mr. J. O'Keeffe

I seek guidance on a matter of procedure. On 1 November I put two questions to the Minister for the Environment and was told by the Minister in the course of both replies that he would write to me as soon as possible. In neither instance has any reply been furnished by him. I would suggest that the type of reply given by the Minister for the Environment was improper and the fact that he has not carried out his undertaking given in the replies is an abuse of the procedure of this House.

An Ceann Comhairle

There are ways and means of raising such matters in this House but this is not the appropriate time.

(Interruptions.)

Mr. J. O'Keeffe

I am seeking your protection.

An Ceann Comhairle

My office is at the disposal of the Deputy in resolving his problem in so far as we can or in so far as it is my responsibility.

Mr. J. O'Keeffe

I will do that and raise the matter again tomorrow.

Mr. Quinn

Is the Minister for the Environment in a position to indicate when he proposes to bring forward regulations providing for rent books for tenants in private rented accommodation?

An Ceann Comhairle

This does not deal with legislation and does not arise now.

Mr. Quinn

Could I ask for clarification? On a point of order, do I take it in relation to the Order of Business and matters of legislation that regulations which flow from such legislation——

An Ceann Comhairle

I did not hear you mention legislation.

Mr. Quinn

I specifically made reference to legislation. The legislation is there. The last time questions were answered in this House the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Deputy Connolly, indicated that the matter was under review. I am now asking if——

An Ceann Comhairle

If there is legislation involved, I apologise to the Deputy. Is there legislation involved here?

The Taoiseach

Certainly not.

Mr. Quinn

A Cheann Comhairle——

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy Quinn, please desist. I have done my best to facilitate the Deputy.

Mrs. Fennell

I wish to raise on the Adjournment the worrying report that a rape case was struck out in the District Court last Wednesday because the Book of Evidence was not ready. It was alleged that this was because of staff cutbacks in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

An Ceann Comhairle

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

Mr. Barry

I put down a Private Notice Question today regarding the mandatory repatriation of the Vietnamese boat people from Hong Kong. You ruled the question out of order because in your judgment it lacked urgency. News bulletins and newspapers are claiming that it is very urgent and I would ask you to reconsider the matter before I put down the question again tomorrow.

An Ceann Comhairle

I have nothing to add to my ruling in the matter.

Mr. S. Barrett

I wish to raise on the Adjournment the scandalous increase in motor insurance and the difficulties for householders arising from that increase in the light of the recent increases in mortgage interest rates.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. Kavanagh

I should like to ask the Taoiseach, particularly in his capacity as President Elect of the European Community, if he will protest in the strongest possible terms to the British Prime Minister because of the decision taken by her Government to deport or repatriate Vietnamese boat people from Hong Kong to Vietnam, an act which has been condemned not only in Britain but throughout the Community and the world.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. Boylan

Is the Minister of State with responsibility for horticulture aware of the dumping of processed mushrooms from Poland on the European market and the disastrous consequences for the industry in my constitutency, and has he taken any action?

An Ceann Comhairle

It does not arise now.

Mr. Boylan

I seek to raise the matter on the Adjournment.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. Nealon

I wish to raise on the Adjournment the difficulties being created for Dublin as the cultural capital in 1991 arising out of the performance of La Traviata at the Gaiety Theatre on Friday last when the prima donna was not able to take part at all and the lead tenor had to curtail his performance because of the damage done to their vocal chords by Dublin smog.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with Deputy Nealon.

Mr. Connor

I again seek permission to raise on the Adjournment the question of whether the Minister for Energy has been informed by the Electricity Supply Board that they intend to close down the coal-burning station at Arigna in County Roscommon and, if so, if he has a position on it.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. Gilmore

I wish to raise on the Adjournment the critical shortage of local authority housing due to the Government's failure to approve house building schemes for local authorities.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning that matter.

Mr. Garland

With your permission I should like to raise two matters on the Adjournment this evening: one is the widespread gassing of badgers under the ERAD scheme and the second relates to the continuing sale of Christmas snows which contain CFCs.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy and I marvel at his confidence.

Miss Flaherty

I refer to two matters, one of which I seek to raise on the Adjournment. Has the Minister for Social Welfare the regulations available to us which were announced yesterday under the Social Welfare Bill allowing new categories of unemployed persons to participate in education? When will we have these regulations?

Minister for Social Welfare (Dr. Woods)

They were placed on the table of the House yesterday.

Miss Flaherty

I wish to raise on the Adjournment the position of recipients of disability benefit who find themselves living on an inadquate income facing this winter. Some of them have been on these benefits for up to five years.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. Sherlock

Arising from a policy statement which the Minister for Health made in the House during a debate on health issues that regulations will be introduced to enable pharmacists to dispense to those with category 2 eligibility without having to pay more than——

An Ceann Comhairle

Is there legislation involved?

Mr. Sherlock

It was promised by the Minister for Health during the course of the debate.

An Ceann Comhairle

I suggest the Deputy raise that matter in another way.

Mr. McCormack

May I ask the Taoiseach if the Minister for the Marine, Deputy Wilson, will meet this week with representatives of the anti-rod licence group? Is the Taoiseach in favour of resolving this dispute? Will he make a statement on the matter?

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. McCormack

I would like a quick communication on it.

An Ceann Comhairle

It is not in order, Deputy.

Mr. Flanagan

Will the Minister for Justice say when the regulations, in accordance with the terms of the recently enacted Family Law Reform Act, will be published? The Act is grossly deficient without the regulations. With your permission, Sir, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the widespread use by motorists of radar detectors, which has been brought to the attention of the Minister for the Environment earlier in the year but which he does not appear to have addressed.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. Flanagan

Perhaps the Minister for Justice would answer my initial question?

Mr. Deenihan

Is the Taoiseach aware that the World Cup Boxing Championships to be held in Dublin in September 1990 are now in jeopardy because of the withdrawal of funding, despite promises——

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy, that is clearly a matter for another time. May I suggest that the Deputy puts down a question on the subject?

Mr. Deenihan

Could I raise this matter, Sir, on the Adjournment?

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy.

The Taoiseach

Quick footwork.

Mr. McGrath

I wish to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of an article in The Westmeath Topic relating to the moneylending scandal in the Mullingar area.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. Ryan

I would like to raise on the Adjournment once again the apparent change in the Department of Education's policy on the need for a new school building at Fingal Community College, Swords, County Dublin.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will be in touch with the Deputy.

Mr. Rabbitte

With your permission, Sir, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the provision of a school at Castleview in my constituency.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning this matter.

Dr. Lee

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Minister for Health's reply to the Private Notice Question on the 'flu vaccine, I beg leave to raise on the Adjournment the inadequate and insufficient supplies of the anti-flu vaccine in the Dublin area.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy concerning the matter but he may not elaborate on it now. Deputy Sherlock is offering again.

Mr. Sherlock

I wish to raise on the Adjournment the serious situation that has arisen in Bellvell national school, Cobh, Co. Cork as a result of an order to reduce it to a one-teacher school and to transfer the other teacher a distance of 30 miles away.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy. Can we now proceed to the Order of Business proper?