It is proposed to take No. 9. Private Members' Business shall be No. 19.
Order of Business.
On the Order of Business, Sir, could I ask you if you will reconsider your decision on the question I put down to the Taoiseach on 1 February asking if he had made any arrangements to meet the UK Prime Minister? I received a reply from you, Sir, saying that the question was disallowed and I quote:
It is a repeat in view of the reply to Question 12 of 5 December 1989.
I am quite sure, Sir, that you will point out to me that Standing Orders forbid repeats of this kind — that is a perfectly sensible rule — but, I submit, Sir, in the circumstances we are in today, and particularly over the last couple of months when the Taoiseach was evolving his thinking about Anglo-Irish relations, that they are two entirely separate questions. The question on 5 December 1989 was to ascertain whether the Taoiseach had any plans then to meet the UK Prime Minister, and the question of 1 February 1990 asked whether the Taoiseach had any plans now to meet the UK Prime Minister. It is an evolving situation, so I put it to you, Sir, that that kind of question should be allowed on the basis that it is not a repeat and that the Taoiseach can occasionally change his mind and catch up with changing circumstances. I would like to ask you, Sir, to reconsider, and allow the question today.
I will look at the matter again, Deputy, but I think the Deputy knows full well that the utmost care and attention is given to questions of this kind. However, I will look at it again in the light of what you have said.
There is widespread speculation at present that some changes will be brought about to the Fisheries (Amendment) Act (No. 32), 1987. May I ask the Taoiseach if this is so and if he will give an assurance that if changes are to be made they will be made in this House. This is an assurance he always sought when he was Leader of the Opposition, that important announcements would be made in this House.
I am not sure this is in order now.
It is a subject for a parliamentary question.
I tabled a similar question to the one Deputy Spring has just asked the Taoiseach, and on that occasion the Taoiseach answered the question. If it was answered previously, I cannot see why it cannot be answered this morning in view of the great anxiety that exists among everybody concerned.
I asked that question about 15 times during the last session, as everybody is well aware, and I am anticipating a quick and speedy answer. All I will say is, "well done"", when I get the answer.
This is a matter for another occasion.
A Cheann Comhairle, with your permission I should like to raise on the Adjournment this evening the question of the staffing and payment arrangements at the new labour exchange in Ballyfermot, Dublin 10.
I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning that matter.
With your permission, Sir, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the hardship being caused to Dublin Corporation tenants who wish to purchase their houses and have been denied that opportunity because of the inordinate delays in the corporation due to a lack of valuation staff, which is a direct result of the cutbacks.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
A Cheann Comhairle, with your assent I wish to ask the Taoiseach two questions about impending legislation. The first is if the competition Bill, which is particularly urgent in view of the necessity of ensuring that the consumer benefits to the full from the value-added tax reductions and improvements in the strength of our currency, will be introduced this session? This Bill has been promised for some time. The Taoiseach's office very kindly conveyed to my secretary the information that this Bill will not be introduced in this session. Could I ask the Taoiseach if he will ensure that it is introduced this session in view of the urgency of dealing with the problem of inflation against the background of the need for moderate pay settlements?
I wish to dissuade the Member from making a speech, a speech is inappropriate.
I will do my best to expedite it.
Would the Taoiseach agree that it is urgent legislation and that it is not satisfactory that it should have to wait until some time after Easter?
I think the Deputy has made that point very effectively.
I said that I shall do my best to expedite matters.
The results were minimal.
A Cheann Comhairle, with your permission I should again like to raise on the Adjournment the question of the widespread flooding and storm damage throughout the country, particularly in County Tipperary, which I referred to yesterday. We are lucky to be here, a Cheann Comhairle as most of the town of Clonmel, especially at the lower end, is flooded and cars are now submerged and roads are damaged.
I am well aware of the matter and I will be in touch with the Deputy.
With your permission, Sir, may I raise on the Adjournment the need to allocate emergency funding to Cork County Council to deal with the devastation caused by flooding in the Blarney, Inniscarra and Tower areas of my constituency?
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I was here in the House last night to give a very comprehensive reply to that question but the movers were not here. I suggest they are not very serious about the matter.
The movers were storm-bound.
Where was Deputy Sheehan? He must have been doing a survey.
On a point of order, Sir, in case the matter may be misinterpreted, I did not seek to raise the matter on the Adjournment yesterday.
A Cheann Comhairle, with your permission I wish to raise on the Adjournment the matter of the Government's plans to deal with the financial difficulties of Bord na Móna and the restructuring of their capital base.
I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning that matter. I observe that Deputy Roger Garland is seeking possession.
With your permission, Sir, I would like once again to raise on the Adjournment the proposed gassing of badgers under the ERAD scheme.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
(Limerick East): With your permission, Sir, I should like to raise on the Adjournment with the Minister for Finance the effect on the consumer price index of the recent increases in beer, spirits and petrol.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
On the Order of Business and in connection with legislation may I inquire of the Taoiseach about a very urgent matter: has any decision been taken by the Government to introduce legislation to deal with the chaotic situation obtaining in the Land Registry? Is the situation to be allowed drift or have the Government taken a decision to introduce legislation? It is a reasonable request.
I have adverted to that matter on a number of occasions on the Order of Business. It is not to be discussed now, Deputy; it is a matter for a question and appropriate action.
Might I trespass on the Taoiseach's good nature; can he tell me, for the benefit of the 50,000 people awaiting registration whether——
The privilege of trespassing on my good nature is there for Deputy Spring.
I noted that last week.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I should like to raise once again on the Adjournment the problems relating to Fingal Community College and the need for a new building there. I can assure the Minister that I will be in the House this evening if she will give us an opportunity of discussing the matter.
I will be here, too.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
In view of the widespread public disquiet regarding planning permission granted for development on the east mountain on Howth peninsula and the refusal of An Bord Pleanála to grant an oral hearing I wish to raise the matter on the Adjournment.
I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning the matter.
I wish to seek your permission, Sir, to raise on the Adjournment the serious and life-threatening circumstances arising in the Athy area in County Kildare due to the lack of an adequate ambulance service in the south Kildare area.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
In view of the assurance given by the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment on 16 November last that she would endeavour to get her Minister to visit the Liffey valley area as soon as possible may I inquire whether he has done so? If not, why not——
That is not a matter for the Order of Business, as the Deputy knows.
—— view of the Liffey Valley order made over two years ago?
May I ask the Taoiseach when it is intended to publish the final report of the special commission established to investigate the safety procedures and crowd control at our major stadia?
That will be dealt with in the ordinary way.
Would the Taoiseach say whether the Government have decided when they may establish an all-party committee on local authority finances and their reform having regard to the imminence of local elections on the one hand and the chaos obtaining in regard to local authority finances on the other?
Has legislation been promised in this area?
It has been proposed.
It is the setting up of a committee that the Deputy is concerned about.
——or one leg of it.
The Government are very anxious to proceed with it as rapidly as possible but some elements in the House are being obscurantist about it.
(Interruptions.)
Unless all parties participate in this committee the Government are not going to proceed: is that the impact of what the Taoiseach is saying?
No.
How long will the Taoiseach allow the parties to consider his request before this committee is established?
This is not Question Time.
My patience is getting near the point of being exhausted.
(Interruptions.)
Another gentleman said that in 1938 before he invaded Austria. Is that not correct? Now that the Taoiseach is becoming a European he should not acquire his characteristics.
(Limerick East): We love the Taoiseach when he is angry.
With your permission, Sir, I should like to raise on the Adjournment the matter of the uncertainty being created among the staff of the Great Southern Hotels group with regard to the reported uncertainty of the future of that group.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
May I ask the Taoiseach why it is that legislation that was promised to regularise the activities of the regional technical colleges for the last session of the Dáil, the previous session of the Dáil and for this session of the Dáil, we are now told, will not be introduced until the next session of the Dáil. Would the Taoiseach take his Minister for Education aside and get her to do her job in the matter of regularising those activities. If necesary I will act as chaperon, which might help in getting the desired result.
I must dissuade the Deputy from making a speech. It is out of order.
(Interruptions.)
My phraseology in this case, I hope, is entirely interrogative. Would the Taoiseach ensure that this legislation is introduced in this session, not in the next one, in view of the fact that currently the activities of the regional technical colleges in the matter of co-operation with industry are illegal in the absence of such legislation.
Answer?
Can we proceed to deal with Item No. 9, Financial Resolution No. 9 (Resumed)?
Could the Taoiseach be a little more forthcoming than that Olympian gesture and indicate when the legislation will actually be introduced?
The Deputy has already been informed that it is hoped to introduce the legislation in the next session.
Is the Taoiseach aware that he said that in the last session also?
Probably, which is consistent.
Is the Taoiseach not fearful of his credibility?
His what?
(Interruptions.)
This cannot continue interminably. I see that Deputy McCormack is offering.
With your permission, Sir, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the refusal of the Forestry Division to pay a forestry grant to farmers in Connemara because their land was located in areas declared as being of scientific interest.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
As a matter of urgency may I ask the Taoiseach again if he would indicate the state of play in relation to the application to have the remainder of Cavan and Monaghan included in the severely handicapped areas, and if payment——
This is not in order now, Deputy. I am calling Item No. 9, Financial Motions. Deputy Gilmore was in possession.
A Cheann Comhairle——
I must insist on Deputy Boylan putting that question to me in the proper manner. Seeking to raise it in a disorderly fashion in the first instance will not work with the Chair in future.