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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 15 Feb 1990

Vol. 395 No. 8

Order of Business.

It is proposed to take No. 8.

Could I ask, Sir, if the Taoiseach has any comment to make on the fact that Commissioner MacSharry, who seems to be bent on beating Irish farmers into penury and destroying the Irish family farm, insulted us the other day by offering us £120,000 for storm damage relief——

Please, Deputy Dukes——

——and has now clearly insulted the Government by putting his own chef de cabinet ahead of a senior Government diplomat?

This is clearly not a matter for the Order of Business. The Deputy should raise that at the appropriate time.

Has the Taoiseach any comment to make on that? Would he consider that the Government made an absolute hames of that particular job?

They have punctured the old balloon, El Presidente.

Deputy Spring has been offering.

Ambassador O'Rourke will not be too pleased.

I wonder would the Taoiseach comment for me, seeing that he made no comment to Deputy Dukes. I wonder if the Taoiseach would comment because this matter seems to be a terrible embarrassment to the Irish Government and a slight on the Presidency.

It does not arise now, Deputy. It is clearly not a matter for the Order of Business.

The President has no clout.

In view of the extraordinary performance of the film "My Left Foot", which has been nominated for five Oscars, I would like to ask the Taoiseach if it is his intention, as Minister for Culture, or in any other capacity, to attend the Academy Awards ceremony?

I hesitate to rule the Deputy out of order.

(Limerick East): The Taoiseach should have gone to Hollywood years ago. He should have been nominated.

Will the Taoiseach take steps to ensure that this film is categorised as an Irish and not a British film, as has been claimed in the media all morning?

He does not kick with his left foot.

Will the Taoiseach confirm the statement that was made by the Lord Mayor, Senator Seán Haughey, that the local elections will take place next year, 1991?

The Deputy should put down a question on the matter.

This appeared in the Evening Herald and I think the Taoiseach should clarify the position.

He is not living at home these days.

That leads to another question.

I hope he is not living in sin.

In view of the statement made by Commissioner Henning Christorphersen in Brussels yesterday, that Ireland will not get any major funding from the EC to assist areas ravaged by the recent storms, would the Taoiseach use his powers as President of the EC to reverse this decision and get funds for Ireland? May I ask if the Taoiseach has any clout at all in the EC?

Ask Mr. Andrew O'Rourke.

The Minister for Agriculture and Food announced payments of £148,000, which is peanuts and would not repair one bridge swept away by the storm. I would like the Taoiseach to reply to my question.

With your permission, Sir, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the question of the receivership of Mahon & McPhillips, Kilkenny.

I will communicate with the Deputy.

May I ask the Taoiseach or the Minister for Health to make a statement on the current scare with regard to the sale of Perrier water? What arrangements have been made for the withdrawal of stocks?

Drink Ballygowan.

Could I ask the Taoiseach if he will allow a statement to be made today on the implications for community rating in allowing a non-Irish company to compete with VHI for insurance premia?

The Deputy should pursue that matter in the ordinary way.

With your permission, Sir, may I raise the matter on the Adjournment?

I will communicate with the Deputy concerning that aspect of the matter.

With the welcomed ending of the rod licence dispute may I ask the Taoiseach when it is proposed to bring amending legislation to the 1985 Act before the House? What is the position of people fishing without a licence in the interim?

I thought we had that matter yesterday.

May I ask the Taoiseach when he anticipates the report of the Cabinet sub-committee on flooding and when we will have the opportunity to discuss it in this House?

This is not a matter for the Order of Business.

I ask the Taoiseach to give us an opportunity of discussing the serious losses that have been incurred throughout Ireland?

The Deputy should put down a question.

It should be discussed in this House.

The information is already on the Taoiseach's desk and he is not acting on it.

I hope you were not sneaking into my office during the night.

May I ask the Minister for the Environment when he intends to lay before the House the regulations to outlaw the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous coal, as he is obliged to under the Air Pollution Act, 1987?

The Deputy should pursue that in the ordinary way, perhaps by way of a question.

This is a matter which is getting tremendous publicity.

I am calling Deputy Quinn.

Having regard to the speed of change which is occurring in the Continent of Europe, particularly in relation to both Germanys, would the Taoiseach consider providing time early next week to enable the House to listen to and discuss the Government's position in relation to these changes and their domestic implications for the Irish economy, particularly with regard to the impact on the DM? This is a matter of concern to every Member of this House.

It was raised recently, if not yesterday, in the House.

I know it was raised but it needs more than an exchange of questions.

It is not strictly in order but if the Taoiseach wishes to intervene he may do so.

We should like to hear what the Government position is and to be able to respond.

It would probably be helpful to know what the Government's position is, seeing that everybody in the Irish media is pontificating on it. I think it is a matter the Whips could talk about today.

Perhaps a couple of hours on Tuesday.

Leave it to the Whips.

I wish to raise on the Adjournment the serious hardship being caused to pupils in both the boys' and girls' secondry school in Newcastle West and to ask when the Minister for Education will give the green light to start this school.

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

When does the Minister for the Environment intend to activate section 60 of the 1961 Civil Liability Act which would enable the public to claim compensation if they suffered injury as a result of badly maintained roads or footpaths?

Put down a question, Deputy.

Is wish to raise on the Adjournment the problem in a primary school in my constituency relating to a young girl suffering from spina bifida where the teachers are refusing to help the child either to go to the toilet or up and down the stairs.

I will communicate with the Deputy.

(Limerick East): I would like to ask the Taoiseach when the promised legislation to set up an organisation to manage the national debt will be introduced.

Preparation is at an advanced stage. I will try to give the Deputy an exact date for its introduction.

(Limerick East): Before Easter?

I would hope so.

(Carlow-Kilkenny): In view of the very serious flooding in Carlow town I would ask the Minister for Energy to discuss the possibility of providing free electricity for people to help dry out their houses.

The Deputy should pursue that matter in the proper fashion.

(Carlow-Kilkenny): I seek permission to raise it on the Adjournment.

I will communicate with the Deputy.

I wish to raise again the extent of homes being repossessed, especially in the context of the declining public sector housing programme over recent years, and whether the Government can bring forward any measures that would at least limit the number of evictions.

I will communicate with the Deputy. Deputy Eric Byrne. I would appeal to Deputies not to rise a second and third time. There are very many demands made upon the Chair in respect of matters on the Order of Business and Deputies should not overdo it.

I am surely within my rights to seek to raise on the Adjournment the implications for people living in Dublin city of the decision by the Minister for the Environment not to ratify any further smoke control orders.

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

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