It is proposed to take items Nos. 10 and 11. It is also proposed that business shall be interrupted at 10.30 p.m. today. It is further proposed that the proceedings on the Second Stage of item No. 10 shall be brought to a conclusion not later than 10.30 p.m. and the following arrangements shall apply — the speech of each Member called on shall not exceed 30 minutes and the concluding speech of the Minister of State, who shall be called on not later than 10.10 p.m., shall not exceed 20 minutes. Private Members Business shall be No. 23 (Motion 50).
Order of Business.
Are the proposals for the late sitting today agreed? Agreed. Are the proposals for dealing with No. 10 agreed? Agreed.
On the Order of Business, could I ask the Taoiseach if he intends to arrange for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to explain to the House the basis for allegations that we have read today in connection with the alleged sale of visas? I imagine that is a matter of some concern to the Government as it is on this side of the House.
It is a matter that should be dealt with in the proper fashion by way of a question.
I am just asking——
This is not Question Time.
I am just asking if the Taoiseach will make a statement in the House. I am in order in asking if the Taoiseach intends to make arrangements for a statement in the House. That is all I want to know.
The matter to which the Deputy refers is not in order now.
I was disappointed that the Chair did not accept my Special Notice Question in relation to a very important matter which will become known as "the Kanturk Declaration". Will the Taoiseach say if the Minister for Finance was speaking on behalf of the Government or on behalf of thirteen-fifteenths of the Government, or if the Taoiseach will make a statement in relation to the temporary arrangement——
It does not arise now, Deputy Spring, and the Deputy knows that full well.
Not having the same security as yourself, Sir——
(Interruptions.)
——in this business, the remarks of the Minister for Finance, were to the effect that the Government is a temporary arrangement.
Deputies
A little temporary arrangement.
Deputy Spring, you will have to find another time to deal with that matter.
(Interruptions.)
Order.
Does the Chair not think that perhaps we ought to take it as not being in the context of a general election, but merely in the context of the Minister for Finance's election intentions?
(Interruptions.)
Order. Deputy McCartan.
Like Deputy Spring I regret that my Special Notice Question was not allowed but I accept fully that my question as to why the summary sending out of this country of Dr. Ayub Hussein could not be taken at this stage. I seek permission to raise that matter on the Adjournment in view of the urgency of the matter——
I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning that aspect of the matter.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the problems being experienced by a seven year old child attending a primary school and suffering from spina bifida and, also the whole problem in relation to the integration of handicapped people into primary schools.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
(Limerick East): Is it still the view of the Government that German economic and monetary union will not increase the interest or inflation rates here? Is the Taoiseach aware that the colleague of the Minister for Finance, the Dutch Minister for Finance, has threatened to break the link between the guilder and the Deustche Mark on the basis that interest rates and inflation rates will increase?
I thought the Deputy had a relevant matter to raise on the Order of Business. This clearly is not a matter for the Order of Business.
(Limerick East): It is an important issue.
It may well be, but we can deal with it at the appropriate time.
(Limerick East): Will the Taoiseach supply the information?
(Interruptions.)
(Limerick East): This is a very serious matter. There are people——
It is not in order now, Deputy. There are ways and means of raising matters in this House.
(Limerick East): There are people who will be very upset about the interest rates.
(Interruptions.)
(Limerick East): The Minister gave an assurance and then he sneaked off to the BBC yesterday morning and said the opposite. We need a statement in this House.
Deputy Noonan, it does not arise.
(Limerick East): The Minister said one thing in Limerick and a different thing on the BBC yesterday morning.
It does not arise now.
(Limerick East): Why does the Minister have a different message for his UK listeners? Did he not think they would catch on in County Longford?
Please Deputy Noonan, desist.
(Limerick East): Were you talking to the 46,000 emigrants who have gone over in the last 12 months?
The Deputy has made his point. Deputy Moynihan.
(Interruptions.)
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the serious position in Caherciveen arising from the closing down of Renard Pier and the inconvenience to the commercial and tourism life of the county.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
In view of the reported speech of the Taoiseach in Clare on the Shannon stop over, the ambiguity of the Minister for Tourism and Transport in this House and the statement by the Minister for Trade and Marketing that he was opposed to a stop over at Shannon, I would like permission to have this matter clarified on the Adjournment today.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I would like to raise on the Adjournment with the Minister for Health the cutbacks in the maternity services with particular focus on the post-natal services.
Deputy Rabbitte.
I would ask the Taoiseach on the Order of Business, against the background of the accuracy of leaks about the shaping of the budget from journalists with a Progressive Democrats connection, whether he intends to bring forward legislation in this House to ratify the sale of millions of pounds of State assets——
Please, Deputy Rabbitte——
——as predicted by a former Deputy, journalist with The Irish Times.
The Deputy is clearly being disorderly.
With respect, this is from inside of the Cabinet.
Sorry, Deputy.
It is of fundamental importance.
The Deputy should raise these matters at the appropriate time, and not now.
In view of what Deputy Rabbitte has said, I wish to be given an opportunity to assure him and anyone else in this House, that there were no leaks in regard to the budget from Progressive Democrats sources——
(Interruptions.)
——or Progressive Democrats connected sources.
(Interruptions.)
A Deputy
Bring back Seán Doherty.
Deputy Rabbitte will you resume your seat.
(Interruptions.)
Deputy Rabbitte resume your seat forthwith.
Can the Minister——
I will not call Deputy Rabbitte a third time.
(Interruptions.)
As the Chair was unable to take my Special Notice Question, I would like to raise on the Adjournment the decision of the Government to close one of the two colleges of home economics in this country, Sion Hill or St. Angela's and the threat that that presents——
That was your own Government.
(Interruptions.)
I will be in touch with the Deputy.
I raised last week a matter which I want to raise again concerning the chaotic situation in the Land Registry as confirmed by their latest report, and the failure of the Minister for Justice to take any effective steps to stop the rot there.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of a communication which all Deputies would have received today to the effect that if the Royal Zoological Society of Ireland do not receive £500,000 over the next four to six weeks, they will have no alternative but to close, and the Government's response to that in view of——
(Interruptions.)
I will communicate with the Deputy.
When is the Minister for Health prepared to bring before the House the necessary legislation to allow Galway Borough Council to appoint two members to the Western Health Board as promised on a number of occasions by the Minister? We are now about four years——
Put down a question on the matter Deputy.
This was promised in the House by the Minister. I believe the appointment is imminent. I am only trying to be helpful.
Is that so?
The appointment will be made within the coming weeks — probably next week.
I thank the Minister for that. It is very vital as a result of a motion passed last night——
(Interruptions.)
On the Order of Business, will the Taoiseach say to which, if any, of his Cabinet colleagues he has transferred the portfolio for Agriculture due to the absence of the Minister for Agriculture.
Deputy Creed, please obey the procedure on the Order of Business. This is not the first time the Deputy has flagrantly disobeyed the rules.
It is vitally important. Perhaps the Taoiseach will volunteer the information to the House.
Deputy Creed, resume your seat.
This is showing disregard for the biggest industry in this country. We have no representation at Cabinet level.
Deputy Creed, I must ask you to leave the House if you persist.
When does the Minister for Finance propose to introduce legislation to give effect to the privatisation of Irish Life?
It is not promised legislation.
Will the Minister for Foreign Affairs say whether the review of the decision of the European Court of Human Rights on the homosexual laws has been completed, as was promised by him one year ago? If it involves legislation, when will it be introduced?
There is no legislation in this regard.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the serious situation in Bantry Bay because of the crippled ship at anchor there which is in danger of sinking. Will the Taoiseach provide a harbour authority with teeth in Bantry?
(Interruptions.)
The Ceann Comhairle's office will communicate with Deputy Sheehan in that regard.
He will have to get his teeth into that matter.
I should like to raise on the Adjournment the serious threat to the Maharees Peninsula by recent storm damage.
The Ceann Comhairle's office will communicate with Deputy Deenihan.
I am disappointed that the Ceann Comhairle did not allow my Private Notice Question. Will the Taoiseach tell the House what action his Government intend taking to relieve the situation in Ennis General Hospital where a go slow——
This does not arise on the Order of Business.
I wish to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
The Deputy has not helped her case and if I were adjudicating I would consider that she has prejudiced her case.
(Interruptions.)
The Taoiseach's silence confirms my worst suspicions that we do not have a Minister for Agriculture. Therefore, does the Taoiseach intend sending a Cabinet representative to sit in on the farm price negotiations currently taking place?
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
It makes a mockery of this House when issues of such importance cannot be discussed.
Deputy Creed, please resume your seat. If you do not I will ask yo to leave.
A Deputy
Adjourn the House.
Deputy Creed should learn the rules of the House and then he will understand how it operates and be in order.
Does the absence of the Minister for the Environment indicate that it will not be necessary for me to ask for your permission to raise on the Adjournment the signing of the Liffey Valley order and the Minister's visit to the area which was promised by his Minister of State long before Christmas?
The Deputy knows that the absence — or presence — of a Minister does not affect a Deputy's right to raise a matter on the Adjournment.
Nobody knows where he is.
(Interruptions.)
Minister Gallagher got into trouble before for shouting in the House.
(Interruptions.)
In view of the continued deterioration of the living conditions for the people of Ballymun, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the failure of the Minister for the Environment to sanction the issue of the tender forms and notices in relation to the first phase refurbishment of Ballymun as its urgency is well known.
The Ceann Comhairle's office will communicate with Deputy De Rossa.
In view of the temporary arrangements of Government, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the long awaited provision of a regional technical college for County Mayo.
The reasoning may be delicate but the question is in order. The Ceann Comhairle's office will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the question of the provision of additional funding for a house building programme by local authorities, having regard to the number of evictions taking place at the moment because of interest rate increases and other matters.
The Ceann Comhairle will communicate with the Deputy in respect of that matter.
I wish to express my disappointment that, for the third time, the Ceann Comhairle refused to allow my Private Notice Question on the disappearance of £2 million worth of food aid provided by the Irish people on the ship belonging to Concern. I should like to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
The Ceann Comhairle will communicate with Deputy Owen.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the question of the Irish application to Brussels regarding disadvantaged areas.
The Ceann Comhairle's office will communicate with the Deputy.