It is proposed to take Nos. 5, 7 and 8. It is also proposed that the debate on No. 5 shall be brought to a conclusion not later than 11.30 a.m. and the speech of any Member called on shall not exceed five minutes. It is further proposed that the proceedings on Second Stage of No. 7, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 1.30 p.m. and the Minister for Labour shall be called on not later than 1.15 p.m. to conclude the debate. It is further proposed that at the conclusion of business today the Dáil shall adjourn until 12 noon on Wednesday, 21 March 1990.
Order of Business.
May I ask if the proposal for dealing with No. 5 is agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 7 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for the Adjournment of the House today agreed? Agreed.
I should like to ask the Taoiseach if the Government intend protesting to the Iraqi Government about the execution this morning of the Iranian journalist Bazoft.
That is a matter that should be raised at another time in another way.
It is a matter of great concern and I think the Taoiseach should protest. We have diplomatic relations with them.
We will consult with our EC partners.
We should do that as well.
I should like to ask the Taoiseach if, in view of the obvious difference of opinion between the parties in Government in relation to their attitude to Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution, he will now give time in the House to discuss those important matters.
That is a matter that clearly does not arise now.
Given that there is a very fundamental difference between the parties in Government on a very important aspect of the Constitution——
I suggest that the Deputy should raise that matter in another way.
I am asking the Taoiseach if time will be given in the House to raise the matter.
The matter is not in order now and I am calling on Deputy De Rossa who has offered to speak.
Perhaps the Programme for Government only applies to one House.
I am calling on Deputy De Rossa who has offered.
The Chair will find that I am in order more times than I am out of order. Nevertheless, the Chair can judge for himself. I raise to reinforce the request made by Deputy Barry that the Irish Government make a strong statement regarding the execution of the journalist Bazoft.
I had hoped that the matter the Deputy wished to raise was in order but clearly it is not in order and it cannot be pursued now.
I should like to ask the Taoiseach to take the opportunity today to provide time in the House for Statements on the matter.
We must proceed.
In the absence of the Minister for Agriculture and Food, and the Acting Minister, will the Taoiseach tell the House when the Government intend submitting Ireland's application for an extension of the disadvantaged areas to the European Commission in Brussels?
The Deputy must table a question on that matter.
May I raise the matter on the Adjournment?
The Deputy should have mentioned that at the commencement of his remarks. I will communicate with him.
(Carlow-Kilkenny): I should like to raise on the Adjournment the question of the library facilities at the Carlow regional technical college.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
The Chair may have noticed that I attempted in the last two days to raise on the Adjournment a certain matter, the liquidation of Merchant Banking Limited, given the admission by the Minister for Finance in the House yesterday that there was criminal wrongdoing in relation to it. Will the Taoiseach consider the request made by Deputies Bruton, McCartan and myself three weeks ago to give time in the House to debate the matter given the serious nature of what the Minister said.
I thought the Deputy was seeking my permission to raise the matter on the Adjournment again.
No, the Taoiseach said three weeks ago that our request might be considered.
That is not appropriate now.
The matter should be debated in the House.
There are two matters I wish to raise. I wish to raise on the Adjournment the case of a five-year old child who has been waiting for a tonsils operations in St. Michael's Hospital, Dún Laoghaire.
I am aware of the Deputy's interest in that matter and I will certainly communicate with him.
On the Order of business, will the Taoiseach, or the Minister for the Environment, inform us when it is intended to take Report Stage of the Bill dealing with planning compensation. Will the Minister for the Environment confirm that the Bill before the House is not adequate to protect Dún Laoghaire Corporation against the £20 million compensation claim that has just been lodged against them?
The matter pertaining to legislation is in order. The other matter I deem not to be in order.
The Whips can decide when the Report Stage will be taken.
With the permission of the Chair I should like to raise on the Adjournment the appalling desecration of the Battle of the Boyne site at Donore, County Meath, by a shale quarry operated by Cement Roadstone.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
Will the Taoiseach say when he intends bringing before the House his comprehensive list of the State and semi-State companies he intends to privatise, as promised in the budget speech? Will he spare the Great Southern Hotel group?
Please Deputy, as far as I know there is no legislation in that area.
No.
The Deputy must raise that matter at another time and in another way.
I should like permission to raise on the Adjournment the effect the cutbacks in the Dublin Carriage Office are having on the inspection of public service vehicles, including taxis which have not been inspected for more than 12 months.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I should like to raise on the Adjournment the ongoing industrial dispute at Anglo-Irish Meat Processors in Rathkeale in my constituency.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I am aware of your own interest in this matter. I seek once again your permission to raise on the Adjournment the exceptional level of nurses employed in a temporary and part-time capacity in St. Joseph's Hospital, Clonmel and also in Our Lady's Hospital, Cashel.
Perseverance, Deputy.
I hope I do not strain your patience but I would like, through you, Sir, to direct a question to the Taoiseach and to say that, as the foreign affairs spokesman of one of the parties in this House, I think all sides of the House would agree that some arrangement could be made between the Whips for brief statements in relation to the execution of Mr. Bazoft in view of its implications for international law.
Yes, I suggest it be discussed among the Whips. It is not in order now and I have already said so. I am calling Deputy Bruton.
Is the Taoiseach amenable to such an initiative?
I accept the Ceann Comhairle's suggestion that the matter be discussed by the Whips.
If that proposition were conveyed it would help discussion at the Whips' meeting.
It cannot be pursued now.
Can the Taoiseach give an indication as to when the National Roads Authority Bill will be published? If he is unable to give that indication, can he indicate if it is still Government policy to introduce a statutory national roads authority?
I answered that yesterday.
The matter was dealt with yesterday.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the problem of the lack of a national school at the Naul.
I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning the matter.
I am again seeking your permission to raise on the Adjournment the need for the Government to deliver on their commitment to decentralise a Government Department to Waterford.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the issue of inadequate road access to Baldoyle Industrial Estate in my constituency and the implications for jobs and for the future of that industrial estate.
I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning that matter.
May I ask the Minister for Health to explain why a geriatric ward in Bantry Hospital closed a year ago——
Please, Deputy Sheehan. Let us proceed with the Order of Business.
——all for the want of an assistant matron.
I hope Deputy Sheehan does not have a personal interest in this geriatric ward.
I am interested in my constituents.