It is proposed to take Nos. 6, 7, 8 and 16. It is also proposed, subject to the agreement of the House, that business shall be interrupted not later than 10.30 p.m. tonight and Private Members' Business, which shall be No. 28, shall be brought to a conclusion at 8.30 p.m.
Order of Business.
Is the proposal for a late sitting tonight agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal that Private Members' Business shall be brought to a conclusion at 8.30 p.m. agreed? Agreed.
I am sure, Sir, that you will allow me a little latitude this morning to state, as I am sure is the case, that the House commends and congratulates the Garda Síochána on the promptness and efficiency of their action in Enniscorthy yesterday.
I would like to join with Deputy Dukes in that message of congratulations to the Garda. In view of the paramilitary involvement in the attempted bank robbery yesterday, may I ask the Taoiseach if the Minister for Justice will be making a statement in this House today in relation to the implications for security policy? Perhaps the Taoiseach did not hear what I said. In relation to the paramilitary involvement in the attempted bank robbery yesterday it would be of benefit to all of us if the Minister for Justice made a statement in this House.
I have allowed some latitude in respect of this matter.
I will consider how best what the Deputy seeks can be done.
May I raise on the Adjournment the approximately 4,000 applications for lottery funds which the Minister for the Environment has received and the manner in which the funds should be disbursed with regard to the £6.5 million available to the Minister to fund projects, the estimated capital cost of which is £160 million?
I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning that matter.
In view of the disturbing contents of the leaked 1988 Mountjoy Visiting Committee report and the delay by the Minister for Justice in reappointing visiting committees, will the Minister for Justice make a statement in the House?
I think a question should be put down concerning a matter of that kind.
Could I please——
It is quite clear that that is not one for the Order of Business.
May I seek to have it raised on the Adjournment this evening?
You could have mentioned it earlier, Deputy, and I would have been glad to facilitate you. I will be in touch with the Deputy.
(Limerick East): I would like to raise on the Adjournment the inadequacy of accommodation in the Coact third level education colleges in Limerick.
I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning the matter.
May I ask the Taoiseach whether the Minister for Education will be bringing the promised legislation in relation to the Dublin Institute of Technology and the regional colleges before the Dáil and when this legislation will be coming before us?
I have great pleasure in informing the Deputy that the answer is in the affirmative.
When will the legislation be brought before the House? Will it be during this term?
In this session.
I seek to raise on the Adjournment the pending strike of agricultural officials in the chicken meat industry in the constituency of Cavan-Monaghan.
I will communicate with the Deputy in respect of that matter.
While I am on my feet may I again refer to the matter I raised yesterday in relation to the statement by the Tánaiste in this House which has now been found to be misleading for the severely disadvantaged areas?
I will communicate with you in respect of the earlier matter to which you referred. The other matter does not arise now.
On a point of order——
What is the situation if imports——
I thought Deputy Dukes would come to my aid in such a matter.
I would like to be helpful to you. Is it the case, Sir, that you can properly say — and I ask this for information and clarification — where it appears that the House has been misled by a statement by a member of the Government that the matter does not arise now? It seems to me that if there is confusion of that kind it is the right of the House and the Government's obligation to set the record straight immediately. It appears that there has been a difference——
Deputy Dukes——
——between the statements made by the Tánaiste in the House last week and information given by a senior official in the Department of Agriculture and Food on the matter of a submission to Brussels in relation to the disadvantaged areas. I would think if there is any confusion of that kind the Government would wish to clear this mataer up very quickly.
It is not a matter that should arise on the Order of Business. There are obviously other ways of raising such matters and dealing with them.
This is a matter——
Please, Deputy Dukes, I will not be frustrated in my ruling on this matter.
The last thing I wish to do is to frustrate you, but I want the House to have clear information. It appears, Sir, that the Tánaiste made a statement to the House last week which subsequent information has indicated to be untrue or inaccurate. I know the Government would wish——
Deputy Dukes, you know full well that if Members are dissatisfied with a Minister's, Tánaiste's or Taoiseach's reply they have a remedy in this House. The Order of Business is not the way to deal with it.
(Interruptions.)
The remedy we have in this House in the event of such misleading information being given out is the protection the Chair gives to Members, and the protection of the rights of Members by the Chair has not——
Deputy Dukes, I resent that inference that the Chair is being unfair in this matter.
There is no inference.
There is an inference. I will facilitate the Deputy in raising the matter in the proper way but it is not in order now.
I am not inferring in any way that the Chair is lacking in its duty. I am appealing to the Chair to carry out its duty and to give the Deputies in this House the protection that Standing Orders give us. I ask you, Sir, to put it to the Government that since there appears to be a divergence between a statement by the Tánaiste and a statement of a senior official in the Department of Agriculture and Food, you should now invite the Taoiseach or the Minister for Agriculture and Food or the Tánaiste——
The Deputy is putting the Chair in a very invidious position. I am seeking to facilitate the Deputy in dealing with the matter in the proper, formal way. It is not in order now.
(Interruptions.)
The proper, formal way is for the Chair to insist that the Government's obligations to this House be scrupulously adherred to and that the Government explain themselves to this House.
And the Chair will so facilitate the Deputies in that regard.
(Interruptions.)
What has the Taoiseach to say? The Taoiseach is hiding behind a wall of silence.
This is the opportunity to put the record straight.
(Interruptions.)
Deputy Boylan, please desist. The Deputy will have to go through the proper procedure.
You are not——
Deputy Boylan, resume your seat.
This is most unsatisfactory.
In view of the very serious attack on a child by a guard dog in the Cork area and the horrific pictures in our newspapers this morning of a savaged child in Britain, I would like to raise on the Adjournment the guard dog regulation which is part of the Control of Dogs Act, 1986.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
Again, Sir, I seek your permission to raise on the Adjournment the question of the Tipperary Rural and Business Development Institute proposals which are with the Minister for Education and are awaiting her approval.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I would like to raise on the Adjournment the scandalous situation in the operation of the Garda Complaints Board in that they are now a year behind with their work.
With your permission, Sir, I would like to ask the Minister for Tourism and Transport if he is aware of the concern among those in the haulage industry about the dispute in the Department of Tourism and Transport and what steps he might take to alleviate these problems.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I would like to raise on the Adjournment the supposed division of responsibilities between the Office of Public Works and local authorities on the maintenance and upkeep of roads beside our canals.
I will be in touch with the Deputy in regard to that.
I seek to raise on the Adjournment the difficulties being experienced by consumers in getting insurance cover at reasonable cost.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
Let me ask on the Order of Business, in view of the probability of the summer weather that will aggravate the condition of our waters and rivers, if the Taoiseach or the Minister for the Environment will tell the House when the Government propose to proceed with the completion of the Water Pollution Bill which is currently on Committee Stage on the Order Paper.
This session.
If that is the case and since the Bill came from the Seanad in the first instance, will the provisions of the Bill be brought forward to be operative as soon as possible so as to avoid a disastrous position in our waters and lakes?
We will endeavour to achieve that.
I would like to use the time of the Adjournment to debate the feelings of abandonment felt by inner city communities who are living in fear of crime in parts of Dublin south inner city. I would like to ask the Minister for Justice what plans he has to reverse the crime trend and about policing practices particularly in Dublin south inner city.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
In view of the frustration and disappointment of people who are depending on the outcome of the investigation of disadvantaged areas and awaiting the submission to Brussels by the Government, I would like to raise the issue on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
First, let me join the other Deputies who expressed their congratulations to the Garda Síochána on their excellent work in Enniscorthy yesterday. I look forward to a response from the Minister later in the day if possible. Secondly, Sir, I seek your permission to raise on the Adjournment the future of the Darndale-Belcamp unemployment action group and the failure of the Minister for Social Welfare to date to respond to an application from that group for assistance under the voluntary organisation grant scheme which has been with him since February of this year.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I seek to raise the question of the national lottery not abiding by a ruling of the Director of Consumer Affairs and Fair Trade, Mr. Murray, in regard to unfair practices as regards Rehab, particularly in view of the very fine work Rehab are doing for handicapped people.
I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning that matter.