It is proposed to take No. 12. It is also proposed subject to the agreement of the House, that the sitting be suspended today from 6.30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Private Members' Business shall be No. 26.
Order of Business.
May I ask if the proposal that the sitting be suspended today from 6.30 p.m. to 7 p.m. is agreed? Agreed.
May I ask the Taoiseach, given the reported progress made yesterday in talks in London and the very delicate nature of those talks and proposed talks and accepting the fact that a public debate may not be helpful at this stage, if he would consider giving a briefing to the leaders of the parties in Opposition in relation to these delicate matters?
I would prefer if these matters were raised in a more appropriate way.
If the Taoiseach can give some indication perhaps I can contact him later on that matter.
May I raise with the Taoiseach a matter of major concern in the south west? Would the Government be prepared today, as a matter of extreme urgency, to have a statement made to the House on the outrageous attacks on our fishermen off the south-west coast and on the steps that can be taken to establish the rule of law on the high seas there? The Taoiseach may or may not be aware that there have been very serious attacks——
I must advise Deputy O'Keeffe to raise that matter in the normal way. It is not appropriate now.
I know the Taoiseach has an interest in marine matters and perhaps he would consider that a statement be made?
Sorry, Deputy O'Keeffe, I will facilitate the Deputy at the appropriate time, but not now.
I will accept your invitation and follow it up.
I sought yesterday by way of a Private Notice Question and indeed, a request for an Adjournment debate to raise the situation in the occupied territories of the West Bank. May I ask the Taoiseach or the Minister for Foreign Affairs if time can be made available today for statements in the House on the situation in the occupied territories and the policies of the Israeli security forces?
Again, that is a matter that should be tabled by way of question.
I am not asking the Taoiseach or the Minister for Foreign Affairs to respond at this point. I am asking if time could be made available today or tomorrow for statements on this issue.
It seems to me that a matter of time is one for the Whips.
Can the Taoiseach indicate if he would be agreeable to such an arrangement by the Whips? If the Taoiseach has not lost his voice, perhaps he could indicate either yes or no.
Sorry, Deputy, the Chair is in no position to compel any Member to speak if they do not so wish.
I object to this continual disorderly behaviour. You and I and every Deputy in the House is aware of the fact that the rules of order do not permit you to allow the question or me to answer it. Deputies such as Deputy De Rossa continually convey the impression that I am mute of malice when that is not the case. I am not entitled under the rules of order to deal with matters on the Order of Business.
That should be self-evident.
May I please——
Please Deputy De Rossa, we may not argue the matter now. Deputy Connor and Deputy Yates are offering.
I seek to raise on the Adjournment this evening with the Minister for Education her decision to slash the budget in terms of building and finance for the new second level school building programme at Castlerea, County Roscommon.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to raise again with the Taoiseach the question of the amending legislation dealing with the clinical trials legislation. The Taoiseach has promised this legislation repeatedly in the Dáil. In view of the fact that 28 patients are denied the latest medical treatment because of the delay in this legislation, can he give a commitment that the Bill will be published this week?
Is the legislation promised?
It will be taken this session.
As the Taoiseach does not seem anxious to have a debate on the matter I raised, I seek permission to raise it on the Adjournment.
I object to that statement by the Deputy.
I ruled that matter out of order earlier.
A Deputy
You are great for the rules.
(Interruptions.)
There is not need for disorder. I will communicate with Deputy De Rossa. Deputy G. Mitchell is offering.
(Interruptions.)
With your permission, I seek to raise on the Adjournment — in a non-contentious way so far as Government and Opposition are concerned — the whole question of the facilities which are available to Members of this House, to members of committees serving this House and to chairpersons of committees. This is something the House should debate. It is time we put our House in order, quite literally.
I am aware of the Deputy's interest in the matter and I will communicate with him.
(Limerick East): When will the Bill be published to implement the recommendation of Gleeson Report 31 on office holders' pensions?
I am not quite sure of the present state of it. It is certainly with the draftsman. I will let the Deputy know during the day.
On a point of order, Deputy Ryan and I attempted to raise on the Adjournment last night the question of Santry woods and the totally unauthorised felling of trees. I understand the request for the debate was turned down on the grounds that this is a matter for the local authority. In view of the urgency of this, would the Taoiseach or the Minister for the Environment when he is next in the House make a short statement on the situation there? Everyone is very concerned about it.
I want to assist the Deputy in eliciting information on the matter, but it does not arise now.
I thank the Minister for the Environment for laying before the House today his regulations under the Air Pollution Act, 1987, setting conditions for the marketing, sale and distribution of fuels in Dublin City. In the light of the fact that the regulations comprise a total of ten pages and of the very serious implications for the coal industry, workers in the industry and consumers, would the Taoiseach agree to make some time available to the House——
Sorry, Deputy Byrne, you may not proceed along those lines now.
Will you agree that the best way——
Sorry, Deputy Byrne. I am calling Deputy Quinn.
It is a matter——
The matter to which the Deputy refers can be raised in many other ways.
Maybe it——
Please, Deputy Byrne, desist.
I hesitate to muddy the troubled waters of the Taoiseach's temperament this morning but am I in order to inquire of him and his Government when they propose to bring in for Committee Stage the Water Pollution Bill that is necessary for this summer? When are we to see the remaining Stages of this Bill?
It will certainly be in this session. I will let the Deputy know when in the course of the day. Perhaps the matter could be discussed with the Whips but it will be in this session. By the way, the waters are very calm.
That is not the way the Taoiseach is seen from here.
I would like to raise on the Adjournment the question of how the new Tallaght hospital propose to accommodate the traditional ethos of the Adelaide Hospital.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I seek to raise on the Adjournment the question of the number of Irish children going abroad for neurosurgery and the failure to replace Mr. Paddy O'Neill at Beaumont Hospital.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I would like to raise on the Adjournment the reason the reduction to farmers of 16p in the price of liquid milk is not being passed on to the consumer on and from the date the price is being reduced to farmers.
I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning the matter.
I would like to raise on the Adjournment the serious situation in the Schull-Ballydehob area of my constituency which incidentally there is a danger that the water supply in the mains reservoir will be exhausted in 42 days; that it will dry up completely. Apart from other considerations this is affecting the tourist industry in the area. I would like to raise the necessity for the Minister to give approval to stage 3——
I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning the matter he has raised.