I have notice from Deputy Dick Spring that he seeks leave to move a motion under Standing Order 30. Will the Deputy please state the matter?
Request for Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 30.
In view of the unprecedented and outlandish statement of the Minister for Communications in this House last night, I serve you notice, Sir, that I wish to raise a Standing Order 30 matter this morning. The matter I wish to raise is as follows:
That this House condemns the unprecedented attack on a public company by the Government, and the total breach of the spirit of the Programme for National Recovery, as outlined in the announcement of the Minister for Communications last night, and instructs the Government not to proceed with the proposals contained in the Minister's announcement. Furthermore, this House considers that in the light of his intentions, the Minister for Communications is not a fit person to appoint a new RTE Authority. Accordingly, this House has no confidence in the Minister for Communications.
I move that motion in view of the statement made by the Minister for Communications last night, in view of the obvious top off the head type of decision it indicates——
The Deputy need not elaborate now. I have his intention before me.
I will not elaborate on the basis that you are going to allow this debate to take place.
Having considered the matter fully, I do not consider that it is one contemplated by Standing Order 30 and I cannot, therefore, grant leave to move the motion.
I am sure you are aware, Sir, that as of now this matter is by far the most important public issue, certainly in the context of what has been said on the airwaves this morning and is still being said at this time. Also, given that the Minister for Communications is going to announce a new RTE Authority, the mind boggles at the instructions and guidelines he will be issuing to them. I am asking the Taoiseach in the public interest, contrary to the announcement made by the Minister last night which was certainly not in the public interest and not in the interest of the RTE Authority or of public broadcasting——
We cannot debate the matter now.
——and in view of the fact that this is a motion of no confidence in the Minister, that the motion be taken today.
Deputies
Hear, hear.
I believe it is in the interest of this House and in the interest of public broadcasting——
The issue to which you refer is before this House for debate. It cannot be debated now.
The matter——
It is before the House, Motion No. 23 on the Order Paper which will be taken from 7 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. this evening.
No.
Yes it is.
A very small portion of what I have referred to is before the House.
The Chair cannot and will not permit duplication of debate of the kind suggested.
There was no mention or reference in the course of the debate last night about——
I will hear no more of the matter now.
I must ask the Taoiseach to be heard on this matter because I believe this House should deal with it straightaway. It is a matter of serious public importance, an unwarranted attack on RTE——
The Chair cannot compel any Member to speak in this House. That is not the function of the Chair.
I must ask the Taoiseach——
I would like to point out that, first, the Minister made the announcement in the House during the course of the debate on broadcasting. Furthermore, his proposals will have to be enshrined in legislation. That legislation will be published within a day or two and will be taken in this House within a week or so. The Deputy will have every opportunity to voice any concern he wishes about these proposals in that way.
I welcome the Taoiseach's intervention at this stage. Let me ask him when this legislation was contemplated. We were circulated with a list of legislation for this House about three weeks ago and there was no mention of this legislation. Furthermore, the Minister for Communications said in this House in 1987 that public moneys would not be required for propping up Century and other stations.
On a point of order, the legislation is on the list.
Let us proceed with the Order of Business.