Order of Business, the Taoiseach.
Order of Business.
A Cheann Comhairle, on a point of order, there has been disagreement in the House about the way the business was transacted here on Friday last. I have received legal advice, Sir, as also have the Leaders of the Labour and The Workers' Parties. The advice I have received, which is similar to that received by the others — is to the effect that, in relation to the handling of business on Friday last, and I quote:
The Ceann Comhairle erred. Due notice was not given, nor did the Ceann Comhairle, in the exercise of his discretion, authorise a shorter period to take a time motion without debate. Accordingly the time allocation motion was not properly before the House on Friday last.
Deputy Dukes, I have allowed you to make a point of order. You may not embark on a speech.
Sir, this is a point of order.
Yes, indeed, a point of order must, of necessity be brief, relevant, pertinent——
I am about to come to my conclusion.
I would hope so, Deputy. I am not prepared to have a debate at this juncture.
The Opposition are not prepared to be silenced, Sir. In this House we are prepared to speak up.
In view of that advice, Sir, and the fact that the leaders of the two other parties in Opposition have separately and independently received similar advice, I would propose to you, Sir, that under the terms of Standing Order 22, we adjourn this House for a sufficiently long period to allow the Opposition parties and the Government to get together in order to resolve what seems to me to be a most unseemly and unnecessary wrangle over procedures in the House. I think we would all agree that it is preferable that that be done in this House rather than elsewhere.
A Cheann Comhairle, as you are aware, the Opposition parties left this Chamber in difficult circumstances on Friday of last week. I, too, would request that this House should adjourn for a short period of time. I believe that the Taoiseach, as Head of Government, has a role to play in resolving this impasse. If we are to get our business done on the basis of the legal advice obtained in relation to the decision-making process on Friday last, there is a role for the Opposition parties in this House so that business can be done by agreement. Agreement was not sought and certainly was not given on Friday last. I do believe, Sir, at this stage that it would be proper for the Taoiseach to intervene, that the House should adjourn for one hour, that meetings of the leaders should take place immediately when we can sort out the business of his House.
Deputies
Hear, hear.
Arising from Friday's discussion in this House regarding the question whether motion No. 11 was properly before the House, I sought a legal definition of the Standing Order and of the precedents which existed in the Book of Precedents, and also of the precedents which you, Sir, produced at the meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. The opinion of senior counsel which I sought, independently of the other two parties in Opposition in this House, quite clearly states that the motion was not properly before the House. As you know, a Cheann Comhairle, I conveyed a copy of this opinion to you yesterday evening. At point No. 7 of that opinion senior counsel states:
For all of the above reasons it seems to me that, having regard to the Standing Orders of the House, the previous rulings of which I have been made aware, as are contained in the booklet in that regard, the motion moved last Friday was not properly before the House.
The Deputy has made his point.
I am not making a speech, a Cheann Comhairle——
I hope not, Deputy. I have allowed you to rise on a point of order. You have made your pertinent point. I have seen the document to which you refer and have noted it.
Thank you, a Cheann Comhairle, I appreciate that. The fact is that we had a meeting with you this morning — I along with Deputies Dukes and Spring — at which you indicated that you were of the opinion that you acted correctly. I am not in any sense, as I explained to you, questioning your integrity in that regard, but I do believe that you are wrong, that you have made an incorrect decision.
The Deputy is entitled to his opinion.
I would ask, therefore, that, in view of that and in view of the belief of the three parties here in Opposition that the decision was wrong, that it was an incorrect one, this House should adjourn for a period until such time as this matter is satisfactorily cleared up. The matter has arisen because of this Government's anxiety to drive the Broadcasting Bill through this House in a matter of a few short weeks. It is not acceptable for the Government to attempt to do that.
The Deputy has explained his position quite clearly.
I would therefore ask that this House adjourn and that the matters be addressed not by the Whips of the parties — I do not regard that as adequate — but by the Taoiseach meeting with the leaders of the Opposition parties to sort out this matter.
I can only say now that I have set out my position to the House.
I have no wish to in any way add to the disagreeable atmosphere which has been prevailing in the House for some time but I do think that I am entitled to make a few points on the record. I just want to reiterate that the Government have the duty and the responsibility and the right to order the business of this House. I think we would be guilty of a grave dereliction of our constitutional responsibility were we to surrender that right as seems to be suggested by the Opposition. We do not intend to do that. We also have the right and the responsibility to bring forward legislation and process it through this House in accordance with the rules of order and procedure.
Correct.
Deputies
Correct.
We do not intend to have that right trampled on either. We also, a Cheann Comhairle, have the right, from time to time, if we think it necessary in the best interests of order and procedure, to bring forward closure motions. That is a well known practice and tradition in this House and, indeed, in most other democratic parliaments. I have a clear recollection of the Government of which Deputy Dukes and Deputy Spring were members bringing forward a draconian closure motion when we were in Opposition.
Done properly and in order and with the proper notice given.
Let us hear the Taoiseach without interruption. Deputy Dukes had a good hearing. He ought to grant the same courtesy to the Taoiseach.
I greatly regret the obstruction and the disruption which has taken place. I would claim it is not the responsibility of the Government, and with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to read the Order of Business and get on with our work.
The Taoiseach is mistaken. It is the Government's prerogative to propose to this House the order in which business is being taken, business which is properly on the Order Paper.
Deputy Dukes——
The motion to decide that matter last Friday was not properly on the Order Paper. Due notice had not been given, permission had not been given by the Ceann Comhairle to take it at short notice——
(Interruptions.)
Please, Deputy Dukes——
That motion was not properly on the Order Paper and, Sir, could I just remind you that I have asked you a few moments ago, under the provisions of Standing Order 22, to allow me to move a motion to adjourn this House——
I was about to respond, Deputy Dukes.
——so that these matters can be properly considered by the Taoiseach and the leaders of the Opposition parties.
On a point of order——
In relation to the Taoiseach's response——
It is for the good order of the House.
The Deputies have already spoken. I am commenting now on the request for an adjournment. I am not prepared to grant permission for the Adjournment of the House. I know of no good reason to do so or that we should start off our business on that basis. I am asking that we adhere now to the Order of Business and I am asking the Taoiseach to announce the Order of Business.
I am still on a point of order and I insist on making it.
Deputy Dukes, I have allowed you to raise a point of order and you have made a speech.
You interrupted him at every stage.
It will take a very brief time. I think the House should know this. It is my contention — and I have inspected the record of this House — that as far as I can establish from the record of this House motion No. 11——
This is not a point of order.
It is important.
The Deputy is embarking upon another speech.
As far as I can ascertain, Sir, item No. 11 on last Friday's Order Paper, which was a motion to take a closure motion without debate, was not put to the House. Neither was motion No. 11. The three parties in Opposition left this House and the House then proceeded to motion No. 12 on Friday's Order of Business. That being the case, Sir, nothing that this House did on Friday was valid and this sitting this morning is invalid because Standing Orders provide that unless a different provision is made the House meets at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday. The order for motion No. 11 was not made last Friday and the closure motion was not made last Friday and if there is any doubt about that, Sir, I propose that there is a very good reason to adjourn the proceedings of this House so that we can all be satisfied as to what has actually happened and the validity of what was done on Friday and today. That, Sir, is in the record of this House. Motion No. 11 of last Friday was not made.
Will the Taoiseach announce the Order of Business?
On a point of order. In relation to the points raised by Deputy Dukes——
These points of order cannot continue. They constitute gross disorder in fact. I will hear a brief point of order from Deputy Spring.
In relation to the point of order raised, Sir, the record of the House last Friday shows very correctly that when the Opposition parties withdrew from the House the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach went on to motion No. 12 in relation to the visit of Mr. Nelson Mandela to this House. The record shows——
Motion No. 11 was not put.
The record of the House does not show that the motion was put last Friday.
On Friday last the House agreed a motion which related, among other matters, to how it should dispose of a number of items of business. The Chair is bound by that and is required to give effect to the terms of that motion and I am completely satisfied that matters went on in proper order on that occasion.
It is in order for the record of the House to show what does or does not occur. On this occasion, Sir, you can check for yourself, the record of the House does not show that business was properly moved last Friday. When the Opposition parties withdrew business was not done correctly. I would say to you, Sir, that at this stage the Taoiseach could still intervene to have this matter sorted out.
You rejected the request for an adjournment of the House on the grounds that you did not see any good reason for having an adjournment to resolve the matters which are in dispute.The point raised by Deputy Dukes is a very good reason for having an adjournment to clarify exactly how this House stands. As far as I can see from the report of the House that I have had from the Editor's office it does not refer to motion No. 11. It does not indicate that that motion was moved and carried by this House and I would argue, therefore, that that is a very good reason for adjourning this House for an hour or two hours to have this matter resolved once and for all. We are not trying to disrupt this House, a Cheann Comhairle. We are trying to establish proper order here and to establish the fact that Government do not have an absolute right but must also act within the Standing Orders of this House.
I am satisfied that proper procedure was adhered to.
The record of the House shows that motion No. 11 of last Friday was not taken.
Are you saying, Sir, that the record of the House is incorrect?
(Interruptions.)
It is proposed to take Nos. 16, 17, 18 and 19. Private Members' Business shall be No. 36. Motion 52.
(Interruptions.)
On a point of order——
It is proposed to take Nos. 16, 17, 18 and 19——
(Interruptions.)
We have obtained from the Editor's office what is commonly known as the "blacks" of the reports from last week. Our reading of it shows quite clearly that motion No. 11 was not moved. Perhaps the Ceann Comhairle's office has a different record from the same Editor's office. If so, and if that record shows that motion No. 11 was moved, perhaps the Ceann Comhairle would accept that ruling, but we only have what was made available to us from the Editor's office. Everybody in this House is anxious that we all come back on side — that applies as much to the Government parties as it does to the Opposition parties. I would repeat the request from the Leader of the Labour Party to the Taoiseach——
The Chief Whip moved motions 11 and 12 and they were accepted by the House.
(Interruptions.)
I thank the Taoiseach for that intervention but I suggest that the kind of conversation that is about to take place on the floor of this House would be much better conducted in private between the Leaders of the parties. The House could adjourn for one hour to clarify the position.
I would appeal to the House to get down to the Order of Business proper. We cannot do our business here by way of adjournment of the House, and I am not prepared to proceed along those lines.
Do you not accept that we are improperly sitting if that motion was not moved?
The Taoiseach could resolve the problem amicably by accepting the invitation from the Leader of the Labour Party to adjourn for an hour to sort out this matter, not in the office of the Ceann Comhairle who cannot arbitrate on these matters, but between the parties. We could then come back in here and get on with our business democratically and properly. I implore the Taoiseach to take that opportunity and to proceed in a manner of which he is well capable. It is not fair to the Ceann Comhairle's office or to the Ceann Comhairle to attempt to adjudicate when there is clearly conflicting evidence in front of us. You, Sir, have your information and we have ours. A private adjournment could resolve the problem very constructively and effectively.
We had the same kind of arguments last Friday, seeking adjournments rather than doing our business in a proper fashion.
The record of this House of last Friday shows that motion No. 11 was moved and not put and that motion No. 12 was moved and put. Since motion No. 11 was never put to the House, the business done last Friday is invalid, the time motion that was made for this week is invalid and the sitting of the House this morning is invalid as Standing Orders clearly provide that the House meets at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesdays if no other provision is made. You, Sir, should agree with us on the Opposition benches that the only way to resolve this problem is for the House to adjourn and the parties to get together to agree on business for today. I put it to you, Sir——
I cannot accede to that request and I know of no good reason why I should do so. I am now asking that we proceed to motion No. 16, the Industrial Relations Bill, 1989, Report and Final Stages.
(Interruptions.)
In relation to the record of the House, surely if you have——
Deputy Spring, I am on my feet.
I wish to raise a point of order.
How long are these points of order going to continue? They are clearly designed to create the utmost disorder.
They are not clearly designed to do that but to sort out a problem.
We are trying to establish that we are all here by proper procedure. The copies of the reports available to the Leaders of the Opposition parties indicate very clearly that motion No. 11 of last Friday was not moved.
I have ruled on that matter and it has been confirmed by the Taoiseach.
Produce the record.
The Deputy was not here to oppose it.
Deputy Roche should not be shouting; he should calm down.
He should give his lectures elsewhere.
(Interruptions.)
I realise you feel you are in an invidious position and I do not wish to prolong that but this House can, by agreement between the parties, adjourn if necessary. I would say to you and to the Taoiseach that an adjournment is necessary because we need to clarify whether business was conducted properly on Friday. Surely we are entitled, as a matter of courtesy, to get another copy of the record if it is available. I believe that until we get that, we cannot do any further business in this House.
This is a new device of adjourning the House and I do not think it is a proper procedure. There is no reason, if it is the wish of the Opposition parties to discuss the business, why we should not get on with the Order of Business now. The Whips can then meet and discuss anything they wish.
There are five or six Deputies rising on points of order. How do we proceed in this House in a democratic fashion and do proper business?Is this not evidence of utter obstruction?
That is a biased remark.
(Interruptions.)
My concern, Sir——
I think I have heard Deputy Dukes quite a lot today.
My concern is to get the business of this House properly back into order. My contention is that motion No. 11 of last Friday was not put, and that means this House is not in order in sitting this morning.
The Deputy has made that point earlier. There is a contrary point of view.
The Taoiseach——
Deputy Dukes, please.
I propose to the Taoiseach that he follow the logic of what he has just said. He should accept there is a doubt about the business this morning and arrange a meeting, during an adjournment of this House, between the Leaders of the parties so that we can organise the matter and resolve it to our satisfaction.
In this very difficult situation, the net important point the Taoiseach and, to a lesser extent, yourself are missing is that the democratic proceedings of this House can only operate, and have only ever operated on a basis of a measure of consensus between the parties. When that consensus breaks down the normal procedures of this House cannot be operated in a proper manner. That is what has happened here in the last few days. It is essential——
Please, Deputy Taylor.
——that that consensus be restored. The only way to solve the problem is for the party leaders to meet and restore that consensus which is essential for our parliamentary procedures.
The Chair regrets that lack of consensus but will not be embroiled in the political affairs of this House.
Nor should you, Sir. That is why we are asking the Taoiseach to resolve the matter.
You indicated that you wanted to proceed with the Order of Business for today, but that Order of Business is based on a motion which is in dispute in this House. All three parties in Opposition have made clear they are not satisfied from the records of the House, that the motion was properly before the House and that it was actually put and carried. We have sought an adjournment of the House to have these matters clarified, and requested the Taoiseach to meet with us to discuss how proper order could be restored to this House. The Taoiseach has responded by saying that is a matter which can be dealt with by the Whips but the Whip of the Government party, the Chief Whip, has in recent times simply arrived at Whips' meetings and declared what the business would be.
Deputy De Rossa, allow us to make some progress here this morning. I would advise the House——
The Government Whip has been——
Please, Deputy. The Chair has some authority in this House. I have before me one of the official documents of the House certifying the manner in which the business was done last Friday, and it was absolutely correct and authoritative in every sense of the word and in conformity with Standing Order 80.
Why did you not produce that this morning?
Why did you not give me advance notice of it? Why try to trip up the Chair in this fashion?
I wish to see that record. The fact remains——
(Interruptions.)
If Deputies on the other side would listen a little more, they would learn a lot.
We have reached a stage where no-one's word is accepted in this House.
I am going to make my point. The fact remains that the three parties in Opposition have been advised that the motion was not properly before the House last week. It was not properly before the House in accordance with Standing Orders and I propose——
I am completely satisfied that it was. I stand over that and there shall be no deviation.
You said last Friday you had not assented, had not given your assent and your assent was not required. You are totally at variance with Standing Orders. I propose that you adjourn the House so that that matter can be clarified between the Taoiseach and the three Opposition parties. Unless that is done there will be a question mark over all future proceedings of the House.
There will be no question mark over the Chair in respect of his fairness and impartiality.
There are question marks.
If the Deputy feels there are he should challenge them anywhere he likes.
Will the Chair agree that the whole matter rests on the accuracy of the record of last Friday's business? Nobody has stated that the record is incorrect. If that is so I suggest that we should have the adjournment because everything will hinge on the accuracy of the report of last Friday's proceedings. For that reason, we should agree to an adjournment.
I will hear a last point of order from Deputy Mac Giolla and then we shall proceed.
I should like to ask the Chair, and the Taoiseach, to consider one point, that legislation dealt with by the House last Friday and today, if not dealt with in accordance with procedures, will not have been legally or constitutionally passed. In my view it could be challenged in the courts. It will have to be properly dealt with in the House in accordance with Standing Orders. This is a serious matter and we cannot just regard it as something which we can dismiss and move on to the next business. We are dealing with the legality of legislation that will be dealt with by the House. I should like to ask the Chair, and the Taoiseach, to consider how we should proceed so as to ensure that business dealt with is in accordance with Standing Orders.
I think we should proceed with the next business, item No. 16.
I wish to raise a point of order.
If this is going to continue the Deputies are leaving me no option but to adjourn the House on the grounds of serious disorder.
That is what we are asking the Chair to do.
My point of order arises from the point made by Deputy Mac Giolla. Surely the Chair owes it to himself, and to the House, to get his own legal advice as to the validity of the legislation before the House on Friday and this morning. I should like to ask the Chair, notwithstanding the baying from the hounds opposite——
It has not been the practice of the Chair to seek legal advice of the kind the Deputy has referred to in the matter of the interpretation of Standing Orders. I will not be an exception to that.
That is not correct.
The Chair will be aware of a recent precedent in the other House.
It is of no concern to me.
Would the Chair not think it prudent to get legal advice?
This cannot continue.
I should like to raise a point of order and it relates to what has been described as the "blacks" of the report of the proceedings of the House which state clearly that item No. 11 was not put to the House. The Chair has stated that he made a ruling on the matter and I am asking the Chair to tell the House under what Standing Order he made that ruling. Item No. 11 was never put to the House.
I will not be cross-examined. The rulings of the Chair must be accepted until they are properly set aside, if necessary.
Item No. 11 was not put to the House and I am asking the Chair to quote the Standing Order under which he made his ruling in regard to it.
I am seeking to try to be helpful at this stage. The Chair has been put in an impossible position, not by the Opposition parties but by the Government.The public are watching how we conduct the affairs of the House. What happened last Friday, and what is continuing today brings no credit on any side of the House. For that reason the Leader of the Labour Party has made a request to the Taoiseach, as the political leader of the House and in order to remove the Chair from the impossible position he is in, to take an initiative. The Taoiseach has on many occasions taken decisions that were courageous and in the best interests of the democratic forum that we represent.
The Deputy has admitted that for the first time.
I should like to ask the Taoiseach to be courageous on this issue, allow a short adjournment to discuss the obvious impasse that exists with the other Leaders of the House and work out an orderly schedule for the remaining business that the Government wish to see passed before the Adjournment. It would be the best we could have rather than allow obstruction, frustration, annoyance and terrible acrimony prevail in the House from now until the Adjournment.
Speeches will have to discontinue.
I wish to make a point which relates to the business of the House and I am entitled to make it.
The House will have to agree with one thing, that the Chair has been generous in hearing all these so-called points of order——
And dignified.
——and seeking to achieve harmony, understanding and goodwill. There is no call for any sneers.
It is improper for the Government party to suggest that it is not correct to seek legal definitions of Standing Orders. This House only last year sought a legal definition of the sub judice rule and how we deal with matters which relate to items being dealt with by the courts. It is not unusual to seek legal definitions of how we do our busines in order to ensure that we are correct and proper in what we do. I do not propose to intervene in this discussion any further but I should like to point out that if the Chair proceeds with the Order of Business, in view of the point raised by Deputy Mac Giolla on the effect that may have on the validity of legislation, my party will participate in the operation of the House today but without prejudice to whatever actions are taken by anybody, whether by a Member or a citizen with regard to the validity of the Bills passed this week or next week. It is important that all Opposition Deputies make that clear.
That is the Deputy's privilege. He is entitled to proceed in any fashion he wishes. It is clear to the Chair that I am not going to be allowed this morning to proceed with the Order of Business. In the circumstances I feel I have no option but to adjourn the proceedings on the grounds of very grave disorder. The House is adjourned for 30 minutes.
Sitting suspended at 11.10 a.m. and resumed at 12 noon.
A Cheann Comhairle, the House will learn with some relief that the party leaders have met in a friendly and amicable atmosphere and we have agreed in broad principle on the arrangmeents for the rest of the session. With your permission, Sir, I will give a broad outline of them now but the Whips will then take up the matter and work out the new programme for us and come back if it is necessary to make an order of the House later today.
The general concept is that we proceed with the Order of Business today, subject to ending our session at 10 p.m. this evening. The Insurance Bill, 1990 will not be taken today but will be moved to tomorrow.The Broadcasting Bill, 1990, will be taken next week and two days will be allocated for the Report and Final Stages of the Bill. The Estimates will be taken next week and two days will be allocated for that debate. These are just the broad outlines, the Whips will fill in the details and arrange for the dispatch of the remaining items on our programme.
Is the outline of business as announced by the Taoiseach agreed? Agreed. Do we now proceed to deal with the Industrial Relations Bill, 1989?
May I seek permission, Sir, to raise on the Adjournment the failure of the Minister for Social Welfare to provide adequate dental care for the spouses of insured workers?
I will communicate with the Deputy.
On the question of promised legislation, Sir, I wonder if I may ask the Taoiseach whether he can give the House any indication when the necessary amending legislation to allow moneys that have accrued in the Hospitals Sweepstake Trust to be disbursed to former employees? In reply to a parliamentary question tabled by me the Minister for Health had promised that this legislation would be introduced.
This legislation will not be taken this session but we will get on with it expeditiously in the next session.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment this evening the urgent question of approval by the Minister for the Environment of the refurbishment of houses at Clifden Drive and Cloverhill Road, Ballyfermot?
I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning the matter.
In view of the fact that a number of Irish passengers were left stranded at the airport, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the failure of Capital Airlines to transport those passengers and the situation of the airline?
I will communicate with the Deputy.
On the question of promised legislation, may I ask the Taoiseach if he will be making arrangements to ensure that legislation to repeal the rod licence Act will be dealt with before the end of the session.
Deputies were not very helpful for the last week.
I did not hear the reply.
It will be taken in due course.
There is no difficulty in circulating a Bill if you have it.
I will be in touch with my advisers.
With your permission, Sir, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the steps the Minister for Education proposes to take to remedy the situation that exists as outlined in the report of the Dublin Inner City Teachers Group that show that two in every ten Dublin inner city children have severe emotional or psychological problems and that half of the children surveyed needed intensive remedial treatment?
I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning the matter.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the necessity for the Minister for the Marine to extend the salmon fishing season to facilitate drift net fishermen who have experienced a devastating season this year.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
With your permission, Sir, I wish to raise on the Adjournment, the recent report of the Combat Poverty Agency which showed the court maintenance procedure orders are not working.
I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning that matter.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment, Sir, the plight of the increasing number of homeless youths on the streets of Dublin?
I will communicate with the Deputy.
Sir, as it is clear from what the Taoiseach has said that the Environmental Protection Agency Bill will not be taken this session, will the Taoiseach indicate whether it will be circulated before the end of the session?
That is the idea. We will introduce it before the end of the session and circulate it during the summer recess so that everybody will have plenty of time to give it the attention it deserves.
I wonder if the Taoiseach, as a matter of courtesy, to the Independent Deputies, would please state the other consequential changes in the business of the House today because the matter is not clear to me. Perhaps the Taoiseach could expand further on the business of the House today.
The only change today is that we will end our discussions at 10 p.m. instead of 12 midnight, and the Insurance Bill will be taken out of the agenda for today and ordered for tomorrow.The business as ordered for today will take up the rest of the time.
The time allocations were clearly stated and I wonder if there are now new time allocations?
I think we will stick generally to the times as allocated, but the Whips may make some small alterations to them.
With respect, Sir, the Local Government (Water Pollution) (Amendment) Bill, 1989, was due to conclude at 6.45 p.m., and that gives us nothing to do apart from Private Members' Business——
Deputies
The Industrial Relations Bill, 1989.
The Local Government (Water Pollution) (Amendment) Bill will go ahead as itemised on the Order of Business, and as an environmental Deputy you should be very happy about that.
Absolutely.
The Taoiseach indicated that the Bills ordered for this week and next week will be the totality of Government Bills, but where does this leave the Pensions Bill, 1990, which is half way through Committee Stage?
The Whips will arrange that.
I know there was the general intention to introduce certain legislation but whether it comes within the specific promise I am not clear. Perhaps the Minister for Health could indicate if he has made any advances in preparing legislation to deal with the juvenile justice area and child care in view of the recurring number of young people coming before the courts because of the inadequate legal and social provisions for them in this country? May I further ask if any work has been done or will be done during the summer recess on this legislation?
The Deputy need not elaborate now.
I will let the Deputy know the position.
With your permission, Sir, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of parliamentary question No. 258 of 27 June and the reluctance of the Department of Education to allow replacement examination papers for students who were severely ill and hospitalised during the leaving certificate examination?
I will communicate with the Deputy.
May I ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if this House will be given an opportunity, before we rise for the summer recess, to debate the draconian measure he is proposing in relation to the TB pre-movement scheme?
There will be a motion on that matter which will give the Deputy an opportunity to discuss it.
May I ask the Taoiseach if he has decided the day on which he will make a statement setting up the second commission on the status of women?
I will communicate with the Deputy.
Deputy Jim Higgins.
The Taoiseach will have a great number of phone calls to make after this morning——
Order, please.
I seek your permission to raise on the Adjournment the need for the Minister for Tourism and Transport to ensure that the soon to be announced deed of trust for Knock Airport puts in place guarantees that local car hire operators will be protected from the type of intimidation which prevails there at present?
I will communicate with the Deputy.
Item No. 1 on today's Order Paper, under the heading Private Business, report from the Examiner of Private Bills, states that the Standing Orders for leave to introduce the Altamont (Amendment of Deed of Trust) Bill, 1990, have been complied with. It is necessary for this report to be introduced in this House so that the Second Stage debate can take place in the Seanad. May I ask the Taoiseach if he will make the necessary arrangements so that the Bill can be debated in the Seanad before the summer recess? Finally, may I compliment him on his lap of honour in the Olympic Stadium in Rome on Saturday night?
(Interruptions.)
I will bring that matter to the notice of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle who is dealing with it.