I understand from Deputy Jim Higgins that at some stage today it is proposed to interrupt the proceedings to give the Government the opportunity of referring briefly to what is happening in the House of Commons, is this correct? Perhaps the Taoiseach could give me some details?
Order of Business (Resumed).
I have no details at this stage, but the situation is still developing. I would hope that at some stage in the afternoon we would be able to have a brief reference to it and perhaps the party Leaders could contribute briefly also.
A Cheann Comhairle, with your permission may I seek clarification on the same matter? My understanding is that the Taoiseach has sought time to make a statement to the House and that has been agreed. Is that not the situation? If it is the situation, may I ask the Taoiseach, as a matter of courtesy that he give us copies of the statement in advance so that we will have some time to consider it?
Of course, Deputy, I will be happy to do that, but I intend to have a very brief statement.
I think Deputy Spring is referring to, and I concur with him, the statement being made in the House of Commons, and should it be available before we refer to it, I would like to see it. Is that correct?
Yes.
If I have it, certainly I will give it to the Deputies.
There are two items I wish to raise on the Order of Business. First I understand that the Constituency Boundaries Commission, which the Minister for the Environment established two months ago was to report to him within two months and, as this time limit was up yesterday, I wonder if the Commission has reported and, if so, when the report will be made available to Deputies? Second, is it intended to make the Fair Trade Commission report on Restrictive Practices in the Legal Profession available to Members — I understand it is available to a former Member of the House who works for The Irish Times— and when is it intended to do so?
Some of the aspects which the Deputy has raised appertain to legislation.
The commission has not yet reported to the Government.
Are they due to report to the Government?
Of course. This vital document will be made available to all Deputies——
In which we all have more than a passing interest——
——and we might even give it to Senators.
We would like to sweat over it for the summer.
With regard to the other report, it is voluminous and the Government have not yet considered it. How it got into the hands of the media, I have no idea.
In regard to this very important and voluminous report, may I ask the Taoiseach if it is intended to make any inquiries as to how it was available to a journalist, because its status has clearly been undermined by the way it has been leaked in this willy-nilly way. It is not the first time that this particular journalist has been able to find out what goes on——
Please, Deputy McCartan, we cannot debate this matter now.
The Workers' Party, I believe, have had access to documents before they were made public.
Only after you had drawn the blue pencil through them.
With your permission, Sir, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the extraordinary damage that has been done to employment prospects in the construction industry in the city as a result of the current work-to-rule in the planning Department, caused by the total failure of the Minister for the Environment to provide adequate resources.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
This is another management mess, of which we have seen many in the past year.
There are building cranes like flags around Dublin——
In the designated areas——
——by contrast with the complete desolation that prevailed in the construction industry when the Labour Party had responsibility for the situation.
Did the Taoiseach ever consider that they are in the areas designated by the former Minister, Mr. John Boland?
(Interruptions.)
Has the Taoiseach noted that?
Order, please, Deputies.
I hope the Taoiseach swallows that pill.
I have called Deputy Connaughton.
(Interruptions.)
I thought Ceaucescu had gone.
May I ask the Taoiseach to give special Dáil time next week to discuss the ever worsening crisis in Irish agriculture? It is a disgrace——
The Deputy might put down a question on that matter. It is not in order now, Deputy Connaughton.
It is a very serious crisis. The Minister for Agriculture and Food can solve the problems of the farmers in Europe but he is running away from Irish farmers——
Deputy Connaughton has ways and means available to him to raise that matter.
There was nobody to buy the cattle and sheep offered for sale at Irish marts this week.
I am calling Deputy Seán Ryan.
I tried to raise this matter on the Adjournment last week——
(Interruptions.)
They are only laughing at you.
The smiles will be taken off the faces of the Minister and the Taoiseach——
Order, please.
Deputy Connaughton will now resume his seat. Deputy Ryan.
On a point of order——
Deputy Ryan has been called and I will hear no point of order from Deputy Connaughton now. Deputy Ryan.
May I ask the Taoiseach to respond——
Please, Deputy Connaughton.
Will we be given an opportunity to debate this very important issue next week?
If the Deputy persists I shall have to ask him to leave the House.
I do not want to upset the House but I want to hear what the Taoiseach has to say.
The Deputy must either resume his seat or leave the House.
Deputy Connaughton is rapidly turning into the Hanrahan of this House. He ruins the farmers once a week.
We know what happened with Hanrahan — he won his case.
I have called Deputy Ryan.
(Interruptions.)
On a point of order——
No, Deputy, I have called Deputy Seán Ryan. Deputy Connaughton has created enough disorder and he will now resume his seat or leave the House.
A Cheann Comhairle——
Deputy Connaughton, resume your seat forthwith or leave the House.
I do not want to upset the House——
(Interruptions.)
Look at the smiles on their faces. The farmers in Ireland are under pressure and the Minister should be ashamed of himself.
I must now ask Deputy Connaughton to leave the House.
I will leave——
Leave it forthwith, Deputy.
They should be ashamed of themselves for laughing.
(Interruptions.)
Deputy Connaughton, there is no need for this disorder. The Deputy has many ways and means open to him to raise that matter.
Deputy Connaughton withdrew from the Chamber.
A Deputy
The Government are laughing at the farmers. It is a disgrace.
I seek your permission to raise on the Adjournment a matter of great urgency in my constituency, that is, the compensation due to Swords Community Council in respect of the old vocational school at Swords which needs the sanction of the Department of Education for payment by the VEC.
I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning that matter.
I seek your permission to raise on the Adjournment the failure of the Minister for Finance to replace essential staff in the section of the tax office which deals with part-time workers and the consequences of this.
I will communicate with Deputy Higgins in relation to that matter. Deputy John Connor has been offering for some time.
Am I in order in asking to raise two matters on the Adjournment?
The Deputy is being covetous. The Chair finds it difficult enough to deal with so many single requests from Deputies without having duplication.
I accept your great wisdom in these matters.
The Deputy wants two bites at the cherry but it is not on.
Thank you very much, a Cheann Comhairle. I must decide which item to seek to raise. May I raise on the Adjournment the destruction of archaeological sites throughout the country due to private afforestation? I might remind you, a Cheann Comhairle, that this is the sixth time I have asked to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy. Deputy Jim Higgins has been offering.
In view of the total insensitivity displayed by Members on the other side of the House when they collectively laughed at the plight of the farmers of Ireland——
(Interruptions.)
It is a disgrace.
——I seek your permission to raise a similar and related matter on the Adjournment, that is, the need for the Minister for Health to revise downwards, due to the dramatic fall in agricultural incomes, the medical card guidelines which are based on national but now exaggerated and obsolete figures.
I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning that matter.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of Question No. 40 on yesterday's Order Paper.
I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning that matter.
While I am on my feet, I want to plead with the Taoiseach not to turn a deaf ear to the appeals made by this side of the house in relation to Irish farmers——
Please, Deputy Boylan. Deputy Michael Moynihan has been offering.
The Government should give time next week for a debate on this issue——
Deputy Boylan, please desist.
They should make time for a one day debate next week so that we can do something for the farmers.
Deputy Michael Moynihan.
I again seek your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to raise on the Adjournment the sudden termination of the EC funded scheme to encourage rural electrification in the poorer farming regions.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
On the Order of Business, it is not at all clear to me what will happen at 9 p.m. this evening. According to the Resolution we passed last Friday the House is due to rise at 9 p.m. but as item No. 7 is due to conclude at 9 p.m. I do not know when it is proposed to take item No. 8.
Co-operation.
There is no item No. 8 ordered for today but I am very glad to see that the Deputy has been ungagged this morning.
I seek your permission for the umpteenth time to raise on the Adjournment the plight of homeless young people and the inadequate provisions being made by the Minister for Health to deal with this problem. While I am on my feet I, as an urban Deputy, want to express my solidarity with the points made by my colleagues in relation to the plight of farmers——
This is an extraneous matter, Deputy. I will communicate with the Deputy in respect of her plea for the Adjournment——
Many farmers now have to seek social welfare aid——
——but she may not make a speech.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the means used by the Department of Social Welfare in assessing farmers for eligibility for social welfare payments due to the collapse of farm incomes. Many farmers have no income——
I will communicate with the Deputy.
——and they are being assessed on 1988 rather than 1990 figures——
There is no need for the Deputy to make a speech.
The Minister for Social Welfare——
Deputy McCormack, resume your seat, please. I am calling Deputy Allen.
A Deputy
The Minister for Agriculture and Food is laughing at us.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the refusal of the Department of Education to allow repeat leaving certificate papers for students who were seriously ill and hospitalised on examination day.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
Some time ago we were promised that the report of the Commission on Health Funding would be introduced in this House before the summer recess. I want to ask if this will now be the case?
Does this appertain to legislation promised in the House?
The Commission on Health Funding concluded their report——
The Deputy should put down a question for clarification.
As I understand it, the Taoiseach will visit County Donegal this weekend. I should like to ask him to clarify the position in relation to Letterkenny airport. Will the Taoiseach make a statement in that regard when he is in Donegal?
This does not arise now, Deputy Harte.
(Interruptions.)
The Deputy is flying too far now.
We want to get it off the ground.
I am calling Deputy Garland.
There will be no turbulence when I fly into Donegal.
On the Order of Business, I should like to ask the Taoiseach the arrangements which will apply in relation to the Sea Pollution Bill, 1990, which will be guillotined this evening. What time limit is being put on speeches and at what time will the Minister reply to the debate?
It is a Second Stage debate and there is no limit on speeches.
I am proceeding now to item No. 11.