On a point of order, I certainly do not wish to press this matter in the House for too long. I do not wish to interrupt the Minister when he is on his feet today and I do not intend to do so but could the Taoiseach be given the courtesy of finishing what he was saying?
Order of Business (Resumed).
I am very grateful to Deputy Mitchell for drawing attention to the discourtesy shown by members of his party when I am trying to be helpful to the Deputies. What I was about to say before the interruptions took place was that this is the precedent; we are just following precedent on this occasion. If there is any wish among Members of the House that there should be some other arrangement I suggest it is something that should be discussed between the Whips or even at the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, but I am afraid it is too late to make a change this year.
Will there be anything worth leaking?
Deputy Paddy Sheehan has been offering. When the Deputy has put his question — a relevant one I hope — I will proceed to deal with the Order of Business proper.
(Interruptions.)
The Ceann Comhairle got his retaliation in first.
A Cheann Comhairle, it is an old chestnut, I guarantee you that. I would like to ask the Taoiseach if he would once and for all tell the House when a decision will be made on Ireland's application for an extension of the disadvantaged areas?
I am very glad to see that even under this new regime of television the Deputy from west Cork continues his old practice of asking totally irrelevant questions.
(Interruptions.)
A cynical answer of that kind is cold comfort to the farmers.
We now come to item No. 3 — Order for Second Stage——
Deputy Kenny rose.
I had hoped to proceed with the Order of Business and I indicated that when I referred to Deputy Sheehan. However, I will hear the Deputy.
Sometimes you do not look far enough to the right, a Cheann Comhairle. Will the Taoiseach and the Government bear in mind that, because of the continuing Gulf crisis, a very large number of public — and other — contracts have been terminated in Britain? The Government may well have to deal with a very large——
I am proceeding with the Order of Business proper. Item No. 3, Sugar Bill, 1990, Order for Second Stage.
On a point of order——
On this Bill?
Yes. I wish to oppose the Second Stage Reading of this Bill on the grounds——
I have an amendment on those lines from you and when it comes to your party's turn to speak, I will be asking your spokesperson to move that amendment.
On a point of order, I am advising you that I oppose the Second Stage Reading.
I am aware of that, Deputy, there is no need to elaborate further.
I am opposing the Order for the Second Stage.
Now?
I am opposing the Order for the Second Stage of the Bill.
I understood that the Deputy's amendment was related to the Second Reading proper.
You misunderstood me, a Cheann Comhairle. I oppose it on the grounds that it is a betrayal of the workers who made such an effort in recent years to bring the company into profit. I also oppose it on the grounds that the company should be retained in public ownership in the interest of the workers, beet and vegetable growers and the need to establish a proper food processing industry.
I am putting the question, in respect of item No. 3, Sugar Bill, 1990: "That the Second Stage be taken now." I think the question is carried.
Vótáil.
The question is: "That Second Stage be taken now." On that question a division has been challenged. Will the Members who claim a division please rise?
Ten or more Deputies stood.
We will proceed with the vote.
The Dáil divided: Tá, 119; Níl, 10.
Tá
- Ahearn, Therese.
- Ahern, Bertie.
- Ahern, Dermot.
- Ahern, Michael.
- Allen, Bernard.
- Aylward, Liam.
- Barnes, Monica.
- Barrett, Michael.
- Barrett, Seán.
- Barry, Peter.
- Belton, Louis J.
- Boylan, Andrew.
- Bradford, Paul.
- Brady, Gerard.
- Brady, Vincent.
- Brennan, Mattie.
- Brennan, Séamus.
- Briscoe, Ben.
- Browne, John (Carlow-Kilkenny).
- Browne, John (Wexford).
- Bruton, John.
- Bruton, Richard.
- Burke, Raphael P.
- Calleary, Seán.
- Callely, Ivor.
- Carey, Donal.
- Clohessy, Peadar.
- Connaughton, Paul.
- Connolly, Ger.
- Connor, John.
- Cosgrave, Michael Joe.
- Cotter, Bill.
- Coughlan, Mary Theresa.
- Creed, Michael.
- Crowley, Frank.
- Cullimore, Séamus.
- Currie, Austin.
- Daly, Brendan.
- D'Arcy, Michael.
- Davern, Noel.
- Deasy, Austin.
- Deenihan, Jimmy.
- Dempsey, Noel.
- Dennehy, John.
- de Valera, Síle.
- Doyle, Joe.
- Dukes, Alan.
- Durkan, Bernard.
- Ellis, John.
- Enright, Thomas W.
- Fahey, Frank.
- Fennell, Nuala.
- Roche, Dick.
- Shatter, Alan.
- Sheehan, Patrick J.
- Smith, Michael.
- Stafford, John.
- Taylor-Quinn, Madeleine.
- Timmins, Godfrey.
- Treacy, Noel.
- Finucane, Michael.
- Fitzgerald, Liam Joseph.
- Fitzpatrick, Dermot.
- Flaherty, Mary.
- Flanagan, Charles.
- Flood, Chris.
- Flynn, Pádraig.
- Gallagher, Pat the Cope.
- Geoghegan-Quinn, Máire.
- Harney, Mary.
- Harte, Paddy.
- Haughey, Charles J.
- Higgins, Jim.
- Hillery, Brian.
- Hilliard, Colm.
- Hogan, Philip.
- Hyland, Liam.
- Jacob, Joe.
- Kelly, Laurence.
- Kenneally, Brendan.
- Kirk, Séamus.
- Kitt, Michael P.
- Kitt, Tom.
- Leonard, Jimmy.
- Leyden, Terry.
- Martin, Micheál.
- McCormack, Pádraic.
- McCreevy, Charlie.
- McDaid, Jim.
- McEllistrim, Tom.
- McGahon, Brendan.
- McGinley, Dinny.
- McGrath, Paul.
- Mitchell, Gay.
- Molloy, Robert.
- Morley, P.J.
- Nolan, M.J.
- Noonan, Michael J. (Limerick West).
- O'Connell, John.
- O'Donoghue, John.
- O'Hanlon, Rory.
- O'Keeffe, Jim.
- O'Kennedy, Michael.
- O'Leary, John.
- O'Malley, Desmond J.
- O'Rourke, Mary.
- O'Toole, Martin Joe.
- Owen, Nora.
- Power, Seán.
- Quill, Máirín.
- Reynolds, Gerry.
- Tunney, Jim.
- Wallace, Dan.
- Wallace, Mary.
- Walsh, Joe.
- Wilson, John P.
- Woods, Michael.
- Wyse, Pearse.
- Yates, Ivan.
Níl
- Byrne, Eric.
- De Rossa, Proinsias.
- Foxe, Tom.
- Garland, Roger.
- Gilmore, Eamon.
- Gregory, Tony.
- McCartan, Pat.
- Mac Giolla, Tomás.
- Rabbittee, Pat.
- Sherlock, Joe.
Tellers: Tá, Deputies V. Brady and Clohessy; Níl, Deputies McCartan and Byrne.
Question declared carried.