It is proposed to take No. 3. It is also proposed that the Dáil shall meet tomorrow at 10.30 a.m. and shall adjourn not later than 4 p.m.
Order of Business.
May I ask if the proposal for tomorrow's sitting is agreed? Agreed.
May I ask the Taoiseach if he knows his mind on the family planning Bill and whether we will have a family planning Bill before the summer recess?
This matter has been adverted to nearly every day in recent days.
(Interruptions.)
Perhaps I should allay the Deputy's anxiety about the availability of contraceptives. Once again, for the Deputy's information, the family planning Bill will be introduced after Easter.
I seek some information from the Taoiseach in view of the fact that it now appears that the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Mr. Peter Brooke, is to make a statement in the House of Commons today. Will the Government provide time on Wednesday of next week to have a debate on Northern Ireland, on the statement and what comes from the House of Commons today? Will the Taoiseach give some consideration to that? Perhaps it can be discussed at the Whip's meeting today.
Again, this is a matter that has had the continuous attention of the House and is not strictly in order on the Order of Business.
You will accept, Sir, that any assistance this House can give to matters relating to Northern Ireland should be afforded.
There are procedures governing the Order of Business and the Chair strives earnestly to adhere to them.
If you will permit me, Sir, I have no hesitation in agreeing to something of that kind.
On the same matter, in July last when a similar situation arose we had statements on the same day the statement was made in the House of Commons. I wonder if it will be possible to have a similar arrangement today. The various parties were enabled to make statements in response on the same day in July last year.
It will not be possible today.
In the wake of the decision of the Court of Appeal in England in the Guildford case the Government here established a commission under the chairmanship of Judge Martin and their report is with the Government who promised they would act on it without delay. In view of the fact that the Birmingham Six case is to conclude today, if not tomorrow, it is hoped successfully, will the Taoiseach see to it that the Minister for Justice will bring forward legislation arising from the very concise and clear conclusions of the Martin Commission?
Promised legislation in this area — none.
That is not——
Please, Deputy McCartan, let us not argue about these matters.
It is on the record of this House——
Please, Deputy.
The Minister for Justice——
If the Chair is informed by the Government side that no legislation was promised in this House in that area the Chair has no option but to accept that.
I saw——
It should not give rise to disputation or disorder.
I saw a nod or shake of the head by the Taoiseach. Is that the way the order of this House is to be dealt with?
Perhaps the Deputy is referring to related legislation, the criminal procedure Bill?
No.
If that is the position, that legislation is in the pipeline.
I am glad at least we are getting somewhere along the way. Again I am protesting at the way legitimate inquiries from this side of the House are being dealt with on casual nods and shakes of the Taoiseach's head. He does not seem to know——
Please, Deputy McCartan.
The Deputy did not know what he was talking about and it had to be explained to him.
We have had this before.
(Interruptions.)
Order. Deputy McCartan is concerned about procedure.
The Taoiseach does not know what is going on in the House.
When will the Government publish the amendment to the Health Act, 1970 which will be necessary as the Minister indicated to bring in the change in eligibility categories from June of this year for health services?
I will have to let the Deputy know about that.
The Social Welfare Bill is ordered for today. Is it the Government's intention to have the Social Welfare Bill enacted before the Easter recess? If so, in view of the fact that there is a widespread acknowledgment now that the interaction of social welfare and income tax is causing a poverty trap and unemployment, will the Taoiseach assure the House that every Deputy will be allowed to speak in the debate on the Social Welfare Bill next week?
It is a matter for the Chair.
These are matters that can be clarified when we come to the Bill. It is the first item for discussion this morning.
When do the Government propose to circulate the text of the Finance Bill? In conjunction with that text will they be circulating revised Estimates to take account of the forfeiture of £15 million announced by the Minister for Finance——
The Deputy is bringing in extraneous matter.
With all due respect, the Finance Bill is designed to give effect to the 1991 budget. One of the major provisions of that budget has now been reversed by way of an announcement outside this House and there will be a forfeiture of £15 million. Governments have fallen for less, I remind the Ceann Comhairle.
The Order of Business is not the proper way to have that matter raised.
I am simply inquiring, is it the intention of the Taoiseach to circulate with that document which gives effect to the budget a revised set of Estimates to explain how this deficit might be made up?
Why not put down a question or a motion?
A motion could be circulated.
I have already told the Deputy several times when the Finance Bill will be introduced.
Can the Taoiseach answer the second question? It is in everybody's interest, particularly Opposition Members who are trying to assist the process of Government to which we are all committed. If the Government want co-operation from this side of the House, in view of the general concern, it would be helpful if a revised set of Estimates is to be published, if the Taoiseach will indicate that.
It is not in order.
It is £15 million in order.
I cannot answer that.
(Interruptions.)
Please Deputy Quinn. Deputy Jim Mitchell.
(Interruptions.)
I would remind you that the haemophiliacs would have cost only £450,000 and you fell on that.
Is it the Government's intention to enact the Social Welfare Bill before the Easter recess?
We are having repetition.
The Fine Gael Whip has already been informed that that is the intention.
I am proceeding——
Will the Taoiseach guarantee the House that every Deputy who wishes to speak on the Social Welfare Bill——
Deputy Mitchell has already raised these matters. This is repetition now——
(Interruptions.)
——of a most disorderly kind. The Social Welfare Bill is the subject matter of the next business.
If you will allow me——
(Interruptions.)
I have no wish to fall out with the Chair, but I want to ensure that people on this side of the House will have ample time to expose the failure of the Government's policy on social welfare, which is actually causing unemployment.
The Deputy has put that question at least twice before.
(Limerick East): On promised legislation, will the Competition Bill be published before or during the recess?
It is at a very advanced stage. It will probably be published before the recess.
Will the roads Bill giving effect to the national roads authority and which the Taoiseach promised earlier this week be published before the Easter recess?
That is the hope.
When is it proposed to publish the Education Bill?
It is not ready yet.
(Interruptions.)
I am proceeding now to the Order of Business——
A Ceann Comhairle——
May I take it that Deputy Sheehan is raising a matter proper to the Order of Business?
(Interruptions.)
On a matter of great importance to the small farmers of this country when will a decision be made on Ireland's application for the extention of the disadvantaged areas? Will the Taoiseach tell the House once and for all——
Deputy Sheehan, an excellent question at the appropriate time.
(Interruptions.)
I am proceeding to the Order of Business proper. Item No. 3.