It is proposed to take Nos. 9,10,11 and 15. It is also proposed, subject to the agreement of the House, that business shall be interrupted at 7 p.m.; No. 9 shall be decided without debate; Nos. 10 and 11 shall be taken together for the purpose of debate and speakers shall be confined to five minutes each and the debate shall not exceed 30 minutes; the proceedings on the Committee Stage of No. 15, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 7 p.m. by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only amendments set down by the Minister for Social Welfare; and the Dáil shall meet tomorrow at 10.30 a.m. and shall adjourn not later than 4 p.m.
Private Business. - Order of Business.
Is the proposal for the interruption of business at 7 p.m. agreed? Agreed. Is it agreed that No. 9 shall be decided without debate? Agreed. Are the proposals for dealing with Nos. 10 and 11 agreed?
I want to put on record that the 30 minutes time allocated to debate these matters is inadequate. May I also say I have only just received a copy of the Government's programme and it hardly leaves us time to consider our approach to the issues that the Government are proposing to deal with today. Yesterday I received an amended copy of the Order of Business as I entered the Chamber. I wonder if the Taoiseach could arrange for the Government Whip to try to get the Order of Business to us a bit earlier.
Other than that I take it the Deputy is not opposing the proposals to deal with Nos. 10 and 11.
Not yet.
Are they agreed? Agreed. Are the proposals for dealing with No. 15 agreed? Agreed. Are the proposals for tomorrow's sitting agreed? Agreed.
In view of the promise in the Joint Programme for Government to introduce legislation to amend the laws in regard to libel, could the Taoiseach indicate if the Government have any outline time frame for dealing with the report published today by the Law Reform Commission in regard to this matter?
Is there legislation promised?
The report today is only a consultation paper and the Law Reform Commission wish to have views and then they will probably hold a seminar on the issue. They are requesting that submissions to them be sent in not later than 22 May next. That is the sort of timetable.
I take it, however, that the commitment in the joint Programme for Government to deal with the matter still stands.
(Limerick East): Can we have an answer for the record?
A nod from me is as good as the record.
(Limerick East): We are on television but it is not in the record.
I would like to inform Deputy Noonan that every item in the programme will be religously and scrupulously adhered to.
Like the legislation on phone tapping: will we be getting that shortly?
(Limerick East): Including the terminal gate.
Let us proceed with the Order of Business in an orderly fashion.
I will be glad to send the Deputy a coloured edition of my Ard-Fheis address.
Do not interrupt the Ceann Comhairle.
In view of the Taoiseach's response and, indeed, the widespread concern about the implications of the Law Reform Commission's report, will the Taoiseach make time available in the coming session of the Dáil for a debate in this House and then, perhaps, we can make a response to the Law Reform Commission as suggested.
I really do not think that would be very productive. What the Law Reform Commission envisage is that the consultation documents would now be available for discussion and that all those who are interested will make submissions in regard to it. Then the Law Reform Commission will hold a seminar and only then will they come up with their final conclusions. To hold a debate in this House at this stage would be premature.
Next session?
The Taoiseach indicated that he would forward a copy of his Ard Fheis speech to us.
True, one for each of you.
Let me suggest that the Taoiseach might place his speech in the Library of the House and that, perhaps, the Ceann Comhairle could then accept the promises made in that speech as promises made in this House regarding legislation.
It should be in the fiction department; it is a romantic novel.
It is not in order now Deputy.
Nods and winks are not on the record. We do not have any promises on the record of this House.
Deputy Garland has been offering for some time.
A Ceann Comhairle, I seek your guidance on a matter. Earlier this month I put a question down to the Minister for Education about the health and well-being of the aminals in Dublin Zoo. The reply was to the effect that this was not the responsibility if the Minister for Education. I then put a question down to the Taoiseach. I asked him if he would outline who has responsibility for the health and well-being of animals in the Dublin Zoo. The answer I got was that it was not the responsibility of the Taoiseach. So, it is not the responsibility of the Minister for Education or of the Taoiseach. Would someone please tell me who is responsible for the health and well-being of the animals in Dublin Zoo?
A Deputy
Try the keepers.
I am sorry the Deputy would appear to be getting some sort of bureaucratic run around. I shall inform him fully of the position.
On a different matter, Sir, I want to ask the Taoiseach his intentions in regard to the appointment of a foreign affairs committee and a crime committee in view of the fact that on a previous occasion he suggested this matter might be pursued by negotiations through the Whips and that a letter I had written to him on the subject would be discussed in the forum? Is the Taoiseach aware that is Minister of State has indicated that he cannot in fact deal with the matter because he has no instructions from the Taoiseach as to how to deal with it? Would the Taoiseach agree that this is a matter that should be dealt with in good faith between the parties, and that if the Taoiseach suggests that that channel should be used that it should be capable of being used?
I do not think the Deputy is quite conveying the position of the Chief Whip on the matter who faithfully and loyally carries out all my instructions——
Deputies
Or else.
——and indeed whom I keep fully informed of all my thoughts on these issues.
That is why he looks so worried all the time.
A Deputy
Remember Ivor Callely.
I am anxious that we get on with this. I assure Deputy Bruton that I will take a personal and direct interest in it.
May I say, without disrespect either to the Taoiseach or to the Minister of State for whom I have the utmost admiration, that I have heard this sort of thing before from the Taoiseach. He has told us on occasions like this that he intends to take a personal interest in the matter. Could I have an indication from the Taoiseach as to whether we will have a decision on this matter before the end of this week, in other words, before the Easter recess? Would the Taoiseach be prepared to discuss the matter, with me if necessary, in order to bring it to a conclusion before the end of this week?
I am always available to any of the Leaders of the Opposition parties, but what I am saying to the Deputy is that we intend now to get on with this quickly, and if there is any point on which the Deputy would like clarification I would be glad to give it to him.
I just want to know the Government's position.
This should not give rise to disputation now.
Is the Taoiseach aware of the content of the "Today Tonight" programme of Tuesday March 12 which featured an IRA attack on a British Army helicopter?
I thought the Deputy had something relevant to raise on the Order of Business.
I am asking does the Taoiseach consider the presence of an RTE camera crew there to be in breach of section 31 and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Deputy should proceed by way of proper questions.
I cannot make it any more plain.
When does the Taoiseach propose to introduce the long promised legislation to amend the Solicitors Act? Will it be this session, this year, or this century?
We had that question the other day. It will not be this session but we intend, if at all possible, to have it next session.
Tomorrow the Dalai Lama, the spiritual and political leader of Tibet, is visiting this country. I would like to raise with the Taoiseach whether he has any plans to meet him or, alternatively, in the light of the fact that the Chinese Embassy have indicated that the Dalai Lama is not welcome here, would he join with me in recording on the record of this House that he is very welcome to come and visit this country despite what the Chinese Embassy says?
There are procedures for dealing with such matters. It is not in order now.
There is an element of urgency about this in that he is coming here tomorrow and that is why I raised the issue.
I am calling Deputy Howlin.
Will the Taoiseach respond?
In relation to promised legislation——
(Interruptions.)
A Deputy
The Deputy does not look unlike him.
(Interruptions.)
It is obviously the west Cork accent.
A Deputy
Perhaps we could arrange a meeting between the two of them.
It is very difficult to follow that. In relation to promised legislation the Taoiseach made another commitment on the Order of Business this morning. May I ask him if his commitment to this House last week that the National Roads Authority Bill would be circulated this session will be met and if we will see sight of the Bill before tomorrow?
It is still hoped to do it, yes.
Tomorrow?
I hope so.
Referring to a statement by the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Treacy, acting on behalf of the Minister for Finance in relation to the 48-hour rule for cross-Border business, I would like to ask the Taoiseach what steps he proposes to take to protect business in the Republic because of the unfair competition that will result from people going across the Border legally to import goods? That will have a very serious effect on businesses along the Border.
The Deputy should pursue that through the proper channels.
Perhaps the Taoiseach might respond to that because it is very serious.
This is not Question Time.
Will the Taoiseach tell us what happened to the colleges Bill due last October. Has it got lost, possibly in the Zoo or some place? We have not heard of it since. Can we expect it next session?
Very soon.
We are going into the recess soon and so it will not be next week. Can the Taoiseach say if it will be before June?
I think I could be reasonably optimistic about next session.
Given that this House will not be sitting next week, and given the involvement of the Minister of State responsible for sport in the matter would the Taoiseach be prepared to outline to this House the safeguards that will be taken by the English Football Association and the British police to ensure the safety of supporters at the match next Wednesday?
Please, Deputy Ryan, desist. This is clearly not in order.
Despite earlier lighthearted exchanges, would it be accepted that the House does not regard the visit to this country of the leader of the Tibetan people and of a major world religion as some sort of a joke? Would the Taoiseach agree that, in view of those exchanges, he should make some effort at least to recognise the visit of this man to this country in view of his importance, indeed in view of the concern of this House about the rights of small nations?
The impending visit of the religious leader of the Tibetan people has been signalled for some time now. I suggest that Deputy Bruton had ample time to table a parliamentary question on the matter when I would have been quite happy to reply.
(Interruptions.)
I am now proceeding to the Order of Business.
Before proceeding to the Order of Business, may I ask the Taoiseach — as I have done on a monthly basis for the past two and a half years — where is the so often promised Competition Bill?
There seems to be competition about who can ask the most questions about the Competition Bill. It is a major piece of complex legislation. It will be published as soon as possible. It is very well advanced and is on the point of publication.
May I ask the Taoiseach——
Deputy Farrelly, please, allow the House to proceed to the Order of Business.
Will the Taoiseach say whether the Government have decided to make extra funds available to repair the roads——
Would Deputy Farrelly please desist? Would the Deputy please resume his seat?
——taking into consideration the fact that three of my colleagues have been unable to arrive here because they are stuck in potholes waiting for people to get them out while the Minister for the Environment is in Canada?