It is proposed to take Nos. 13, 14 and 15. It is also proposed, subject to the agreement of the House, that: 1. business shall be interrupted at 10.30 p.m. tonight; 2. the proceedings on Committee Stage of No. 13 and on Report and Final Stages of No. 14, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 5.00 p.m. and 7.00 p.m. respectively by one Question in each case which shall be put from the Chair and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only amendments set down by the member of the Government in charge of the Bill and 3. Private Members' Business shall be No. 24.
Order of Business.
I must now ask if the proposal that business be interrupted at 10.30 tonight is agreed? Agreed. Are the proposals for dealing with Nos. 13 and 14 agreed? Agreed.
Will the Taoiseach reconsider his withdrawal of an offer yesterday to have a debate on the proceedings of the Intergovernmental Conferences in the House in view of the fact that, even though the defence issue may not be as imminent as it appeared to be before, there are other vital issues for Ireland, including the financing of the Community and the competence of the Community, on which Members would have something constructive to say which they cannot say in the absence of a foreign affairs committee?
Am I to take it this refers to the foreign affairs committee?
No. It refers to the debate.
I am at a loss as to how it refers to matters appropriate to the Order of Business.
As usual with Deputy Bruton it is a borderline case, but you and I are so courteous that we will not indulge him in this matter. I did not withdraw the offer of a debate. I just suggested that, because of the way things are developing in the two IGCs, it might be more fruitful if we had it later. I also suggested to the Deputy that I would be in a much better position to let the Deputies know the position after I have met the President of the Council which I will do very shortly.
I do not wish to take up too much time on this issue but Members might wish to express their views on the matter to the Government before the Government go to the summit so that the members' views may be reflected in the position taken by the Government to the extent possible. For that reason I would hope the Taoiseach might agree. I will pursue the matter through the Whips rather than questioning the Taoiseach further.
In view of the impending disaster in the African continent, in Ethiopia and many other countries, and the inevitable loss of life, would the Taoiseach consider the Government taking a special initiative in view of the fact that a meeting of the Council of Ministers is due to take place in June? Does the Taoiseach not feel that the Government should take the lead in relation to this disaster and try to get the European Community to respond to the serious difficulties and problems facing the African continent?
I would wish very much to assist the Deputy in having this matter raised appropriately but it does not seem to arise on the Order of Business.
I shall try to contact your office to raise the matter.
I would be glad to assist the Deputy in the matter.
I wish to raise the question of the foreign affairs committee which the Taoiseach has on a number of occasions indicated he is interested in establishing. With other party leaders I met the Taoiseach some months ago to discuss the matter. In the light of the important issues which this House should be addressing with regard to foreign affairs, when it is proposed to establish the committee? Will the Taoiseach indicate to the House what precisely is holding up the establishment of this committee in view of the fact that at this point all parties in the House feel there should be one?
This matter was adverted to on many occasions in the House on the Order of Business.
We had no meeting.
I have nothing further to add on this.
I do not know whether Deputy De Rossa met the Taoiseach but certainly the Taoiseach had no meeting with my party.
That at least is a bit of information with regard to this problem. I understood meetings had taken place with all parties.
I did meet with Fine Gael.
Will the Taoiseach indicate what precisely is holding up the establishment of the committee? My understanding is that the Government Whip indicated it was not a matter for him but for the Taoiseach. May I have clarification now on what is holding this up?
The Deputy has put his point of view and put it rather strongly.
We should get an answer.
I await a response if that is so.
On the same subject, and so the Taoiseach can respond comprehensively, it is the case that before this proposal was firmed up the Taoiseach met the deputy leader of my party but, subsequent to that, I wrote to the Taoiseach setting out Fine Gael's views on the matter and the Taoiseach to date has not replied to that letter.
That should not arise now. Perhaps it is a matter the Whips might discuss again.
The position is that an attempt has been made by the Whip of my party to discuss this matter through the Whips, and the Government Whip indicated that he has no basis on which he could discuss the matter as he had no instructions from the Taoiseach. The problem is that the Taoiseach has not given an indication as to his views on the establishment of a foreign affairs committee.
Last week on the Order of Business I requested, in relation to the legislative programme, that the Taoiseach arrange with his Whip to brief the Opposition party Whips about the legislative programme we will be facing in view of the need for Opposition parties to prepare for legislation. I would draw the Taoiseach's attention to the fact that between now and the week of the local elections we have nine sitting days, if we do not sit on Fridays, and if we come back for two weeks after that, which is the understanding, we have only an additional six days. In total we are looking at a maximum of 18 working days to implement the legislative programme. Would it not be reasonable for the Taoiseach to instruct his Whip to indicate what legislation it is intended to take within that timetable? Otherwise we will have the unsatisfactory guillotine process continuing.
The Whip intends to keep in touch with the other Whips about the other business we hope to hear transacted before the summer recess.
In relation to a foreign affairs committee, in view of the fact that we now have further information from Fine Gael in regard to an apparent obstacle at that level, and as the Government Whip has indicated he has no function in the matter, will the Taoiseach consider initiating a further round of talks with the parties in Opposition to try to finally resolve whatever difficulties are there so this important committee can be established?
(Interruptions.)
I will consider that.
Sir, I wonder if your office can assist me. I would like to know whether sufficient time has elapsed for me to raise again the abandonment of the Tallaght Hospital and the crisis this is causing for people in the region. As elections——
This matter should be raised with my office in the ordinary way.
In view of the unsatisfactory announcement made yesterday by the Minister for Agriculture and Food in connection with the extension of disadvantaged areas, will the Taoiseach agree to give the House sufficient time to debate this all-important matter?
Deputy Sheehan will please raise that matter at the appropriate time.
Sir, as you are, no doubt, painfully aware, we get into considerable difficulties in this House regarding what is and is not promised in the House. Will the Minister for the Environment avail of the opportunity to promise in the House what the Taoiseach has promised outside the House vis-à-vis the downstream crossing in Cork?
The legislation must be promised in the House before it is in order to refer to it in this way.
The second matter I would like to raise refers to the ongoing strike in the farm development service. This was discussed——
Deputy Creed, I really thought you had something relevant to raise on the Order of Business. This is completely out of order.
(Interruptions.)
It is very relevant.
Please, Deputy, you may raise that matter only at the appropriate time.
I tried raising it by way of private notice question——
Deputy Creed will now resume his seat.
I would like to ask the Taoiseach if he is aware that there are now no plain clothes crime prevention units in the Dublin Metropolitan area——
I am proceeding to the business of the House. Deputies are raising matters which they know full well are not in order. Deputy Durkan on promised legislation.
On promised legislation, let me ask the Minister for the Environment when it is proposed to introduce legislation to allow the promised shared ownership loans to be processed by the local authorities and thereby eliminate the anxiety that exists at present among people who are prospective applicants.
I have answered that question several times. The legislation will be introduced as soon as possible but in the meantime there is nothing to prevent the various schemes announced by the Minister proceeding.
That is misleading. The Taoiseach may wish to consult with his Minister. In fairness, the Taoiseach has just misled the House because he does not fully know what he is talking about.
A Deputy
That is not the case.
The Minister indicated that he was taking legal advice on the matter and was to make a statement but he has not done that.
There are many ways of clarifying matters.
We put down a question and the Minister answered it. He said he was going to make regulations. We have not seen those yet.
There is obviously confusion on that and it needs clarification as a matter of urgency.
Is the Taoiseach in a position or will he shortly be in a position to advise us as to when the crime committee will be established?
Shortly, very soon.
I am the Deputy who planted the idea of shared ownership in the mind of the Minister for the Environment who has in private conversation assured me that things are correct and on stream, but the information I have from Donegal County Council is that they cannot move in this regard. Will the Minister make a statement at the earliest possible date to clarify the position? Furthermore, will he indicate to the House how he imagines the Society of St. Vincent de Paul should be better equipped to build houses than local authorities are?
Please Deputy, let us have regard to what is relevant to the Order of Business.
I hold that this issue is relevant to the Order of Business because the Minister is on record yesterday as having called on local Society of St. Vincent de Paul units to become involved in building houses.
Deputy Harte, please.
How could they possibly do so? The Minister built 16 houses——
Deputy Harte, this is not in order now.
——and 600 people have been left homeless——
Deputy Harte will resume his seat.
——in the last few years.
Deputy Harte will resume his seat. I am proceeding to the Order of Business proper.
(Interruptions.)
May I ask the Taoiseach if the legislation to amend the Solicitors Act will be introduced in this session as promised?
We are still proceeding with it. We had hoped to introduce it in this session, but that is proceeding.
A Cheann Comhairle——
Sorry, I am not calling the Deputy again. I am proceeding now to deal with the Health (Amendment) Bill, 1991 in Committee.
(Interruptions.)
In respect of an appeal to the Taoiseach——