It is proposed to take Nos. 13, 2, 14, and 1. It is also proposed, subject to the agreement of the House, that (1) business shall be interrupted today at 6.30 p.m. and (2) No. 1 shall be taken at 5 p.m. and shall be brought to a conclusion not later than 6.30 p.m.
Order of Business.
May I now ask if the proposal that business be interrupted at 6.30 p.m. this evening is agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal that No. 1 be taken at 5 p.m. to be concluded not later than 6.30 p.m., agreed? Agreed.
May I ask the Taoiseach if the proposes to introduce legislation to give genuine statutory authority to the proposed task force on jobs in view of the fact that if they lack such authority they will be seen simply as a talking shop and the Taoiseach's concern about the unemployment problem will be seen as similar to his discovery of a health crisis in the midst of a general election?
I am not aware that legislation has been proposed in this House in respect of that matter.
I appreciate that, but will the Ceann Comhairle not agree that a task force of this kind will mean nothing unless they have statutory authority and the only body to give them statutory authority——
This matter should be raised at the appropriate time.
It will be raised again, Sir.
Following yesterday's meeting with the trade union representatives, and today's meetings with the other social partners, may I ask the Taoiseach if it is the Government's intention to make time available next week to report back to this House on the outcome of those talks?
Again, this is not appropriate to the Order of Business.
I thought that might be in order.
That is not customary.
In relation to the growing and clearly acknowledged crisis of unemployment in this State, will the Taoiseach not regard it as appropriate that, following his meeting with the ICTU and the proposed meeting with the employers today——
I have ruled that this matter is not appropriate on the Order of Business.
Sir, if you allow me to complete my question you can then rule on whether it is in order. Will the Taoiseach not agree that it would be appropriate for this House to debate the proposals the Government are making to deal with this crisis and that it would be appropriate that this take place as soon as possible following his meetings with the various groups?
That is something the Whips might decide upon.
I want to refer to something which is customary, that the House debate the outcome of the annual price negotiations in Brussels. I asked this question of the Taoiseach yesterday and he did not reply. Will he allow Government time to debate this very serious issue?
Deputy Deasy, this is clearly not a matter for the Order of Business. I advised the Deputy yesterday that there were other ways and means open to him of raising this matter. It is not one for the Order of Business.
I have no other way of raising this matter than on the Order of Business. It is known procedure for the Government to volunteer time for this discussion.
The Deputy might put down a question on this matter to ascertain the facts. I am calling Deputy McCartan.
It would be unprecedented if this debate did not take place.
I have called another Deputy.
I would like the Taoiseach to volunteer Government time to discuss the disastrous state of affairs emanating from the Brussels talks.
(Interruptions.)
I am insisting that we have Government time to discuss this matter.
Deputy Deasy, the Chair must insist that order be maintained in this House. I have ruled the matter to which you refer out of order.
The matter is so serious——
I must ask you to desist from any further reference to it.
It is so serious——
I must ask the Deputy to resume his seat.
I am insisting——
I must ask you, if you do not resume your seat and obey the Chair, to leave the House.
It is outrageous.
Deputy Deasy, I must ask you now to leave the House.
I expect the Government to agree to that debate next week at the very latest.
Deputy Deasy withdrew from the Chamber.
May I ask the Taoiseach when or if legislation will be brought before the House arising from the review of the various Departments' positions with regard to facilitating the Government to sign the UN Declaration on the rights of children?
Was legislation promised in this area?
There is a review underway.
Legislation is not necessary for us to sign.
Deputy Quinn rose.
Deputy Quinn, order, please. The Deputy may not pursue the matter now.
If legislation is not necessarily promised when will the Government be signing the important declaration on the rights of the child?
There are other ways and means of dealing with the matter.
The Taoiseach might have taken the opportunity to assure the House, Sir, in response to what is a very important issue——
A Cheann Comhairle, could you advise the House in relation to practice on the Order of Business? It has been customary for Opposition Deputies to inquire from Government spokespersons and from the Taoiseach in particular if time would be made available to discuss various matters.
The Chair has sought to clarify that matter on a number of occasions, has circulated Members in respect of it on a number of occasions and will do so again if necessary.
It would appear, Sir, from your ruling now that any question regarding time allocation is not in order on the Order of Business and you say there are other methods open to us——
There are.
I have to tell you, Sir, and you would not be responsible for this nor would I hold you so, that there are no other methods because the Government Chief Whip will simply say that he does not know.
Deputy Quinn may not engage in argument with the Chair. I am calling Deputy John Bruton.
Sir, may I ask the Taoiseach when the Irish Land Commission Bill which the Government put before this House in 1989 — two years ago — will be given Government time for debate in this House?
I have already explained to the House that that piece of legislation has to await another piece of legislation — the Irish Land Bond Bill.
How long will we have to await that other piece of legislation?
Not very long.
How long is not very long?
I could not say at this stage.
Would the Taoiseach like to hazard a guess? Will it be before the recess?
I do not think so.
May I ask the Taoiseach, following the publication of the Kingston report, whether he anticipates that legislation will be necessary in view of the fact that the publication of this report has removed the one remaining pretext in the way of building the Tallaght regional hospital——
Deputy Rabbitte knows full well that there are far more appropriate ways of raising that matter than on the Order of Business.
That is the only way that is open to me.
My office will be glad to assist you in the matter, Deputy, if you will make the appropriate inquiry.
I would like to bring to your notice and seek your guidance in relation to the refusal by the Minister for Agriculture and Food to answer questions in my name on 5 June. I regard the withholding of information as a very serious matter in respect of questions asked on behalf of constituents.
I want to assist the Deputy in respect of the matter. Perhaps he would contact my office.
With your permission, may I ask the Taoiseach and, indeed, the Minister for Health, if they are aware that in most cases in the Eastern Health Board area they are four months in arrears and in some cases six months in arrears with their payments of subvention grants to private nursing homes for geriatric patients?
It is no pleasure for the Chair to seek to obstruct Deputy——
It is no pleasure for me to have to raise this matter here. There are families out there, PAYE taxpayers' who are in serious financial difficulties because the Minister will not pay——
Deputy Lee will have to learn to obey the rules governing the Order of Business. If he persists in this matter I shall not call him in future.
On 9 May I asked the Taoiseach on the Order of Business in relation to promised legislation whether it was proposed to take the three Education Bills promised — the colleges Bill, the Dublin Institute of Technology Bill and the University of Limerick Bill — and the Taoiseach replied "yes". In view of the fact that the University of Limerick Bill went through this House yesterday may I ask the Taoiseach if the expectation in relation to the other two Bills will be realised this term?
It is hoped to publish them before the end of this session.
Will they be taken?
I doubt it.
You promised they would.
In the area of promised legislation, may I ask the Minister for the Environment when he intends to make his long promised announcement in relation to the shared home ownership loan scheme? He has been making sounds about it but nothing positive.
Deputy Harte is offering. We had this matter yesterday and the day before.
Can the Minister——
Please, Deputy, a rehash of yesterday's business is not in order.
This matter was announced in the budget and several announcements have been made since. All over the country people are inquiring and the Minister is keeping people waiting unnecessarily and causing much anxiety and hardship.
We have had that yesterday and perhaps last week also.
I recommend that the Deputy reads his daily newspaper today.
(Interruptions.)
I am calling Deputy Harte.
In relation to promised legislation, and taking up the point made by Deputy Durkan, I have it from the grapevine that the Minister has circulated some information but that it is not very clear. In view of the revolutionary thinking on this matter, perhaps the Minister would avail of this opportunity to clarify what precisely is the position. I understand that he has information which is not very clear to the local authorities, particularly to my local authority. Perhaps the Minister would at this stage say something to the House on the exact position.
Say something, Minister.
Let him speak.
Let the matter be pursued in the normal way.
There are many matters raised here that I could give replies to but I am prevented by the rules of order from giving replies. The Government are placed at a serious disadvantage. I protest, a Cheann Comhairle, that every morning on the Order of Business, Opposition Deputies raise points, make speeches about them, and we are prevented by the rules of order from replying.
(Interruptions.)
I am calling Item No. 13.