It is proposed to take Nos. 11 and 12. Private Members' Business shall be No. 31, motion No. 49.
Order of Business.
There is nothing to put to the House.
Is the Taoiseach going to make a statement in this House on the decision of his Government to refuse to allow the President to deliver the Dimbleby Lecture?
Deputy Bruton——
The Cabinet decision——
—— I have ruled that matter out of order.
On a point of order——
I will hear no further points of order on this matter. The Chair has made the matter clear. There can be no reference to the Presidency.
I do not wish to make a reference to the office holder in question. I merely wish to question the position of the Cabinet who are accountable to this House. Why did the Cabinet take a decision——
There is no precedent for allowing questions concerning the President.
——which resulted in Ireland losing the opportunity to put its case to the world through the Dimbleby Lecture? Did the Government needlessly throw away this opportunity for petty and narrow reasons?
The Chair insists that matters appertaining to the Presidency should not be dragged into this House in this fashion.
Are they afraid——
I and my party share your concern, Sir, for the correct observance of relationship between this House and that of the Presidency. Does the Taoiseach intend at any stage to avail of the various avenues open to him to discuss with party leaders the enhanced potential the Presidency now might have within the strict regards of protocol and precedent? He might avail of an opportunity to discuss in an appropriate manner and in an appropriate place with party leaders the way in which the Presidency can be maximised for everybody in this island.
I would doubt the constitutional validity of any such discussion.
Sir, I am conscious of the sensitivity of this matter. May I request the Taoiseach, with regard to the precedent which has operated over many years and over many tenures of the Office of the Taoiseach, if he is prepared to review precedent in relation to such matters, one of which was the subject of controversy earlier this week? If he is in a position to so do, might he consult then with party leaders in an appropriate way?
It would be better if these matters were discussed outside the Chamber. The Chair is very conscious of the need to uphold a position——
As are this party.
I have made my position crystal clear on this matter.
Is it in order that the Fianna Fáil Press Office can issue a press statement about this matter and it cannot be discussed here in this House?
I submitted a question to the Taoiseach relating to this matter and it was ruled out of order on the basis that the Taoiseach has no responsibility to the House on the matter. Will you, Sir, at some point, having read out precedent with regard to controversy on the Presidency and of not debating the Presidency per se in this House, take the opportunity to say how we in this House, an arm of the State, in this democratically elected assembly of the people, might get a statement from the Taoiseach in this House on how the Presidency is being treated by the present Government? It is important that we get that clarified.
Deputy De Rossa, I can only repeat what I have already said.
I want to reject some of the implications in Deputy De Rossa's statement. I assure you, Sir, that the Government will abide by the rules of this House and precedent and the constitutional position. I want to assure you that the Government will fully and honourably discharge their constitutional obligations on this and all other matters.
I am going on to the business of the House proper. I understand that Deputy Barrett wishes to move a Bill in his name.
First, on the Order of Business, may I ask the Taoiseach if he can give some indication when the report into the alleged leaking of documents to the IRA by the Garda Síochána back in April will be available?
Please, Deputy Barrett. I presumed the Deputy had something appropriate to raise on the Order of Business.
It was raised in the House. The Taoiseach made a statement in the House about this.
A statement and promised legislation are two different things. Is the Deputy moving his Bill?