Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 19 Jun 1991

Vol. 409 No. 10

Order of Business.

The Taoiseach

It is proposed to take Nos. 2, 3, 7, 10 and 11.

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 following arrangements shall apply for the debate on No. 7: (a) speeches, which shall be confined to the main spokesperson nominated by each of the groups as defined in Standing Order 89 (1) (a) shall not exceed 15 minutes, and (b) the concluding speech of the Minister for Justice shall not exceed five minutes and (3) the proceedings on the Committee Stage of No. 10, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 10.30 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 Justice. Private Members' Business shall be No. 20.

An Ceann Comhairle

May I ask if the proposal that business be interrupted at 10.30 p.m. tonight is agreed? Agreed. Are the arrangements for dealing with item No. 7 agreed? Agreed. Are the proposals for dealing with item No. 10 agreed? Agreed.

Mr. J. Bruton

In view of the suggestion that we may not have business to fully take up the time of the House tomorrow, will the Taoiseach agree to give time this week for the debate he promised on affairs in the European Community before the Summit? There is an urgent necessity for us to discuss the changes in the Common Agricultural Policy which could cost this country 16,000 industrial jobs and 22,000 farm jobs. Does the Taoiseach not agree that this matter must be discussed at the Summit and that this House must be given the opportunity of putting forward its views on the matter to him before he goes to the Summit?

The Taoiseach

I do not think the Deputy does the farmers of Ireland any service by making these alarmist and unfounded statements.

A Deputy

The Taoiseach does them no service.

The Taoiseach

Unfortunately, I cannot be here tomorrow as I am meeting President Mitterand in Paris in advance of the Summit. I still think the arrangement I have suggested will be the most beneficial.

Mr. J. Bruton

Will the Taoiseach agree, therefore, to raise with President Mitterrand, who is one of the important actors on the European Stage, the grave worries of the entire Irish community about the loss of thousands upon thousands of jobs as a result of the prospective changes in the Common Agricultural Policy? Will the Taoiseach raise that matter tomorrow?

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy Bruton is deviating from the Order of Business in a very distinct way.

Mr. J. Bruton

I do not think the House realises the sense of fear which exists about these prospective job losses.

An Ceann Comhairle

I am sorry, Deputy Bruton, there are other ways of raising these important matters.

Mr. J. Bruton

I intend to use every such opportunity.

An Ceann Comhairle

My office will assist the Deputy in the matter, if it can.

Mr. Spring

On a similar and related matter, I am sure the Taoiseach is aware that the 34th and 35th reports on developments in the European Communities have come to hand in recent days. I suggest to the Taoiseach that these reports should form the basis of a debate in this House. Like Deputy Bruton, I too will be requesting a debate if the House does not have adequate business to keep it employed tomorrow. The Taoiseach will not be available for such a debate tomorrow but we should use the 34th and 35th reports as the basis for a debate on developments in the European Community at the earliest possible date. Such a debate has to recognise the serious difficulties this country is facing in relation to European developments.

The Taoiseach

I dealt with this matter in the unavoidable absence of the Deputy.

Mr. Spring

I heard the Taoiseach had some other problems of his own making.

The Taoiseach

No doubt he was gainfully employed somewhere else. I have already suggested to the House — I thought I had secured its acquiescence to this proposal — that I would report to the House on the Luxembourg Summit and we could avail of that occasion to extend that normal reporting business into a debate.

Mr. Deasy

Assuming we do not have enough business for tomorrow and that the Taoiseach will not agree to the suggestions by the leaders of the Fine Gael and Labour parties, will he agree to have a debate on this year's Brussels farm price package?

Mr. McCormack

And the collapse in sheep prices.

The Taoiseach

These are matters for the Whips to discuss.

Mr. McCormack

The Taoiseach is running away from the matter.

Mr. Deasy

As far as I know the Government Whip will not agree. Will the Taoiseach agree?

Mr. Connaughton

What is worse is that the Minister for Agriculture and Food does not know an awful lot more.

Mr. Enright

The Government Whip gets his instructions from the Taoiseach.

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy Shatter is offering.

Mr. McCormack

The Taoiseach does not know anything about the price of sheep.

Mr. Shatter

The Roads Bill which seeks to establish a national roads authority has been on the Order Paper for some weeks. It seems that the Government want to avoid a debate on this Bill in advance of the local elections because of the intention to impose a toll on the Dublin motorway ring route system. If the Taoiseach is not willing to have a debate on EC affairs tomorrow, will he consider giving the House an opportunity to start the debate on the Roads Bill so that the electorate in the local elections will clearly know it is the Government's intention to toll the Dublin ring route?

Mr. Quinn

Such a debate is three years overdue.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy has made his point. The Roads Bill is promised legislation——

Mr. Shatter

Alternatively, the Taoiseach should be given an opportunity to respond to that issue in the House.

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy Shatter may not elaborate now.

The Taoiseach

I have dealt with the Roads Bill on a number of occasions and as the Ceann Comhairle and I know——

Mr. J. Mitchell

For whom the bell tolls.

The Taoiseach

——Deputy Shatter is just using this matter to make an election speech.

Mr. Quinn

And the Taoiseach is not a politician?

(Interruptions.)

The Taoiseach

Let me admit that it is a reasonably legitimate tactic but let me also say that it will avail him nothing.

(Interruptions.)

Mr. Enright

It is a temptation the Taoiseach would avoid himself.

Mr. J. Mitchell

For whom the road tolls.

An Ceann Comhairle

Let us come to the Order of Business proper.

Mr. Shatter

This item has been on the Order Paper for six weeks but, because the Minister for the Environment has put his foot in it, the Government have decided to bury it until after the local elections.