It is proposed to take Nos. 1 and 8. It is also proposed that No. 1 be taken without debate.
Order of Business.
Is the proposal that No. 1 be taken without debate agreed? Agreed.
Have the Government parties yet decided on when the Dáil will resume after the summer recess?
The Deputy will be told that first thing tomorrow morning on the Order of Business.
Is the Taoiseach telling us that the Government have not yet made up their minds on this? What is the secret?
I am following precedent and tradition, and judging by the benches opposite, I think the recess could not come a moment too soon.
I can assure the Taoiseach that we would be very happy to remain here for a number of weeks if that would enable the Government——
(Interruptions.)
——to clear the legislative programme for this year, only half of which has been enacted. At least half of the Bills which the Government said they wanted to put through before this summer have not yet been enacted. We are prepared to stay here as long as is necessary to clear that backlog.
Will the Taoiseach give us some information with regard to the draft motion that is proposed for Dáil Éireann for tomorrow. I understand it is intended to place in the Library of the House or lay before the Dáil a motion regarding the provision of a monitoring mission to Yugoslavia. Is it intended to let us have sight of that motion before tomorrow? I understand that an hour is to be allowed for a debate on it. In the circumstances it cannot be regarded as simply a technical matter. It has fairly major political implications for the European Community, particularly if it is intended that this mission will be a military mission.
As the Deputy correctly states, it is proposed to take the motion tomorrow morning and to give an hour to discuss it, but I understood that this had already been agreed.
I am not objecting to the taking of the motion or to the time allocated to it. I want to know if we will see the instrument which we are being asked to approve. We have not seen it yet.
The matter as the Deputy will appreciate is being handled as expeditiously as possible. It is something that has to be done with considerable haste. We will arrange to let the Deputies have the documents as soon as possible.
I take it that we will have it before we start debating it tomorrow morning.
Yes, I hope so.
I understand that a select committee on crime will be appointed by motion here today. Given the Dublin City Coroner's reported comments which are very critical of the Legislature and the fact that there is not a forum to examine the causes of suicide and the ways of dealing with reporting the matter and with the treatment of people affected by suicides, would it be in order, since the House will go into recess tomorrow, for the House will go ask that committee as a matter of urgency to examine this matter and report on it.
It is not in order to discuss that now. It would be a matter for agreement between the Whips.
Is dócha go dtuigeann an Taoiseach mar Aire Gaeltachta nach bhfuil cathaoirleach ná aon bhall ainmnithe ar Údarás na Gaeltachta ó dheireadh na míosa seo caite. Cén uair atá sé ar intinn aige cathaoirleach agus baill Údarás na Gaeltachta a ainmniú.
Níl sé oiriúnach ceist mar sin a chur anois.
Ní bheidh deis agam an cheist a chur go dtí mí Dheireadh Fómhair, de réir na dtuairiscí.
Ní ormsa atá an locht sin. Tuigeann an Teachta nach mbeadh díospóireacht náceisteanna faoi sin in ordú ag an bpointe seo.
Níl díospóireacht ar intinn agam ach an bhfeádfadh an Taoiseach leid a thabhairt dúinn an ndéanfar é gan mhoill.
Níl sé in ordú go dtabharfadh an Taoiseach aon leid.
Gan mhoill.
Could the Taoiseach clarify the exact position relating to the proposed family planning legislation and will it be published during the recess to give Deputies a chance to——
Were you not in the House? I answered that yesterday.
It was not answered in the House. The Taoiseach uttered some words on the subject yesterday but they did not amount to an answer.
Deputy Pat Lee.
Can I ask a question with regard to promised legislation?
That would be in order.
Does the Taoiseach propose to take action with regard to two items of promised legislation contained in the joint Programme for Government negotiated exactly two years ago.
Was the legislation promised in the House?
These were also promised in the House subsequently.
It would help if the Deputy would indicate the promised legislation.
I will if the Chair will allow me. The first relates to a change in the libel laws, and the second relates to properly governed telephone tapping which the House may recollect posed something of a problem some years ago.
The law on libel has been referred to the Law Reform Commission. It is hoped that the legislation dealing with telecommunications to which the Deputy referred will be taken in the next session.
Two nights ago a Member of this House fell and seriously injured herself in the Dáil Chamber. Approximately one year ago I had occasion to be involved in a similar incident and to point out to the House the dreadful lack of medical equipment and facilities——
Please Deputy Lee, however unfortunate and however meritorious the point, it is not one appropriate to the Order of Business.
I suggest that because of the lack of medical facilities the Members of this House could be in serious danger——
——and the staff.
And the staff indeed. The sum involved is £3,000 and there appears to be——
It would be for the Committee on Procedure and Privileges to decide on that matter. It is not a matter for discussion now.