It is proposed to take Nos. 13, 14 and 15. Private Members' Business shall be No. 21.
Order of Business.
There is nothing to put to the House.
I wish to ask the Taoiseach whether the Government have any plans to introduce amendments to the Companies Act in view of the possible gap in the legislation disclosed in replies given by the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications yesterday in so far as the powers of an inspector under section 14 of the Act in regard to the seeking of information on bank accounts and the beneficial interest in transactions are concerned. This arises in relation to the Telecom inquiry.
I wonder whether it is strictly relevant to the Order of Business.
May I assist in the matter by saying that this is an issue that was referred to by the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications yesterday. Clearly, he could not deal with the issue because it is a Government matter to decide on companies legislation. Perhaps the Taoiseach will be able to give me some indication on that in view of the importance of the matter.
Strictly speaking, it does not come within the Chair's terms of promised legislation but, as usual and in accordance with my constant excess of generosity and courtesy in the House, I suggest to the Deputy that probably the best thing to do would be to wait until the present investigations have been completed and then we can consider the matter.
There is a risk the investigations may not be satisfactory as a result.
Is the Taoiseach in a position to announce to the House the date of the publication of the Estimates?
No, not yet, but it is intended to have them before the Christmas recess.
I wish to ask the Chair whether he has reconsidered his decision not to meet me with regard to the matters I sought to raise and have discussed with him.
I have nothing to add to my communication with the Deputy.
May I ask the Chair to indicate to the House when he proposes to call a meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges?
That is a matter for the Members concerned, and the Chair will facilitate them in that regard.
Thank you.
I wish to ask the Taoiseach, in view of the recent statement by District Justice Wine about the unsuitability of the juvenile detention centre at Lusk, what plans he has to bring forward the promised legislation to deal with that matter.
Has legislation been promised in this regard?
No, and it is not a matter for legislation.
Perhaps the Deputy will pursue the issue by way of question or by some other appropriate form.
I wish to ask the Taoiseach when the amendment Bill for Oireachtas allowances and parliamentary pensions will be introduced. Will it be taken this session? When will the provisions of that Bill be brought into effect.
It will certainly be taken this session. The general thrust of the Bill will come into effect immediately. However, as the Deputy knows, some of the provisions relate to things that can happen only after the next general election.
A Cheann Comhairle, you have indicated to me that it is a matter for the Members of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges to call a meeting of that committee. My understanding is that the Government Whip has indicated to my Whip that it is a matter for the Ceann Comhairle to call such a meeting. Indeed, you have on file a letter from Deputy McCartan seeking a meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges to discuss the question of the sub judice rule. That is one of the matters I was anxious to discuss with the Chair. I now ask you to convene a meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges so that that specific issue can be dealt with as a matter of urgency? You have ruled out a number of questions, a Cheann Comhairle on this basis——
Deputy, please.
——specifically in relation to Aer Lingus Holdings, despite the fact that this is an issue that is being debated almost on a daily basis in the media.
Deputy, I have to dissuade you from taking on the Chair so often in this manner. It will not get the Member anywhere.
I am not taking on the Chair; you have refused to meet me.
That is not true.
It is true. I shall read the letter into the record of the House if you wish.
The Chair will facilitate the convening of a meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges whenever that is so desired.
When will that be? We have been back for almost four weeks.
I seek your advice, a Cheann Comhairle, on whether Item No. 49 on the Order Paper will be taken in Government time. I understand there is a precedent for that as it is a Government Standing Order.
I am not too sure to what the Deputy is referring.
Item No. 49.
It is item No. 33 and No. 49.
It refers to the negativing of a statutory instrument by the Minister for Health. There is a prescribed period of time in which the Dáil can discuss that, and Government time would be needed for that discussion.
I presume the Deputy will allow me an opportunity to consider the matter. Perhaps it could be considered by the Whips also.
I wish to ask the Taoiseach when he proposes to have the debate in the House in advance of the Maastricht Summit in view of the fact that the British Government have made a very full statement of what they would not accept at Maastricht and also in view of the fact that the Taoiseach is making a statement outside the House on this matter today. When does he propose to have a discussion in the House on the matter?
My view is that probably the week before the Summit at Maastricht would be the most effective time for such a debate.
Would the Taoiseach not agree that that would leave very little time for the Government's mind to be influenced by anything said here and that an earlier discussion would be more productive from everybody's point of view?
I am easy about the matter, but the nearer we get to the Maastricht meeting the more firm the proposals which we could debate will be.
I wish to ask the Taoiseach whether he has any plans to alter the format of the debate on the Estimates this year. In the past the debate has been very unsatisfactory in so far as scrutinising what is going on and has predominantly comprised word-processed and pre-digested speeches from Ministers.
The normal procedure will be followed but we hope to give more time. I have indicated that we hope to give time to have each Estimate discussed fully.
What about changing——
This should not lead to disputation.
May I suggest to the Taoiseach that the format of the debate be such that there would be an interchange of questions on some of the details which is not permitted under the present system?
Is this not a matter that might be discussed by the Whips?
The Taoiseach said in the House earlier — which I thought was a major step forward — he was going to make special provision this year to allow line-by-line examination of the Estimates. Now it appears it is just a question of more time and that we are not going to have a change in the format of the debate. If that is the case the Taoiseach has taken a step backwards from a statement he made earlier.
This is something that might be resolved, or certainly be gone into by the Whips.
Arising from the Programme for Government under health, the Government are committed to developing the health services to ensure equality of access to services irrespective of means. That is not happening at present, because of the financial circumstances obtaining. There is an urgency about it——
I am sure the Deputy can find a more suitable opportunity to raise that matter.
Can the Taoiseach say whether there has been any further progress made in relation to the production of the legislation to enable the Flynn plan for social housing to proceed; it is promised legislation?
It will be taken this session.
How soon in this session?
This session.
Will it be introduced in time to enable the various regulations to be applied before the end of the year?
The legislation will be taken this session.
As the Chair frequently abides by precedent here may I ask you, sir, at your convenience to convey to my office what precedent, if any, exists for the refusal of the Ceann Comhairle to meet with the leader of a group or party in this House? It is unprecedented.
I think the Deputy is referring to private correspondence which I understand will be raised at the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.
It is no longer private.
I have nothing further to add to or detract from that correspondence, Deputy.
A Cheann Comhairle, it is unprecedented in this House that the Ceann Comhairle refuses to meet the leader of a group in the House to discuss pertinent matters.
The Deputy might look at the full correspondence.
It is unrequited love.
May I revert to the matter of the Maastricht Summit. The Taoiseach will be aware that yesterday the British Government issued a statement, through their Foreign Secretary, setting out fundamental positions on a number of issues. Would the Taoiseach agree that it would be extremely helpful if he would do the same with regard to his Government and allow us debate the issues in this House well before the summit takes place, as is happening in the House across the water?
That matter has been adverted to earlier this morning.
I made a fairly comprehensive statement this morning setting out our position on most matters. Again, the Deputy should understand that the process of negotiation is still in progress. The Deputy should understand also that the approach of the British Government in regard to these negotiations is totally different from ours.
It is much more open.
In relation to promised legislation is it still the intention of the Government to take the Health (Family Planning) (Amendment) Bill in this session?
Yes.
Can the Taoiseach tell us when he envisages the necessary legislation will be introduced in the House for the creation of the Dublin regional health authority to replace the Eastern Health Board?
I am not in a position to say at present. It is not likely to be this session.
May I seek your guidance, Sir, on an issue I have attempted to raise in this House a few times. I tabled questions to the Minister for the Environment and attempted to raise on the Adjournment the growing problem of repossessions and evictions and I was told on each occasion that that is not the responsibility of the Minister for the Environment. May I ask whose responsibility is it, please?
The Deputy might communicate with my office in that regard and we will endeavour to be of some help to him.