Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 20 Nov 1991

Vol. 413 No. 2

Order of Business.

The Taoiseach

It is proposed to take Nos. 2, 12, 13 17, 3, 18, 19, 20, 21, 4 and 22. It is also proposed, subject to the agreement of the House, that Nos. 2, 12 and 13 shall be taken without debate; (2) the proceedings on Committee Stage of No. 17, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 1.30 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; (3) the Seanad amendments will be debated together, not more than 30 minutes being allotted to such debate, and the proceedings on the amendments shall be brought to a conclusion by one question.

Private Members' Business shall be No. 26.

An Ceann Comhairle

I must now ask if the proposal that Nos. 2, 12 and 13 be decided without debate is agreed.

Mr. McCartan

In respect of Item No. 12 which proposes that the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General be referred to the Committee of Public Accounts, there is no objection to that proposal but this item was not discussed at a Whips' meeting. While we agree that it should be referred to the Committee of Public Accounts, I would like to put down a marker that this should not preclude a debate taking place in the Chamber. We are anxious to request the Taoiseach at the next Whips meeting to have a full debate on that important report in the Chamber at the earliest possible opportunity.

An Ceann Comhairle

I take it that item is agreed? Agreed. May I ask if the proposal for dealing with No. 17 is satisfactory and agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with the Seanad amendments to the Sea Pollution Bill, 1990 agreed? Agreed.

Mr. J. Bruton

In respect of the debate which has been promised before the summit at Maastricht takes place in regard to matters that are to be discussed there, may I ask the Taoiseach if he would agree that such a debate should be founded on a motion tabled by the Government in which they state their policy on the subject rather than have a series of bland statements? May I further ask the Taoiseach if he would agree that this debate should take place very soon in view of the fact that other parliaments in Europe are already giving their governments their views in time to influence the result? The danger is that our debate here will be so late as to have no influence.

The Taoiseach

I have already asked the Chief Whip to arrange for the debate to take place next week. The form of the debate can be discussed between the Whips.

Mr. Spring

I am sure the Taoiseach is aware that the local authorities are trying to put together their estimates for this year in the absence of a notification of the rates support grant. May I ask him when the Government will be in a position to notify the local authorities of the rates support grant?

An Ceann Comhairle

I am afraid, Deputy Spring, that clearly is not a matter for the Order of Business. I should like the Deputy to raise it in another way.

Mr. Spring

May I also ask the Taoiseach when the Estimates will be published?

The Taoiseach

I have answered that question several times.

Mr. J. Mitchell

Very unsatisfactorily.

The Taoiseach

I am very sorry if Deputy Mitchell finds it unsatisfactory but I am afraid there are many things in this life that Deputy Mitchell very justifiably finds unsatisfactory. The Estimates will be published before the Christmas recess.

Mr. McCartan

May I ask the Taoiseach if either he or the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications will take time to address the House today with regard to the collapse of Century Radio and whether some indication will be given as to what the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications intends to do with regard to future broadcasting policy? May I also ask the Taoiseach if he will advise the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications that any proposal to distribute State revenue through the licence fee will lead this House into major rows similar to those we had a short time ago.

An Ceann Comhairle

Please, Deputy McCartan; I understand that legislation has been promised in this area. That is the only matter that can arise this morning and the Taoiseach may wish to comment on that only. There can be no debate——

Mr. McCartan

May I ask the Taoiseach——

An Ceann Comhairle

Please Deputy; you have made your point and you have made your request. It is now open to the Minister or the Taoiseach to reply.

The Taoiseach

The Deputy did not specifically ask me about the broadcasting legislation but the position is that proposals are before the Government. I take exception to a Deputy threatening that this House will be plunged into disorder if a particular course of action is taken. I presume the Deputy——

Mr. McCartan

Has the Taoiseach forgotten that Deputy Burke attempted only a year ago——

An Ceann Comhairle

Please, this should not lead to disorder now.

The Taoiseach

I presume Deputy McCartan will adhere to the rules of the House and proper procedures, whatever business we transact.

Mr. McCartan

I am only giving advice that the Taoiseach should avoid a fiasco similar to the one of last year.

An Ceann Comhairle

Order, please.

Mr. J. Bruton

I believe reports appeared in the media over the weekend to the effect that the Taoiseach intended to introduce national heritage legislation or amendments to existing legislation in that area. May I ask the Taoiseach if there is any such intention?

An Ceann Comhaire

If it was not promised in this House it is not in order now.

Mr. J. Bruton

I am not quite sure whether it was or not, but could the Taoiseach indicate——

An Ceann Comhairle

The Chair is.

Mr. Quinn

May I ask the Taoiseach if he would clarify a comment he made earlier in reply to a question concerning Friday week's business which I gather is to be the debate on the Maastricht Summit? Did he say that if the Opposition were to propose motions in relation to that debate he would favourably consider them?

The Taoiseach

What I said was that the form of the debate could be discussed by the Whips.

Mr. Quinn

If I could clarify, a Cheann Comhairle, with your permission, what a discussion with the new Whip actually means perhaps those discussions might prove more fruitful than previous discussions.

(Interruptions.)

Mr. Quinn

One always seizes the chance when one has it. Did the Taoiseach say that if we were to propose a motion for Friday week, with the vote to be taken at another time, which is the norm, he would favourably consider such a motion as distinct from the meaningless series of statements which, again, is the norm?

The Taoiseach

I am a little disappointed at the trend emerging this morning in respect of this matter. I had hoped that there would have been a constructive discussion and I deplore an attempt to turn it into a party political type debate, which is not called for.

Mr. Farrelly

You will all be in the same boat.

The Taoiseach

My suggestion is, as usual, an eminently reasonable and sensible one, namely, that the Whips would discuss the form which the debate might take.

Mr. Quinn

I assure the Taoiseach that it is not our intention to do any such thing. We want to try to strengthen his rather weak hand in Maastricht by giving him a resolution of this House.

Mr. Howlin

As the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health are present, I wish to ask whether it is proposed in this session to proceed with the Health (Family Planning) (Amendment) Bill as published?

The Taoiseach

I have answered that question at least ten times.

Mr. Howlin

In view of the statement attributed to the new Minister for Health over the weekend that there might be substantive amendments to that Bill, is it proposed to proceed with it in its published form? It is a simple question.

Mr. Rabbitte

Get the young TDs to vote for it.

The Taoiseach

I keep advising the Deputies opposite to try to stop this obsessive interest they have in newspaper headlines

Mr. Quinn

Does the Taoiseach not believe in safe practices?

Mr. Shatter

Will the Bill be withdrawn?

The Taoiseach

This does not get us anywhere.

Mr. Byrne

Given the enthusiastic response of the Fine Gael group to reports in the newspapers over the weekend in regard to the bus competition Bill, will the Taoiseach say whether the Bill will be produced in the very near future? Will the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications assure the House that he will meet the CIE group of unions before the Bill is introduced in the House?

The Taoiseach

The legislation will not be before the House this session.

Mr. J. Bruton

Will the Taoiseach say when it is likely to take No. 23 on today's Order Paper — the Irish Land Commission (Dissolution) Bill — which was tabled in 1989? I understand there is accompanying legislation and I should like to know when it will be introduced.

The Taoiseach

The Deputy knows that land policy is something which emerges over centuries and I do not know if there is any urgency about the matter.

Mr. J. Bruton

The Taoiseach's inspiration, Charles Stewart Parnell, displayed greater urgency in dealing with matters of that kind.

Mr. McCartan

When will the proposed new legislation on equality in employment be circulated? It is in the new Programme for Government which the Taoiseach agreed with his partners.

The Taoiseach

I will communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. J. Higgins

In the light of the renegotiated Programme for Government and the clear commitment given to the publication of a Green Paper on Education before Christmas, is it still anticipated that deadline will be met?

Mr. Currie

Nobody knows.

The Taoiseach

This does not deal with legislation, it is more appropriate to a Dáil Question.

Mr. J. Higgins

It is about a Green Paper, leading to a White Paper which, in turn, will lead to an education Bill.

An Ceann Comhairle

There are other ways of dealing with that matter.