Vol. 413 No. 5
It is proposed to take items Nos. 13, 14, 15 and 3. It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the proceedings on the Second Stages of Nos. 13 and 14, shall be brought to a conclusion by one question which shall be put not later than 7 p.m. and the Minister for Education shall be called on not later than 6.40 p.m. to conclude the debate.
Private Members' Business shall be No. 27.
Are the proposals for dealing with items Nos. 13 and 14 satisfactory. Agreed?
On the Order of Business may I ask the Taoiseach whether he has any proposals to provide for a debate in the House on the ongoing review of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress; if he will seek to cool down the war of words occurring between some of his Ministers and the social partners, all of whom were signatories to that document, with a view to getting them back around the table into a more constructive mode of discussion?
Let us please have regard to that which is and is not in order at this stage on the Order of Business.
Sir, this document was approved by this House and is important.
It is not legislation, Deputy.
As it is being reviewed will the Taoiseach provide an opportunity for Members to express their views on it? In the meantime, will he ask his Ministers, and the other social partners, to conduct their discussions around a table rather than over the airwaves?
On the Order of Business may I ask the Taoiseach, in relation to the debate scheduled for Thursday and Friday of this week on the forthcoming Summit at Maastricht, whether we can expect a motion before the House and when we can expect to see such a motion?
It was put down for today's order paper.
When was it put down?
This afternoon.
Not half an hour ago?
While we were in the House?
I checked half an hour ago and it was not down. Is the Taoiseach not above that kind of nonsense?
It is not nonsense; the Deputy should not be childish. The motion was cleared by the Government this morning and the Chief Whip was asked to put it down immediately.
That was not communicated to us by the Whip's office. When I checked an hour ago it had not been put down.
I am in a position to add that the Chief Whip did so immediately.
Yes, but did not communicate it to other offices.
The Deputy should not be childish.
Regarding the motion for Thursday and Friday's debate, it appears we must now await the end of the Order of Business before we have sight of it. With regard to the Programme for Economic and Social Progress which was approved by this House does the Taoiseach not feel it important that he come before the House to discuss whatever changes he is proposing to it? After all it received the mandate of this House. Therefore, does he not agree it is important that any proposed changes to it be debated by this House?
Again, the relevancy of the matter arises.
The relevancy arises on the basis that this House had before it the Programme for Economic and Soical Progress and approved that programme. Therefore it is a matter on which this House gave it judgment——
Deputies know full well what applies at this stage.
On that basis surely we have a right to some say on its re-negotiation?
On the Order of Business will the Taoiseach say whether he intends introducing emergency legislation in relation to landowners' liability in the event of people crossing or using their lands? Furthermore, is the Taoiseach aware of the concern on the part of farmers in regard to this problem——
I am sure the Deputy will find another way of raising that matter.
——and the fact that many regions are now being closed to tourism on this account? Has the Taoseach any proposals with regard to tourism? Since the Minister for Justice is not in the House perhaps the Taoiseach will reply in his absence.
The Deputy should table a question.
Will the Chair help me in interpreting a ruling he gave in relation to a question I tabled to the Taoiseach which was transferred by your office——
Please, Deputy Quinn, this is not the way to proceed.
Sir, it might be in view of the row that arose the last time this happened.
The Deputy should communicate with my office. It is not in order to question rulings of the Chair in this fashion.
Sir, I asked the Taoiseach a question in relation to his conversation with EC President Delors. It appears I cannot get an answer in this House, yet Tommy Gorman could get that information on RTE last evening. What kind of democracy is this? I asked the Taoiseach a question about certain matters relating to Structural Funds and a light rail system in Dublin which was transferred to the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications——
I have no control over such matters.
Yet last night, in the alternative democracy, in which the Taoiseach is very happy to participate, we get more satisfactory answers——
No, I am not.
——we get some class of an answer. I tabled a question to the Taoiseach asking him about a meeting at which he alone was present. Is it in order for him to transfer that to other Ministers who are deliberately kept in the dark?
Deputy Quinn, I have been repeating in this House ad nauseam that the Chair has no responsibility for the transfers of questions between the Taoiseach and his Ministers. That is, and always has been, an internal Cabinet matter.
No Taoiseach in living memory has been more accommodating in answering questions than I have. I strain the rules of order in this House to try to facilitate Deputies by answering questions because I know they would prefer the wisdom of my answers to those of any of my esteemed colleagues.
If I may coin a phrase, primus inter pares. In order to throw a little sweetness and light around this Chamber and as the only other person present at the meeting was President Delors who cannot reply in this House, I will be delighted to take that question if Deputy Quinn insists.
Why was it transferred?
I was not aware it was transferred. These things are done automatically. I will be very happy to take the question.
Thank you. I will resubmit it.
Seeing that the Taoiseach and Deputy Lenihan are reconciled, does the Taoiseach anticipate this week or next week tabling the motion to establish the foreign affairs committee? Will the committee be established before the Christmas recess?
The Deputy can await an announcement.
In the course of recent debate in the Dáil the former Minister for Agriculture and Food referred to the abuse of veterinary medicines as a major problem in Irish agriculture. I ask the present Minister if the amendment of the Animal Remedies Act, 1956 will be introduced shortly to increase the penalties for those abusing animal medicines.
It will be proceeded with as soon as possible.
(Limerick East): When will the Government introduce the promised legislation to provide statutory control over the activities of the Stock Exchange?
I will have to communicate with the Deputy. I am not aware of the exact stage of preparation.
In view of the 8 per cent increase in recorded crime this year, when will the Juvenile Justice Bill be introduced?
I am not sure where it is on the schedule, but it will be proceeded with as rapidly as possible. We are awarding it high priority.
Is it still the intention of the Government to have in place before the next tax year the amendment to the Oireachtas and ministerial pensions Acts?
Yes. That is also high on our priorities.
Getting the pension ready.
At least the priorities are expansive.
Will the Taoiseach use his personal good offices to have progress on the Juvenile Justice Bill accelerated, in view of growing public concern about the vulnerability of the Garda Síochána to attack, particularly in Dublin?
Any appeal to use my good offices always falls on receptive ears.
