It is proposed to take Nos. 12 and 15.
Order of Business.
There is nothing to put to the House.
A Cheann Comhairle, I am sure the House will unanimously condemn the terrible atrocity perpetrated in Craigavon last night in which so many people were injured. Will the Taoiseach convey the condemnation of this House to all concerned? Second, may I ask the Taoiseach——
I hesitate to rule on a matter of that kind but it is not one for the Order of Business.
I appreciate that, a Cheann Comhairle. I think the House would be unanimous in expressing relief that there were no fatalities last night but regret the great number of injuries. Will the Taoiseach say if it is the intention of the Government to circulate the housing Bill before Christmas?
I think I informed the House yesterday that it is hoped to take it early in the next session. The idea would be to circulate it during the recess.
Not before Christmas.
I have two questions to put to the Taoiseach. First, in relation to the Environmental Protection Agency Bill there is consensus in the House that that Bill needs to be passed urgently. May I suggest to the Taoiseach that he consider referring Committee Stage of that Bill to a Special Committee early in the next session? Second, will the Taoiseach now confirm that it will not be possible to have the Estimates circulated in time to have a debate on them before the Christmas recess?
The Deputy is being very alarmist this morning. It is the Government's firm intention to have the Book of Estimates published and discussed here on Wednesday and Thursday of next week. That is the standard practice of this Government, in glaring contradiction to the appalling practice of the last Fine Gael/Labour Coalition when we were lucky if we got the Book of Estimates on budget day.
Can the Taoiseach say on what day the Book of Estimates will be available to the Opposition spokes-persons?
Would the Deputy put another question to me? That is one of the difficulties the Opposition are getting themselves into these days — they are so anxious to launch allegations by way of questions that they forget the questions they asked. Deputy Dowling did ask a question, or I should say, Deputy Howlin — I should know that name because it is a very honoured Wexford name; there are some very good Fianna Fáil people of that name.
(Interruptions.)
Where would one find a good Fianna Fáiler?
For once there is some merit in the suggestion emanating from the Labour benches.
I asked the Taoiseach yesterday but he did not reply — perhaps he might this morning — whether he could indicate the date it is intended to have the budget?
That will be indicated in due course.
Does the Taoiseach know what date the Dáil will resume because the budget is normally on that day or the day after?
That is also announced in a certain way and at a certain time in the House.
In what way? I take it it will be announced to the House.
If the Deputy has some holiday problems, perhaps he would have a word with me——
We always have some problems, a Cheann Comhairle——
Who does not.
——but it would help, in the planning of business, if we knew when these matters were to take place, in Brussels, Strasbourg, Maastricht, or wherever.
This is the first occasion this week that the Minister for Labour, former Minister for Agriculture and Food, has been present for the Order of Business. Does he intend making any statement to the House to explain why he grossly misled this House on 15 May last——
Deputy Deasy, please, apart from raising a matter which is not in order——
——and the Official Report——
The Deputy knows that that is grossly untrue.
Deputy Deasy, you are raising a matter which is not appropriate to the Order of Business and you have made an accusation which——
The House was grossly misled by the former Minister for Agriculture and Food as was confirmed by the former secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Food.
Deputy Deasy, you have made an accusation which you should raise by special motion.
The Minister grossly misled the House and it is on the record.
Deputy Deasy, I must ask you to resume your seat.
It is in the Official Report.
It is not in the Official Report and the Deputy knows it.
It is on the record; the Minister grossly misled this House. I suggest, a Cheann Comhairle, you look at the Official Report.
Deputy, this is quite disorderly. You are making a charge which should be raised by way of——
It is true. I suggest you look at the Official Report, a Cheann Comhairle.
The Deputy should look at it.
Deputy, if a Minister or Member of this House disclaims responsibility for such action that disclaimer must be accepted. I do not know of any other way to proceed in this House.
A Cheann Comhairle——
Deputy Deasy, desist.
A Cheann Comhairle, a Minister can come into the House, tell lies and get away with it.
This is outrageous. Deputy Deasy, you must withdraw that remark.
He grossly misled the House.
Deputy Deasy, you must withdraw that remark——
I withdraw the remark but I am saying he grossly misled the House and that is in the Official Report.
This is not good enough. The Deputy must withdraw these remarks or leave the House.
I withdraw that remark but he grossly misled the House and what he said is contained in the Official Report.
No, Deputy, that is not good enough; that is an imputation of a lie. The Deputy must withdraw the remarks unreservedly or leave the House.
A Cheann Comhairle, I do not want to be in conflict with you——
Deputy Deasy, leave this House; you must leave the House; you are in conflict with the Chair on a fundamental issue of procedure.
I do not want to be in conflict with you, a Cheann Comhairle, but I ask you to read the Official Report. I have other issues to raise on the Agriculture Estimate today, so I will withdraw the remark.
No, there will be no intervention.
I ask people to study the Official Report.
Deputy Deasy, I must ask you once again to withdraw unreservedly the imputation you have made against a Minister.
I will withdraw it but I ask people to read the Official Report.
Deputy Deasy, without qualification——
Yes, without qualification but it is in the Official Report.
May I ask the Taoiseach what progress the Government have made in regard to the promise and undertaking in the revised Programme for Government with regard to voters' rights for emigrants?
That is a matter for a Parliamentary Question.
Perhaps a parliamentary question might be appropriate. Is legislation promised in this area?
It is contained in the Programme for Government. We were invited by the Taoiseach to consider these matters, as promised.
I graciously consented that, anywhere in the Programme for Government that legislation is promised, that could be treated as legislation promised in the House for purposes of the Ceann Comhairle's ruling.
I thank the Taoiseach for clarifying that matter.
But there is no legislation promised on that matter in the Programme for Government.
As the matter has been clarified today, and as I have now no further time to ask a question of the Taoiseach before the end of the year, I understood the specific undertaking was that the Government, by the end of the year, would have considered a report on the matter. As the Taoiseach has invited me to ask a question would he say whether the Government have received the report and considered it?
That is a matter for a Parliamentary Question.
The Deputy can pursue that matter in other ways. My office will facilitate him in the matter if we can.
Thank you.
I wish to raise two points. While I agree with Deputy Howlin about the urgency of the Environmental Protection Agency Bill and the need to take Committee Stage as soon as possible, I am disappointed that the Taoiseach is inclined to agree with Deputy Howlin's suggestion that the Bill should be dealt with in Special Committee. If this Bill goes into Special Committee there is no way I can be represented on that committee. That represents a very serious negation of democracy and I would ask the Taoiseach not to send the Bill into Special Committee.
It appears that we ordered today's business yesterday but that it has now been completely changed. Will the Taoiseach say what arrangements are made for Vote 33, which we did not agree yesterday to take?
We did.
Not according to the documentation I have.
We will have to have these matters brought more directly to the Deputy's attention.
Will the Taoiseach make inquiries as to whether all the recommendations made by the committee looking into the matter of suicides in prison have been implemented in view of the unfortunate suicide case in Mountjoy yesterday?
The Deputy might pursue that in another way.
Have the Department of Defence already informed members of the Defence Forces that the 3 per cent increase due on 1 January will not be paid?
A question of that kind is not in order at this time.
Would the Taoiseach not agree that this is totally unacceptable? The Programme for Economic and Social Progress was voted on in this House. It is appropriate to put a question to the Taoiseach.
The Deputy is ignoring the Chair. Resume your seat forthwith.
It is totally unacceptable.
There was a vote in the House. Will it come back before the House?
On promised legislation, the Taoiseach was gracious enough to inform us yesterday that the Family Planning Bill has been unavoidably delayed. How quickly in the New Year does the Taoiseach intend to bring forward this Bill or any alternative legislation? Perhaps the Minister for Health would like to answer.
Or Minister O'Kennedy.
It will be brought forward as expeditiously as possible, consistent with the Government's overall programme.
Does the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications intend to discuss with the relevant authorities the warped, misleading and sensationalised "Today Tonight" programme shown last night——
I am sorry, Deputy Ahern. That is not in order now. The Deputy will have to pursue that matter in another way. There are many avenues open to him.
——particularly with regard to the manner in which the programme endeavoured to link all politicians, especially the Government, to business scandals?
Please obey the Chair. Resume your seat. I am proceeding to deal with item No. 12.
You missed me.
I am on my feet proceeding to another item of business and I will not be disturbed.