It is proposed to take Nos. 2, 12, 10 and 14. It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that: (1) Nos. 2 and 12 shall be decided without debate; (2) subject to leave being given to introduce No. 10 the debate on the motion for the Second Reading shall not exceed 40 minutes, the speech of each Member called on shall not exceed ten minutes and on the conclusion of the debate the question necessary to bring the proceedings on all stages of the Bill to a conclusion shall be put from the Chair and that question shall in relation to amendments include only amendments set down by the Minister for Finance and (3) on the conclusion of the proceedings on No. 14 the Dáil shall adjourn until 12.00 noon on Wednesday, 29 January 1992.
Order of Business.
Are the arrangements in respect of Nos. 2 and 12 agreed?
On a point of order, as you are aware, a Cheann Comhairle, I tabled a formal written amendment to the Order of Business which, I presume, will be taken before all other matters contained in the motion.
I have it in my possession but I must continue——
Is it not appropriate to take my amendment before dealing with any of the other matters?
No, when we come to that item I will deal with it. Is it agreed that Nos. 2 and 12 will be decided without debate? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 10, the Appropriation Bill, 1991, agreed? Agreed. Are the proposals in relation to No. 3 agreed?
I move the following amendment: for "29 January" 1992 to substitute "15 January" 1992. We need to come back earlier because the Dáil has not been reformed and, therefore, there are no other means, apart from plenary meetings of this House, for processing legislation or dealing with financial business. This session will conclude without processing the following Bills: Environmental Protection Agency Bill, the Roads Bill, the Dublin Institute of Technology Bill, the Regional Technical Colleges Bill, the Solicitors (Amendment) Bill, the important criminal law evidence Bill, the criminal proceeds Bill, the Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunications Messages [Regulation] Bill and a housing Bill.
I must dissuade the Deputy from making a speech.
I am being as economical as possible in what I say. A large number of other Bills, to which I could refer, have not been processed. We should come back earlier and the only circumstances in which I would agree to coming back later would be if the Government indicated that they intended to find other means, through committees of this House, which they have not done hitherto, to deal with the legislative and financial backlog of 1991.
I support the proposal to bring the Dáil back on 15 January. The Government should acknowledge their failure in regard to their legislative programme for this year by agreeing to that. The Dáil should resume at an earlier date and take a serious approach to legislation. Unfortunately, the Government have failed miserably with the legislative programme in this session and we could correct that by coming back on 15 January.
The Workers' Party also support the proposal that we come back sooner than the date mooted, 29 January, in the Government proposal. I support the suggestion of 15 January for the reasons outlined. There are many important and urgent Bills which should be addressed by this House, sooner rather than later.
Where is your Leader?
Working.
I have noted that the Taoiseach wishes to respond.
I will treat this proposal and lots of what has been said about it with facetiousness.
In the same way as the Taoiseach treats this House.
Those on the Opposition benches would die of heart attacks if we were to attempt——
You are bringing cynicism to a new level. Deputy Bruton mentioned the Environmental Protection Agency Bill. We spent 29 hours on Second Stage of that Bill because the Opposition used up that amount of valuable time with repetitive speeches one after the other.
Shame.
It took the Government two years to draft it.
It is coming up to Christmas and you will not put me in bad humour, no matter how you try.
A Deputy
The Taoiseach's own crowd will do that.
I just want the public to know and to understand the hypocrisy the Opposition indulge in. One of the things I must take exception to——
Not much.
The Deputy is not here very often anyway so it does not matter very much to him.
I am here as often as the Ministers.
I am prepared to acknowledge that our legislative programme did fall behind but it fell behind for the simple reason that the time of the Dáil was recklessly and irresponsibly wasted by the Opposition parties——
By 22 men over there.
——turning this Dáil into a Star Chamber instead of a deliberative legislative assembly.
Deputies
Hear, hear.
That comes from somebody who unveiled the bust of Parnell yesterday.
In respect to the amendment the question is: "That the words and figures proposed to be deleted stand."
Tá
- Ahern, Bertie.
- Ahern, Dermot.
- Ahern, Michael.
- Andrews, David.
- Aylward, Liam.
- Barrett, Michael.
- Brady, Vincent.
- Brennan, Mattie.
- Briscoe, Ben.
- Browne, John (Wexford).
- Calleary, Seán.
- Callely, Ivor.
- Clohessy, Peadar.
- Connolly, Ger.
- Coughlan, Mary Theresa.
- Cullimore, Séamus.
- Daly, Brendan.
- Davern, Noel.
- Dempsey, Noel.
- Dennehy, John.
- de Vaiera, Síle.
- Ellis, John.
- Fahey, Frank.
- Fahey, Jackie.
- Fitzgerald, Liam Joseph.
- Fitzpatrick, Dermot.
- Flood, Chris.
- Flynn, Pádraig.
- Gallagher, Pat the Cope.
- Geoghegan-Quinn, Máire.
- Harney, Mary.
- Haughey, Charles J.
- Hillery, Brian.
- Hilliard, Colm.
- Jacob, Joe.
- Kelly, Laurence.
- Kenneally, Brendan.
- Kirk, Séamus.
- Kitt, Michael P.
- Kitt, Tom.
- Lawlor, Liam.
- Lenihan, Brian.
- Leonard, Jimmy.
- Leyden, Terry.
- Lyons, Denis.
- Martin, Micheál.
- McDaid, Jim.
- McEllistrim, Tom.
- Molloy, Robert.
- Morley, P. J.
- Nolan, M. J.
- Noonan, Michael J.
- (Limerick West).
- O'Dea, Willie.
- O'Donoghue, John.
- O'Hanlon, Rory.
- O'Keeffe, Ned.
- O'Kennedy, Michael.
- O'Rourke, Mary.
- O'Toole, Martin Joe.
- Power, Seán.
- Reynolds, Albert.
- Roche, Dick.
- Smith, Michael.
- Stafford, John.
- Treacy, Seán.
- Tunney, Jim.
- Wallace, Dan.
- Wallace, Mary.
- Walsh, Joe.
- Wilson, John P.
- Woods, Michael.
- Wyse, Pearse.
Níl
- Ahearn, Therese.
- Allen, Bernard.
- Barrett, Seán.
- Barry, Peter.
- Bell, Michael.
- Belton, Louis J.
- Browne, John (Carlow-Kilkenny).
- Bruton, John.
- Bruton, Richard.
- Byrne, Eric.
- Carey, Donal.
- Connaughton, Paul.
- Connor, John.
- Cotter, Bill.
- Creed, Michael.
- Crowley, Frank.
- Currie, Austin.
- D'Arcy, Michael.
- Deasy, Austin.
- Deenihan, Jimmy.
- Doyle, Joe.
- Dukes, Alan.
- Durkan, Bernard.
- Enright, Thomas W.
- Nealon, Ted.
- Noonan, Michael.
- (Limerick East).
- O'Keeffe, Jim.
- O'Shea, Brian.
- O'Sullivan, Gerry.
- O'Sullivan, Toddy.
- Owen, Nora.
- Quinn, Ruairí.
- Farrelly, John V.
- Fennell, Nuala.
- Ferris, Michael.
- Finucane, Michael.
- FitzGerald, Garret.
- Flanagan, Charles.
- Garland, Roger.
- Gilmore, Eamon.
- Gregory, Tony.
- Harte, Paddy.
- Higgins, Jim.
- Higgins, Michael D.
- Hogan, Philip.
- Howlin, Brendan.
- Kavanagh, Liam.
- Kenny, Enda.
- McCartan, Pat.
- McCormack, Pádraic.
- McGahon, Brendan.
- McGinley, Dinny.
- McGrath, Paul.
- Mitchell, Gay.
- Mitchell, Jim.
- Moynihan, Michael.
- Rabbitte, Pat.
- Reynolds, Gerry.
- Shatter, Alan.
- Sheehan, Patrick J.
- Sherlock, Joe.
- Spring, Dick.
- Stagg, Emmet.
- Timmins, Godfrey.
- Yates, Ivan.
I am putting the main question again: "That the Dáil on its rising today shall adjourn until 12 noon on Wednesday, 29 January 1992." Agreed? Agreed.
On the Order of Business——
If it is the Order of Business we are on, I must call Deputy Bruton.
On the Order of Business, I would ask the Taoiseach, in view of the vote that has just taken place, if, during the recess, he would consider the need to establish a comprehensive Dáil committee system to deal with legislation? I hope the Taoiseach will consider this seriously, because the present legislative log jam is unsatisfactory. Having said that, and with a view to creating the right atmosphere for this change, I wish the Members of the House a very happy Christmas.
Deputies
Hear, hear.
Having regard to his own experience does the Taoiseach think that Mr. Hawke should have gone for an open vote.
Beware, the former treasurer.
Deputy Pat McCartan.
On the issue of voting rights for emigrants, I asked the Taoiseach last week on the Order of Business about this and the Chair indicated that while it was in the Programme for Government, a better way might be found in which to raise the question. I put the question in for an Adjournment Debate and I was told that it could not be taken because it was anticipating legislation or advocating the introduction of legislation, which was not appropriate. In those circumstances I would ask the Taoiseach again whether the Government have received the report as promised in the Programme for Government and will they be bringing forward legislative proposals by the New Year?
A question could be tabled in the matter.
Does the Taoiseach intend to make a statement in support of his Minister for Industry and Commerce who is defending his constitutional right to defend himself against criticism?
Visiting rights?
It is true that the white Hiace van is on its way?
I have permitted enough of the frivolity of Christmas time.
May I ask the Taoiseach, in view of the fact that Du Pont have decided not to proceed with their plans for an incinerator, if he will consider an offshore facility?
I ruled that matter out of order yesterday. I am proceeding to the Order of Business proper.
Will he consider an off-shore——
I have a few likely candidates around here for incineration.
The negotiators of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress would be the first two.
I am thinking that the spirit of Christmas is a bit too strong this morning.
May I ask the Taoiseach——
Please, Deputy Harte, desist.
I wish to say to the Taoiseach——
Desist, Deputy Harte.
——that Jimmy O'Dea would have had a better audience. The Taoiseach should address the House rather than the cameras.
Please, Deputy Harte.
I wonder whether the Ceann Comhairle or the Taoiseach will assist me because it is important that the House should know if the Minister for Labour intends to act as Minister for Labour or whether he is going to abdicate his role in that regard? The only reason I am raising this question is that I have tabled two priority questions relating to the Programme for Economic and Social Progress——
Deputy Shatter, this is not in order now.
Two serious issues have arisen relating to the role of the Minister for Labour——
Has the Deputy a question in respect of legislation promised?
Sir——
Deputy Shatter, desist.
I have tabled two priority questions to the Minister for Labour asking if he intends to meet the trade unions to resolve the current difficulties but they have been transferred to the Minister for Finance.
I am moving to item No. 2, the Criminal Damage Bill, 1990, amendments from the Seanad——
The Minister for Labour is evading the issue and is not performing the function assigned to him.
Deputy Shatter, please desist forthwith.
A Cheann Comhairle, on the Order of Business——
I am sorry Deputy, but we have run ahead. The Deputy will find another opportunity I am sure.
A Cheann Comhairle, I am in order.
Are Seanad amendments Nos. 1 and 2 agreed?
On a point of order——
I will permit the lady Deputy a point of order.
On a point of order, I was interested in asking the Taoiseach, on a more sober note, if he will outline his plans in relation to the White Paper on marital breakdown. We were expecting it this session.
It will be in the Deputy's Christmas stocking.
What will be in the Deputy's?