It is proposed to take Nos. 2 and 10, No. 2 to be adjourned not later than 2.30 p.m. It is also proposed, subject to the agreement of the House that: (1) The motion for the general Financial Resolution shall be moved not later than 12 midnight whereupon business shall be interrupted and the Dáil shall adjourn forthwith; (2) The sitting shall not be suspended today at 1.30 p.m.; (3) Following the Budget Statement of the Minister for Finance and the statements of the spokespersons for the parties in Opposition, the sitting shall be suspended for 30 minutes and (4) there will be no Private Members' Business today.
Order of Business.
May I ask if the motion for the general Financial Resolution which shall be moved not later than 12 midnight whereupon business will be interrupted is agreed? Agreed. In respect of No. 2, that the sitting shall not be suspended today at 1.30 p.m. is that agreed? Agreed. In regard to No. 3, following the Budget Statement of the Minister for Finance and the statements of the spokespersons for the parties in Opposition, the sitting shall be suspended for 30 minutes, is that agreed? Agreed. Finally, is it agreed that there will be no Private Members' Business today? Agreed.
On the Order of Business, may I ask the Taoiseach in view of reported statements by the Progressive Democrats and, indeed, by other Ministers, if he can confirm whether the joint programme agreed between his party and the Progressive Democrats remains in place, and, further, may I ask——
Sorry, Deputy Bruton, there are matters which should be raised here but the one referred to by the Deputy is not in order now.
I would have to ask the Ceann Comhairle if he would not agree that the programme of legislation for this House is set out in that joint programme and, therefore, questions about the continued applicability of the joint programme are relevant to the programme of legislation and, therefore, relevant at this time.
I have to remind the House again, as I have done so many times, that the matters which can be raised on the Order of Business are such as the business of the day, the taking of other business on the Order Paper, the taking of business which has been promised which, therefore, can be anticipated, arrangements for sittings and when Bills and other documents needed in the House will be circulated. Unless the House wants to change this procedure the Chair has no option but to conform to it.
The Taoiseach agreed to that programme——
Deputy Bruton and Deputy Barry know full well what can and what cannot be raised now.
I must accept your ruling, reluctantly. May I ask the Taoiseach if he is aware of the provisions of Article 28.11 of the Constitution which deem that if a Taoiseach resigns all other Ministers shall resign also? Can the Taoiseach ensure that any period of political uncertainty arising from recent reported statements by Ministers and any actions he may wish to take himself will be kept to an absolute minimum so that the House and the country can get back to work at the earliest opportunity?
There are more appropriate times for dealing with these matters.
I will endeavour to ensure that on today's budget the same thing does not happen as happened under Deputy Bruton's budget which ended in disaster and this House having to go to the country for a general election.
(Interruptions.)
I am calling Deputy Spring.
It was not our fault that it all ended in disaster.
I will call Deputy Spring again.
We will not be ringing Aras an Uachtaráin.
Deputy Enright, I do not think you will ever see the inside of Aras an Uachtaráin.
(Interruptions.)
I have called Deputy Spring. Deputy Enright will obey the Chair and restrain himself.
Perhaps the Taoiseach would indicate if he is going to see the inside of Aras an Uachtaráin himself shortly? Surely the Taoiseach must feel it incumbent on him, understanding his obligations as I know he does full well under Article 28 of the Constitution, to make a statement clarifying the exact position of the Government. This is a very important day in Irish politics when the budget is being introduced by the Minister for Finance and the Taoiseach should make it clear in relation to——
I have allowed considerable latitude on this matter but, strictly speaking, it is not relevant now. Deputies will find other ways and means of raising this issue. It does not arise on the Order of Business now.
I want to emphasise it is extremely important that the Taoiseach clarifies the situation and also, perhaps, makes time available to this House because on a previous occasion when the Minister, Deputy O'Malley, then a member of the Fianna Fáil Party, had a problem in Government he resigned from Government. Why is the situation so different now? Does the Taoiseach have the confidence of Minister O'Malley and——
I am sorry, Deputy Spring, but the Chair will be obeyed in matters of this kind.
We are entitled to know. Is there unity in Government in bringing the budget before the House today?
There are two points I want to raise; the first relates to the fact that the Taoiseach, theoretically at least, is still in charge of the Government and I assume the Minister for Foreign Affairs is still in charge of matters relating to Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland policy. May I ask the Taoiseach therefore if he intends to make a statement to the House regarding the comments by the Minister for Labour, Deputy O'Kennedy, who has called for a "Brits out" policy in relation to Northern Ireland which is seriously in breach of the stated——
I am sorry, Deputy De Rossa, but there are questions on today's Order Paper——
That is a lie.
(Interruptions.)
Deputy De Rossa, the Chair is on his feet and will be heard. I was stating that there are many questions on today's Order Paper relating to Northern Ireland and it might be more appropriate to raise the matter then.
Fair enough. I will wait until then to see if we get a reply to that question. In relation to Maastricht, when is it proposed that the Government will sign the Maastricht agreement, and if it is proposed——
There are questions on that subject on today's Order Paper, Deputy.
What I am asking is in order.
Please, Deputy.
I am glad to see, a Cheann Comhairle, that you are applying the rules with the same vigour to myself as you have in the past and——
Deputy De Rossa will not reflect upon the Chair.
——that the holiday has reinvigorated your ability to restrict me asking questions on the Order of Business.
The same vigour, and the same impartiality apply to all Deputies in this House.
It is unfortunate that you have decided to take this role again so early in this session.
Deputy De Rossa must desist from reflecting upon the Chair.
I have a question to ask which I believe is in order. Does the Taoiseach intend to have a debate in this House before the Maastricht agreement is signed? Do the Government intend to publish the White Paper which they promised before the agreement is signed?
I repeat that there are questions on today's Order Paper relating to that specific matter. Deputy John Bruton.
A Cheann Comhairle, I am in order.
No, Deputy De Rossa; resume your seat.
I insist that my question is in order. Are you ruling my question out of order?
I am ruling it out of order now, Deputy. There are questions on the Order Paper.
You are not entitled to rule it out of order; it is in order.
You are entitled to allow the Taoiseach to answer it. This is a disgrace.
I have outlined what is in order and what is not in order for the Deputy's benefit. Deputy Bruton.
On a point of order——
Please, Deputy McCartan.
On a point of order, you read out a brief statement——
That is right, Deputy.
——and the question in essence was would time be allowed for a debate on Maastricht before the agreement is signed. That is in line with what I heard you read out earlier and I do not see why it should be disallowed.
Deputy McCartan, my interpretation of Standing Orders and yours differ from time to time.
English does not have the same meaning for you as for everybody else in the House.
A few moments ago the Taoiseach, rather bombastically, drew attention proudly to the fact that the Progressive Democrats have indicated that they will support today's budget but, pointedly, have not given any indication that they will support any other Government legislation. May I ask the Taoiseach whether he expects the Progressive Democrats to continue to support him as Taoiseach?
I am sorry, but this is out of order. I am proceeding to the business of the House proper.
Before you do, may I ask a question please?
I will call Deputy Tomás Mac Giolla who has been offering.
I want to ask the Taoiseach if the Cabinet approved the decision of the Minister for Energy, Deputy Molloy, to instruct the ESB not to use their billing system for instalments in future? Did the Cabinet approve the decision?
It is a good question but it should be raised in the proper way.
It is a matter which has to be raised now because it is not on today's Order Paper.
The joint Programme for Government, agreed between the Taoiseach's party and the Progressive Democrats, contains a clause which states that new terms of reference will be drawn up for the Joint Committee on Secondary Legislation of the European Communities. May I ask the Taoiseach if any work was done on that matter during the recess and when we can expect the new terms of reference to be put before the House?
The matter has been pursued during the recess and the new situation will not be long delayed.
When will the programme of legislation for this session be circulated?
This morning.
May I raise two matters? First may I raise a matter which I have raised here on budget day each year for a number of years and a precedent was set by your predecessor, Deputy O'Connell? Now that the budget debate will be broadcast live, may I ask the Taoiseach or the Chair to ensure that all Members get a copy of the Minister's statement simultaneously and that it is not given to some Members of the House only? In this day and age all Members are equally trustworthy, and I would ask that that be done. Second, with regard to the long promised imminent legislation dealing with the Comptroller and Auditor General, whose powers date back to 1866, can we please have that Bill?
Mirabile visu.
That is the programme of legislation.
On the question of the Minister's speech, it is a time honoured tradition here that copies of the Minister's speech, are only given to former Ministers. I have no particular restricted view of this but I think it is a matter which should have been raised before now.
It was raised.
A Deputy
One last gesture before you go.
It could be taken up with the Minister.
It was raised last year and the year before.
This should not lead to argument. It has been a long standing procedure in the House; there is some time to change it. Perhaps the Whips will talk about it. Deputy Fennell.
A Cheann Comhairle, one of your predecessors set a precedent that every Member of the House receive a copy. It is not true to say that only former Ministers and Ministers get a copy; other Members of the House get a copy. It is time every Member of the House got a copy. It is an outrage——
The Chair is not accepting responsibility in the matter of the distribution of material of that kind.
There is no difficulty; there are enough printing machines around.
Can I take it that the Government have now abolished the post of Minister of State with responsibility for Women's Affairs? This is the first time in ten years this post has not existed despite the fact that, on 26 November last, the Taoiseach promised that this appointment would be made shortly. May I ask the Taoiseach if he practices what he——
The Deputy should put down a question in the matter.
I have tried to ask that question. I would like an answer from the Taoiseach.
We all would.
May I ask the Taoiseach when it is proposed to bring a Bill before the Dáil to allow joint ownership of local authority houses between tenants and local authorities?
The Deputy is referring to the Housing Bill which is on the list for this session.
When is it proposed to bring it before the House?
When Deputy Pádraig Flynn comes back.
On the same subject, before the recess we were promised that the Housing Bill would be circulated during the recess. Can the Taoiseach give some indication when the Bill will be circulated?
It is trembling on the point of issue.
It has been trembling for 12 months.
There is more than that trembling over there.
Delirium tremens.
Considering the many events of a foreign affairs nature which took place during the long recess, may I ask the Taoiseach if he will give further consideration to the establishment of a foreign affairs committee?
The matter has been raised here very often. A final question from Deputy Sheehan.
I would like to ask the Taoiseach when he or the Minister for the Marine, will introduce legislation to extend the powers of the Castletownbere harbourmaster to cover the waters of Bere Haven Sound as promised by the Minister when he was in Castletownbere about nine months ago.
The matter is at the very top of the Government agenda.
I am not surprised since the Taoiseach is going to spend more time around there.
A final question from Deputy Flanagan.
May I ask the Taoiseach, or your good self, what arrangements have been made to have this afternoon's budget broadcast live?
Sky Television.
The usual arrangements. I understand it is intended that the budget proceedings, the Minister's statement and the statements of the principal spokespersons, shall be broadcast live.
Arising from that, will the Taoiseach confirm that a request was made to RTE to precede the live broadcast of the budget with the live broadcasting of Taoiseach's Question Time and that an arbitrary decision by Government was made to refuse that application without reference to the special all-party Dáil committee which has been established to deal with such matters?
A formal request was made by RTE for the broadcasting of the budget live after, apparently, having had indecision about the matter because their original approach to broadcasting the budget was that it might interfere with childrens' programmes; they may have had a point.
(Interruptions.)
Eventually they sought formal permission to broadcast the budget proceedings live and that was granted in the normal way. Subsequently, a telephone call was received requesting that they broadcast Question Time today live. Because the request was made in that way there was no time to consider it by the appropriate channels and the request was rejected.
Deputy G. Mitchell rose.
I have allowed the Deputy some latitude.
I was sidetracked in relation to the Comptroller and Auditor General legislation.
Excuse me, I had not finished. The reason the request was rejected had nothing to do with the fact that it might have interfered with the "Bosco" programme.
I do not think I got a reply to my request regarding the Comptroller and Auditor General legislation.
A statement was issued by the Chief Whip this morning and the final section is entitled: "Bills expected to be published this session." the second last item on the list, No. 15, wonderful to behold, is the Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Bill.
At last.
It is not the first time it has been promised.
Will the Taoiseach tell the House whether he considers that the Minister for Labour would be better employed intervening in the RTE dispute instead of making silly statements polarising the community in Northern Ireland?
Please, Deputy Rabbitte.
I would have thought that The Workers' Party have enough on their plate in regard to polarisation at the moment——
At least The Workers' Party have a plate.
(Interruptions.)
By whom was a decision taken not to broadcast Question Time live? By whom, under the orders of the House, should such a decision be taken?
Sorry, we cannot have a discussion on that matter now.
A Cheann Comhairle, I am asking you, as the chief officer of the House, whether it was a decision taken by you. If not, by whom was the decision taken on behalf of this House, because I would be unhappy with the idea that the Government would decide when the proceedings of this House are broadcast?
The matter was not decided by me; it is essentially a matter for the Broadcasting Control Committee.
Were they consulted?
Before Deputy FitzGerald, in his customary manner, blunders too far into this situation, I should like to point out that an extremely sensitive position prevails in regard to RTE and their broadcasting.
Yes, indeed.
Therefore, the decision taken was the right one in these circumstances.
Who took it?
I am arguing about the procedure in this case as I am concerned that this House should maintain control over decisions regarding broadcasting its proceedings live. That principle should not be impugned by anybody, least of all by the Taoiseach.
There was no approach.