It is proposed to take Nos. 13 and 6. It is also proposed, not-withstanding anything in Standing Orders, that Private Members' Business, which shall be No. 24, shall be taken between 6 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. and the proceedings on No. 24 shall be brought to a conclusion at 7.30 p.m.
Order of Business.
Is the proposal for dealing with No. 24, Private Members' Business, agreed to? Agreed.
When do the Government propose to fulfil the promise they made to introduce an amendment to section 5 of the Extradition Act, 1987, so as to allow for an extension of the range of offences committed in continental European countries for which Irish citizens could be tried on an extra-territorial basis?
I do not expect it to be introduced this session. Work is continuing and the scheme is being prepared at present.
Is the Taoiseach aware that such legislation forms part of the Joint Programme for Government, to which he agreed?
Yes.
The Taoiseach hardly needs reminding of the chaos being created because of the postal dispute, but will he assure us that the Government are doing everything possible to bring this dispute to an end?
Deputy Spring will appreciate that the Chair has ruled on that matter virtually every morning last week.
It is now into the third week.
May I respectfully suggest, Sir, that the city of Dublin has come to a virtual standstill and if this House is not capable of responding——
There are many ways open to Deputies for raising such matters, but it is not appropriate on the Order of Business.
The Taoiseach should give some assurances that everything is being done to bring this dispute to an end and that no stone is being left unturned. However, I will take your advice, Sir, and try to raise it by other means.
I wish to re-emphasise the point made by Deputy Spring on the postal dispute. I hope the Government are taking action to try to resolve the situation. It is not obvious that they are doing so, but perhaps they are.
Deputies should not circumvent the ruling of the Chair.
Is the Taoiseach aware of the reports of the Delors proposals, as they are commonly known, for the marginalisation of the smaller states of the European Community? Do the Government propose to make a statement on these reports?
Can this be related to the Order of Business?
It is, it relates to the future of countries like Ireland in the EC.
The Deputy should find a more appropriate way of raising this matter.
I will try to do so, but the Government have a responsibility, in view of the debate on Maastricht, to make it clear what their attitude is to these reports.
Let us pursue this matter in the appropriate way.
We are now into the middle of May, the Referendum will take up the time of Members, and then we come towards the end of the session. Last week I asked the Taoiseach if he was in a position to instruct the Government Whip to indicate to the Opposition parties the priority of Bills the Government seriously intend to take this session so that we could have more constructive and meaningful debates. That has not happened yet. Will the Taoiseach indicate when the Government will be in a position to clearly indicate the priority of the Bills they hope to take between now and the end of the session so that we can all do our work better?
I responded to a similar question yesterday. The list of Bills to which we will give priority will be presented at the Whips meeting tomorrow.
I thank the Taoiseach for his reply.
In view of widespread leaks, will the Taoiseach inform us when it is intended to introduce the promised legislation to amend the Broadcasting Act? In relation to another matter that has been mentioned, may I suggest that one of the reasons the Government are not concerned about the postal dispute is that they support one of the protagonists?
I have ruled on that matter. The Taoiseach, in reply to the first matter raised.
It is not promised legislation.
On the question of reforming the committee on secondary legislation and the reformed European Affairs and Foreign Affairs committees will the Taoiseach indicate the exact proposals the Government have in this regard and when they will be given to the Opposition parties?
I understand the proposals are with the Opposition parties and we await a response.
Will the Taoiseach clarify the position in relation to the bus competition Bill? We were promised in the previous session that it would be taken this session but it is not on the list of Bills to be taken this session. Do the Government intend to take this legislation or do they have any idea what to do about it?
Work is continuing on this matter.
As the mayfly seems to have risen for a temporary period in sympathy with Fianna Fáil in the polls, may I ask the Taoiseach when the Minister for the Marine will introduce the regulations governing fishing co-operatives, regulations which are necessary in order that the elections can take place in November?
The mayfly will rise again before that is done.
Perhaps the Deputy will pursue that matter by way of appropriate question.
Will the Taoiseach rise to that bait?
(Interruptions.)
Your side would fall off the hook.
Order.
Having regard to the statement made by the Minister for Agriculture and Food last night on the proposed deliberations on behalf of the Irish farmers in Lisbon, will the Taoiseach give us an assurance that the Minister will return post-haste to get the support of this House for the measures to be agreed?
The Deputy should raise that in a more appropriate way.
I thought the Taoiseach wanted to reply to me.
No, the matter is not in order now. I am calling Deputy Quinn.
In a sense my question is related. The Taoiseach indicated to the House that the terms of reference or the proposals for a European affairs committee are with Members of the Opposition parties but that is not our understanding. The terms of reference were circulated to some Members but not the entire proposal for the committee. As the Taoiseach will be aware, in respect of other committees recently launched in this House, the support arrangements for them have not yet been finalised and will, effectively, prevent them from doing any work.
Perhaps this matter could be left to the Whips.
What is the Government's intention?
Unfortunately, a Cheann Comhairle, this regrettably seems to be one of the few forums in which we can ask questions to which we might get a succinct reply. In view of the question raised by Deputy De Rossa with regard to Delors Mark II and the farm package, a European affairs committee would make the Chair's job so much easier because we would not be raising these matters on the Order of Business, and the Chair knows how much we care for that.
I am acutely aware.
No doubt, together, a Cheann Comhairle we might be able to extract a satisfactory response to that question.
Perhaps the Taoiseach has an observation to make on the matter.
What do the Government intend to do?
The proposals were outlined before Easter to the Opposition parties. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Andrews, elaborated on the situation in the Seanad last week. Until the terms of reference are agreed the committee cannot be set up. We are anxious to set it up. As soon as the Whips can agree the terms of reference the committee will be set up.
On that point, my understanding is that our party have replied.
I am calling Deputy Finucane who has been offering for some time.
Is the Taoiseach aware that due to the continuation of the postal dispute no cheques are being issued by the VAT section of the Revenue Commissioners? Will he make alternative arrangements through the local tax offices?
I thought the Deputy was raising something relevant.
It is more than a year since this House passed the Health (Nursing Homes) Act. Contained in that legislation was a provision to enable the Minister to introduce regulations. Is the Taoiseach aware this legislation is ineffective without the regulations? Will he say when those regulations might be published and put in place?
The regulations are another matter.
It is like the Civil Liability Act, 1961.