It is proposed to take Nos. 10 and 11. It is also proposed notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the proceedings on Committee Stage of No. 10, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 5 p.m. by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall in relation to amendments include only amendments set down or accepted by the Minister for Education. It is further proposed, notwithstanding anything in the Order of the Dáil of 4 June, that the two divisions on Votes 42 and 43 and Votes 26, 27, 28 and 29 deferred on Thursday and Friday last shall take place successively at 6.30 this evening. Private Members' business, which shall be No. 20, shall be brought to a conclusion at 8.30 tonight.
Order of Business.
Are the proposals for dealing with No. 10 agreed?
I would like to point out to the Taoiseach that there are serious difficulties in relation to No. 10. My understanding is that agreements were reached last week on the basis of certain undertakings in regard to the Regional Technical Colleges Bill. Despite negotiations taking place up to a late hour this morning, agreement has not been reached in relation to the position of the vocational education committees or the role of the IVEA. I suggest to the Taoiseach that, with 40 amendments before the House in the name of the Minister today, the Bill will be completely different from that before the House previously. I suggest that a committee of this House be set up to deal with these issues because of the fundamental changes to the Bill, of which most Fianna Fáil Deputies will be aware from the lobbying that took place in the last number of days. I suggest that instead of putting a guillotine on the Bill at 5 p.m. today we should order that a committee of the House be set up to deal appropriately with the serious issues.
As the proposal is opposed I shall put the question.
Perhaps the Taoiseach would like to respond.
Question put: "That the proposals for dealing with No. 10 be agreed".
The Dáil divided: Tá, 67; Níl, 19.
Tá
- Ahern, Dermot.
- Ahern, Michael.
- Andrews, David.
- Aylward, Liam.
- Barrett, Michael.
- Brady, Vincent.
- Brennan, Mattie.
- Briscoe, Ben.
- Burke, Raphael P.
- Calleary, Seán.
- Clohessy, Peadar.
- Collins, Gerard.
- Connolly, Ger.
- Coughlan, Mary Theresa.
- Cowen, Brian.
- Cullimore, Séamus.
- Davern, Noel.
- Dempsey, Noel.
- Ellis, John.
- Fahey, Jackie.
- Fitzgerald, Liam Joseph.
- Flood, Chris.
- Flynn, Pádraig.
- Gallagher, Pat the Cope.
- Geoghegan-Quinn, Máire.
- Harney, Mary.
- Hillery, Brian.
- Hilliard, Colm.
- Hyland, Liam.
- 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.
- McCreevy, Charlie.
- McDaid, Jim.
- McEllistrim, Tom.
- Molloy, Robert.
- Morley, P.J.
- Nolan, M.J.
- Noonan, Michael J. (Limerick West).
- O'Connell, John.
- O'Dea, Willie.
- O'Donoghue, John.
- O'Hanlon, Rory.
- O'Keeffe, Ned.
- O'Leary, John.
- O'Rourke, Mary.
- O'Toole, Martin Joe.
- Power, Seán.
- Quill, Máirín.
- Reynolds, Albert.
- Roche, Dick.
- Treacy, Noel.
- Tunney, Jim.
- Wallace, Mary.
- Walsh, Joe.
- Wilson, John P.
- Woods, Michael.
- Wyse, Pearse.
Níl
- Bell, Michael.
- Byrne, Eric.
- De Rossa, Proinsias.
- Ferris, Michael.
- Gilmore, Eamon.
- Gregory, Tony.
- Kavanagh, Liam.
- McCartan, Pat.
- Moynihan, Michael.
- O'Shea, Brian.
- O'Sullivan, Gerry.
- O'Sullivan, Toddy.
- Quinn, Ruairí.
- Rabbitte, Pat.
- Ryan, Seán.
- Sherlock, Joe.
- Spring, Dick.
- Stagg, Emmet.
- Taylor, Mervyn.
Tellers: Tá, Deputies Dempsey and Clohessy; Níl, Deputies Ferris and O'Shea.
Question declared carried.
Is the proposal for dealing with the postponed divisions agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with the conclusion of Private Member's Business this evening agreed? Agreed.
I wish to raise two matters with the Taoiseach. One is the matter of the Cohesion Fund and the discussions at the Council of Finance Ministers yesterday. The confusion about these funds is not helpful to the campaign being conducted regarding the poll next Thursday. If the Minister for Finance would come into the House today or at some other time before the poll and make an authoritative statement on the precise position, that would be of assistance in the campaign. The other matter is the "Panorama" programme on BBC on Monday. I have already written to the Minister for Foreign Affairs about it. I understand the Taoiseach will be meeting the British Prime Minister some time in the next week and I hope he will take the opportunity to raise the concerns held by many Members about that programme.
I hesitate to interrupt spokespersons for major parties on the Order of Business but we must adhere to the rules governing the Order of Business.
Perhaps the Minister for Finance will take the opportunity when dealing with the Finance Estimates to clarify the consequences of yesterday's meeting. It would be in everybody's interests. I want to ask the Taoiseach if Item No. 1, a simple Bill to amend the family planning laws in this lovely country of ours, will be introduced before the summer recess.
It will be introduced as soon as possible.
Before the summer?
Surely the House is entitled to a statement from the Taoiseach today in relation to the failure of the Minister for Finance to get the £6 billion as a pay off——
That is a matter that can be dealt with in so many other ways. It would be an excellent question if put down in the proper manner.
It is an excellent question and we are entitled to an answer today. Is the Taoiseach also aware that the Economic Affairs Committee of the European Parliament will not approve the increased budget?
Deputy De Rossa will please desist. The matter he has raised is not appropriate to the Order of Business. Deputy De Rossa should not ignore the Chair.
I am not ignoring the Chair.
I must ask Deputy De Rossa to resume his seat.
When is it intended to bring in the Bill to co-ordinate means-testing and related matters? Will it be taken in this session or the autumn session?
The matter is at a very advanced stage of consultation and discussion and the Bill will be brought in as soon as possible.
I appreciate that the Finance Estimates will be taken on Friday. Obviously many topics will be covered in that debate. A separate statement on the ECOFIN meeting would be appropriate today or tomorrow.
Will the Taoiseach say why the motion scheduled for this week to establish a Special Committee to deal with the Solicitors Bill was not taken this morning as indicated? When will it be taken?
That will be a matter for discussion with the Whips tomorrow.
I should like to ask the Taoiseach why the three Opposition Deputies and one Government Deputy who went to Rio were unable to travel there on the Government jet and instead had to travel on scheduled airline flights at a cost of £10,000 to the taxpayer.