It is proposed to take No. 15, Votes 19 to 24, inclusive, and Vote 10.
Order of Business.
There is nothing to put to the House.
May I ask the Minister if the Government have made any decision in relation to the resumption date after the summer recess, bearing in mind the commitment given to hold a referendum to amend or clarify Article 43.3.3º of the Constitution and the lead time necessary to implement legislation to give effect to this?
The announcement in regard to the resumption date will be made in the normal way. During the week the Taoiseach explained the procedures and times which would be appropriate in relation to the constitutional requirements referred to by the Deputy.
Would the Minister accept that in order to enable the staff of the House and Members plan their holidays it is necessary to know the resumption date as early as possible? Can we assume that the House will resume in September?
This should not give rise to argument now.
In relation to the Green Paper on Education published yesterday, may I ask the Minister the steps the Government have taken to ensure that this discussion document is given the broadest possible circulation? Will it be circulated to Members and circulated free to interested parties, as I understand the cost per copy is £10?
The Green Paper will be published in full today and will be widely circulated.
I understand it is intended that the Taoiseach will sign a document on a common foreign and security policy in Lisbon at the weekend. Is it intended to circulate that document in the House today so that we can know what the Taoiseach is signing on behalf of Ireland?
There must be many other ways of raising that matter. It is certainly not appropriate to the Order of Business.
It is appropriate that we should know what the Taoiseach is signing on our behalf.
I ask the Minister to indicate the procedures for next week to enable the Taoiseach to give a report to the House on the Lisbon meeting and to indicate precisely what he has committed this country to again in secret. Will it be another Protocol 17?
Statements will be made on Thursday on the Summit meeting.
I hope there will be no surprises.