It is proposed to take Nos. 4, 5 and 6. It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that: (1) the proceedings on No. 4 shall be brought to a conclusion not later than 1.30 p.m. and the following arrangements shall apply in relation to the debate: (i) the opening speech of the Minister of Minister of State and of the main spokespersons nominated by the Fine Gael, Labour and Democratic Left parties shall not exceed 30 minutes in each case, and (ii) the speech of each other Member called on shall not exceed 20 minutes; (2) Nos. 5 and 6 shall be debated together and the proceedings thereon shall be brought to a conclusion not later than 4 p.m. by putting from the Chair successively the questions necessary to bring them to a conclusion and the time limits set out at 1 (i) and 1 (ii) shall apply in relation to the debate and (3) any divisions demanded today on the business ordered shall be postponed until 6.45 p.m. on Wednesday, 4 November 1992.
Order of Business.
Are the proposals for dealing with No. 4 satisfactory and agreed to? Agreed. Are the proposals for dealing with Nos 5 and 6 agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with any divisions demanded today satisfactory? Agreed.
In relation to the business of the House, when can the House expect a clear statement from both of the Government parties as to whether they intend to continue in office to transact that business?
Deputy Bruton must not have been listening to the radio. I am sorry if he has been so otherwise engaged that he does not have time to keep up to date. I remind Deputy Bruton that I have no intention of letting the proceedings of the tribunal interfere with the proceedings of this House. That has been the position, is the position and will remain the position.
The Progressive Democrat boys and girls have absented themselves.
Surely the Taoiseach must be aware that at present there is an instability in political institutions here, that there is a lack of direction and a lack of leadership. I say to the Taoiseach very sincerely that the position requires the Taoiseach to come before the House at the earliest opportunity, perhaps on Tuesday, and make a clear statement. I would say the same thing to the leader of the Progressive Democrats, the second party in coalition. A clear statement is required because there is instability. Perhaps because the Taoiseach has not been in the House for three days he is not aware of that, but at present there is instability here.
There are ways and means, laid down in the Standing Orders, for dealing with such matters.
To respond briefly to Deputy Spring, I have not been in the House for three days but I am now back in the House and I intend to stay in the House to proceed with the business of the world outside, which is what the Irish people want. There are two separate operations. I know there were people disappointed that it did not happen last July when the same kind of tension was raised. The position is the same again. The Irish people want this House — all of us — to tackle the problems and to stop making political accusations.
When will the Taoiseach start?
We start from this morning — it is back to business.
Look at the empty seats on the Government side.
There are many empty seats on the Deputy's side too.
The Taoiseach would do the country a favour if he put down a motion of confidence in himself.
The Deputy should get one from his own party.
Hale and Pace are here this morning, I see. I thought it was safe to stand up when those other comedians had an engagement elsewhere.
That is not true of us all.
If the Taoiseach is so certain that the business will continue as usual why is he allocating close to 14 hours next week for Second Stage of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Bill which was virtually talked out yesterday and is clearly a filler——
I think the Deputy has made his point on the manner of dealing with the legislation which he prefers. I will ask the Taoiseach to respond——
It would be helpful if he could clarify what exactly the Government are up to?
We take the Constitution of this country seriously.
The hours for this legislation, as Deputy De Rossa knows, were agreed by the Whips. This is the first time in 130 years that a Bill to change the functions of the Comptroller and Auditor General has come before this House. As Minister for Finance I was pressed day after day, and rightly so, by the Fine Gael frontbench spokesman, Deputy Gay Mitchell, to have these functions updated. Now when it is before the House we have somebody complaining that there is too much time to debate it.
In relation to time can the Taoiseach explain to the House why, for next Tuesday, the Government have listed the European Communities (Amendment) Bill, 1992, Order for Second Stage and Second Stage, when that Bill is not yet in existence, has not been published or circulated? Inquiries which I made this morning with the Bills Office suggest that that will not happen even this week. What is the explanation for conducting the business of Government in this fashion?
This is a matter for the Whips: I will have it looked at immediately. After the Order of Business I would have thought that the matter would have been sorted out.
Deputy Pat Rabbitte is offering.
Is it not a matter for the Whips.
I was not here yesterday so do not bother even to ask me about it.
A further indication of the breakdown of Government.
I was on the nation's business.
May I ask the Taoiseach — I had a number of opportunities during the week to ask him questions which others did not have — if the legislation to set up the super agency on industrial development will be brought before the House during his term and, if so, if it will be introduced by the existing Minister for Industry and Commerce?
I take it this was promised legislation.
The legislation was promised and it is at a very advanced stage of preparation and if possible it will be brought before the House in this session.
Will it be brought before the House by the existing Minister for Industry and Commerce?