It is proposed to take Nos. 4, 8 and 2. It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that: (1) No. 4 shall be taken without debate; (2) in the case of the Second Stage of No. 2 the following arrangements shall apply; (i) the opening speech of the Minister or Minister of State and of the main spokespersons for the Fine Gael Party, the Progressive Democrats Party and the Technical Groups shall not exceed 30 minutes in each case; (ii) the speech of each other Member called upon shall not exceed 20 minutes; (iii) a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply not exceeding 15 minutes; (3) the Dáil shall meet tomorrow at 10.30 a.m. and shall adjourn not later than 4 p.m; (4) the Second Stage of No. 3 shall be taken tomorrow and the arrangements in paragraph 2 above shall apply in relation to the debate. The proceedings thereon and on the remaining stages if not previously concluded shall be brought to a conclusion at 4 p.m. by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall in relation to amendments included only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht.
Order of Business.
Is the proposal that No. 4 be taken without debate satisfactory? Agreed. Are the proposals for dealing with No. 2 agreed? Agreed. Are the proposals for dealing with No. 3 satisfactory? Agreed.
In relation to promised legislation, the Government has indicated its intention to ensure the commercial future of Aer Lingus. This involves legislation to permit an equity injection from either the State or some other source. Will the Government clarify first when it is intended to introduce this legislation and second, in order that the matters may be sorted out expeditiously, what Minister is responsible for Aer Lingus in view of the fact that one Minister is meeting the unions today while another Minister, who is directly responsible, has declined to meet the same unions?
As has been stated on a number of occasions, the Government is awaiting the corporate plan for restructuring of Aer Lingus. Until that plan is available it would not be reasonable to expect further comment from the Government in that regard. In answer to the second part of the question, no such legislation has been promised. In relation to meeting the unions at Aer Lingus, the Minister responsible has met the chairman on a number of occasions——
Who is that?
Do I need to read out the full list of ministerial responsibilities again?
A question has been asked of the Taoiseach. Let us hear the reply.
The Tánaiste and Leader of the Labour Party has undertaken to meet the unions in the postelection period and he is fulfilling that commitment in full consultation with the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications.
In view of the Government's commitment to introduce gender proofing, may I ask the Taoiseach who gender proofed his list of nominees to the Seanad?
May I ask the Taoiseach, in view of the general welcome for the report of the Second Commission on the Status of Women, if it is proposed to debate that report in this House and when that debate is likely to take place?
That report will be formally presented to me this afternoon. The matter of debate in the House is one to be decided by the Whips.
May I ask the Taoiseach, and the Tánaiste, why only one woman was appointed to the other House yesterday and what credibility women can expect in regard to the commitments made to the Commission on the Status of Women? Given the commitment in the Programme for Government to gender proof major Government decisions, was this not a major Government decision which should have been equality proofed in this way?
Tell us.
I should prefer if that matter were dealt with in another way.
What does the Tánaiste have to say?
The Government is revolving that question.
The report on the tragedy of the deaths of the two Tomlins children on the Celtic Pride has, as reported in today's newspapers, been published. May I ask the Taoiseach whether Members will get a copy of that report? Second, will the Government provide time to discuss the report as a matter of urgency?
I will arrange for copies of the report to be made available to all Members. The question of a debate on the report will be considered by the Whips.
Will the Taoiseach confirm that 24 February is the date for the budget?
That is correct.
Will the Taoiseach indicate who will have responsibility for the proposed jobs fund? Will there be an opportunity to debate the proposals envisaged under this fund?
The jobs fund, the county enterprise boards and all matters pertaining thereto are the responsibility of the Minister for Enterprise and Employment.
We are just about to begin a debate on Report Stage of the Roads Bill, on Committee Stage of which the Minister for the Environment indicated that some of the Opposition amendments would be taken account of in a Road Traffic Bill which was to be circulated. May I ask the Taoiseach when that Bill will be circulated?
The Deputy is inquiring about the Road Traffic Bill as distinct from the Roads Bill before us this morning.
The Bill is in the course of preparation and we expect to have it completed soon.
In relation to promised legislation, may I ask the Taoiseach when it is proposed to bring the Juvenile Bill before the House? Is he aware that almost 40 per cent of all recorded crimes are committed by juveniles and that Ireland has a higher percentage of juveniles in prison than any other EC member state? Is this a matter of concern to him? Will he admit that there is great urgency about introducing this promised legislation and will he acknowledge that most of the ground work has already been done by the all-party Committee on Crime that sat for the duration of the last Dáil?
I must dissuade Members from making speeches at this stage.
I asked a question.
Deputy Quill certainly asked a question in the course of her long address and I will be happy to respond. All Members are concerned at the escalation in juvenile crime. The legislation to which the Deputy referred is at an early stage of preparation.
Will the Taoiseach state whether legislation will be introduced, as promised, in this session to deal with intimidating gangs and drinking in public places?
The legislation is in the course of preparation and is being given priority in the Department of Justice.
Will it be introduced this session?
We must shortly get down to the business of the House as ordered. I observe Deputy Molloy offering.
Will the Taoiseach state when it is proposed to move the writ for the by-election in Mayo West?
I understand the Deputy is director of elections, but I do not think the writ will be moved for a while. We have more urgent business to attend to in this House. Then we will get around to the by-election.
I will ask again next week.
In relation to item No. 7 on the Order Paper, in view of our anxiety to bring in summer time and for the sun to shine, will the Taoiseach indicate when this item will be dealt with? Is he promising us good weather in the coming months, politically or otherwise?
That matter will be dealt with shortly. We are now approaching spring time as the Deputy is aware.
I thought Spring was here.
We thought this was the winter of your discontent.
Last night on the Adjournment I made a statement with regard to a proposal for the servicing of aircraft by TEAM Aer Lingus. Subsequently, the Department of Enterprise and Employment issued a statement denying the accuracy of my statement. The statement I made is accurate. I have a copy of a letter from the Department of Industry and Commerce dated 14 January and I want to know if the Minister for Enterprise and Employment sanctioned the issue of that statement.
I allowed a debate on the Adjournment last night on this subject——
Will the Minister now apologise to me and ask his Department——
I am on my feet. Deputy De Rossa should please respect the Chair. I will not allow a rehash of last evening's debate.
It is not a rehash. The veracity of my statement has been questioned and I want an apology.
Now that the Taoiseach has confirmed that a budget will be introduced in 1993 and has given the date for it, may I ask him about a measure that was promised in the last budget? In the January 1992 budget the Minister for Finance said that maternity benefit would be introduced for adoptive parents. However, the Department of Social Welfare has declined to introduce this benefit until the Department of Labour, now the Department of Enterprise and Employment, introduces regulations and legislation to provide for leave arrangements for adoptive parents. I understand the Department of Enterprise and Employment has so far, after a full year, failed to produce this legislation.
Let us not have a speech. The Deputy has made his point and that should be adequate.
Even though only a small number of people are involved they are very much affected. May I ask the Taoiseach when the legislation will be introduced and will the payments be retrospective to the date of the promise, that is January 1992?
I have no intention of commenting on what may or may not be in the budget — it is not the practice to do so — but I would remind the Deputy that the Minister for Finance will take Question Time today and I am sure it is not beyond the ingenuity of Deputy Bruton to find a way of putting a question to him.
I am talking about last year's budget, and the Departments concerned are the Department of Enterprise and Employment and the Department of Social Welfare.
This must not give rise to debate or argument now. There are ways and means of raising such a matter. I am calling Deputy Jim Higgins.
Why is the Taoiseach unable to answer questions about promised legislation? This is a perfectly legitimate question, and I can produce references as to where this legislation was promised. Will the Taoiseach answer the question as to when the legislation will be introduced?
This is disorderly.
As usual there is confusion in the way the Deputy asks questions. As to the part of the question relating to legislation I can say quite clearly that legislation is in the course of preparation. If the Deputy had omitted the other aspects of the question he would have got a straight answer to a straight question.
After a year.
What is the new deadline for publication of the White Paper on Education — a follow-up to the Green Paper on Education — which is a precursor to an Education Bill?
There is no deadline at the moment.
Given the emphasis placed by the Government, particularly the Minister for Enterprise and Employment, on the Culliton report as a way to solve the chronic jobs crisis, may I ask at what stage of readiness is the legislation to implement the Culliton report and how soon we can expect to have it in the House?
The Government does not regard the Culliton report as the entire answer to the problem of unemployment; we see it as a contribution towards a solution to the problem. The legislation to implement the Culliton recommendations is at an advanced stage of preparation.
Will the Taoiseach state when it is proposed to implement the Nursing Homes Bill?
That matter will be dealt with by regulation.
It is a very appropriate question.