It is proposed to take Nos. 4, 5, and 1, No. 1 to be taken at 3.50 p.m. It is also proposed, not-withstanding anything in Standing Orders that: (1) the Committee and Remaining Stages of No. 4 shall be taken today and brought to a conclusion not later than 11.45 a.m. by one Question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall in relation to amendments include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Enterprise and Employment; (2) the Dáil shall sit late today and Business shall be interrupted and the Dáil shall adjourn forthwith when the Motion for the General Financial Resolution has been moved; (3) following the Budget Statement of the Minister for Finance and the statements of the main spokespersons for the Fine Gael Party, the Progressive Democrats Party and the Technical Group, the sitting shall be suspended for 30 minutes, and (4) there shall be no Private Members's Business today.
Order of Business.
Is the proposal in respect of No. 1 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for a late sitting today agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for a suspension of the sitting for 30 minutes agreed? Agreed.
I have two questions to ask about legislation. Will the Government introduce legislation so as to give open statutory authority to the health charges which it is surreptitiously sought to introduce in the budget? Will the proposed Ethics Bill governing Members of this House deal with the use of Dáil privilege by Members who refuse information to a tribunal established by the House so that this issue can be dealt with here in the appropriate forum rather than in the courts?
The Deputy is well aware that hospital charges increase from time to time without the introduction of legislation.
The charges were announced the day before the budget.
The Ethics Bill is in the course of preparation.
Does the Minister for Health intend to come into the House today to explain why he has abandoned those people who voted for the Labour Party in the last general election on the understanding that a proper caring health service would be put in place? We now have a position whereby increased charges are being imposed——
This matter could more appropriately be dealt with in the budget debate proper. This is not Question Time.
It is a disgrace.
There will be plenty of opportunities in the House for dealing with the Estimates of every Department. The Deputy might be pleasantly surprised with some of the proposals in health and other areas.
Will there be a statement by the chairman of the Labour Party?
Is the Taoiseach aware of the dirty tricks campaign against the Digital plant in Galway and will he personally intervene in the matter? It appears——
Please, Deputy Connaughton. We had a discussion on that matter for the greater part of yesterday.
——that the Government are afraid to get involved. Is the Taoiseach aware that there seems to be a dirty tricks campaign in Galway?
I do not believe any useful purpose would be served by having a rehash of this subject this morning.
May I have an answer in regard to the action the Government intends to take in this regard?
There are questions to be answered this morning about the health charges, which came as a surprise and a shock to many people.
I have ruled the matter out of order. The Deputy will have ample time to discuss these matters when we debate the budget today and for considerable time to come.
This matter is of grave concern to people who need hospital treatment.
It is not appropriate to the Order of Business, Deputy. Deputies will be afforded ample opportunity of giving vent to their feelings on all aspects of this matter in the budget debate.
This matter was the subject of a question here yesterday, in relation to the Estimates and it was answered in the appropriate manner. I cannot understand what Deputies are talking about in relation to information.
When the Minister for Health announced the Estimates he did not tell us about this increase.
It is very unfair to make a pre-emptive strike, such as the charges announced yesterday by the Minister for Health——
I am sorry, Deputy O'Donnell, I thought you were adverting to a new matter and one proper to the Order of Business.
Come out front, Minister.
What are you hiding?
Will a ministerial order or regulation be required vis-á-vis the increased charges for private and semi-private beds if the Voluntary Health Insurance Company cannot pay the charges?
That is a matter for Question Time, not for the Order of Business.
All these matters should be dealt with in the appropriate way. Does Deputy Bruton wish to intervene again?
In last year's budget the then Government took money from the VHI. Will that happen again this year?
Please desist, Deputy Owen.
I have a question which, you will be pleased to know, is completely in order. We are concerned at the surreptitious nature of this announcement about health charges on budget day.
The question was put down and answered.
Deputies
Stand up.
A sum of £18 million was spent on the Tánaiste's office.
I must ask Deputies to restrain themselves.
Will you get the value for £800,000?
It is a great pity that the Tánaiste, who is so loquacious when his microphone is turned off, will not speak when it is on to justify these health charges.
Deputies
Hear, hear.
In view of the fact that it is 14 months since the budget in which maternity leave for adoptive parents was promised — this measure has not been implemented because of the failure of the Department of Labour to introduce legislation to provide such leave — will the Taoiseach state when this promise will be implemented?
The Deputy and his colleagues should rest their vocal chords for the long haul. The legislation will be introduced this session.
I want to proceed to the Order of Business promptly. I will hear the two Deputies who have risen. Deputy Jim Mitchell.
Will the Taoiseach tell the House how many hospital beds could have been paid for with the money spent on the Tánaiste's office?
Ten thousand hip replacements.
I am very disappointed. I will tell the full story of that matter one of these days.
That was a big mistake.
I wish to raise two matters. A Criminal Justice Bill which would allow the DPP to appeal against lenient sentences was circulated last September. When will that Bill be debated in the House? Will the Taoiseach or the Minister for the Marine make a statement to the House about very disturbing reports on canisters containing phosphorus which are apparently floating in the Irish Sea?
The first matter is in order.
The Criminal Justice Bill will be debated next week.
Will the Taoiseach explain the canisters?
Is it the Taoiseach's intention to encourage Government backbenchers to table amendments to Bills such as the Finance Bill? Given the propensity of Government backbenchers to put down parliamentary questions, this could have a serious effect at a later stage as almost half of all amendments are put down by the Government side, which indicates a lack of confidence in other Members.