It is proposed to take No. 7.
Order of Business.
Will the Tánaiste indicate what the Government proposes to do in relation to the Eastern Health Board dispute which, I understand, has escalated today and is threatened to further escalate on Monday to include community welfare officers?
I am sorry, I cannot facilitate the Deputy as the matter is clearly not in order now. It has been discussed by the House.
I appreciate your difficulty but the difficulty that I — and other Members — have is that the House is not sitting next week and it will not be possible to raise this matter.
I appreciate that but it does not justify raising matters which are out of order.
We were informed in the House the other day that there were ongoing negotiations in relation to this matter. However, I am reliably informed that the only negotiations under way are in relation to emergency services.
The matter does not arise now, I cannot condone discussion on it now.
It is a crucial issue.
The Deputy is wrong again.
(Interruptions.)
Interruptions should cease, I am calling Deputy Owen.
Like other Members of the House, I am anxious to get on with the urgent business. However, I should like to ask the Tánaiste whether the Government will examine closely the incident of the drum of radioactive waste which was lost from a lorry in the Rathcoole area as it has very serious implications.
It does not arise on the Order of Business.
It is very important.
I appreciate that and there may be another way of dealing with the matter.
I should like to ask if you have any intention of changing the format or length of time allocated to Question Time because the whole proceedings have become farcical in recent times.
Perhaps the Deputy should refer the matter to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.
Will you do that?
No, the Deputy's party may do it and I will be glad to convene the meeting. There is no obligation on me to do it.
Yesterday nine questions were answered in an hour and 20 minutes; the previous day 12 were answered in the same time. Ten years ago, when there was only one hour for Question Time, 30 questions would have been answered.
I understand that this is a time for Dáil reform and perhaps the matter could be looked into.
I should like your assistance in this matter.
Yes, indeed.
Will you report on the present state of the audio typists' dispute? There are 600 ten minute sessions to be transcribed and the matter is very urgent as Members of the House should have the references and transcripts of the contributions made in the Dáil during the period. I wish to remind you in general, Sir, of the lack of facilities available to the editorial staff in that the bound volumes of this House are six years behind. This matter, when sorting out the dispute, should be looked at in as broad a sense as possible. However, I know that the Government Whip is doing all he can in this regard.
The up-to-date position in regard to the industrial dispute involving the audio typists is in relation to the sittings of the period of the industrial action from 17-25 February. No work was done during that period. My office has been informed by the union that the audio typists will not undertake this work pending the resolution of the overall dispute. The debates for the sittings since the dispute was suspended are, however, being processed in the normal way — that is some good news for Members. As I previously informed the House, the matter has been referred to a mediator under the Civil Service Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme and I again express the hope that the outcome will be amicable — and soon. I should also say that last Tuesday's and Wednesday's debates have already been published. With regard to the bound volumes to which the Deputy referred, I concede that there are arrears of work to be cleared up in that area and I am sure my officials will have regard to what the Deputy has said.
With regard to No. 7, before the debate starts will the Tánaiste explain why a major report by consultants pending the future of Aer Lingus has been on the Minister's desk since the middle of 1991?
Please, let us get on to the debate on Aer Lingus. Let us not anticipate it.
It is hardly any wonder that the Minister of the day——
Deputy Rabbitte, please. I am now calling for the debate to commence.