It is proposed to take No. 5.
Order of Business.
In view of the confusion about the Government's long term intentions with regard to the sale of shares in Greencore, could we have a statement in the House on the news which has broken this morning, that the shares have been sold, not as the Minister for Finance wanted to ADM but to other investors?
The matter to which the Deputy is adverting——
Could the Minister indicate what policy change there has been, or what the policy is?
——is not in order now.
Labour rules OK.
You did not want ADM. Who raised it in the first place, only yourselves.
I am rising on a similar request to know——
If it is similar, it is not in order.
(Interruptions.)
The Deputy may not flout the ruling of the Chair in this matter and indeed give advance notice of it.
I am not flouting anything. Until the Chair hears me he will not know whether or not I am flouting the ruling of the Chair——
I heard your earlier intimation.
——and then he may tell me if I am flouting the ruling of the Chair, but I will not be silenced on the issue. An appalling decision has been-made to privatise the remaining shares in Greencore. We will lose control of an important industry which is necessary to develop the food industry.
Please, Deputy De Rossa, I have ruled the matter out of order and so it stands.
Can we have a statement from the Minister for Finance here today about what precisely he will do, and what role, if any, the Labour Party——
Members will doubtless have many other ways of raising the matter. It is not in order now.
——is playing in this Government?
Deputy De Rossa will have to desist. Deputy De Rossa will resume his seat.
The Labour Party got its way.
It is a disgrace.
On a point of order, there are two precedents relating to the sale of shareholdings in Greencore — we had two debates in this House and statements were allowed. How can the Chair explain his ruling, when the sale has taken place this morning, that statements may not be made as they were previously?
If statements are to be made it is by agreement with the Whips and with the approval of the Taoiseach. That is the usual procedure.
In view of the fact that the Minister was clearly in favour of a sale to ADM, would it be possible for the Government to allow a statement on how the Minister let this slip through his hands and on how he can justify it?
If there is nothing that is in order to be raised, I am asking that we proceed——
What about jobs for Irish people in Ireland?
There is quite a lot of public controversy about matters affecting lending institutions, but there are many people who rely on money lenders who cannot afford to go near lending institutions. Successive Governments have been promising legislation to regulate the activities of money lenders over the last three years. Will the Taoiseach say when the Consumer Credit Bill, which is intended to regulate the activities of money lenders, many of whom are extorting money from people with menaces in most appalling social conditions, will be introduced?
Work on this Bill is at an advanced stage of preparation.
Two days ago this House agreed the terms of reference for the new Committee on Foreign Affairs. As group leader of Fine Gael on that committee I have asked the incoming chairperson to call an immediate meeting of that committee to discuss Ireland's attitude to Bosnia and to the availability of food and so on for that country. Will the Whip agree in the House to arrange for that committee to meet next week?
It is unusual to make such a request on the Order of Business. I am sure that the normal channels can be used for this purpose.
I have not had any reply.
Can the Taoiseach say when the new Defence Bill will be published in view of the major announcement made yesterday by the Minister for Defence as to re-organisation of the Defence Forces? The Minister should make these statements in the House as distinct from outside the House, to make the House more relevant.
The Bill is in the course of preparation. It has not come to the Government yet.
Is that a promise of legislation?
Yes, it is.
I can ask about it.
Arising from the Programme for a Partnership Government and the commitment to improve freedom of expression of the press and the media in general, when do the Government propose to introduce reformed laws on defamation?
Is legislation promised in this area?
It is in the Programme for Government. I can give the reference if that is of any help.
It is out of order.
I presume it is not an empty promise.
With regard to promised legislation that seems to have been in limbo for a long time, relating to the job protection unit, it is particularly relevant to ask the Taoiseach a question today, because we see a company——
This is not legislation.
——in Galway facing unemployment due to the failure of a fellow EC country to implement the law. Is the Taoiseach planning definite moves to establish a unit capable of tackling these problems?
I appreciate the reference to a particular matter, Deputy, but I would prefer if it was raised in a more appropriate manner.
In reply to Question No. 156 of 11 March 1993, the Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Deputy Quinn, said in relation to the Employment Protection Unit that he did not anticipate that legislation would be required at this stage. He was also unclear as to what the powers and functions of this unit would be. Given that this is a central part of the Government's alleged programme on job creation I think we should have a clearer view as to what the Government actually intends to do or whether the job protection unit is nothing more than dressing up something which the Department of Industry and Commerce has been doing for the past 30 years.
There is no question of dressing up anything.
These are matters that can be clarified in the normal way, by way of question.
Carr Communications veneer.
May I ask the Taoiseach whether there will be provision in the Finance Bill for the major package announced outside this House yesterday by the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht in relation to the Irish film industry?
There was no announcement.
It was all over the television last night.
A Deputy
The PR machine was working.
May I ask the Taoiseach what has happened to the long awaited Waste Bill?
It will be later this year before that Bill is ready.
The real Taoiseach is here today.