It is proposed to take Nos. 2 and 3. It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that: (1) the Second Stage of No. 2 shall be taken today and the proceedings thereon and the remaining Stages, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 4.45 p.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 Health; (2) business shall be interrupted at 4.45 p.m. today, and (3) the Dáil at its rising today shall adjourn until 12 noon on Wednesday, 9 June 1993.
Order of Business.
Are the proposals for dealing with No. 2 agreed?
Will the Taoiseach clarify whether the Dáil will debate the Committee and remaining Stages of No. 2 after Question Time, or is it intended that if the Second Stage debate continues up to 4.45 p.m. that there will be no time for the Committee and remaining Stages?
We are agreeable to the Committee and remaining Stages beginning after Question Time, if that is the wish of the Opposition parties.
Is that satisfactory?
Is that agreed because there should be a Committee Stage debate? There is no opposition to this Bill in the House today. I can cast my mind back eight years to when support for a Bill that was not a fraction of this was cast out.
These comments can be made at the appropriate time.
Tempus fugit.
(Interruptions.)
Is the proposal that Committee Stage commence after Question Time agreed?
If we leave it until after Question time to take Committee and remaining Stages, that will mean we will have not much more than 45 minutes to discuss the amendments tabled to the Bill. My party has tabled two amendments which we are anxious to have discussed and 45 minutes is not adequate to debate those amendments. While we support the Bill in principle there are some provisions that need improvement. I suggest that we agree to finish the Second Stage debate at 1.30 p.m.
May we start the Committee Stage earlier? If Committee and remaining Stages commence after Question Time, as indicated by the Taoiseach, the time for debate will be short.
Can we leave this matter safely with the Whips in respect of the Committee Stage?
If this order is agreed now as it stands——
We will leave it flexible. The matter will come before the House in the ordinary way this morning. The Committee Stage is to be decided by the Whips.
We are not confining the time. If the Whips meet and want an extension of time we will agree to it.
Is that agreed? Agreed.
I think there is automatic agreement that 1.30 p.m. would be acceptable to everybody in the House.
We will leave the matter with the Whips. Is it agreed that business be interrupted at 4.45 p.m. today? Agreed. Is it agreed also that the Dáil on its rising adjourned until 12 noon on Wednesday next? Agreed.
I do not know whether I will be able to get any clarification because I am not sure the Government knows what it is doing. Arising from the Minister for Finance's intervention about this amnesty at the summing up of the Finance Bill yesterday when he said he would introduce a social welfare amnesty for the people in the black economy, the bankrupt companies, the people paying PRSI etc.——
The Deputy cannot make a speech.
——will this be part of the amnesty legislation already announced or is another Bill needed or does anybody on the Government side know what the Minister for Finance said at the close of the Finance Bill yesterday?
An amnesty a day kept an election away.
Order. The Taoiseach, if he wishes to intervene.
Can the Taoiseach say whether a second piece of legislation is required for what the Minister for Finance announced at 6.20 p.m. last evening?
Deputy Owen should reflect on amendment No. 186 to find out who is doing what.
That is a long playing record at this stage.
I know they spent two days trying to find out what they understood themselves and they were not able to clarify it.
Deputy Allen rose.
Do not worry, Deputy Allen, you will get all the time in the world.
Give us today's instalment.
I repeat, for the fourth time in this House, that the legislation for the tax amnesty is in the final stages of preparation. We hope to——
This is a new amnesty. This is double relief for racketeers.
Please, Deputy Allen. I must insist that we have order at this time.
(Limerick-East): What about an amnesty for the PAYE taxpayer?
There are none so deaf as those who do not want to hear. It is expected that that Bill will be published by the end of next week. The Minister for Social Welfare, Deputy Woods, is examining his area in relation to his contribution to establish a compliant society, which is the Government's objective in this regard.
It is a double relief for racketeers and pandering to the A1 Capones and the Bugsy Malones.
Will there be any relief for the poor old taxpayer?
It is double relief for racketeers.
Why is Deputy Yates put on the second row?
Let us not engage in a shouting game. I am calling Deputy De Rossa.
When does the Taoiseach propose to introduce the amendment to the Social Welfare Act which will be necessary to implement the Social Welfare amnesty which the Minister for Finance announced yesterday? Can he tell us whether the Minister for Social Welfare, Deputy Woods, knows about this social welfare amnesty?
He probably does not.
Can he tell the House whether he has had any further political afterthoughts overnight?
Is legislation promised in respect of this matter?
It was promised yesterday evening.
Deputy Allen, I must ask you to restrain yourself.
Both questions have already been answered adequately.
The measures being taken in relation to the tax amnesty will benefit the PAYE taxpayer, the less well off in our society and the creation of badly needed jobs.
Will they make Fianna Fáil solvent?
The new type of opposition is to shout down everybody and when questions are asked they do not wait for answers.
The amnesty will make Fianna Fáil solvent.
I know there is a competition in Wexford as to who will be the next leader of Fine Gael, but for Heaven's sake keep it between yourselves.
Remember Deputy O'Rourke.
A Deputy:
I do not think she has anything to worry about.
The Minister for Social Welfare is examining the other aspects and will bring forward proposals as appropriate when he has completed his examination.
What about the solvency of Fianna Fáil? Will the amnesty help that?
I am going on to the Order of Business proper. I see no useful purpose being served by a heckling game of this kind. It is not appropriate to Parliament. I am calling Deputy Allen on a relevant matter.
May I have a straight answer to a straight question? Will the social welfare amnesty require a second piece of legislation? Will the Taoiseach consider the fact that the public believe that this social welfare amnesty is a relief——
Please, Deputy Allen.
——for the racketeers, the Al Capones and the Bugsy Malones who seem to be the supporters of his party?
Deputy Allen, that is sufficient. Deputy Enda Kenny has been offering for some time. I apologise, but as the Deputy is on my extreme right it is difficult to observe him at times.
Maybe I should move further to the right.
Or more into the centre.
I should like to point out for the information of the House that it is not usual to accept all Stages of a Bill on one day. I would point out that the taking of all Stages of this Bill was agreed to by the Whips because the Government allowed a further two hours on Tuesday for the taking of the Report Stage of the Finance Bill. As a general principle it is not usual to accept all Stages of a Bill on one day. May I ask the Taoiseach, arising from all the amnesties and the foreign travel envisaged by his Cabinet, if they are now considering becoming a sub-committee of Amnesty International?
On the Order of Business and specifically in relation to item No. 3, may I ask the Taoiseach if there is some plot afoot that we have not been told about, or what is the urgency about this legislation? How is it that we cannot find time to take the Juvenile Justice Bill in this session?
The Deputy may not embark upon a speech.
Can the Taoiseach explain what is the urgency about this matter?
Please, Deputy, there are ways of dealing with this matter. I am calling Deputy Jim Mitchell, who has been offering for some time.
The Taoiseach has told us that the Oireachtas Committees (Privilege and Compellability of Witnesses) Bill was in preparation. Will it be introduced before the end of this session?
That is still the intention of the Government.
I would like to know when I will be given the opportunity to raise with the Taoiseach the intolerable behaviour of one of his Ministers, the Minister for Justice, who is going around the country, according to Garda News— kissing male members of the Garda Síochána?
Please, Deputy——
What kind of sexist behaviour in this by the Minister?
That is sexual harrassment.
That is getting my own back.
Perhaps there is more return on kissing the male members rather than babies, which is the normal practice of Fianna Fáil. I want to put a question to the Taoiseach and I hope you will not rule me out of order, Sir. Some weeks ago we had extended statements in this House on the situation in Aer Lingus and we were promised a speedy report from Mr. Bernie Cahill. There is now grave disquiet among the staff of Aer Lingus and I would like to know whether the Taoiseach will allow time for a debate on Aer Lingus and when will the report be available——
There are many ways open to Members to raise this matter to deal with it effectively. I am proceeding now to item No. 2.
——so that the many thousands of staff in Aer Lingus are not left in limbo?
I want to indicate——
I did say I was concluding with Deputy Nora Owen and I was going on to the Order of Business, which I am doing now. Item No. 2, please.
You cannot shut down a Member like that.
I indicated I was raising a legitimate point of order.
I will hear no point of order when I am dealing with order.
I rose on a different point of order and you did not call me, Sir.
I did not see the Deputy.
That is not——