It is proposed to take Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that (1) business shall be interrupted not later than 7 p.m. today; (2) Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 shall be decided without debate and (3) there shall be no Private Members' Business this week.
Order of Business.
Is it agreed that business shall be interrupted not later than 7 p.m. this evening? Agreed. Is it agreed that Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 shall be decided without debate? Agreed. Is it agreed that Private Members' time shall not obtain this week? Agreed.
Will the Taoiseach agree to time being provided for the Dáil to be asked to approve a resolution setting out the Government's negotiating strategy in regard to the proposed new Programme for Economic and Social Progress so that there will clearly be seen to be a democratic mandate of this House for any such agreement?
That is not in order at this time.
It is relevant.
It is irrelevant.
Sir, if the Government are entering into binding agreements this House is entitled to have its say first.
There are other means of raising that question.
Wonderful negotiations.
I understand the national development plan will be launched on Monday. In view of that, does the Taoiseach propose to provide time in the House next week to debate that plan, given its importance in dealing with the unemployment crisis?
The Government will be happy to provide time for a debate and that matter can be settled by the Whips.
Is my question on the Programme for Economic and Social Progress not just as much in order as Deputy De Rossa's question about the national development plan?
It is quite clear what we are trying to facilitate at this time. Deputy Bruton and the Chair know it.
Why did the Chair allow a question on the national development plan and not my question on the Programme for Economic and Social Progress.
The Taoiseach rose to give a brief response and I allowed it.
What is the difference?
On a point of order, Sir, will the Chair give some indication of the basis for his ruling as he ruled out a question on a debate on the Programme for Economic and Social Progress but allowed a question on the debate of national development plan?
The Taoiseach rose briefly without my calling him to answer that question. It is not in the same category as the Deputy's question.
Could we establish that a question is in order on the basis of a general rule and not simply on the basis of whether the Taoiseach decides to answer?
It is clear what is allowed under the Order of Business and what the Deputy is discussing is clearly outside that procedure.
When is it proposed to introduce promised legislation to deal with the necessary rectification of our law on extradition? What arrangement does he propose to make to have the parties represented in this House informed of the outcome of his discussions tomorrow morning with Mr. John Hume?
I dealt with the latter part of the question at Question Time. In response to the Deputy's first question, the legislation will be published this session and I expect that it will pass through both Houses of the Oireachtas this session.
When will it be published?
As soon as possible. The Deputy is well aware that this is a question of closing the loopholes in our extradition laws as shown up by the courts.
Three years ago.
They were shown up long before the courts heard the cases.
If Deputies do not want to listen to the answers, they should not ask questions.
Item No. 9 on the Order Paper is a Private Member's Bill in my name. The crime statistics were published this morning, they do not reflect the true level of crime but the level of reported crime. Will the Taoiseach provide time to debate this Bill or will he consider allowing it to come before the Select Committee on Legislation and Security for consideration in the near future?
The Deputy is in a position to nominate that matter as a topic for Private Members' Time, if his Front Bench so wishes. I am not prepared to provide Government time for it.
In view of the fact that the true measurement of the crime statistics is the starting place in the fight against our very serious crime problem, where people are openly selling drugs on the street, will the Taoiseach agree to refer this Bill to the Select Committee on Legislation and Security where it can be considered by Deputies from all sides in a manner which would allow us, as legislators, to do our business as we should?
Can the Deputy not get the Fine Gael Front Bench to agree to a Private Notice Question on the matter?
The Deputy should tell us who those people are.
(Interruptions.)
I am in a position to say who they are. Drugs are being sold openly on the street, but Deputy Ahern would not know much about it. Deputy Gregory could give a list of the people involved.
An Leas Ceann-Comhairle
Deputy Mitchell should resume his seat.
I thought that the bare knuckle fighting took place only in Ballinasloe. In view of the fact that the Glackin Report has been referred to the Select Committee on Enterprise and Economic Affairs and that the committee is finding it difficult to get witnesses to appear before it to elaborate on the contents thereof, will the Taoiseach say when the long promised legislation to give privilege to witnesses appearing before the committees of this House will be introduced?
Is that promised legislation?
It is.
The Deputy will be aware that it is included in our list of legislation for publication this session.
I welcome the fact that, albeit belatedly, the Government has published a list of 32 Bills which it intends to publish during this session. On 9 July the Taoiseach gave an undertaking in principle that no Bill would be taken in this House unless it was published at least two weeks beforehand, in order to give Opposition Members time to study it. In the context of the 32 Bills mentioned for publication, has the Government prioritised the Bills it intends to publish in the near future? Also will the principle to which the Taoiseach agreed on 9 July be adhered to in this session?
I would quarrel with the word "belatedly" because it has always been the practice in this House to publish a list of Bills to be introduced on the first day of a new session or later. I fully subscribe to the idea that two week's notice should be given in order to give Opposition Deputies time to study Bills and except for, perhaps occasional, unforseen circumstances that will be adhered to.
Will the Taoiseach indicate when the writs for the Mayo and Dublin by-elections will be moved and if the Minister for Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Taylor, was speaking for the Government when he indicated that it might not happen before June next? Would this not be unprecedented?
The Deputy can raise that matter in another forum.
It is a legitimate question for the Order of Business.
I call Deputy Flanagan.
That is a legitimate question for the Order of Business.
There are other means by which the Deputy can get a response to his question, and he is well aware of that.
Are you, Sir, agreeing that it is in order?
Not on the Order of Business. I call Deputy Flanagan.
Surely the moving of a writ is a matter for the Order of Business.
Will the Deputy repeat his question, please?
Will the Taoiseach indicate when he proposes to move the writs for the Mayo and Dublin by-elections and whether the promise by the Minister for Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Taylor, that those by-elections will not take place until next June represents Government policy?
I made no such promise.
Will the Taoiseach not agree that it is unprecedented for seats to be left unfilled for such a long time?
The Deputy can rest assured that we will not spring the west Mayo by-election on him, we will give him plenty of time to get a candidate. I assure him that the writ will not be moved during this session so he can enjoy his Christmas dinner.
In respect of the elaborate list of legislation for the fortcoming session, which contains eight Bills on List A and 32 on List B, will the Taoiseach indicate what has happened to the promised legislation consequent on the referendum in regard to the X case, with particular reference to travel and information, that we all understood would be dealt with in this session? That matter has been omitted from both List A and List B.
That does not preclude legislation being introduced in relation to information. The Minister for Health is compiling that legislation and the fact that it is not referred to on the list circulated today does not mean it will not be published during this session.
I hope the Minister does not need an ambulance.
In regard to legislation promised by the Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Deputy Quinn, when is it proposed to introduce the Trademarks Bill, 1993?
I will communicate with the Deputy on that matter.
Will the Taoiseach indicate when the ethics Bill is likely to be taken in this House, and in the absence of it, does he intend to follow through on the promise of a voluntary register of Deputies' interests? Also, does the Taoiseach consider it ethical to defer by-elections for more than one year?
I am amazed that the Deputy is unaware that a voluntary register is in place. I would remind him that I made such a declaration without any voluntary register being in place but I did not notice him or others rushing to follow suit.
I have nothing to declare.
The Deputy can do so this evening if he so wishes.
That is not a rumour.
The Minister of State is correct, that is not a rumour and we should clear up the rumours. We expect to have the ethics Bill completed and published before the end of this session.
The Minister for Health promised that a national health strategy would be drawn up during this session. Will the Taoiseach agree to allocate time in the House to contribute towards the drawing up of this important strategy relating to health services? It would be pointless to have a debate after the strategy has been drawn up. Will it be possible for those of us who have a great deal to say on the matter, to contribute before the finalisation of the national health strategy?
I am sure there are other means by which the Deputy can raise that matter.
Would the Taoiseach offer a reply to my question in the same way as he replied to other questions?
I am moving to the Order of Business proper.