Before I give the Order of Business, I wish to avail of the opportunity to say comhghairdeachas to Deputy Mary Harney on her election as Leader of the Progressive Democrats and to wish her well in her onerous duties.
Order of Business.
Deputies
Hear, hear.
It is proposed to take Nos. 4 and 7. It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that: (1) Questions for oral answer by the Taoiseach shall not be taken on Wednesday, 13 October 1993. (2) The debate on No. 4 shall not exceed 50 minutes and the following provisions shall apply in relation to the debate: (i) the speeches of the Minister and of the main spokespersons for the Fine Gael Party, the Progressive Democrats Party and the Technical Group shall not exceed ten minutes in each case; (ii) the speech of each Member called on shall not exceed five minutes; and (iii) the Minister or Minister of State shall be called on to reply not less than five minutes before the debate is due to conclude. Private Members' Business shall be No. 20, Motion 10.
I must put two questions to the House. Is the proposal that questions for oral answer by the Taoiseach shall not be taken on Wednesday, 13 October 1993 Agreed?
Before we agree to this proposal I should like to know which position the Taoiseach will take on the field? Will he be a centre forward or fullback?
(Interruptions.)
We will get a ticket for the Deputy.
He will be in the dug-out.
I hope the Taoiseach brings luck to the Irish team tomorrow. I am sure that, for once, he will have the support of the entire House in that.
I join the Taoiseach in congratulating Deputy Harney on her election as the first woman leader of a political party in this House. Regardless of her gender, Deputy Mary Harney has, as a Member of this House, shown exemplary courage and directness. She has always been willing to stand up for what she believes. I have no doubt that that directness, simplicity and straightforwardness will stand her and her party in good stead and will do good for this House in the years ahead.
I take it that the proposal is agreed? Agreed.
Up to a point.
Are the proposals for dealing with item No. 4 agreed? Agreed.
I wish to raise a matter in which I hope Deputy Harney will not have any interest in a personal capacity. This matter concerns the control of moneylenders. On 10 February 1993 the Government promised it would introduce legislation to govern consumer credit. At present people are being ripped off by moneylenders and there is no control. The Government has been in breach of EC legislation since the beginning of this year due to the failure of the Minister for Enterprise and Employment to enact this legislation. Will the Minister and the Government give a promise that the legislation to protect the most vulnerable section of our community — those who have to turn to moneylenders — from exploitation will be enacted before Christmas?
Yes, on the basis that we get the full co-operation of Deputy Bruton and other Members. This legislation is listed as No. 6 on the list of Bills to be published during this session. The Government will do everything it has to do to ensure that this legislation is put on the Statute Book by Christmas.
Is the Taoiseach aware that he and his predecessor made similar promises about this legislation for years? Will he guarantee that the legislation will be published this month?
I am not aware of any such commitment having been given previously by any of my predecessors or me. I am giving this commitment now and it will be honoured.
I, too, congratulate Deputy Harney on her election as Leader of the Progressive Democrats. It is an important occasion in Irish politics when a woman is elected leader of a party in this House. I certainly wish her well in her task of destabilising the conservative vote of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. I will do my job in relation to the rest.
(Interruptions.)
My question to the Taoiseach relates to the statement made by the Reverend Martin Smyth of the Ulster Unionist Party who indicated his party's willingness to envisage the participation of Sinn Féin in talks providing it renounces violence. In view of this statement and the statement by Mr. Molyneaux that he might be interested in talking to the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Spring——
The Deputy should find another way of raising this matter.
I will ask the Taoiseach to indicate in the House — he has done so through the media — his welcome for the statement by the Reverend Martin Smyth and, having had a week to consider the briefing from Mr. Hume, will he provide time for a debate in this House——
The Deputy knows that this matter is not appropriate now. I call Deputy Gay Mitchell.
Will the Taoiseach——
The Deputy has been given some latitude.
It would be useful if the Taoiseach was given an opportunity to reply.
The Deputy knows that this matter is out of order and inappropriate.
I have no wish to get involved in a dispute with you, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, but questions of this kind have been answered previously on the Order of Business.
We may all be a little rusty after the summer recess but we should remember the parameters of the Order of Business, I ask for the co-operation of all Deputies to ensure we can work within those parameters. I must work within Standing Orders and I ask for the Deputy's co-operation in that regard.
I wish to make the point that too rigid an application of rules stunts politics.
I wish to address a question in relation to item No. 20 on the Order Paper to the Chair. On three occasions last week my office requested Garda numbers from the Department of Justice for 1986 and 1993. I wish to protest that we have not been supplied with that information which is a gross discourtesy. I wish to ask the Chair to examine that and request the Committee on Procedure and Privileges to bear in mind that inquiries from Deputies' offices are again being routed through the Minister's office and will not be answered directly by civil servants. That does not happen in any other Department of State and has been the subject of a complaint by the Committee of Public Accounts. The practice was discontinued some time ago but has been revised. It is a gross discourtesy to this House.
I will take a note of the matter and ask the Deputy to raise it at the appropriate committee.
May I ask the Taoiseach if the Dáil will be asked to approve the national plan before it is sent to Brussels.
I am sure the Deputy is aware the national plan was sent to Brussels last Friday evening. It is the practice to lodge the plan in Brussels before it is debated.
Why did the Taoiseach not consider it worthwhile to ask the elected representatives of this House to approve that document before it was sent to Brussels?
The Deputy knows well there was a debate in this House on the priorities, as the House saw them, for inclusion in the national plan. I am sure he is also aware that the plan, or a set of proposals go to Brussels first and the negotiations then commence. It is the Community framework regulations that decide what will be put forward for funding or otherwise.
Will it be changed?
Is the Taoiseach aware that European Community Commission officials have made it known repeatedly that they want a plan to be submitted that has the approval of the people? His omission to put this plan before the Dáil for approval is an indication of the low esteem in which he holds this House and undermines the case he is trying to make in Brussels.
Comments such as those from Deputy Bruton are put forward merely as a cover-up for his lack of knowledge as to the procedure that has taken place and the fact that the plan was in Brussels before he asked the question.
I now call Deputy Harney to whom I would also like to add my congratulations and best wishes.
I would like to thank the Taoiseach for his warm wishes on my election as Leader of the Progressive Democrats and, indeed, to thank Deputy Bruton and Deputy De Rossa. I note the Tánaiste has also sent me good wishes. I have had an exciting week and I intend to make life exciting and warm for the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste in particular. I look forward to working with the other Leaders and Members in the interests of the people we represent.
I would like also to be associated with the kind wishes expressed to Deputy Harney. It would be unfortunate if we were to let the occasion pass without acknowledging the tremendous contribution that Deputy O'Malley can continue to make despite the fact that he is now on the back benches. I ask the Taoiseach to consider appointing Deputy O'Malley, a former Minister for Justice, as a peace envoy to Glenamaddy?