Today the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Select Committe on Enterprise and Economic Strategy will commence consideration of the Diplomatic and Consular Officers (Provision of Services) Bill, 1993, and the Merchant Shipping (Salvage and Wreck) Bill, 1993.
Order of Business.
On the Order of Business can the Taoiseach tell me whether the Government will be officially represented at the ceremony in St. Patrick's Cathedral on Sunday next to commemorate the 35,000 Irish people who died in the First World War?
The Chair is prepared to allow some latitude at this time but I do expect Members to have regard to the normal procedures. The matter raised by the Deputy ought to be raised at a more appropriate time.
A Cheann Comhairle, with respect, the ceremony is on Sunday. I am anxious to know whether the Government will be officially represented. I think the Taoiseach was offering.
I was only offering to clarify the position. As the Deputy well knows, this matter was the subject of all-party discussions in the early eighties out of which emerged an agreement that all commemorations would take place on one day. That position has not been altered.
A Cheann Comhairle, I have to say that, at a time when the Government is seeking peace and reconciliation on this island——
This should not give rise to argument now, Deputy.
I just want to make the point that, at a time when the Government is seeking peace and reconciliation on this island a very strong signal would be sent out by the Government being represented at the ceremony on Sunday next. I see no good reason the Taoiseach could not arrange for that.
I am afraid this is quite out of order——
A Cheann Comhairle, we were told we would be given some latitude on the Order of Business, that anything that was appropriate——
The Deputy has been given quite some latitude by the Chair.
I want to make the point as strongly as I can——
This is not a time for debate, Deputy.
I think the Taoiseach should arrange to have the Government officially represented at the ceremony on Sunday next.
A Cheann Comhairle, I might point out that the Government is abiding by an all-party agreement of this House. I must say I am surprised that any party would seek to break that agreement here in the House, and in a disorderly manner.
(Limerick-East): I notice the Taoiseach is having some bother on education policy. Will he say whether it is still the intention to publish the White Paper on Education and, if so, when?
Work is proceeding on that matter.
Was Deputy Ray Burke consulted?
Have they papered over the cracks?
I understand that the Democratic Unionist Party are today publishing their document in order to break the log-jam. Can the Taoiseach indicate whether it is intended that Government representatives will endeavour to meet the DUP to discuss the contents of that document?
Again, the Deputy is placing the Chair in an invidious position. I am prepared to allow some latitude at this time but I am also governed by precedents in respect of the Order of Business.
May I ask the Taoiseach something that is in order in the hope that, when he is on his feet, he will answer the question I have just put to him. The circulation of 32 Bills has been promised for this side of Christmas, of which I understand six only have been published to date. Will the Taoiseach say when the remainder will be published? For instance, can he indicate what Bills will be published next week? Perhaps, when he is on his feet, he might answer also the other question I put to him.
The Government has set out the list of legislation to be published this session and that task is being pushed ahead with all possible speed. It was not intended to finish 32 Bills but to publish them. We will continue to do the best we can in that regard.
My specific question was which Bills of the remainder of 26 will be published next week?
We will continue to publish Bills from that list as they are completed and become available. I will give the details each week when I get the list, now that I have been asked to give a weekly list in the House.
Arising from the commitment in the Programme for Government that the revision of Dáil constituencies would be completed before Christmas, would the Taoiseach say whether it is the intention of Government to introduce and enact the Dáil Electoral Commission Bill before Christmas?
No, it is not on our list.
Can the Taoiseach inform the House as to when it is proposed to introduce the legislation to give effect to the proposed changes in the sub-county structures prior to the holding of local authority elections? Furthermore, can he confirm that those elections will be held in June next?
It is unlikely that the legislation will be introduced by the end of this session but, certainly it will be before the House in the New Year.
I asked the Taoiseach whether he could inform the House as to when local elections will be held.
I have already said that it is unlikely we will have that legislation before Christmas but we expect it early in the New Year.
When will the local elections be held?
My specific question to the Taoiseach has not been answered, which was: when will the local elections be held?
As a former Minister for the Environment I am sure Deputy Molloy knows full well that this is a matter for the present Minister. He has not yet decided on the exact date.
Has he even decided on the year?
Can the Taoiseach indicate what progress has been made on the ethics in Government Bill and when it will come before the House? Further, can he tell the House the purpose of the Tánaiste's visit to Washington next week——
To pay the bill at the Waldorf.
——and if he has arranged suitable accommodation for him in Washington?
If the Deputy has a recommendation he should have said so. In relation to the other Bill, work is nearing completion and it will be published fairly shortly.
Has he booked into the Waldorf Astoria?
(Limerick East): Without making any kind of a political point, the Taoiseach will agree that legislation is coming into the House very slowly. Can the Taoiseach say whether he has sorted out the difficulties in the Attorney General's Office in terms of drafting Bills? Has he made any arrangements to get new draftsmen?
I do not accept that legislation is coming through at a slow pace. There are two additional staff in that office. We are still looking around for experienced draftspeople and if we find some we will be only too delighted to recruit them.
If not, what happens?
May I ask the Taoiseach to refer again to the question I asked him yesterday about the publication of the Book of Estimates? He said it would be published before the end of the present session, which is not much of an improvement on anything we have seen before. We were led to believe there would be some improvement. Can the Taoiseach be more specific? What does he mean when he says the book of Estimates will be published before the end of the session? When are we likely to get the Book of Estimates?
As soon as work is completed. The work on the Book of Estimates is well advanced and is nearing completion. It would certainly be an improvement to have the Book of Estimates published in this session and we expect to do so.
Sitting suspended at 10.45 a.m. and resumed at 4.30 p.m.