It is proposed to take Nos. 7, 13 and 14. It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything contained in Standing Orders, that No. 7 shall be taken without debate. Private Members' Business shall be No. 22, motion No. 10.
Order of Business.
Is the proposal that No. 7 be taken without debate satisfactory and agreed? Agreed. There is nothing else to put to the House.
I would like to raise a matter which relates to the business of the House. I am not sure whether it is you, a Cheann Comhairle, or the Taoiseach who can answer it. On 1 April we adopted a resolution establishing the Joint Services Committee. The House mandated that committee to produce a report within six months on the adequacy of the research and library services for Members of the House. It is important that that report should be made available to us and to the Minister for Finance before the Estimate for the Houses of the Oireachtas is drawn up. The committee has not produced that report and there should be some redress available to the House because of the fact that this resolution has not, apparently, been honoured as it should have been. In the last few days we received circulars about the matter as if an inquiry was to start for the first time. What can be done about this matter?
It is not a matter for the Chair, which is not concerned with the operation of the committees. It is one for the membership of the committee and its chairman. Perhaps the Taoiseach has some view on the matter.
It is a matter for the committee to get the information to the Minister for Finance. It is not a matter for the Chair or for me.
This is an important procedural matter. The House adopted a resolution. Somebody must be held accountable and answerable to the House for the failure to fulfil that resolution. There is no procedure whereby the chairperson of the committee can answer questions in the House. If he cannot answer questions then either you, Sir, or the Government should answer. We seem to find outselves in a position where no one can answer.
If the Deputy had given me prior notice of his intention to raise the matter I would have it examined in my office to see what role, if any, I had in the matter.
I give notice that I will raise it again tomorrow and will continue to raise it until such time as we get either this report which we should have received a month ago or an adequate explanation as to why it has not been produced.
Can the Taoiseach tell me when the Government will bring forward legislation to enable workers in Aer Lingus to take a shareholding in the company?
That is not appropriate to the Order of Business.
It would require legislation.
Is legislation promised in this area?
It is in the early stages of preparation.
In view of the disastrous announcement that hundreds of jobs will be lost during the next 15 months at Larbaun and Neodata can the Taoiseach say how soon we can expect the three agencies under the Industrial Development Act to be established and indicate what emergency measures the Government proposes to deal with this haemorrhage of jobs?
The Deputy is raising a specific matter. Is legislation promised in this area?
It is a very important matter.
The legislation has been passed and the agencies are due to be set up on 1 January.
In the meantime hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs will to be lost.
Can the Taoiseach say at what stage the Extradition Bill is at?
That is in order.
As I have already stated, it will be published this session.
The Taoiseach has promised that legislation dealing with moneylenders will be published. May we take it that it will be dealt with prior to Christmas? When can we expect the Ethics in Government Bill to be published?
We expect both to be published this session.
(Limerick East): Will the Minister for Enterprise and Employment make a statement in the House this afternoon on the loss of almost 400 jobs in Limerick, Kilmallock, Abbeyfeale and Listowel?
I wish the Deputy would raise that at an appropriate time. It is not in order on the Order of Business.
(Limerick East): Will the Taoiseach be providing time to allow the Minister to make a statement?
The Deputy will have to deal with that matter in another way.