Before coming to the Order of Business I propose to deal with a number of notices under Standing Order 30 dealing with two different topics. I propose to deal with these two topics separately and I will call on Deputies in the order in which they submitted their notices to my office. In regard to the first topic, I received notice from Deputy Gay Mitchell and I now call on him to state the matter of which he has given notice to me.
Requests to Move Adjournment of Dáil Under Standing Order 30.
In view of allegations of fraud concerning sales of furniture in a number of areas, including Dublin, Wicklow, Drogheda, Athlone, Sligo Roscommon, Salthill and Ennis, where, contrary to the statement by the Minister for Justice in the Dáil on 25 November last, reliable information indicates that at least 40 complaints have been made, I seek leave to move the Adjournment of the Dáil for the purposes of discussing this important matter of public interest which requires urgent consideration.
Having considered the matter fully I do not consider it to be one contemplated by Standing Order 30. Therefore, I cannot grant leave to move the motion.
In regard to the second topic, I received notices from Deputies John Bruton and Ivan Yates. I now call on Deputy John Bruton to state the matter of which he has given notice to me.
I seek the Adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 30 to debate a motion disapproving the unfairness to those who paid their full tax on time of the unilateral alteration of the terms of the 15 per cent tax amnesty to include within it those who did not pay taxes on time but who had already agreed with the inspector that these unpaid taxes would be paid, even though the Minister for Finance had given an assurance to the Dáil on several occasions that such people would not be included in the tax amnesty; and deploring the fact that a major policy change of this kind should be made without the prior approval of the Dáil.
I now call on Deputy Ivan Yates.
I seek the Adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 30 to debate the following matter: the implementation of the Waiver of Certain Tax, Interest and Penalties Act, 1993, whereby the incentive of 15 per cent amnesty is being extended to include unpaid but recorded arrears of tax, despite the repeated assurances by the Minister for Finance during all Stages of the debate on the Bill in the Dáil to the effect that this part of the amnesty, the 15 per cent, would apply only to "undeclared, undisclosed tax liabilities and to non-complaint taxpayers outside the tax net"; and for the Government to quantify the losses to the Exchequer of tax arrears which would have been collected by the Revenue Commissioners but which are now being discounted at 15 per cent due to the late flood of applications availing of this loophole in the amnesty.
I received notice from Deputy John Bruton first and I will give him precedence. I consider the matter to be one contemplated by the Standing Order and, accordingly, to be in order. I must now ask the Deputies who support Deputy Bruton's request to rise.
More than 12 Deputies rose.
The required number of Deputies having risen in their places, accordingly I give leave to move the motion. It can be taken at 7 p.m. this evening or at such other time today as the House may appoint.
The time of 7 p.m. is agreed.
It is not for the Taoiseach to agree. It is a decision of the House.