It is proposed to take Nos. 17, 7, 13, 14 and 3. It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that: (1) business shall be interrupted not later than 11.30 p.m.; (2) Nos. 17 and 7 shall be decided without debate and if a division is demanded on No. 7 it shall be taken forthwith; (3) the proceedings on the Report and Final Stages of No. 13, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 5 p.m. by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for the Environment; (4) the proceedings on the Second Stage of No. 14, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 7 p.m.; (5) the Second and Remaining Stages of No. 3 shall be taken today and the proceedings thereon, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 11.30 p.m. by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht; and (6) Private Members' Business shall be No. 16 and the proceedings thereon shall be brought to a conclusion at 8.30 p.m.
Order of Business.
Is the proposal on No. 1, that business be interrupted not later than 11.30 p.m., satisfactory?
Would the Taoiseach agree, in view of the Ceann Comhairle's decision not to allow my motion on the GATT deal, to give Government time to this matter? There are many people in rural Ireland who feel that they are the first victims of the damage done to Ireland's reputation in Europe by the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste in regard to the £7.2 billion controversy.
The Deputy is bringing in extraneous matter. There are many other ways and means of dealing with that matter.
I am willing to agree to the Order of Business if the Government will agree to a debate on the situation in regard to GATT before a decision is finally taken.
(Limerick East): That is a reasonable request.
As a country very dependent on trade it is important to have a GATT deal, nonetheless it would be a good idea if the Government provided time tommorrow, or at some stage before the weekend, to discuss Ireland's position in regard to GATT. If the Government was agreeable to that request I would be happy to agree to the Order of Business.
Is the question, "That business shall be interrupted not later than 11.30 p.m." agreed?
No, Sir.
We heard him talk on the radio about it.
The Taoiseach should at least make a statement on the matter.
We know that the Labour Party has no interest in farmers. It is outrageous——
It is disorderly of the Deputy to keep on interrupting when I am on my feet putting a question to this House.
Where is the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry? The lives of thousands of farmers——
The Deputy will resume his seat forthwith or leave the House.
It is outrageous——
Deputy Boylan, resume your seat forthwith.
It is outrageous——
Deputy Boylan, if you persist I must ask you to leave the House.
What is happening is outrageous and a disgrace.
I take it that the question is agreed.
It is not agreed.
Tá
- Ahern, Bertie.
- Ahern, Dermot.
- Ahern, Michael.
- Ahern, Noel.
- Aylward, Liam.
- Bell, Michael.
- Bhamjee, Moosajee.
- Bhreathnach, Niamh.
- Connolly, Ger.
- Costello, Joe.
- Coughlan, Mary.
- Cowen, Brian.
- Dempsey, Noel.
- Ellis, John.
- Ferris, Michael.
- Fitzgerald, Brian.
- Fitzgerald, Eithne.
- Flood, Chris.
- Foley, Denis.
- Gallagher, Pat the Cope.
- Gallagher, Pat.
- Geoghegan-Quinn, Máire.
- Haughey, Seán.
- Higgins, Michael D.
- Hilliard, Colm M.
- Hughes, Séamus.
- Hyland, Liam.
- Jacob, Joe.
- Kavanagh, Liam.
- Kenneally, Brendan.
- Killeen, Tony.
- Kirk, Séamus.
- Kitt, Michael P.
- Kitt, Tom.
- Leonard, Jimmy.
- Martin, Micheál.
- Bree, Declan.
- Brennan, Matt.
- Briscoe, Ben.
- Broughan, Tommy.
- Browne, John (Wexford).
- Burton, Joan.
- Byrne, Hugh.
- Callely, Ivor.
- McCreevy, Charlie.
- McDaid, James.
- McDowell, Derek.
- Moffatt, Tom.
- Moynihan, Donal.
- Moynihan-Cronin, Breeda.
- Mulvihill, John.
- Nolan, M.J.
- Ó Cuív, Éamon.
- O'Hanlon, Rory.
- O'Keeffe, Batt.
- O'Keeffe, Ned.
- O'Leary, John.
- O'Rourke, Mary.
- O'Shea, Brian.
- Penrose, William.
- Power, Seán.
- Reynolds, Albert.
- Ryan, John.
- Ryan, Seán.
- Smith, Brendan.
- Spring, Dick.
- Stagg, Emmet.
- Taylor, Mervyn.
- Upton, Pat.
- Wallace, Dan.
- Walsh, Eamon.
- Woods, Michael.
Níl
- Ahearn, Theresa.
- Allen, Bernard.
- Barrett, Seán.
- Boylan, Andrew.
- Bradford, Paul.
- Browne, John (Carlow-Kilkenny).
- Bruton, John.
- Bruton, Richard.
- Connaughton, Paul.
- Cullen, Martin.
- Currie, Austin.
- Deasy, Austin.
- Deenihan, Jimmy.
- Doyle, Avril.
- Durkan, Bernard J.
- Finucane, Michael.
- Fitzgerald, Frances.
- Flaherty, Mary.
- Flanagan, Charles.
- Fox, Johnny.
- Harney, Mary.
- Harte, Paddy.
- Kenny, Enda.
- Keogh, Helen.
- McCormack, Pádraic.
- McGahon, Brendan.
- McGinley, Dinny.
- McGrath, Paul.
- Mitchell, Gay.
- Mitchell, Jim.
- Nealon, Ted.
- Noonan, Michael.
- (Limerick East).
- O'Donnell, Liz.
- O'Keeffe, Jim.
- O'Malley, Desmond J.
- Owen, Nora.
- Quill, Máirín.
- Sargent, Trevor.
- Shatter, Alan.
- Timmins, Godfrey.
- Yates, Ivan.
Are the proposals for dealing with Nos. 17 and 7 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 13 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 14 satisfactory? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 3 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal that Private Members' Business conclude at 8.30 p.m. agreed? Agreed.
Since 31 December 1992 the Irish Government has been in breach of EC law for failure to introduce consumer credit legislation. The Taoiseach has repeated the promise many times that this legislation will be pro-produced before Christmas. When will this legislation be produced?
It is almost ready.
The loan sharks continue to make their kills.
We see from our newspapers today that the Government favours the holding of a political convention which would include Sinn Féin and the parties in this House. We read more in the newspapers than we learn in this House. Could I ask the Taoiseach if it is his intention to discuss this proposal——
That is clearly not a matter for the Order of Business and the Deputy knows that.
Unfortunately, it is clearly a matter that can be discussed with everybody except those in this House.
The Deputy may not raise these matters continually on the Order of Business. It is not appropriate.
How is it that Government spokespersons can brief the media but we can get no information in this House?
You may not persist, Deputy. There are other ways of dealing with the matter. My office will be glad to facilitate you if you wish to proceed in that manner.
It is not your office, a Cheann Comhairle that I am concerned about; I would like the Government to facilitate us. Would the Taoiseach agree to discuss this matter with political leaders in this House?
Deputy Harney, it is not in order now.
Could I ask the Taoiseach if he would indicate when he proposes to bring forward legislation to increase the equity for Aer Lingus, which requires legislation, and if he proposes to do so before the recess?
I hope with the co-operation of the House that all stages of this Bill could be taken next week.
I want to ask whether the Taoiseach will be attending the European Summit next weekend. It arises out of Question No. 53 on the Order Paper which was tabled to the Taoiseach and has been transferred to the Minister for Tourism and Trade, Deputy McCreevy.
I am sorry, Deputy, that does not arise now.
I asked whether the matter would be discussed at the European Summit and the attitude that will be adopted——
At this time we discuss proposed legislation, Deputy, this is not Question Time.
I want to know whether the Minister for Tourism and Trade will be taking over the reins of office at the European Summit or was the question transferred because the Taoiseach was not prepared to answer questions about the GATT Agreement?
The Deputy is being disorderly now. Deputy Pat Rabbitte is offering.
May I raise a point of order?
No, Deputy O'Keeffe, you may not raise a point of order when I am dealing with a point of disorder concerning your good self.
May I, in a very orderly way, raise a point of order?
No. Deputy O'Keeffe, what you are endeavouring to raise is not appropriate to the business now.
Is it appropriate, on a point of order, to ask on what basis I can raise a point of order?
Deputy O'Keeffe, I must ask you to desist and resume your seat.
May I raise a point of order, Sir?
No, Deputy, I have told you why. I am calling Deputy Rabbitte.
As we are within a week of the Christmas recess will the Taoiseach indicate when he proposes to make time available — in line with the undertaking given to the House by the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht — for the matter of the laying of an order before the House in respect of section 31 of the Broadcasting Act to be debated in the House?
The laying of an order, Deputy, is not appropriate to the Order of Business. Perhaps the Deputy might relate it to legislation promised.
Well, if the legislation is not promised in this case, Sir it is very widely anticipated, as the Minister himself would say, if he were on this side of the House. Perhaps the Taoiseach would indicate whether it will be this week or next week?
I respectfully suggest that Deputy Rabbitte might table a question on the matter.
Will the Taoiseach indicate whether it has been decided to hold the Údarás na Gaeltachta elections on the same day as the European elections — 9 June — as happened five years ago?
That is a good question, Deputy, which should be dealt with as such.
I know we are having our Christmas lunch today, a Cheann Comhairle. Obviously you are looking forward to it because you are in the best humour I have seen for a long time. I will try your patience a bit more now, Sir. We will be making inquiries, through the Whips, about reports of proposals by the Government which would affect other parties in this House. I advise the Taoiseach not to make such proposals without consulting them. I am referring to the reports in today's papers concerning an Irish convention involving other parties in addition to Fianna Fáil and Labour.
I am not quite sure to what this refers.
On promised legislation, the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, Deputy Tom Kitt, gave a commitment in the House yesterday, on behalf of the Minister for Justice, that she would be introducing a one line amendment to the Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1986. In view of the fact that the Minister is meeting the United States Under Secretary of State, Miss Mary Ryan, to discuss visas for Irish citizens wishing to attend next year's football matches, when will amendment be introduced which will allow Americans, Australians and South Africans entitled to Irish citizenship to avail of it?
I recollect this matter having been referred to only yesterday.
Yes, the refugee Bill will be published before Christmas.
The Taoiseach was not listening.
He did not get the sheet of paper.
This is on page 2.
Obviously he knows something nobody else knows.
I am sorry to be the Member to catch the Taoiseach being so out of touch with what went on yesterday——
So out of touch?
It is an amendment to the Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1986, which will allow approximately 4,000 people who are validly entitled to Irish citizenship——
I heard the Deputy deliberate on the matter at some length yesterday.
Yes, Sir, you did indeed, so you know what I am talking about. Perhaps the Minister for Justice will introduce that amendment before the Christmas recess so that, when we are begging for all these visas, we will not be embarrassed by the fact that we owe 4,000 people Irish citizenship.
I should like to inform the Deputy that there will be no begging for visas. We already have that matter well in hand. I thought the Deputy might be interested in a refugee Bill for some Members of her party.
The Taoiseach has lost three overboard already.
I can afford them.
He will soon have to send out the lifeboats.
We can afford them; we are not stuck on numbers or anything like that.
I should say that work on the other Bill is almost completed.
So we might have it before Christmas?
Yes.
I think the Taoiseach might be right; these are returning refugees.
Is Deputy Shatter back on the Front Bench?
Will the Taoiseach clarify whether the refugee Bill to which he referred is in respect of Deputies Killeen, de Valera and others?
Deputies
No answer.
I am amazed at the deep concern of the Fine Gael Whip about numbers. The party should be more worried about its numbers, we are not short of numbers over here.
You were short on numbers when you had to go on your hands and knees seeking a partner.
The Taoiseach promised some months ago that the Occupiers of Land Bill would be published this session and later said it would not. Will he inform the House now when that Bill will be published?
That question is in order.
I think I said on two occasions already that the Bill will not be ready for publication until next year.
It is extremely important because, if it is not published farmers will have no opportunity to contribute to tourism.
I am sorry, this is not Question Time, Deputy. I have allowed Deputy Crawford to put the matter before the House.
A Cheann Comhairle, since I notice that you are in very good humour——
I am always in good humour.
——I can assure you, Sir, in better humour than thousands of farmers this morning.
On a point of order——
No, Deputy Boylan knows the procedures of this House.
Will the Taoiseach give time for a comprehensive statement to be made in the House on the sell-out by the Government of the farmers?
Deputy McManus is offering.
I am asking the Taoiseach whether he wishes to make a statement in the House.
A Cheann Comhairle, the Taoiseach is rising——
No, the Deputy is being disorderly.
It is important to bring to the Deputy's attention that a meeting of the subcommittee of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs was held at 9 a.m. this morning about the GATT Agreement. Indeed a report will go to the full committee this afternoon.
I want a statement from the Taoiseach.
Did the Deputy even know about this? Did his party tell him about this because there was only one member of the Fine Gael Party present at the meeting.
I want to put on the record what the Government is doing about the GATT Agreement.
Order, please, Deputies. I am calling Deputy McManus.
A bland statement is not sufficient.
Deputy Boylan, the Chair has shown great patience with you this morning. You will now desist and resume your seat or leave the House.
A Cheann Comhairle, I am asking the Taoiseach to make a statement for the record of the House. It is very important; that is no impediment to this House.
Deputy Boylan, leave the House forthwith.
One would have thought the Deputy would have got up early on a Church holiday.
Deputy Boylan withdrew from the Chamber.
We were promised legislation in this session on the establishment of An Bord Bía. When can we expect it to be published?
Possibly before the end of this session but unlikely.
I am now proceeding to the Business of the House proper.
On 1 January next I understand that a new tier of Government will be established. The Minister for the Environment, Deputy Michael Smith, promised a full debate in the House on the establishment of regional authorities. Through you, Sir, may I seek an assurance from the Taoiseach, given the importance of this issue, that before the Christmas recess and the coming into being of such regional authorities, we will have an opportunity to debate that issue in this House?
I had hoped the Deputy would relate that matter to proposed legislation.
It has been promised by the Minister of State.
I am now proceeding to the business as ordered, item No. 17.