It is proposed to take Nos. 10, 15 and 3. It is further proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders that: (1) No. 10 shall be decided without debate and, (2) business shall be interrupted not later than 4.45 p.m.
Order of Business.
Is the proposal that No. 10 be decided without debate agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal in respect of No. 2, that the business of the House be interrupted not later than 4.45 p.m., agreed?
I wish to propose an amendment to substitute 7 p.m. for 4.45 p.m. to allow time for a further statement by the Minister for Finance and the Taoiseach to clarify the Government's true intention in regard to reports that they are now considering a further increase in the rate of the property tax——
The rate could go up or down.
——the Government's continued intention to means test the contributory widows' pensions and possibly, in the long term, other pensions.
This should not give rise to a speech now. Does anyone else wish to contribute on this subject? Otherwise I will put the question.
(Interruptions.)
Perhaps, a Cheann Comhairle, you can assist us because there is now total confusion in relation to the matter of the residential property tax. Last night on television the Minister for Finance said as part of this review on the rate of residential property tax that it could go up or down.
This must not give rise to a debate now.
The backbenchers rebuked by the Tánaiste yesterday will be in turmoil.
Let us not forget that the budget debate is ongoing in this House.
We need a statement from the Minister clarifying the position.
On a point of order, we opened this session on 26 January with the budget statement in the course of which the Minister for Finance launched the most difficult political earthquake that any Government has sustained.
That is not a point of order, Deputy.
We are on a point of order. Surely it is wrong——
It is not a point of order, Deputy. The Deputy can make that point, if he has not already done so, in the budget debate.
Surely it is wrong that the budget debate should conclude without a clear statement from the Taoiseach?
I am putting the question. In respect of No. 2 the question is that business shall be interrupted not later than 4.45 p.m.
On a point of order——
Deputy Higgins is showing defiance to the Chair. I must ask him to resume his seat forthwith.
(Interruptions.)
Deputy Higgins, leave the House.
Surely it is wrong that the budget debate should conclude without a clear statement.
I will name the Deputy if he persists. This is disgraceful conduct.
On a point of order, Sir——
I will hear no point of order. The Chair is on its feet.
Would it not be in the Government's interest to make a clear statement, once and for all, about its true intentions?
On the question that business be interrupted not later than 4.45 p.m. today an amendment has been proposed by Deputy John Bruton. I am putting the amendment.
Question put: "That the words proposed to be deleted stand."
The Dáil divided: Tá, 73; Níl, 40.
Tá
- Ahern, Bertie.
- Ahern, Michael.
- Ahern, Noel.
- Andrews, David.
- Aylward, Liam.
- Bell, Michael.
- Bree, Declan.
- Brennan, Matt.
- Brennan, Séamus.
- Briscoe, Ben.
- Broughan, Tommy.
- Browne, John (Wexford).
- Collins, Gerard.
- Costello, Joe.
- Coughlan, Mary.
- Davern, Noel.
- Dempsey, Noel.
- de Valera, Síle.
- Ellis, John.
- Ferris, Michael.
- Fitzgerald, Brian.
- Fitzgerald, Eithne.
- Fitzgerald, Liam.
- Flood, Chris.
- Foley, Denis.
- Gallagher, Pat the Cope.
- Gallagher, Pat.
- Geoghegan-Quinn, Máire.
- Haughey, Seán.
- Howlin, Brendan.
- Hughes, Séamus.
- Jacob, Joe.
- Kenneally, Brendan.
- Kenny, Seán.
- Upton, Pat.
- Wallace, Dan.
- Walsh, Eamon.
- Killeen, Tony.
- Kirk, Séamus.
- Kitt, Michael P.
- Kitt, Tom.
- Lenihan, Brian.
- Leonard, Jimmy.
- McDaid, James.
- McDowell, Derek.
- Moffatt, Tom.
- Morley, P.J.
- Moynihan, Donal.
- Moynihan-Cronin, Breeda.
- Mulvihill, John.
- Nolan, M.J.
- Ó Cuív, Éamon.
- O'Dea, Willie.
- O'Donoghue, John.
- O'Hanlon, Rory.
- O'Keeffe, Batt.
- O'Keeffe, Ned.
- O'Leary, John.
- O'Rourke, Mary.
- O'Sullivan, Toddy.
- Pattison, Séamus.
- Power, Seán.
- Quinn, Ruairí.
- Reynolds, Albert.
- Ryan, Eoin.
- Ryan, John.
- Smith, Brendan.
- Spring, Dick.
- Stagg, Emmet.
- Taylor, Mervyn.
- Treacy, Noel.
- Walsh, Joe.
- Woods, Michael.
Níl
- Ahearn, Theresa.
- Allen, Bernard.
- Bradford, Paul.
- Browne, John (Carlow-Kilkenny).
- Bruton, John.
- Bruton, Richard.
- Carey, Donal.
- Clohessy, Peadar.
- Connor, John.
- Crawford, Seymour.
- Cullen, Martin.
- Currie, Austin.
- Deenihan, Jimmy.
- De Rossa, Proinsias.
- Doyle, Avril.
- Durkan, Bernard J.
- Finucane, Michael.
- Fitzgerald, Frances.
- Flanagan, Charles.
- Gilmore, Eamon.
- Harte, Paddy.
- Higgins, Jim.
- Kenny, Enda.
- Keogh, Helen.
- McGahon, Brendan.
- McGinley, Dinny.
- McGrath, Paul.
- McManus, Liz.
- Molloy, Robert.
- Noonan, Michael. (Limerick East).
- O'Donnell, Liz.
- O'Keeffe, Jim.
- O'Malley, Desmond J.
- Owen, Nora.
- Quill, Máirín.
- Rabbitte, Pat.
- Sargent, Trevor.
- Shatter, Alan.
- Sheehan, P.J.
- Yates, Ivan.
Tellers: Tá, Deputies Dempsey and Ferris; Níl, Deputies E. Kenny and Browne(Carlow-Kilkenny).
Question declared carried.
Amendment declared lost.
There have been suggestions that the Government is pressuring RTE in regard to its coverage of the property tax and that it is attempting to stop RTE from broadcasting a programme on Tuesday night concerning ethics in Government.
What has that matter to do with the Order of Business?
Is there any truth in the rumour that the Government is pressuring RTE in regard to a matter of public interest?
This is a matter that can be raised on the budget debate which is ongoing in the House.
This is a Government which has arranged for the Provos to appear on RTE and is now trying to pressure RTE in regard to criticism of the ethics in Government Bill.
I put it on the record that I am not aware that RTE is planning to produce such a programme.
I now call Deputy De Rossa.
(Interruptions.)
There is a Deputy in possession, let him be heard.
Will the Taoiseach indicate if the Dublin South by-election will be held soon?
As soon as possible.
When? Next week?
Deputy Cullen is offering.
I am asking a serious question.
The Deputy should raise that matter in a more formal way.
It is now a year since Deputy O'Connell resigned from that seat.
A Deputy
Eric must be exhausted at this stage.
We will have to start an "Eric" campaign.
Eric Byrne is a long distance man.
I must ask the Deputy to pursue that matter in the normal way.
In the normal way we should have had a by-election long ago. It is a denial of democracy not to allow this by-election to take place.
I now call Deputy Cullen.
I ask the Taoiseach to respect the principle of democracy by allowing people to vote for their representatives.
We cannot fight by-elections now, Deputy.
Eric needs an oxygen tent at this stage.
It has been reported that the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs grudingly endorsed the air strikes option at an EU Foreign Ministers meeting and called it a simplistic concept. I ask the Taoiseach if a more substantial solution was put forward?
Deputies must have stricter regard of what is appropriate now.
That question is appropriate and we would like to know the position.
The Taoiseach is concerned about an air strike on the middle-classes.
I ask the Taoiseach if the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht intends to lay before the House an order under the Broadcasting Authority Act banning, under section 31, Gay Byrne from broadcasting in future——
That matter is not in order now.
(Interruptions.)
Does the Taoiseach consider it ethical for the Minister for Education to give information about a school development in County Donegal——
I thought the Deputy had something appropriate to raise now, but obviously he does not.
I asked the Taoiseach if he considers it ethical——
I heard the Deputy already and I am not calling him again.
(Interruptions.)
I ask Deputy Harte to desist. He is disorderly.
In the list of legislation which the Government circulated during the last session——
I am sure the Minister of State and Deputy McDaid agree with my comments. The Government may try but they will never get a seat in north-east Donegal.
(Interruptions.)
The Deputy cannot live forever.
During the last session the Government circulated a list of legislation which included a refugee Bill. Will the Taoiseach indicate when it is proposed to introduce that Bill?
As soon as possible. It is nearing completion.
Will the Taoiseach indicate when the proposed occupiers liability Bill will be introduced? He explained on budget day that it had been passed to the Law Reform Commission. When does he expect the Bill to be returned and brought before the House?
That has not advanced significantly since I gave a reply on that matter in this House.
I ask the Taoiseach if the terms of reference of the Joint Committee on Commercial State-sponsored Bodies permits Government backbenchers to exert pressure on the journalistic independence of RTE——
I thought we had moved from that subject.
(Interruptions.)
There is a complete disregard for the business at this time. We now come to deal with item No. 10.