It is proposed to take No. 10.
Order of Business.
There is nothing to be put to the House.
May I ask the Taoiseach what is happening in his Cabinet? We had the contents of yesterday's Cabinet meeting leaked in full to the papers; we have Ministers backbiting one another——
Deputy Bruton, I would very much like you to strive somewhat earnestly to relate your remarks at this time to the procedures.
I should like to know are we——
The Deputy knows full well that this is completely out of order now.
In view of the fact that Labour and Fianna Fáil are leaking comments against each other, will we have a Government next week?
Why not table questions on that?
(Interruptions.)
Would Deputy John Bruton like an election?
Anything that is necessary to keep incompetence out of office would be more than welcome.
The Chair correctly referred to procedures. I suggest to the Taoiseach that, instead of the Mullingar by-pass, he should be having a reality by-pass since he told us last evening that nothing had really changed since October last which is a bit too much.
Deputy Harney, again I must appeal for relevance at this time.
On a day when the big issue is the way the Government handled the National Development Plan 1994-1999 and negotiations on behalf of this country it is a little bit unreal that we cannot discuss that matter in the House.
I did not lay down the regulations and procedures to be adhered to at this time. This House laid down the procedures.
When a motion was tabled yesterday morning by Deputy De Rossa it was opposed by the Government.
The Chair has an obligation to strive earnestly to comply with the procedures laid down by the House. If the House wants to change the procedures at this time that is its prerogative.
The Government knew the story yesterday morning yet it opposed a motion tabled by Deputy De Rossa to discuss the national plan today.
I understand that this matter will be the subject of discussion in this House next week. In the meantime we ought not anticipate that debate.
We should hear the truth from the Taoiseach, particularly when the Government opposed a motion tabled by Deputy De Rossa yesterday when it knew what was the story.
We ought not anticipate the forthcoming debate. Would Deputy Harney please desist?
A Ceann Comhairle, how did you know that?
I heard comments in the media to that effect.
Is the Government going to come clean at last, face up to the issue and admit its mistake?
I should say to Deputy Bruton that a Member of this House intimated it.
Was it a member of the Government willing to accept responsibility at last?
It was a member of Deputy Bruton's party.
Is the Taoiseach as embarrassed as we are over here at the humilitation his Government has inflicted on this country?
Deputy Rabbitte knows that Members will have an opportunity of ventilating their views on this matter next week, when I understand the matter will come up for debate in Private Members' time.
I wanted to ask the Taoiseach whether he would agree, notwithstanding the fact that we fixed the business yesterday and having regard to the humiliating climb down of last evening that the House could by agreement——
The Deputy is proceeding to make a speech on the matter and anticipating a debate which will take place next Tuesday and Wednesday.
I am merely asking the Taoiseach whether, by agreement this morning, he would change the business to a discussion on the National Development Plan 1994-1999 débacle rather than proceed in the make belief that this Programme for Competitiveness and Work——
I am sorry, I cannot facilitate the Deputy.
I need the assistance of the Chair to protect this side of the House. On Tuesday at 4.20 p.m., the Minister for Finance answered six parliamentary questions, which the Chair kindly allowed, about the National Development Plan 1994-1999. In the course of that Question Time the Minister for Finance made certain statements in this House we now know could not have been factual at the time he made them. I am referring to statements like, “it is not necessary at this or any stage to say whether a project is out; the Government will not publish”——
As Deputy Owen said, I allowed a large number of questions on the subject. If there was anything fundamentally wrong at that time it should have been brought to my notice. It is rather late in the day to be drawing my attention to it now.
Because of Cabinet confidentiality we did not assume we would know what happened at the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday before the Dáil debated the matter at 4.20 p.m. We now know as a result of leaks from the Cabinet meeting that the Minister for Finance knew that they had to make cuts in the plan, yet he——
The Deputy's remarks would be more appropriate to the motion which will be discussed next week.
Will the Chair clarify that for us? We do not know about any motion.
The Chair has no obligation in this matter.
May we ask how you know, a Cheann Comhairle.
The Deputy is trying to involve the Chair in the politics of the House.
You have just imparted information to us. We did not know there is to be a debate next week. We would like to know how you know it.
Deputy Yates did make it public.
(Interruptions.)
I am glad, Sir, that the proper authority is now being exercised in this House.
(Interruptions.)
Deputy Bruton blew it again.
(Interruptions.)
May I ask the Taoiseach a question?
This is not Question Time. I am calling on the Taoiseach to begin his statement on the Programme for Competitiveness and Work.
May I ask the Taoiseach a question about promised legislation?
No. Deputy, I have called on the Taoiseach.
Deputy Bruton should ask Ivan.
(Interruptions.)
Ivan in waiting.
(Interruptions.)
The last Government went to court to preserve Cabinet confidentiality at enormous public expense. What is happening in this Government? Do programme managers attend Cabinet meetings in order to provide contradictory briefings about what is happening?
Deputy Bruton, you will have an opportunity to speak on this motion. This is irregular and disorderly. Please resume your seat.
Will the two journalists be sued because they are wrong?
The best we can do now is obey the Chair. We should all have respect for the Chair, otherwise we show bad example for democracy.
We may have respect for the Chair but we have diminishing respect for the Government.
A Deputy
The feeling is mutual.
I support the Minister, Deputy Cowen who suggested an 8.5 per cent cut——
The Labour Party will soon be the same size, at the rate it is going.
There will be no safe seat for Orla Guerin. The Tánaiste will not be able to keep his promise to her.
I will allow Deputy Yates to intervene because I invoked his name.
(Interruptions.)
Will you, Sir and the Taoiseach clarify one point? It is true that Fine Gael has Private Members Business next week but no motion has been tabled. Is the Government prepared to give time next week to debate this issue?
That is a matter for the Whips.
Deputy Harney rose.
I now ask the Taoiseach to commence his speech. Sorry Deputy, I am on my feet dealing with the Order of Business.
First of all, it is important for the benefit of truth——
(Interruptions.)
I heard about reports about my overruling the Tánaiste at the Cabinet meeting; he was not present at the Cabinet meeting. The first time I heard of options A, B, C, 1, 2, 3 was just now. I would also like to point out that it is only in Ireland we are persuaded we did badly in Europe. Le Monde, the leading national newspaper in France, marvel at our success yet we engage in——
A Deputy
The Taoiseach is reading the wrong paper.
I must now ask for order.
We have no intention of throwing in the towel as the two parties opposite would like us to do.
A Deputy
Could the Taoiseach allow for Le Monde to be placed in the Library?
(Interruptions.)
A Deputy
It is in the Library.
Deputy Rabbitte rose.
Deputy Rabbitte, please, I insist on the restoration of good order for this debate. There is a strict time limit and every Member who rises should be given a good hearing, without interruption.