It is proposed to take Nos. 9, 10, 1, 3, 13 and 14. No. 14 shall be taken not later than 6 p.m. and the order shall resume thereafter. It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that: (1) Nos. 9 and 10 shall be decided without debate; (2) The proceedings on No. 1 shall be brought to a conclusion within one hour and any amendments from the Seanad not disposed of shall be decided 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; (3) The proceedings on the Report and Final Stages of No. 14 shall be brought to a conclusion within one hour 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 Justice and (4) Private Members' Business shall be No. 17 and the proceedings thereon shall be brought to a conclusion at 8.30 p.m.
Order of Business.
Is the proposal that Nos. 9 and 10 be decided without debate satisfactory? Agreed. Are the proposals for dealing with No. 1 agreed?
Is the Government satisfied that one hour is adequate for the debate on this controversial legislation?
I understand that this matter was agreed by the Whips but if they want to discuss it again I am open to that suggestion.
The matter has been agreed by the Whips but in view of the extensive public discussion about whether the powers being taken in this legislation are excessive I wonder if the House should afford a little more time to the debate. Perhaps it would be better if the Whips discussed the matter.
May I take it that this matter will be looked at again by the Whips——
Agreed.
——and that no decision thereon shall be taken now?
I will agree to this order and if it needs to be amended that can be done.
Is the proposal agreed on that basis? Agreed. Are the proposals for dealing with No. 14 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal that Private Member's Business shall be brought to a conclusion at 8.30 p.m. Agreed? Agreed.
May I ask the Taoiseach if the timetable of the legislation for the divorce referendum is being adhered to by the Government, if the legislation providing for the referendum and its terms will be brought before the House before the summer recess and if, before that issue is put to the people, the Government intends to fulfil the promise it made in the House on 11 March to place the civil legal aid scheme on a statutory basis? If the facilities to be provided in the referendum are not to be the preserve of the wealthy it is essential that we have an adequate and statutorily founded system of civil legal aid. Will the Government fulfil its promise — if he requires, I can refer the Taoiseach to the source — to place the civil legal aid scheme on a statutory basis in advance of the summer recess?
Work on a civil legal aid Bill is well advanced. The Minister for Equality and Law Reform is taking steps to expand this scheme and additional funds have been provided for this purpose. The timetable for the necessary legislation is being adhered to and we expect to introduce the legislation before the summer recess.
I want to reiterate a point I made yesterday by way of help to the Government. As someone who is very committed to the Government's legislative programme for the divorce referendum, I am concerned about the timetable in this regard. Originally it was the Government's intention to hold this referendum in June. However, the referendum will not now be held for seven or eight months. Will the Taoiseach have discussions with the other party leaders on this matter? I am extremely concerned that we are running out of time and that much of the preparatory work has not been done. Will the Taoiseach accept my request in the spirit it is being given, consider the matter and agree to meet with the leaders of the Opposition parties?
Deputy Harney's fear is that the legislative package might not be completed in time for the holding of a referendum in the autumn. As of now the timetable for that legislation is on course. If the need arises to have further discussions with the leaders of the Opposition parties, we will consider that in due course.
Some time ago we were told we would have peace in a week. Then we were told we would have peace by Christmas. Now we are told we will have peace by the time of the European elections.
I am anxious that Deputies relate their remarks to the Order of Business proper.
Will the Taoiseach provide time for a debate on Northern Ireland policy?
The matter to which the Deputy refers is not relevant to the Order of Business.
It is a relevant issue.
It is relevant and it can be dealt with in many other ways.
If the occasion arises for a debate in future we will certainly consider it at the appropriate time. In response to Deputy De Rossa's specific question, I said I expected the first steps towards peace to be taken before Christmas. They have been taken and I remain cautiously optimistic that we will achieve a positive result, hopefully a cessation of violence, in due course.
We all hope that.
A number of countries, including Norway, are negotiating accession to the European Union. Norway's membership will have tremendous implications for the fishery industry. Will the Taoiseach allow time for a debate on the proposed accession of Norway to the European Union?
That is not relevant now. It is primarily a matter for the Whips.
I am asking the Taoiseach a simple question. I think he is willing to reply.
The Deputy may not ask the Taoiseach now. It is not in order to do so.
The Taoiseach wants to reply.
It may be an important factor as far as Ireland's fishing industry is concerned.
When the Chair rules a matter out of order, it should not be pursued.
The Taoiseach should sit down.
I try to maintain order here.
One hundred lines for the Taoiseach.
During the Order of Business last Thursday the Taoiseach denied vigorously that he had initiated the contacts between Cable & Wireless and Telecom regarding the privatisation of Telecom and——
A relevant matter please, Deputy.
It is relevant because it relates to last Thursday's Order of Business. Both the Taoiseach and the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications insisted the first they knew of this matter was at 9.30 the previous evening. How do they reconcile that with the statement made by the chief executive of Telecom on 25 May last to a committee of this House that the contacts were initiated by the Government——
That is not relevant now. I am sure the Deputy will find another way of dealing with the matter.
——and that the Government introduced this company to Telecom?
Deputy Gilmore will desist and resume his seat forthwith.
Let us have the Taoiseach's answer.
I will not be disorderly a second time.
On 8 February the Government promised a court and court officers Bill. In light of the discussion on the divorce referendum, will that Bill provide for more effective collection of maintenance from spouses who have left the family home in view of the fact that many who have been deserted find it impossible to obtain maintenance?
The Deputy is getting into some detail on the matter. It should be dealt with another way.
The House should not spend its time discussing something that will not succeed because the public is not satisfied that children will be protected.
I am sorry, Deputy, I cannot facilitate you now. There are other ways of dealing with this.
What is the timetable for the court and court officers Bill?
It is being drafted at the moment.
My question relates to legislation promised as far back as 1989. Will the Taoiseach set an early date for the publication of the waste disposal Bill given that a private company is taking advantage of the political vacuum to set up a large landfill site in north-west Dublin?
There is no need to elaborate.
It is important we make political decisions in this regard.
This is an extensive Bill. Work is well advanced and we will expedite its completion at the earliest possible time.
The Taoiseach said that before.
What is the current timetable for the juvenile justice legislation? Will the Taoiseach comment on the 1993 US report on human rights which highlights his failure to inform the public about that convenion and its policies and principles?
This is not Question Time. The Deputy might pursue that matter by way of a question proper.
It is legislation.
Will the Taoiseach indicate what the Minister for Health is doing with the promised legislation to allow Irish women receive access to information on abortion services available overseas? It is now 15 months since this was promised by the Labour Party as it went into Government and it is shameful that it has been put on the long finger.
This is extremely complex legislation but work on it is well advanced.
On information?
Will the Taoiseach or the Minister for Health indicate to the House whether the Minister for Health intends to revise his legislative programme for the current year?
That is a very vague question.
It is a valid question in relation to promised legislation.
The Deputy will have to be more precise.
At the beginning of the year the Government outlined its legislative programme.
Let us not have a speech, Deputy.
Is it intended to proceed with the programme or revise it?
I am unaware of any new programme published in early 1994. I have said repeatedly in this House that we continue to pursue the completion of the programme published in the last session.
Is the Taoiseach referring to the Programme for Government?
On promised legislation, the Minister for Health is always quick to tell us how hard he works and how much he has delivered since he became Minister. Will the Taoiseach explain why the Minister for Health has failed to deliver on legislation promised last year to reform the mental health services and to deal in particular with problems relating to marital breakdown where one spouse applies for involuntary committal? This commitment was made in 1993.
I was hoping Deputy McManus would join in the chorus of appreciation for the Minister for Health and the hard work he is doing——
Minister Howlin is top of the class.
——but I can tell her——
As long as he does not kiss her on both cheeks.
——the matter to which she refers will be the subject of a White Paper.
Will the Taoiseach indicate what happened to a Bill published by the Minister for Health to give free dental treatment to children aged 14 and over?
It is on today's Order Paper.
It was published but we have not seen sight of it.
It is on the Order Paper.
I know it is on the Order Paper but when does the Government propose to introduce it? Is it waiting until 14 year olds become 18?
Reference was made to the mental health legislation. Lest it be understood that this is being dealt with speedily, exactly one year ago, on 10 March, that legislation was promised by the Minister for Health in this House.