It is proposed to take Nos. 1, 2 and 3. It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that 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 thereto, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Enterprise and Employment.
Order of Business.
Is the proposal for dealing with No. 1 satisfactory? Agreed.
Is the Taoiseach satisfied with the arrangements for tomorrow's visit to the North of Ireland by the President? I wish to raise a serious issue that concerns many parents, that is the attempt to abduct children in this State. Will the Taoiseach ask the Minister for Health to carry out an investigation into this matter to satisfy parents——
Sorry, Deputy Owen, I want to facilitate Members, especially spokespersons for the main parties in Opposition, but they must have regard to what is in order at this time.
Child abduction is a serious problem.
A Cheann Comhairle, you may not be aware——
I am aware of what is in order.
——that the people who are abducting children have medical information which means there is a breach of the medical records. The Taoiseach should give an assurance that he will investigate this issue.
Deputy Owen knows full well that there are many ways of dealing with this matter other than on the Order of Business.
Perhaps the Taoiseach would recognise the urgency of this matter.
It is out of order and the Deputy should obey the Chair.
The Taoiseach should be concerned that children are being abducted.
Deputy Owen may not persist in defying the Chair in this manner.
Is the Taoiseach not concerned about this matter?
I must ask the Deputy to resume her seat forthwith.
The Taoiseach thinks abduction is not necessarily a bad thing in all cases.
Will the Taoiseach, through the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications, raise with RTE its decision to ban advertisements for the "Dermot Morgan Show"?
Let us be serious.
I am very serious. When an aspect of the Government's health programme was running into difficulty with RTE advertisers the Minister for Health and the Government took a very firm line, and rightly so, with RTE management. This show is about the Government's number one priority, employment.
The Deputy may not embark upon a speech on this matter. Does the Deputy wish to raise a question relevant to legislation?
It is grossly unfair that these advertisements are banned by RTE at a time when the ban under section 31 has been lifted. The Minister should intervene with RTE because this is a disgrace.
Intervene or interfere?
Deputy Harney should find another way of raising that matter.
The Government has no sense of humour.
The Government made great play in his House about freedom of the airwaves——
Wait until Telecom is sold.
This is about employment.
We are talking about RTE censorship in this area, but self-censorship means that this House is the only area of political comedy. May I ask the Taoiseach if legislative proposals are being prepared to put the Heritage Council on a statutory basis?
Proposals are being prepared. For once, I am glad Deputy Rabbitte has taken up a serious matter. He is usually the person who entertains in the morning.
We used look to the Taoiseach for entertainment.
Perhaps Fine Gael would take the opportunity to withdraw the disgraceful remarks, and correct the record, on the Attorney General and the Judiciary.
The Taoiseach is responsible to the House, not to the gallery.
Has the Taoiseach issued a script to the gallery? Why did he nod to the gallery?
This matter is too serious for Deputies opposite to smile about it.
The Taoiseach is responsible to the House, not to the Bahamas.
As acting leader of the Fine Gael Party, Deputy Owen should be responsible to the House.
There are a few questions we could ask the Taoiseach these days.
The Deputy knows that the allegation is outrageous, and he would not make such a remark.
May I ask the Taoiseach if it is intended to bring forward, in the near future, the Juvenile Justice Bill and if under that legislation he will consider strengthening the law as it relates to child abduction since this is a matter that is of grave concern to many parents?
Now the Taoiseach has a chance to answer.
We have a request——
It is in order.
The Chair decides these matters. I have to dissuade Members from first raising a matter in respect of legislation promised and then bringing in extraneous matters.
A Deputy
You did not reprimand——
This very extensive Bill will contain approximately 200 sections. The Minister for Justice has explained to the House that work on the drafting of the Bill is continuing but it will be some time before it is completed.
The Taoiseach has more or less pre-empted what I wanted to say.
Does the Deputy get to do the dirty work?
(Interruptions.)
I wish to know, a Cheann Comhairle, the action you propose to take about the unfounded accusations——
Does this relate to promised legislation?
Is it in order?
——made in the House yesterday against an officer of the State, namely, the Attorney General.
I take it that the utterances of the Taoiseach a few moments ago and Deputy Ellis refer to something of importance I said in the House yesterday. I have read in the newspapers and heard on radio a statement purported to come from the Taoiseach which I have not had sight of. When I have sight of the statement and have had a chance to consider it, I may be seeking your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to make a further statement to the House——
Good.
——on what I consider to be a very important matter.
Thank you. It is the decent thing to do.
Wait until you see it.
I would prefer no further reference to the matter now. I will be glad to afford the Deputy an opportunity of making a personal statement to the House in the matter, provided of course, that I am consulted fully and that the procedure for dealing with such statements is adhered to.
I hope that does not mean I will be bridled in any way in what I have to say.
The Deputy should not compound matters now.
Is the Taoiseach aware that during his visit to Washington on St. Patrick's Day a survey was carried out by journalists on the streets of that city which indicated that no one knew Albert Reynolds but everyone knew Gerry Adams.
The Deputy knows he is completely out of order.
(Interruptions.)
They were also inquiring about the Taoiseach in Longford.
Has the Taoiseach any comment to make?
I am proceeding with the business ordered.
It seems that Gerry Adams is more popular in the United States than the Taoiseach.