It is proposed to take Nos. 5 and 7. It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that: 1. No. 5 shall be decided without debate; and 2. the Second Stage of No. 7 shall be taken today and the following arrangements shall apply: (i) the opening speech of a spokesperson for the Government, the Fine Gael Party, the Progressive Democrats Party and the Technical Group shall not exceed 45 minutes in each case; (ii) Members called upon under provision (i) above may not share time; and (iii) the speech of each other Member called on shall not exceed 20 minutes in each case. Private Members' Business shall be No. 16 — Motion 11.
Order of Business.
Are the proposals for dealing with No. 5 satisfactory and agreed? Agreed. Are the proposals for dealing with No. 7 satisfactory and agreed?
Was the Taoiseach serious when he suggested a comprehensive property tax in his speech in Killarney or is it the case that when he speaks without a script he puts his foot in his mouth?
For the benefit of the House, I never used the words property tax, rates or poll tax.
The Taoiseach would like them all to be merged into one tax.
What about a tax on the unemployment?
The Taoiseach raised the same point in Castlebar.
The Deputy will hear all about Castlebar in the next four to five weeks. The guarantee he gave last night will not stand up and he should not bet money on it because he will lose badly. Despite the best efforts of the Opposition to convince people there will be a huge hike in taxation the Government is committed to reducing taxation and during its period in office it will be seen to reduce the overall burden of taxation and not increase it as Deputy Yates and others would like to believe.
That is why the Taoiseach wants to put Jim Molyneaux in Deputy Spring's place.
There will be an opportunity later to develop this matter, if appropriate. May I move on to the business as ordered?
We are deciding whether we will agree to the arrangements for dealing with the Finance Bill. Who speaks for the Government on Finance matters, is it the Taoiseach off script in Killarney, the Minister for Finance or Minister Smith who contradicts both of them?
This is not a time for speech making.
What status attaches to any statement made by a Government Minister?
Is the proposal that No. 7 be taken in the manner the Taoiseach and I outlined in order and agreed?
We have not got a clear indication as to whether the Taoiseach, Minister Ahern or Minister Smith speaks on tax policy.
That matter does not arise.
It would enable us decide on the question if the Taoiseach indicated if he or the absent rural Buddha, the Minister for the Environment, has overruled him?
The question is: "That the Second Stage of No. 7 shall be taken today in accordance with the conditions laid down".
At least the Taoiseach had the grace to laugh.
(Interruptions.)
Question put and declared carried.
Was the Minister, Deputy Smith, right to contradict the Taoiseach? Is the Taoiseach in favour of a general property tax?
I must ask the Deputy not to persist in dealing with a matter that has been ruled out of order.
We are entitled to this information. The Taoiseach should remember that he is Taoiseach, not some impresario who can visit any place in the country and make speeches off the top of his head.
Deputy Bruton, you may not ignore the Chair in this fashion. If the Deputy wishes to raise that matter he has ample ways and means of doing so.
The Taoiseach obviously has an addiction to publicity.
The Deputy will resume his seat.
If he cannot get it by doing his own job he has to get it by doing other people's jobs.
I refuse to be ignored in this fashion. Deputy Bruton should resume his seat.
The Taoiseach was allowed speak for five minutes. He gave a Second Stage speech on the Finance Bill and he was not pulled up, but Deputy Bruton has been pulled up.
I do not know if the Taoiseach saw "Questions and Answers" last night but he may be aware that the Minister of State, Deputy Fitzgerald, intends canvassing for the Fianna Fáil candidate in Mayo West. Has the Taoiseach a comment on that matter? Under the community framework legislation we are obliged to publish by 8 April our community support framework plans. May I ask the Taoiseach why that report was not published before 8 April and who made the request to the Commission not to have it published?
Does this refer to legislation promised?
No.
It is an important matter.
It may be very important and there are ways and means of dealing with important matter in this House, but it is not relevant now.
It is very relevant.
The Chair decides these matters.
The report should have been published by 8 April, but the Government made a request to the Commission to delay publication until after the elections.
Deputy Harney will have to pursue that matter in another way.
I cannot pursue it because it is ruled out of order.
It is not relevant now. I am calling Deputy Proinsias De Rossa.
Is this House relevant? Will we be told the reasons the Government sought the postponement——
Deputy Harney, please desist.
A Deputy
The Deputy should have put down a question.
I have a question down.
Deputy Harney, I have been on my feet for some considerable time. The Deputy should resume her seat.
I am being ruled out of order on a very important matter.
Deputy Harney, please resume your seat.
The Taoiseach indicated a few minutes ago that the bottom line for this Government is a reduction in taxation. I wish to ask, on legislation——
What legislation is the Deputy referring to?
Is it proposed to rescind the legislation for the taxation of unemployment benefit which came into effect on 6 April?
The House should recollect that we are about to embark on a debate on the Finance Bill.
The Taoiseach will not be in on the Finance Bill.
The Taoiseach made a promise to the House five minutes ago.
I am moving on to the business of the House proper.
Is it proposed to abolish taxation of unemployment benefit? Clearly it is not.