It is proposed to take No. 5. It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that business shall be interrupted not later than 6.30 p.m. today; that the Dáil shall adjourn forthwith and that there shall be no Private Members' Business.
Order of Business.
Is it agreed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that business shall be interrupted not later than 6.30 p.m. today, that the Dáil shall adjourn forthwith and that there shall be no Private Members' Business? Agreed.
I understand that legislation is required in regard to confirmation of the Maastricht Treaty. The Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and Leader of the Labour Party. Deputy Spring, who was then in Opposition and I recommended to the people that the Maastricht Treaty should be endorsed on the basis that we would have free access for our goods to European countries. The German Government is proposing to deny Irish goods access to is market and is casting a slur on the quality of Irish food. What does the Taoiseach propose to do about this? Is he making any representations to the German Chancellor and is the Minister for Foreign Affairs in contact with the German Foreign Minister to have this discriminatory and unjustified ban removed.
That matter is not appropriate to the Order of Business.
It is a serious matter; the Taoiseach wants to reply.
I took this matter up with the German Chancellor last week. Any action by the German authorities to try to block Irish beef would be unwarranted. The Commissioner for Agriculture has made the position of the European Commission crystal clear. The suggestion that Irish beef should be blocked has done some damage. We will continue to work along these lines.
I am glad the Taoiseach has taken that step. As Leader of the Opposition, I have contacted the German authorities also. I hope pressure can be maintained until this is withdrawn.
I agree with Deputy Bruton and hope that the Taoiseach is involved because his involvement is required in dealing with what is intended to be a barrier to trade for domestic political reasons. Will the Taoiseach consider calling in the German Ambassador to explain his Government's opposition to the efforts that are being made? Will the Community Support Framework be published before the end of the month as the Taoiseach suggested in the Dáil last week?
I made it clear last week that this is a matter for the European Commission; as soon as it is ready we are ready.
I seek your guidance, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.
The Deputy is out of order.
It is clear the Government thinks that I do not need guidance. The Ceann Comhairle advised me, and other colleagues in the House many times last week, to table a question to the Taoiseach relating to the remarks he made in Killarney that the residential property tax should be replaced with a home tax. I did precisely that. I have received a letter in which it is stated that the Taoiseach has transferred this question to the Minister for the Environment.
The Deputy should take that matter up with the Ceann Comhairle's office.
I did that last Friday by letter.
I am sure the Deputy will receive an appropriate response.
I did not receive any response.
I am sure it will be forthcoming.
It is a very serious matter——
I am sure that is the case but it is not appropriate to the Order of Business.
——that the Taoiseach makes remarks with which the Minister disagrees and then refuses to answer questions in this House.
The Deputy should respect the Chair.
Is there any point in putting questions to the Taoiseach on matters that he alone covered——
The Deputy knows that that is not appropriate to the Order of Business.
I tried and I observed——
I am sure if the Deputy has approached the Ceann Comhairle's office that a response will be forthcoming.
I observed the Ceann Comhairle's strictures last week. I tabled a question to the Taoiseach in the normal way but he refused to take it and passed it to the Minister for the Environment, Deputy Smith, who is as opposed to it as I am.
That matter is not appropriate to the Order of Business and I ask the Deputy to resume his seat.
The Deputy is electioneering.
The Government promised to introduce radical legislation to amend and extend the provisions relating to employment equality. I understand this is being drafted. Given that all such legislation has to be tested in terms of its impact on job maintenance and creation would it not be reasonable at this stage to consult with IBEC, the employer representative body, to enable it to make a submission on behalf of employers?
There is no need for the Deputy to elaborate.
That legislation is in the early stages of preparation. I understand that IBEC has been consulted by the Minister for Equality and Law Reform.
It has been complaining that there has been a lack of consultation.
They want to draft the legislation; that is different to consultation.
At one of the infrequent but well attended Labour Party rallies held in the west last evening the Tánaiste announced that the by-elections will be held on 9 June. Will the Taoiseach confirm that this is the case and indicate if the writs are to be moved to allow the by-elections to be held on that date?
Or is it just for the Mayo West by-election?
"Into the West".
In a surprise announcement last week the Minister of State at the Departments of the Taoiseach and Finance with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, and Government Chief Whip, indicated that fine new facilities are to be provided for Members of the Oireachtas in the years ahead. Will the Taoiseach confirm that this is to be known as "Dempsey's Den"?
Or "Kenny Live"?
There was a question in regard to the writs.
The writs will be moved pretty soon.
In the light of the fact that 800 South African citizens who are living in Ireland will be voting in the South African elections today, when does the Taoiseach intend to introduce promised legislation to allow Irish citizens living abroad the right to vote in Irish elections?
It is not promised legislation.
The legislation is promised.
It is not the Chair's prerogative to decide what is promised legislation.
It was promised in this House.
A Deputy
Another broken promise.
As the only Deputy from Sligo not now in South Africa, I should like to ask the Taoiseach a question about promised legislation of great importance to my own constituency. What progress has been made on the amendment of the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945 which was promised in this House and which is of great importance to the drainage of the Owenmore river in the Sligo area?
Can it be done before Deputy Brennan returns?
Is this promised legislation?
Progress is being made, although I understand that legislation was not promised in the House.
In regard to the announcement by Deputy Dempsey about the extension of buildings, will we have an opportunity to debate this matter?
The Deputy will have to find another way of raising that. It is inappropriate on the Order of Business.
We were notified that we would be consulted.
There is another format to raise that.
What other time would be appropriate?
It is not appropriate on the Order of Business. There are other ways in which the Deputy can raise that matter.
Deputy McManus knows full well, and was told at the time, that the Joint Services Committee would be co-ordinating these efforts and all parties will have full knowledge of what is happening.
I asked if we could have a debate here about it. How we spend this money is an important matter. It is public money.
In regard to the revelation today that the National Australia Bank is stalking the Trustee Savings Bank and the implications of this for the Government's proposal for the emergence of a third banking force, will the Government provide time for us to discuss this matter?
There are other ways of raising this.
If I put down a question, it will be transferred to someone else.
This time last year the Minister of State at the Department of Finance promised legislation to amend the Wildlife Act to provide for protection for areas of scientific interest. Is that legislation still to be introduced?
It is progressing slowly, but it is progressing.
Like the ethics Bill.
Given that this legislation is in preparation for well over a year, is it seriously on the Government agenda?
When I say it is progressing, then it is seriously on the Government agenda.