It is proposed to take No. 1 statements on the ESRI Mid-Term Review and statements on the Task Force Report on Small Businesses. It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders that: 1. No. 1 shall be taken without debate; 2. Statements on the ESRI Mid-Term Review shall be brought to a conclusion not later than 4.45 p.m. and the following arrangements shall apply: (i) the opening statements of the Taoiseach and of the main spokesperson for the Fine Gael Party, the Progressive Democrat Party and the Technical Group shall not exceed 30 minutes in each case; (ii) the statement of each other Member called upon shall not exceed 20 minutes; and (iii) a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon not later than 4.30 p.m. to make a statement in reply. 3. The following arrangments shall apply in relation to Statements on the Task Force Report on Small Businesses: (i) the opening statements of the Minister of State and of the main spokesperson for the Fine Gael Party, the Progresive Democrat Party and the Technical Group shall not exceed 30 minutes; (ii) the statement of each other Member called upon shall not exceed 20 minutes; and (iii) a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply not exceeding 15 minutes.
Order of Business.
Is it agreed that No. 1 shall be taken without debate? Agreed. Are the proposals for dealing with statements on the ESRI Mid-Term Review satisfactory and agreed? Agreed. Are the proposals for dealing with the statements on the task force satisfactory and agreed?
Will the Taoiseach clarify that if we only reach this debate 15 minutes before we finish business this evening we will have another opportunity in perhaps a fortnight's time to debate this matter as I know the Minister of State will be away next week?
Yes.
I take it the proposals are satisfactory and agreed? Agreed.
Will the Government allow time for a debate on the Community Support Framework which will set out details of the Government's use of the £7.2 million it is to receive? Is there any significance in a newspaper report today that publication is to be delayed until 9 June? Is that delay sought by the Government or by the Community?
It is not sought by the Government.
I would be grateful if statements and questioning were even remotely related to the Order of Business.
I wish to put the record straight. The Government did not seek any delay or postponement. It is a matter for the Commission to publish the Community Support Framework as soon as it is ready to do so.
The Taoiseach told me two weeks ago he was optimistic that the Community Support Framework would be published by the end of April.
I did not say that.
With respect, I do not have the reference with me but I believe the Taoiseach said that.
I said there was agreement on it.
Does the Taoiseach mean the document will be agreed by the Commission but we will not see it?
I will clarify the position for the benefit of Deputies. I said we expected to have agreement on the various aspects of the National Plan and then the Community Support Framework could be drawn up and agreed, not only between the Irish Government and the Commission but the other member states. The first draft of the Community Support Framework arrived in the Department of Finance at the end of last week. It has been sent to the Departments for their observations and they will be returned to Brussels. It is a matter for them when they publish the Community Support Framework and we are not seeking any delays in that regard.
May I ask the Taoiseach whether it is intended to move the writs for the by-elections next week? I understand that next week is the time limit within which the writs should be moved to hold the by-elections on 9 June.
It should be well known that there is a specific timescale during which writs have to be moved and elections held, and we intend to comply with that timescale for 9 June.
Five years.
I wish to ask the Taoiseach to consider a rather serious problem. This time last year the Tánaiste gave an assurance to the House that delays in the passport office would not be repeated this year, but already queues are forming at 7.30 a.m. In view of the Taoiseach's interest in foreign travel perhaps he will ensure that people who wish to get passports will not be delayed.
I would like to facilitate Deputy Owen but there are many other ways of raising that matter.
In March last year during a debate in the House we were promised an Ethics in Government Bill, now an Ethics in Public Office Bill. Will the Taoiseach say when this Bill will be published? Will it be published before 9 June?
It will certainly be published before the summer recess. If Deputy Rabbitte wants the assistance of such matters to help him to be elected we might even oblige.
I want all the assistance the Taoiseach can give me.
We will oblige.
I wish to ask about two items of business, one of which relates to item No. 7 on the Order Paper. When is it intended that that legislation will be processed on Committee Stage? In view of the fact that yesterday when I sought to raise the question of Estimates I was told it is a matter for the chairman of the committee concerned, when is it intended to bring forward the privilege of witnesses legislation so that witnesses may be called before parliamentary committees and properly examined on matters relating to Estimates and legislation?
On the second part of the question, we expect the Bill to be published before the summer recess. On the first part of the question, discussions are continuing on that matter.