It is proposed to take Nos. 1 and 5. It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the proceedings on No. 1, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 7.00 p.m. and the following arrangements shall apply: (i) the speech of the Taoiseach and the main spokesperson for the Fianna Fáil Party and the Progressive Democrats Party shall not exceed 30 minutes in each case: (ii) the speech of each other member called upon shall not exceed 20 minutes in each case; (iii) Members may share time; (iv) a Minister of Minister of State shall be called upon not later than 6.45 p.m. to make a speech in reply. Private Members' Business shall be No. 13.
Order of Business.
Is the proposal in respect of item No. 1 satisfactory? Agreed.
Will the Taoiseach comment on the inspired leaks on the budget, which are presented as fact and not as speculation? If the Taoiseach reads the Official Report, he will see that he had no reason to raise this matter last year as the one small item leaked eventually turned out to be half right and half wrong. This year journalists and others are making absolute statements saying they were told about it either at meetings or by Ministers of State, programme managers, advisers and so on and they seem to be correct. The Taoiseach is probably one of the Members most committed to high standards and he has argued for this on many issues.
He was then.
This is tending towards debate.
Tomorrow, Sir, you will make a ridiculous statement as you will ask at the start of the Budget Statement that nobody leave the House in case we find out something quicker than we should but the fact is that everyone already knows about every thing in the budget.
I am not aware of that, Deputy.
Is the Taoiseach not concerned about the ethics of the matter and about the rules and Standing Orders or does he not care?
I think the Deputy has made his point.
Let me tell the House three things about the budget: first, the budget will reward work; second, it will promote enterprise; third, it will promote social solidarity between our people. I believe it will prove to be one of the best budgets in the history of the State.
Does the Taoiseach not care about leaks?
Will the Taoiseach appoint a Minister for leaks?
I thank the Taoiseach for being so forthcoming about the budget. I am certainly enlightened.
Does the Government intend to make representations to the United States as a result of the report that was drawn up about human rights in Ireland and has contact been made through the embassy or does it intend taking action on foot of the report which, unfortunately although accurate in some respects, is alarming in other respects?
Let us have regard to what is appropriate on the Order of Business and the matter raised by the Deputy is certainly not.
Human rights abuse is very appropriate to this House.
Deputy Harney will find another way of dealing with this matter.
I think the Taoiseach is offering to respond.
Anything relevant to the Order of Business?
Do I take it from the Taoiseach's reply to Deputy Ahern that he condones the unprecedented leaks? Is this the measure of the Taoiseach of this so-called Rainbow Government?
There will be ample time to debate the budget, many weeks perhaps but not now.
I think the Taoiseach has trivialised a very serious matter and he should seek to ensure that no such leaks take place in the future.
I thank the Government for the document which purports to be a programme of legislation but it omits one item of legislation which very obviously was on the programme of legislation up to the fall of the last Government, the waste Bill. Given that it had been imminent for so long but apparently is now defunct can the Government tell us what it proposes to do?
The reason it does not appear in the programme is that this Bill has to be reviewed by the new Government and this will be done very soon.
How soon?
I understand a great deal of work has been done on it and I expect we shall be ready to clear it quite quickly.
Will the Taoiseach prevent abuse in the meantime?
Given that the Minister for Education stated that she would welcome a full debate on the de Buitléir report on the third level grant system, will she take steps to ensure that such a debate takes place?
This is not Question Time.
The Government stated in its recently issued legislative programme that it would issue a list of promised legislation within 14 days but we are still awaiting it. When will we receive it?
I am advised that the 14 days are not up and we will keep to the deadline.
Midnight tonight.
Arising from the commitment to openness, transparency and accountability in the Programme for Government, what does the Taoiseach intend to do to resolve the difficulties that have arisen between the Government press secretary and the Press and does he intend that Deputy Rabbittee intervenes?
That is quite irrelevant to the Order of Business.
When does the Taoiseach anticipate the introduction of the protection of employment Bill?
That legislation has not been promised by the Government. It is, however, legislation that is under review and I expect to be in a position to give a clear answer on that matter quite soon. I understand that that Bill was at a very early stage of preparation under the previous Government.
Do I take it that the Government is not interested in producing the protection of employment Bill?
No, that would be quite wrong. My researchers suggest that it was the previous Government who was not particularly interested because the amount of work that had been done on it was quite limited. I can assure the Deputy the matter is in good hands.
On a point of order, Sir. I will do the Taoiseach the honour of sending him the draft Bill which I had prepared.
When will the Government introduce emergency legislation to amend the Punishment of Incest Act, 1908, in the light of last week's High Court decision?
The judgment in the case referred to by the Deputy is under very active examination by the Minister for Justice. I am not in a position to say exactly when a decision will be taken. The Minister for Justice who briefed me on this matter within the last hour is very conscious of the importance of the issues raised in this case.
Sir, I am seeking your guidance as I tabled two questions to the Minister for the Environment which were ruled out of order and then I tried to raise the same matter on the Adjournment, the need for a second river crossing of the River Suir in Waterford city. Bearing in mind that there is so much money being spent from Structural Funds, a huge percentage of which is being spent on roads——
I assure Deputy Kenneally that I am most anxious to be of assistance to him in raising such matters but they must be raised in the proper manner.
We should have the opportunity of discussing this matter in the House.
The Deputy may not proceed with the matter.
Huge sums of money are spent——
The Deputy should not get into conflict with the Chair.
What about openness, transparency and accountability?
My office is at the Deputy's disposal. He can raise the matter in a proper, formal manner.
If I put down a Private Notice Question——
I shall hear no more.
Does the Taoiseach intend to hold an inquiry into the serious Government leaks in recent days. Has he any idea of the source of the leaks? Is it from the battery of Ministers of State, special advisers or programme managers?
That matter must be pursued in a different way.
Will the Taoiseach intervene with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution on behalf of the four lifeboat technicians who have been dismissed by the RNLI or will he ask the Minister for the Marine or the Minister of State, Deputy Gilmore, who has strong connections with SIPTU——
That is a very good question and ought to be proceeded with by way of question.
When will the Taoiseach bring forward proposals allowing for interrupting debate as proposed by him when Leader of the Opposition?
I would like to do that very soon. It seems to happen anyway. I will ask the Government Whip to bring proposals on that matter before the Committee on Procedure and Privileges within the next month.
The Deputy will be able to interrupt legitimately then.
Will legislation on money laundering be introduced in this session? Has the Taoiseach any intention of introducing emergency legislation because of the recent Brinks-Allied raid? Misleading information was given by the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice last week regarding knowledge of a cash raid by the Garda Síochána.
This is disorderly. Please resume your seat.
It was misleading information. I am asking for the record of the Dáil to be corrected.
My understanding of what we are talking about is bringing into effect certain sections of the Criminal Justice Act, 1994 concerning banks, in particular. For some reason the outgoing Government gave the committee until April 1995 to prepare a report on that subject. The committee has not completed its work because it was given a somewhat relaxed deadline by the previous Government. The Minister is seeking to expedite their work with a view to bringing those sections into effect quickly. We acknowledge its importance. I caution Deputy Callely against loose accusations affecting the integrity of other Members of this House.
Elaborate, please.
I want to proceed to the business of the House.
The Deputy is a member of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. He can raise the matters there if he thinks the information was misleading.
I want to ask for clarification——
The Deputy is out of order.
I was referring to the remarks made by the Deputy which were uncalled for, inaccurate and untrue.
The Deputy made certain allegations. He ought to rethink these things.
It was a cash-in-transit raid.
Will the Taoiseach outline the timetable for publication of the White Paper on education and the eventual publication of the Education Act which is long promised?
The White Paper does not fall into the category——
The Education Act does.
It follows from the White Paper. We must have the White Paper first.
Has the Taoiseach any idea when that will be?
I promised it two years ago.