Mary Harney
Question:1 Miss Harney asked the Taoiseach the plans, if any, he has to meet the Irish EU Commissioner. [3044/95]
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Meeting with Irish EU Commissioner.
I met Commissioner Flynn in my office last Friday.
Deputy Harney is lucky, at least she got an answer.
(Interruptions.)
I am lucky to have had the question placed on the Order Paper. I presume Commissioner Flynn expressed his appreciation that this Government did not withdraw his name for renomination? Did the Taoiseach discuss with Commissioner Flynn arrangements for the Intergovernmental Conference and outstanding issues on the finalisation of the Community Support Framework for Ireland?
The answer to the first question is that I do not expect Commissioner Flynn to express thanks to anybody. The answer to the second question is "yes".
Certainly he expressed his appreciation publicly and, I am sure, has also done so privately. On the issues which will arise within the context of the Intergovernmental Conference — in particular, the matters of our neutrality and enlargement of the EU — will the Taoiseach say whether the Irish position will be discussed within the context of the Tánaiste's White Paper? Is the Taoiseach in a position to tell us when that White Paper may be published?
We are having an extension of the subject matter of the question now.
These are entirely separate questions. I would prefer if the Deputy put specific questions on those matters because I am sure she is as anxious as I am that she should receive comprehensive, full information. As she knows, the appropriate way of obtaining it is by tabling appropriately phrased questions.
The reason I put the question in this form is that it is so difficult to get questions to the Taoiseach on the Order Paper, so I was endeavouring to keep it very specific. Will the Taoiseach say what he discussed with Commissioner Flynn?
It is not customary after a meeting of this nature to give a detailed account of everything discussed.As I am sure the House will be aware, it is important that there be confidential discussions between the Government and all Commissioners, including the Irish one. Therefore, the information I could give would be of a general kind only. I would ask the Deputy not to seek specific or additional details in regard to those matters. We discussed the development of the special initiative on Northern Ireland, preparations for the Intergovernmental Conference, the possibility of a visit by President Jacques Santer — the subject of another question — and a range of general matters.
Will the Taoiseach say why his office does not agree to accept the majority of questions from the Leader of Fianna Fáil?
Because the Leader of Fianna Fáil has not yet taken up the offer I made to him, of a briefing, on how best to frame questions to ensure they are in order for answer by the Taoiseach.
That is arrogance; the Taoiseach is dictating.
Please, Deputies, this kind of argument should not take place now. There are other ways and means of dealing with that matter.
The Taoiseach will not answer questions tabled to him.
Would the Taoiseach agree that the attacks by a small number of MEPs on Commissioner Flynn were wholly unjustified and that the Council for the Status of Women and several other women's organisations have congratulated Commissioner Flynn on the excellent work he has done on women's issues since becoming a Commissioner?
This is quite an extension of the question, which merely asked what plans, if any, the Taoiseach has to meet the Irish EU Commissioner.
It would not be appropriate for me to comment on the proceedings of another Parliament, the European Parliament, but obviously, given that the Government had the option of not continuing Commissioner Flynn's nomination after the change of Government but did so, it is plain that the Government has a good opinion of Commissioner Flynn's general abilities.
Mr. B. Ahern rose.
I want to move on to the next question quite quickly; all kinds of extraneous matters are being raised on this one.
In reply to the Taoiseach, in relation to questions——
This is Question Time, Deputy.
I know that, a Cheann Comhairle, but we are fast moving away from that position. We have four questions tabled today and one tomorrow. The Taoiseach two weeks ago suggested having a discussion on questions — clearly he will not answer questions on Northern Ireland; nobody can table a question to the Taoiseach on Northern Ireland and everything in relation to Northern Ireland is a matter for the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs——
No, that is not true.
The Deputy had seven years in which to answer questions and has forgotten how to ask them.
There is nothing on the Order Paper in relation to this subject today.
The Taoiseach's Office stated that he would answer questions on speeches he had made but when we contacted his office afterwards, they said none of his speeches had been circulated.When we inquired whether we could pose questions on his official engagements we received a reply in the affirmative yet, when we posed such a question, his reply was that he had no official responsibility to the Dáil, which you clarified for me, a Cheann Comhairle, so, the fact is——
I want to respect and assist the Leader of the main Opposition party in this House, that is my duty, but he must co-operate with me in respect of what is appropriate on the Order of Business and at Question Time.
If we put down a general question as Deputy Harney has done we are told it is not a specific question and if we put down a specific question it is transferred because it is not the Taoiseach's responsibility. He has five Ministers of State and he passes questions to them. It is practiclly impossible to frame a question to the Taoiseach.
I have consistently told the House that the Chair has no function whatsoever in respect of the transfer of questions.
Mr. Donlon is deciding what questions will be taken.
The Taoiseach will not answer questions.
His programme manager is deciding what questions will be taken.
I repeat the Ceann Comhairle has no function whatsoever in relation to the transfer of questions.
What can we do if the Taoiseach does not answer them?
That is a matter for the Government of the day, the Cabinet and the Taoiseach. I suggest that you deliberate between each other at a more appropriate time rather than fighting it out here at Question Time.
I laboured for four years under a similar problem. Questions put by me were constantly referred by my predecessor to others.
Nonsense.
I was offered no assistance by the then Government in regard to framing questions appropriately, but I have offered such assistance to Deputy Ahern.
What question on the North was not answered by the former Taoiseach?
Let us hear the Taoiseach.
As far as involvement by me in Northern Ireland issues is concerned, I am more than willing to answer and have answered several questions on that subject since this Dáil resumed its work.
How many has the Taoiseach refused?
You have transferred them all.
Deputy Cowen may not be allowed to interrupt persistently.
Day to day matters concerning relations with Northern Ireland are a matter, as Deputies well know from precedents set by previous Governments, for the Department of Foreign Affairs. There is a clear division of responsibility in regard to both functional activities and answerability for questions.
You are a hypocrite.
That word should not be used and the Member who used it will have to withdraw it.
If Deputy Ahern wishes to have discussions with me about the matter, I will be more than happy to share with him the knowledge that exists in my Department and my experience during the past four years of having questions referred elsewhere by my predecessor.
That amounts to none.
Order, please. I sense a desire, which I am sure is clear to the House, on the part of the Taoiseach and members of the Opposition to clarify this matter and co-operate on it. I suggest Members get together on it, but that cannot be done now.
The Taoiseach is refusing to take questions previous Taoisigh took.
I suggest Members get together on this matter.
That is helpful.
We will not go through the matter again.
I believe in this case that the problem is not caused by the Taoiseach but by somebody in his office.
Mr. Donlon is calling the shots.
We have framed questions today word for word in line with similar questions tabled by the Deputy when he was in Opposition which were answered by the former Taoiseach, Deputy Reynolds. What the Taoiseach said today is incorrect.
I have advised Members how to proceed. I now want to move on to Question No. 2.
I am not going to hide behind officials in my office, unlike the Deputy who is continually interrupting.
On a point of order——
However, I will make available any assistance I can to Deputy Ahern in regard to this matter—
On a point of order, I have been waiting for this——
I will call the Deputy in a moment.
——because it is important that this sort of argument should not occur here.
Deputy Cowen, let us hear the point of order.
A Cheann Comhairle, you have been Chairman of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. I publicly challenge the Taoiseach to provide me with evidence from any public official in my former Department that I ever stood behind a public official. I challenge him to name the official and ask such an official if such a statement is correct——
Deputy Cowen——
——and to stop raising such nonsense when there is not an official in my Department who would stand over such a statement.
Deputy Cowen seems to be ignoring the Chair and has risen on a spurious point of order. If the Deputy wishes to lay down a challenge in this House he will do it by way of proper procedure, by way of substantive motion, not by way of howling an innuendo across the floor of the House.
The Deputy who challenged me before is in a similar position to the one I am in. He is on the back benches.
We will move on to Question No. 2.