Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 14 Jun 1995

Vol. 454 No. 4

Order of Business.

The Taoiseach

It is proposed to take Nos. 13, 14 and 15.

It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that: (1) the proceedings on the Report and Final Stages of No. 13, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion today at 5.00 p.m. by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise and Employment. (2) the proceedings on the Committee and Remaining Stages of No. 14, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion today at 6.45 p.m. by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by a Minister of State at the Department of Finance; and (3) Private Members's Business shall be No. 20 and the proceedings thereon shall be brought to a conclusion at 8.30 p.m. tonight.

An Ceann Comhairle

There are three matters to put to the House. Are the proposals for dealing with No. 13 satisfactory and agreed? Agreed. Are the proposals for dealing with No. 14 satisfactory and agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal that Private Members' Business shall conclude at 8.30 p.m. agreed? Agreed.

Mr. B. Ahern

Does the Government support the Masonite project, at the proposed location in County Leitrim, which was supported by the previous Government?

An Ceann Comhairle

I am sorry, but that matter is not essentially one for the Order of Business.

Mr. Dempsey

The Taoiseach is anxious to reply.

An Ceann Comhairle

Does the Taoiseach wish to intervene?

A Deputy

Does the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht wish to intervene?

Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn

He has already intervened in a negative way.

The Taoiseach

The Government continues to support this project and it will go ahead, but obviously the details have to be worked out——

Mr. Cowen

"Hear, hear" says the objector.

The Taoiseach

——in regard to the operation of the planning process and in regard to ensuring that the tourist amenity which has enormous employment potential in County Leitrim and the Shannon basin in general is protected. The Government believes it is possible to do both by proper operation of the planning process. It is possible to have the Masonite factory and to protect the visual amenity of the Shannon basin. Through the proper and timely operation of the planning process the Government will protect jobs in the tourism and wood processing industries.

An Ceann Comhairle

Let us understand that there can be no debate on the matter now.

Mr. Doherty

A Cheann Comhairle——

An Ceann Comhairle

I am sure the Deputy heard me.

Mr. Rabbitte

Which one are you going to throw out first, a Cheann Comhairle?

Mr. Doherty

A Cheann Comhairle——

An Ceann Comhairle

It has intruded into the business of the House this morning.

Mr. Doherty

On a point of information, is the axing of the projects at Castlerea and Carrick-on-Shannon the Taoiseach's method of commemorating the famine in the west?

An Ceann Comhairle

This is not Question Time, Deputy. Is there anything else proper to the Order of Business?

Mr. Doherty

Why did he allow the Minister for Justice to be shot last week?

An Ceann Comhairle

This is not in order.

(Interruptions.)

Mr. Doherty

Where is the Minister for the West?

An Ceann Comhairle

I am proceeding to item No. 13.

Mr. Cowen

As Basil Fawlty would say "Don't mention the war".

(Interruptions.)

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy should resume his seat forthwith. Since there is no regard for order this morning I am proceeding to the business of the House, item No. 13. Ethics in Public Office Bill.

Mr. Cowen

The decision about the wall was made when the Minister was AWOL.

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputies, I insist on order from this moment onwards.

Mr. T. Kitt

When will legislation be introduced to control Sunday trading? Will the Taoiseach call on Dunnes Stores management to enter talks with the MANDATE trade union——

An Ceann Comhairle

I decided on this matter last evening in the House.

Mr. T. Kitt

——to avert the strike by 5,000 workers on Monday next?

Mr. Ellis

A Cheann Comhairle——

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy Ellis must restrain himself.

The Taoiseach

No legislation has been promised, but if Deputy Kitt wishes to raise the issue he can table a paliamentary question.

Mr. B. Ahern

On that issue a Government report issued yesterday highlights the fact that this matter cannot be resolved through collective bargaining. Is the Taoiseach saying the IPC is of no value in the debate?

The Taoiseach

The Deputy may not realise that it is only in order to ask and answer questions about legislation promised in the House. I suggested to Deputy Kitt and am now suggesting to Deputy Ahern that if he wants to raise the issue of legislation, as suggested in the report to which he has referred, the normal process is to table a parliamentary question. Approximately three days notice is required.

Mr. B. Ahern

The strike is on.

The Taoiseach

If the Deputy is genuinely concerned about the matter I suggest that he table a parliamentary question.

Deputy Tom Kitt rose.

An Ceann Comhairle

Order, the Deputy should not ignore me.

Mr. T. Kitt

I will not ignore you, a Cheann Comhairle.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy should resume his seat.

Mr. T. Kitt

The Taoiseach talks about the need to protect part-time workers.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy should resume his seat.

Mr. T. Kitt

Surely he must reply.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy will now leave the House.

(Interruptions.)

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy may not ignore me in this fashion. He must leave the House. One would never imagine that Sunday trading was debated on the Adjournment last evening.

Deputy Tom Kitt withdrew from the Chamber.

Dr. Woods

Does the Government have any interest in protecting women in the home who are subjected to domestic violence? On 16 February it promised legislation on this matter would be brought before the House this session. In March we were told it would be introduced within two months. In May the Government said the same thing.

An Ceann Comhairle

There must not be speeches at this stage, Deputy.

Dr. Woods

It is not a speech, a Cheann Comhairle.

An Ceann Comhairle

It seems like one to me.

Dr. Woods

On 31 May the Government said legislation would be introduced within two months. Is the Government serious about introducing legislation——

An Ceann Comhairle

That should be adequate, Deputy.

Dr. Woods

——to provide for safety orders for women in the home?

The Taoiseach

I am sorry to have to interrupt the Deputy's recitation but this legislation will come before the Cabinet for approval next week. The Deputy can expect it very soon.

Mr. McCreevy

Does the Government statement last Thursday regarding adjustments as described by the Minister for Finance have any validity in view of the statements in the newspapers this morning to the effect that the decisions are to be changed?

Mr. Allen

Is the Deputy for or against them?

The Taoiseach

There will not be changes in the Government decisions as announced.

Mr. Dempsey

Has the Government decided whether the NTMA or the HFA will take responsibility for the local loans fund to raise the necessary £200 million? When it is proposed to introduce an amendment to ensure the rights of the mortgage holders of local authority tenancies are protected?

An Ceann Comhairle

The introduction of amendments does not arise at this stage, as the Deputy well knows.

Mr. Dempsey

Legislation on the local loans fund has been promised.

An Ceann Comhairle

Let us have clarification as to the legislation to which the Deputy is referring.

Mr. Dempsey

To transfer responsibility for the local loans fund to the NTMA or the HFA requires legislation.

The Taoiseach

That legislation will be introduced in the autumn.

Miss Harney

What is the current position in regard to the Courts and Court Officers Bill which was to be referred to the Select Committee on Legislation and Security? This has not yet happened.

The Taoiseach

That legislation is before the Cabinet. We expect to make progress on it quite soon.

Éamon Ó Cuív

When is it proposed to introduce the heritage areas Bill in view of the fact that a Minister has objected on scenic amenity grounds to a project already approved by the Government?

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy need not elaborate now.

Éamon Ó Cuív

We should not send out the wrong signals.

An Ceann Comhairle

I said the Deputy need not elaborate now; it is not in order.

Mr. D. Ahern

The right hand does not know what the left hand is doing.

Éamon Ó Cuív

Foreign investors have the spectacle of the Government first approving and then objecting to a project on scenic amenity grounds.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy may not embark upon a speech now.

The Taoiseach

All Ministers will do their jobs in accordance with their statutory responsibilities and make no apology for so doing. We have absolute confidence in the ability of the planning process to protect both employment in tourism and industry. On Deputy Ó Cuív's request for information there are two items of legislation which may be of relevance. The first is the National Parks and Heritage Areas Bill which we expect to introduce early next year and the other is the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill which will be introduced late this year.

Éamon Ó Cuív

On that point——

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy will now resume his seat.

Mr. Davern

In regard to promised legislation on the film making industry, will the Taoiseach indicate whether there is any dispute with the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht concerning the new film "Dr. No" or is it to be entitled "Luggala 1"?

Mr. D. Ahern

It is "Pulp Fiction".

Ms O'Donnell

The Government has promised to introduce legislation to make the health boards more accountable. Will the Taoiseach say at what stage is that legislation? There is a difficulty with the Government publishing reports of inquiries into possible negligence by health boards.

Mr. Barrett

I suppose this is another one of the Deputy's scandals.

Ms O'Donnell

To what is the Minister referring? I am asking about promised legislation on accountability of health boards. The Minister seems to believe I am raising an objectionable matter. It appears from a statement by the Minister for Health yesterday that he has difficulty in publishing reports of inquiry into health boards — for example, in the Kelly Fitzgerald and Madonna House cases. If a report's finding relates to responsibility it is not published.

An Ceann Comhairle

I want to assist the Deputy is gleaning the information she requires about promised legislation but she must be more precise.

Ms O'Donnell

I am trying to be, but for some reason I am being heckled by a Minister.

The Taoiseach

That legislation. which is an amendment to the Health Act, 1970, is at an advanced stage of preparation. I expect it will be published at the end of this session or during the summer. It will certainly be available for lengthy discussion in the House in the autumn.

Mr. Ellis

Does the Taoiseach have any proposals to introduce legislation relating to Government Ministers who try to shaft decisions of a Government of which they are members?

An Ceann Comhairle

I am moving to item No. 13.

Mr. Ellis

Will he say what is the result of the visit of the wise men from the Minister's office to Leitrim yesterday?

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy Ellis should resume his seat or leave the House.