It is proposed to take Nos. 4 and 5.
Order of Business.
The ICC and the ACC banks were set up under legislation. Based on the proposals that seem to be emanating from Government on the amalgamation in some form of these organisations and the sale of 75 per cent of TSB, when will the legislation be brought before the House? Let me remind the Taoiseach that back in February he said proposals would be brought before the House immediately after Easter.
I expect the legislation in question will not be brought before the House until later in the year, some time in the autumn.
Does the Government propose to create a third banking force or has it dropped this concept? Will the Government's proposals on this matter be announced before the summer recess?
The contents of the measure do not arise now.
Will the Taoiseach comment on whether it is the Government's intention to amalgamate ACC and ICC, with the loss of several hundred jobs and the sale of 75 per cent of TSB.
Silence — it must be right.
Perhaps one can proceed by formal question on the matter.
Will the Taoiseach, having had 24 hours to consult the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise and Employment, Deputy Eithne Fitzgerald, introduce legislation to control Sunday trading?
The Deputy had 24 hours to inform himself.
The answer I gave the Deputy yesterday is the answer I will repeat this morning. Legislation is not promised on this issue but if the Deputy wishes to put down a question on the matter it will be answered.
I do not wish to be disagreeable, Sir, but, having had a promise from his brother, the Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Deputy Richard Bruton, in the Cork by-election, the Taoiseach should deal with this issue. It would help to prevent the strike on Monday.
The Deputy knows when he is out of order and he is out of order now.
In the agenda published at the beginning of the week it was proposed to take the Second Stage of the Waste Bill today. What machinations have occurred to cause it to be dropped from the agenda?
I am glad the Deputy asked that question. The reason the Bill is not being taken this week is that one of the Opposition parties indicated that it did not wish it to be taken this week. Perhaps the Deputy could consult whichever of the parties requested the deferment.
That is not correct. The Opposition spokesperson on Environment asked that the Bill be taken this week, not next week, when unfortunately he will be away. The Minister for Social Welfare, Deputy De Rossa, insisted that his Bill would go first.
He is running that crowd over there.
In the Programme for Government, the Government undertook to introduce legislation during 1995 to provide for freedom of information. Does the Government intend to honour that commitment in 1995?
The draft heads of that Bill have been circulated in the Government system and are being examined. I hope that it will be ready by then but it is a very long Bill running to 60 sections. It has yet to be drafted and I cannot give a categorical assurance as to when it will be introduced. A great deal of work has been done on it, the heads are in circulation and will be examined very closely.
Has the Taoiseach had an opportunity to examine the up-to-date position on the compellability of witnesses Bill. Will it be published before the summer recess?
I have had the opportunity to do so. As I said yesterday the matter is under very active consideration at Cabinet level and as soon as it is ready it will be introduced.
Will it be published before the summer recess?
It is most unlikely that it will.
Another long fingered job.
In the context of the forthcoming education Bill will the Taoiseach indicate if the House will be informed of savings to be exacted from the Department of Education or other Departments as a result of the request of the Minister for Finance to his colleagues?
Is that social affairs?
I read in The Irish Times this morning that the Minister for Education was successful in having 100 jobs retained in education, unlike her counterpart in the Department of Justice.
Take the early train to Cork.
Deputy Martin will pursue the matter in another way.
In the pre-emptive strike, Nora missed the boat.
I wish to raise a matter concerning the changes in payment to social recipients. Today old age pensioners will receive a miserable increase of £1.50 in their social welfare payments and a 10p increase in the living alone allowance.
The measure to which Deputy Callely refers is on the Order Paper for discussion today.
This is a miserable increase, the worst in 30 years.
Will the Deputy please desist?
It is being written into political history — just as taking the shilling off the pensioners was. You cannot buy a loaf of bread and a pint of milk with it.
(Interruptions.)
This is ultra-disorderly, having regard to the fact that the measure to which the Deputy refers is on the Order Paper for discussion now.
Will the Taoiseach say he will review the matter?
If the Deputy intervenes once more I will insist on him leaving the House.
I asked a question earlier and did not get a correct answer. Now that the Taoiseach has had time to reflect on it will he tell us when the waste Bill will be taken, with or without the co-operation of the Opposition?
The Bill will be taken next Tuesday. The Deputy would have been able to find out through the normal channels had he chosen to make inquiries. The reason it is not being taken this week is that there was a difference between the Opposition parties as to who would be available to take it this week. In deference to those concerns expressed by the Opposition parties and in order that there may be a full discussion on the Bill, it is being taken next Tuesday.
First, I want to thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise the question of Masonite on the Adjournment last night. Will the Minister concerned ask his officials to conclude the negotiations on withdrawing his objection to An Board Pleanála?
I corrected all the Deputy's information last night and the Deputy agreed that he was wrong.
(Interruptions.)
If it was in Galway West the Minister would not be objecting.
(Interruptions.)
If Deputy Cowen would desist from interrupting we might make some progress.
Will the Taoiseach say if it is the Government's intention to announce details of the proposed sale of the Local Loans Fund during the summer recess, thereby avoiding accountability to the House on the matter?