It is proposed to take Nos. 2, 3 and 4. It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the following arrangements shall apply in relation to No. 2: (i) the opening statement of a Minister or Minister of State and of the main spokespersons for the Fianna Fáil Party and the Progressive Democrats Party shall not exceed 30 minutes in each case; (ii) the statement of each other Member called upon shall not exceed 20 minutes in each case; (iii) Members may share time; and (iv) a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply not exceeding 15 minutes.
Order of Business.
Are the proposals for dealing with No. 2 agreed? Agreed.
On legislation governing relations between the Government and semi-State bodies, will the Tánaiste comment on the view of the SIPTU General Secretary, Mr. Billy Attlee, on the hostile and aggressive attitude of the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications to the semi-State sector and say if that represents the position of all the parties in Government?
That certainly does not arise now.
Will the Tánaiste intervene to try to resolve the difficulties we are experiencing in having a debate next week on this issue?
There will be time for that. Let us not anticipate that debate.
I will see what I can do.
Where was the Minister of State the other night?
Has he some difficulty with the wording?
A conscientious objector.
When can we expect to see the freedom of information legislation?
The Government is finalising details of this Bill and I hope we will have it in the next session.
Now that it is in the public arena, will the Tánaiste arrange that every Member be provided with a copy of the consultants' report costing £150,000 which clears the semi-State companies? Who will pay for this report?
Limerick East): The Deputy is mentioned in the appendix.
Will he release the report?
The House will have an opportunity of debating this matter next week when it will come before the House in a variety of ways.
I have not had a reply from the Tánaiste.
I said next week.
Will the Tánaiste reply?
The matter is not in order now. I have indicated that it will come before the House next week.
Does the Government propose to introduce new measures to combat the phenomenal increase in deaths on our roads in recent months?
Perhaps the Deputy might help me by indicating the legislation he envisages in this area?
The Road Traffic Act.
I understand that the number of tragic deaths in road accidents this year is six above last year. We express our regret at this. I am sure both the Ministers for Justice and the Environment are concerned and if changes in the law are necessary they will be brought before the House.
I regret very much that the Tánaiste does not appear to be treating this matter as seriously as he might. The numbers of deaths on our roads in July, August and September this year is 40 higher than the figure for the corresponding three months last year.
This is not the time to debate the issue.
In the context of the freedom of information Bill, will the Tánaiste ensure that the evaluation of the vocational training opportunities scheme for the long term unemployed, which was carried out by the Minister for Education, will be released in advance of the Dáil debate next week? I have asked for it to be released by the Department. It has been with the Minister since February 1994 and I was told yesterday that the question of publishing the evaluation is under consideration and a decision is expected.
What legislation, if any, is involved?
The freedom of information Bill. We are getting no information while we are waiting for the enactment of that legislation.
In reply to a question from Deputy Bertie Ahern about prosecution in child sexual abuse cases the Minister for Finance said "the planned legislation dealing with the area will be prioritised". Will the Tánaiste confirm that the Government is preparing new criminal legislation in the area of child sexual abuse, the aspect of the matter it will cover, the title and when we can expect to see it?
Has the Deputy specific legislation in mind?
I am asking if there is specific legislation.
The Deputy should put down a question in the ordinary way.
(Interruptions.)
I have advised the Deputy how to proceed and I cannot permit the Order of Business to be turned into a mini Question Time. The Deputy should put down his question.
It is a simple question and I want an answer.
The Deputy will not get an answer now.
Deputy O'Dea was a junior Minister in the Departments of Health and Justice.
What legislation is planned?
When does the Government intend to introduce legislation to abolish water charges and how does it propose to make up the £200 million shortfall in its plan for local government financing?
Read the paper.
It does not make pretty reading.
I seem to recall in the local government elections in the mid-1980s that it was Fianna Fáil policy to abolish service charges and there was no proposal before the previous Government.
Where stands the Labour Party?