It is proposed to take Nos. 4 and 5. It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that (1) The following arrangements shall apply in relation to No. 4: (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; and (2) The sitting shall be suspended today directly after the order of Business until 1 p.m.
Order of Business.
Are the proposals for dealing with item No. 4 satisfactory and agreed? Agreed. Is the arrangement to suspend the sitting directly after the Order of Business until 1 p.m. agreed? Agreed.
The Taoiseach will be aware that last night one of the Houses of the Oireachtas made a clear decision, in the interests of equality in the educational system, that evening and night students should receive free education. As most of these people are on low levels of pay, will the Taoiseach say whether provision will be made for them, reflecting the views of the Houses of the Oireachtas?
The Deputy must know that the matter to which he refers is not strictly related to the Order of Business.
I should imagine that the Taoiseach who, in fairness always has given due recognition to the Houses of the Oireachtas, would not ignore decisions of one of those Houses.
Since the legislation to counter drug trafficking will give powers of arrest to naval officers and provide for the seven day detention of people suspected of engaging in drug trafficking, will the Taoiseach say when the relevant Bill will be published? While on the subject, I congratulate the naval service, the Garda and the other arms of State involved in yesterday's activities although, unfortunately, it appears that the drug barons behind this haul have escaped once again. I wish the Garda well in apprehending them. The relevant Bill is long overdue and has been announced by the Minister several times.
The Bill will be available before Christmas. Obviously, one would not expect to find the drug barons in the lorry. That they were not apprehended on the spot should not warrant the significance Deputy Ahern attaches to it.
(Interruptions.)
However, we should congratulate the Garda Síochána, Revenue Commissioners and all of the State's security officers on the biggest drugs find in the nation's history rather than trying to make much of the fact that the drug barons were not found in the cab of the lorry when it was found.
(Interruptions.)
As far as the other matter raised by Deputy Ahern is concerned, if he studies the Constitution he will realise matters affecting the public finances are a matter for this House not the other House.
So the Seanad is irrelevant?
While thanking the Taoiseach for the useless information he has given the House, I am very disappointed he is now ignoring the Seanad. It indicates that, in common with many others, he thinks it is irrelevant.
He did not abolish it.
Unfortunately, just as it appears he cannot listen to people in Northern Ireland, he cannot listen to what I say.
The Deputy should not engage in argument now.
One does not have to look for drug barons in lorries but perhaps the Taoiseach would instruct his Minister for Justice to endeavour to do something about catching some of them.
Sorry, I have-ruled on that matter——
The Minister who has been responsible, through the security forces, for the biggest drugs find in the nation's history does not need any instructions of the kind suggested by Deputy Bertie Ahern. Rather than trying, as he does daily here, to make petty, political issues of important national questions, the Deputy should have the generosity — which he did not show——
Deputies
He did.
——to congratulate the Minister, the Garda, the Revenue Commissioners and all involved in this successful drugs find.
I did. Unfortunately, when the Taoiseach speaks, nobody else can hear him, yet, when I speak he cannot hear me.
In the light of the enormous drugs find, does the Taoiseach agree that the public might reasonably expect that arrests would be made — I sincerely hope they will be, and soon? Has the Taoiseach settled his differences with the Minister for Social Welfare and will he say when we can expect the Book of Estimates to be published?
The Book of Estimates will be published when it is ready.
(Interruptions).
As clear as a pane of glass.
On the Order of Business yesterday our party leader questioned the Taoiseach on the paucity of promised legislation, something we have been endeavouring to do in recent weeks, when the Taoiseach, in his smug way, answered that five Bills had been published in the last two weeks. That is not correct and perhaps he would amend the record accordingly.
The following five Bills have been cleared by the Government in the past two weeks.
(Interruptions.)
They are: the Voluntary Health Insurance Bill, the Dumping at Sea Bill, the Committees of the Houses of the Oireachtas (Compellability, Privileges and Immunities of Witnesses) Bill, the Bovine Diseases Levies Bill and the Securitisation of the Proceedings of Certain Mortgages Bill.
A Cheann Comhairle, on a point of order——
The Deputy has made his point. This should not give rise to argument now, the Taoiseach has responded.
The Taoiseach said yesterday the Government had published five Bills in the past two weeks. This Opposition party has not received those Bills. For the information of the House, I should say the Government published four Bills since 13 September, two of which were published on Friday last.
Is the Taoiseach aware that under existing legislation suspected drug traffickers may be held for a maximum of 20 hours only and that there is a need——
I dealt with the matter of drug trafficking this morning, Deputy, in relation to your submission of a motion under Standing Order No. 30 and have ruled on the matter.
On promised legislation, in those circumstances, would the Taoiseach accept that the public expect a definitive legislative response from this Government——
The Deputy may not make a statement.
I am asking a question——
I wish you would, Deputy.
I was merely trying to predicate my question. Will the Taoiseach now respond legislatively, as a matter of urgency, to implement the measures promised by the Minister for Justice as long ago as early last summer?
This is not in order at all on the Order of Business.
It is promised legislation.
Please, Deputy O'Donoghue, you can raise those matters in the proper fashion.
On promised legislation, in view of the disgraceful distribution of English only referendum literature in the Gaeltacht of Connemare this week — by none other than the Department of Equality and Law Reform — does the Taoiseach now intend expediting the equal status Bill? Will he say whether its provisions will protect minority language rights in this country, or can the minority in the North learn from this how this Government treats minorities?
That literature in both Irish and English will be delivered in all Gaeltacht areas.
That is not happening in Gaeltacht areas. English literature only has been delivered by this Government.
It is delivered by An Post. Deputy Ó Cuív is wrong about this, as he is about most things.
The oracle has spoken.
At least the Deputy has the courage to express his views on this issue.
Is it smoke or steam coming out of the ears of the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht?
(Interruptions.)
The Taoiseach referred our party leader this morning to the Constitution. If he studied his legislative programme he would be in a better position to give full and proper answers to the House rather than talking about invisible Bills which have not been published. On promised legislation, has the Taoiseach any plans to amend the adoption laws in view of the statement this morning by a member of the Irish Adoption Board that adoption laws are in a state of chaos.
Yes.
When?
We expect such legislation on adoption to be introduced in the first half of next year.
Can the Taoiseach, once and for all, give a specific time for the debate on the de Buitléir report? I have become somewhat fed up that this report is used as a filler for debate in this House over many months, particularly given that the Minister for Education is ignoring its recommendations and has no intention of implementing them.
That is a matter perhaps for the Whips.
As we approach the end of 1995 and, in honour of the first year in office of this outstanding Government, despite repeated promises, leaks, statements and counter-statements by the Minister for Finance and some of his officials, will the Taoiseach say when we can expect the legislation in respect of the third banking force, or will we ever get it?
When it is ready it will be presented to the House.
(Interruptions.)
In the matter of answering questions like this, I am following the precedent followed by the former leader of the Deputy's Party, Deputy Charles Haughey — whom I know the Deputy much admired — who used to give this sort of sphinx-like answer to questions. I intend to answer that question in the same manner as my august predecessor. When the legislation is ready it will be presented to the House. I am interested to note that the Deputy's impatience on this matter is newfound since he showed no urgency about it when his party was in Government.
Would it not be honest to inform the House this idea has been abandoned because of difficulties between the Government parties?
This is not Question Time or a time for debate.
It would not be honest to say that because it would not be true.
On that matter the Taoiseach is once again incorrect because that matter was cleared at a Government meeting at Tinakilly House between Fianna Fáil and the Labour Party.
Does the Tánaiste remember that?
The Deputy will not be going back there for a while.
I hear the Taoiseach is going other places. The Taoiseach was quite upset yesterday when he felt I had misinterpreted what he stated although I did not. The Taoiseach stated yesterday on the Order of Business: "I wish to tell the House that the Government has published five pieces of legislation in the past two weeks and this speaks for itself". I ask the Taoiseach to correct that statement because he misled the House.
There is a lot of repetition on this matter.
The Government cleared five items of legislation for publication within the previous two weeks.
That is not what the Taoiseach said yesterday.
I do not personally observe the actual publication date of each item of legislation. The information I gave was true to the best of my knowledge. The legislation which has been cleared in the last two weeks and has not yet been published will be available shortly. If this is the most serious point the Deputy can raise this morning he has not much to raise.
Will there be a whole raft of legislation now due to our pressure?
On the matter of drug trafficking and related legislation——
I ruled on that matter earlier.
In the last few months I have raised in the House the question of the vulnerability of the south west coast, in particular, Castletownbere. The Government's response has been to close the Customs office in Castletownbere.
I will be glad to facilitate the Deputy in respect of this matter at a more appropriate time.
How will the closure of the Customs office in Castletownbere contribute to the prevention of major shipments of drugs to the south west coast?
Arising from the Taoiseach's response earlier to yesterday's drugs seizure, on which we congratulate the Garda, will the Government carry out an inquiry on reports that information which could have jeopardised the operation was leaked to the media in Cork at a critical time in the operation?
That question should be put at the appropriate time.