It is proposed to take No. 4 and, subject to the order being made, the Report and Final Stages of the Securitisation (Proceeds of Certain Mortgages) Bill, 1995, and Nos. 1, 2 and 5. Private Members' Business shall be No. 15.
Order of Business.
The Maastricht Treaty was accepted not only by this House but by the people at large. Will the Taoiseach comment on yesterday's remarks by the Minister for Finance who opposed a German proposal to impose fines for breaches of the Maastricht criteria on the grounds that the poorer member states may need to run higher deficits to sustain growth and maintain capital expenditure? Clearly, a breach of the Maastricht criteria is envisaged and is this now Government policy? Will the Taoiseach repudiate the view that we may wish to breach the Maastricht criteria? Does he accept that this is the wrong response to send to the markets and to Germany?
Does this matter arise under promised legislation?
No.
I have sought on six occasions to raise this matter at Question Time. The Maastricht Treaty legislation was passed by this House and went before the people. Is it the Government's view that we no longer need to be concerned about breaches of the Maastricht criteria? Will the Taoiseach clarify Government policy on the matter?
That will have to be dealt with by way of parliamentary question or some other means.
Is it like everything else? Will we have to ring a radio programme to find out the answer? We cannot get answers in this House. The Minister for Finance made a very serious statement yesterday — I reckon he made a mistake — and I am giving the Taoiseach an opportunity to comment on it. The change in our interpretation of the criteria can be viewed on screen around the world. The Taoiseach is too busy to look at the screen——
Or indifferent.
——but one of his colleagues will tell him what is going on. The Minister for Finance cannot answer at this stage, but perhaps during the course of the day he will clarify the position because either what he said has been wrongly interpreted or the Government has changed its position in the past 24 hours.
I welcome the Government's decision to put in place a CIE board which I hope will have a strategic and commercial focus as it is important the company has that focus from now on. When will the Divorce Bill come before the House?
I expect the legislation will be available in the next three months.
When will the Government comply with section 7 (4) (c) of the Transport Act, 1950, which requires the Government to make a statement to the House in regard to the sacking of Angela Coffey and Kay Mulrooney, a vicious and unprecedented political tactic?
That matter cannot be pursued now, it will be taken on the Adjournment.
May I get a reply?
It would be out of order for the Taoiseach to intervene on that matter.
What boards are next?
The Taoiseach promised a White Paper on foreign policy some time ago. He said it would be introduced in the spring, then it was the summer and then it was October or November. As we are now almost in December the paper must be a slightly mouldy grey at this stage. Is there a possibility that it will be introduced before Christmas? The Taoiseach responded previously on this issue. I hesitate to make him break his vow of silence but will he respond to the House on the matter?
I call Deputy Micheál Martin.
For God's sake, this matter was responded to by the Taoiseach in this House on a previous occasion. Has he taken a vow of silence on the matter? There is no point in him pointing at the Chair.
I will answer questions that are in order on the Order of Business.
I call Deputy Martin.
The Taoiseach responded on this issue before.
One must ask the right question.
May I seek your guidance, Sir? I tabled a question to the Taoiseach asking what steps he would take to publish the cost framework undertaken by the Department of Finance on the costings in the White Paper. An official in the general office informed me that the Taoiseach's office referred the question to the Minister for Education. I tabled the question to the Taoiseach because I had already put it to the Minister for Education.
This is not the time to raise the matter.
I cannot get an answer from the Government.
It is not appropriate at this time.
If I retable the question will the Taoiseach take it?
When will legislation be introduced to establish Teilifís na Gaeilge?
I am sure the Taoiseach is aware that work is well advanced on the establishment of Teilifís na Gaeilge. A recent report from the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht stated that substantial sums of money have been committed and spent and that further funds are committed, but the legislation has not yet come before the House.
I understand the legislation is in the course of drafting. The only legislation on the list of promised legislation in the broadcasting area is the Broadcasting Bill which will, in general, give effect to the proposals in the Green Paper. That Bill is not expected to be available until late next year.
Is it the Bill to establish Teilifís na Gaeilge that will not be available until late next year?
I call Deputy de Valera. I will revert to the Deputy.
There are three proposed Bills relating to the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht. When can we expect any of that legislation to come before the House? It is promised term after term but has not been introduced.
I expect the national cultural institutions indemnities and miscellaneous provisions Bill — the first legislation promised in respect of the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht — to be introduced next spring. The Deputy is correct that there are two other Bills promised in respect of that Department.
My only reference to legislation in the broadcasting area related to a general Broadcasting Bill. I am not in a position to state categorically whether separate legislative changes are specificially necessary for the establishment of Teilifís na Gaeilge. I will investigate if such changes are necessary and, obviously, will give the Deputy my best estimate as to when it will be produced. The only listed item of legislation for which a promise was given in the normal way is the general Broadcasting Bill. I presume that if legislation is needed to deal with Teilifís na Gaeilge it can perhaps be dealt with in the context of the wider legislation, as well as separately.
I am amazed at the Taoiseach's response. I understand it has already been stated in Government publications and press releases that legislation would be introduced under which Teleifís na Gaeilge would be established and until such legislation was introduced the Government would proceed with setting up Teilifís na Gaeilge.
We ought not debate the matter now.
I have undertaken to get the necessary information for the Deputy.
I accept that.
If the Deputy reflects on the matter he will recognise that it would be possible to comply with that requirement by incorporating the relevant amendments in the Broadcasting Bill as a whole.
The Taoiseach did not say that.
Will the Taoiseach try to allay the legitimate fears of the thousands of sheep farmers who once again have taken to the streets of the city to seek an indication from this House that it will do something for them——
Deputy Cowen, please.
——at the European Council of Ministers meeting.
Not at this time.
Given the inability of the white-haired boy to deliver, will the Taoiseach get involved in the matter?
They are getting more than they got last year.
The Taoiseach should make a telephone call to Jacques.
What proposals do the Taoiseach and the Minister for Equality and Law Reform have to ensure that the vicious acts perpetrated on Angela Coffey and Kay Mulrooney of the board of CIE are not repeated? What action does the Minister for Equality and Law Reform propose to take to ensure those actions are put to one side? It is a disgraceful attack on women.
Has the Government plans to alleviate the perilous position of a number of indigenous exporting companies due to the rate of sterling vis-á-vis the punt? If not, there will be a considerable loss of jobs in a number of sectors.
Does that relate to promised legislation? We appear to be flouting the rules of the Order of Business.
That is a reality.
There is a silence from the far side.
The Government does not care about jobs.
Does the Government intend to publish legislation on the role of credit unions?
Comprehensive legislation, which has been awaiting publication for many years, is promised on that matter. It is the intention of the Government to introduce the legislation at last.
It goes back nine years, to when the Taoiseach's brother was in the Department.
There was a fairly long intervening period in which the Deputy had an opportunity to do something. I am glad to say that the Minister and Deputy Rabbitte will deal with this matter in a fashion that Deputy O'Rourke, for all her feisty enthusiasm, was unable to. I expect this legislation will be ready, much to the embarrassment of Deputy Mary O'Rourke.
I am not embarrassed. The Taoiseach's brother fiddled and faddled and is fiddling now with everything else in his Department. He is not able to make a decision about anything in his Department.
He is able to deliver the goods.
To captains of industry.
Interruptions are not helpful.
I look forward to her being able to refer back to all the mouldy files that she may have had when she was a Minister and could have done something about the matter. I will be able to consult all of those files to assist her in making a good Opposition contribution on the legislation that she did not introduce but which will now be introduced in a way that will bring particular credit to Deputy Pat Rabbitte who has proven in this instance, as in many others, that he is able to deliver the goods where his predecessors have only been able to deliver noise of the kind I am asked to confront at this moment.
It is great to hear that the Taoiseach has found his voice. We can hear him at last.
(Interruptions.)
I hope the Deputy will now find that this balmy news will be sufficient to enable her to subside into the obscurity from which she was so unceremoniously plucked.
And the promised legislation?
I am moving on now to Item 4.
On a point of order.
I am advised by the Whip's Office that the Minister for Finance will now take Item 4, and not the Minister of State.
On a point of order, I do not think you have the right to ignore this side of the House by looking at your papers.
I have moved on. I call on the Minister for Justice in relation to Item 6. I would ask the Deputy to resume his seat.
Why did you not ask the Taoiseach to sit down? I will not resume my seat.
The Deputy is being grossly disorderly.