It is proposed to take No. 13, Financial Motions by the Minister for Finance [1995] and No. 14, Financial Motions by the Minister for Finance [1996].
Order of Business.
There is nothing to put to the House.
Will the Tánaiste give an assurance to the House regarding European proposals to be put forward at the Intergovernmental Conference in Turin next month, that the Government will continue to maintain the consistent position of previous Governments on matters relating to majority voting and the rights of small nations to have a Commissioner?
That is not quite relevant to the Order of Business.
It is very relevant to the interests of this country regarding majority voting and other matters that an internal report of the European Union is not pushed through.
There are many ways of raising relevant matters under the procedures of this House. Strict regard should be had to the Order of Business.
Will the Tánaiste ensure that legislation allowing the rights of majority voting to be changed in a manner that would be against the interests of the Irish nation is not introduced?
There is no legislation promised in this regard and the Deputy is fully aware of the Irish Government's approach to the Intergovernmental Conference.
Will the Tánaiste give an assurance that existing policy regarding the retention of a Commissioner by this and other small countries of the European Union will be upheld and legislation will not be introduced to change that position?
As the Deputy and Members are aware a great deal of work has gone into preparations for the Intergovernmental Conference, which is extremely important for the future of the European Union. I hope we will have ample opportunity before the Intergovernmental Conference commences to debate these matters in the House. We have been well served by the institutional balance in the European Union since its foundation and we would like that to be preserved for the future.
On the peace process, will the Tánaiste confirm if a summit meeting between the British Prime Minister and the Taoiseach has been agreed for next Wednesday?
To the best of my knowledge the date for the summit has not yet been agreed.
Will the Tánaiste indicate when the Bill to establish regional educational boards will be brought before the House?
It is expected that the Bill will be before the Government shortly.
When will it be brought before the House?
It will be cleared by the Government and brought before the House as soon as possible thereafter.
Will the Tánaiste indicate the progress on the control of horses Bill which has been promised for some time? I am sure he is aware of the problem of the abuse of horses in urban areas.
The Deputy would be quite safe if he came to west Cork.
I am reliably informed that we are confident of having that Bill before the House within the next four to five weeks.
Will the Tánaiste indicate when the fraud offences Bill dealing with white collar crime will be published, bearing in mind that last May I was promised it would be published during the second half of last year.
It is most likely that Bill will be before the House in the autumn.
Like the leader of the Opposition who raised the issue of majority voting I wish to raise a matter of major national importance. Will the Tánaiste confirm that there is no change in support for the Common Agricultural Policy and that the speeches we have heard from members of Democratic Left during agricultural debates are simply an aberration as far as the Government is concerned.
This matter does not arise now. Let us not seek to have a rehash of last evening's debate.