It is proposed to take item No. 12, Statements on the report of the Interdepartmental Co-ordinating Committee on Island Development, and item No. 2, Metrology Bill, 1996, Order for Second Stage and Second Stage. It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the following arrangements shall apply in relation to No. 12: (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 arrangements for dealing with No. 12 satisfactory and agreed? Agreed.
Does the Taoiseach agree that the IRA statement should not go unchallenged but demands a strong statement from this House? It seems as if the Government's only response so far is that it is unhelpful. Will the Taoiseach join me in deploring the defeatist attitude of the IRA and the fact that it seems to say even the Mitchell Commission on decommissioning was a precondition?
This is most inappropriate. There are many ways under the procedures of this House for dealing with this sensitive area. I ask Members not to continuously try to compromise the Chair by seeking to raise matters which are clearly not relevant to the Order of Business.
That creates a difficulty for me because I rose this morning to hear statements about an illegal organisation involved in an armed struggle on the world news, not on the Irish news. I, as the democratically elected leader of the largest party on this island, am not allowed to condemn this.
As the Ceann Comhairle of this House, I resent the impression given that it is not possible to raise such matters. It has always been possible to do so, but at the appropriate time.
I ask the Taoiseach to join me in making it clear that nobody in this House will live with another 25 years of futile violence or under that threat.
On the publication of the forthcoming Finance Bill, does the Taoiseach agree it is improper for any Minister to give individuals, on the payment of £100, rare access to the Minister for Finance as he finalises that legislation? Does he believe that is inappropriate behaviour for a Minister regardless of the notepaper on which the invitation was written?
I cannot permit a rehash of yesterday's proceedings. This matter was dealt with yesterday by statements, etc.
I am talking about the publication of the forthcoming Finance Bill.
It is inappropriate to raise this matter again. There are many ways in which the Deputy can pursue this.
With respect, a Cheann Comhairle, it has not been dealt with. The notepaper is one issue. However, the content of the letter is a serious matter. It is a resigning matter for the Minister who has responsibility for ethics in public office. There cannot be one standard for Fine Gael Ministers——
I cannot and will not permit a repeat of yesterday's proceedings. This matter was dealt with openly in the House. Deputy Harney can raise this matter at a more appropriate time.
The letters will continue to be sent and I want to ask the Taoiseach——
Deputy Cowen and Deputy Geoghegan-Quinn are offering.
I seek your direction on yesterday's explanation from the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise and Employment, Deputy Eithne Fitzgerald.
The Deputy is clearly seeking to circumvent my ruling. If he wants advice on the matter, my office is at his disposal. I will not have my rulings circumvented.
I seek your direction on a point of order.
If the Deputy wants my direction, he should have sought it properly and given me notice of the matter. The Deputy has not given me notice of this matter.
I am raising a point of order, which I am entitled to do as a Member of the House.
I judge whether something is a point of order, a point of disorder or a spurious point of order.
I accept that, but you have not heard the point of order yet, to decide whether it is spurious.
I have heard it and I know the matter to which the Deputy refers, which I ruled out of order in respect of Deputy Harney.
I have no intention of raising the matter in that regard, but in a different context.
Let us end the argument.
The explanation referred to the fact that these invitations were not issued on official notepaper from the Tánaiste's office.
The Deputy must desist and resume his seat.
Is the emblem of the harp on official notepaper?
This is clearly a point of gross disorder.
This is an outrageous attempt to justify a wrong.
When does the Minister for Health intend to implement the remaining sections of the Child Care Act, particularly since the Department of Health's child abuse guidelines appear — according to a leaked document in this morning's Irish Independent— to have been abused and neglected by the Western Health Board in the Kelly Fitzgerald case.
Legislation in this area is indicated by the Deputy.
Legislation is not promised in this area. This is a matter relating to the implementation of existing legislation, which is not in order on the Order of Business. This legislation has already been enacted and was not fully implemented by the previous Government, but it will be by this one.
When will it be implemented?
Will the juvenile justice Bill be published shortly?
The juvenile justice Bill is at an advanced stage of drafting and I expect it will be introduced before the summer. I cannot be more precise than that.
Which summer?
If I get more information, I will convey it to the Deputy.
The dynamism of this Government is palpable.
At this point I am not able to assure the Deputy in this regard other than to say that it should be introduced before the end of June.
Will the Taoiseach inform the House of the date on which it is expected to publish the Finance Bill? Will he indicate the arrangements for briefing the public on the contents of the Bill? Is the Taoiseach satisfied with the arrangements made by the Labour Party and the Minister for Finance.
Was this not raised yesterday?
The Finance Bill will be available before Easter.
The Taoiseach has not answered the question I put as to whether he is satisfied with the arrangements announced by the Labour Party for briefing special interest groups. My party is not satisfied with the explanation given.
If the Deputy wishes to raise the matter, he must do so at another time.
Is the Taoiseach standing over this serious breach in the Ethics in Public Office Act?
Deputy Molloy, please resume your seat.
We should ask Deputy Hogan and the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Coveney, what they think about this?
Is it still intended to introduce the Bill to sell off one third of Telecom Éireann given that the Government and the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications have made a shambles of the process with seven of the ten bidders pulling out? We are the laughing stock of the world. Will the Taoiseach call it off?
I expect the legislation to which the Deputy is making somewhat elaborate reference will be before the House by the end of the year.
We are spending £4 million on this process and the Government is ideologically divided.
As a Member of the Select Committee on Finance and General Affairs, I ask the Taoiseach, who outlined in detail yesterday the procedures for considering budget submissions, to confirm the date on which the committee will meet to receive such submissions.
I am sorry Deputy Lawlor is not aware that is a matter for the committee.
Will it be before or after the lunch?
Will it be in Jury's Hotel?
What is the price of an amendment to the Finance Bill? Is it £200 or £500?
In view of the concern of many small businesses about late payments by State agencies, when is it proposed to bring forward the prompt payments Bill? It is urgent that it be introduced to alleviate the serious crisis in the small business sector.
You pay at the door on the way in.
The legislation to which Deputy O'Keeffe referred will be introduced before the end of the year.
Will the Taoiseach bring it forward to an earlier date?
I will endeavour to do so.
On a point of order——
I heard the Deputy earlier on a point of disorder.
I do not wish to be disorderly. In view of the great difficulties experienced by many businesses, will the Taoiseach expedite the introduction of this Bill?
The Deputy has made his point adequately and eloquently.
Perhaps it could be introduced after Easter.
Because there is a dispute about the accuracy of what was said here yesterday, is it possible to refer the matter to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges for decision?
The Deputy may take his own initiative in the matter. There are members of his party on that committee.