It is proposed to take No. 15, Finance Bill, 1996, Order for Report; No. 16, statement by the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications regarding the second mobile phone licence; and No. 3, Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 1996, Order for Second Stage and Second and Remaining Stages. It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the following arrangements shall apply in relation to No. 16: (i) the statement of the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications shall not exceed 40 minutes and (ii) following his statement, the Minister shall take questions for a period not exceeding 20 minutes. Private Members' Business shall be No. 35, motion No. 11 re the taxation system.
Order of Business.
Are the proposals for dealing with No. 16, the statement of the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications, satisfactory and agreed? Agreed.
I wish to raise an extremely important matter, the reports of the public sector review body set up by Government to review the pay of Members of this House, the Judiciary and other senior people, such as the executives of semi-State companies. These have always been adhered to, as we adhere to the rules governing our own pay. As it seems some semi-State bodies are ignoring the review body reports, approved by this House and the Cabinet, what action does the Government intend to take to address the serious issues now in the public domain?
The matter to which the Deputy has referred does not seem to be relevant to the Order of Business.
The public sector review body reports——
Is there legislation in this area to which the Deputy can advert?
Does the Taoiseach intend to bring in legislative measures to retrieve taxpayers' money in cases where semi-State bodies ignored the public sector review body reports?
I am still concerned as to the matter's relevance.
Does the Taoiseach care?
The Deputy will have to raise it at a more appropriate time.
Is the Taoiseach prepared to brief the Opposition parties in this House on the proposed legislation dealing with the decommissioning of illegal arms?
That is relevant.
I have already said that a briefing will be available for any party which wishes to have one on that topic.
Will the interim report of Price Waterhouse on Bord na Móna be placed in the Library of the House in view of the fact that the State, that is the taxpayer, is involved in this transaction?
That is a question——
That is a very simple one.
——which should be put down in the ordinary way for Question Time proper.
I cannot ask a question about the matter because the semi-State——
I have ruled on the matter. The Deputy will have to raise it by way of a question.
It will be ruled out of order by you. I have been around a long time and understand the procedure.
The Deputy should try me.
It is likely to result in disqualification. The Taoiseach is stuck. He is silent.
A masterly performance.
On the Order of Business last week I asked the Taoiseach if he had any information on whether the Minister of State at the Department of Health would take the opportunity to make a personal statement in the House in view of the fact that there is a severe contradiction between the information given by him on 28 March and the information given by the acting chief executive of the BTSB last week.
I ruled on that matter earlier also.
Will the Taoiseach indicate when the Minister of State will come before the House?
As the press officer for the Irish Farmers' Association is also the press officer for Fine Gael, when will the Taoiseach bring forward legislation to formalise the relationship between Fine Gael and the IFA?
I am proceeding to the business of the House proper.
Could I ask——
The former chairman of Cork IFA wishes to speak.
Deputies who rise to speak will have regard to what is appropriate on the Order of Business.
Will the Taoiseach review the Government's industrial and job creating policy in view of the shambles in Packard and among our flagship industries? Its policies have failed.
(Interruptions.)