It is proposed to take No. 8, the motion on chemical weapons; No. 9, the motion on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea; No. 3, amendments made by the Seanad to the Dumping at Sea Bill, 1995; and No. 17, resumed statements on the Report of the Task Force on the Travelling Community. It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that (1) the proceedings on Nos. 8 and 9 shall be brought to a conclusion within one hour in each case and the following arrangements shall apply — (i) the opening speech of a Minister or Minister of State, of the main spokespersons for the Fianna Fáil Party and the Progressive Democrats Party and of each other Member called upon shall not exceed 10 minutes in each case, (ii) Members may share time and (iii) a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed five minutes in each case; (2) the proceedings on No. 3. if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 2 p.m. today and any amendments from the Seanad not disposed of shall be decided by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall, in relation to amendments thereto, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for the Marine; and (3) No. 17, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 4.45 p.m. today.
Order of Business.
Is the proposal for dealing with Nos. 8 and 9 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 3 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 17 agreed? Agreed.
The Supreme Court has now made its decision and I realise it must report back to the High Court, which in turn must inform the Government and then the Bill must be signed. Has the Taoiseach a possible timetable for this? Will he ensure the Minister for Equality and Law Reform will keep in touch with our spokesperson and the Whips so that we can arrange a timetable which will avoid uncertainty on this matter now that the long delay is over?
The legislation is ready and, as soon as legally proper, it will be published. The legal procedures which must be gone through are a matter for the courts and other organs of State rather than the Government but as soon as we are in a position to move on this matter with legal prudence, the legislation, which is ready and which the Government has approved, will be published.
Is the Taoiseach confident that the divorce legislation can get through Second Stage before the summer recess? As he knows, we will give the Government every assistance in this matter because it is important that it be resolved as soon as possible. We owe it to those who have been waiting for seven months——
There will be no elaboration now Deputy.
I want to emphasise how important we believe it is that this legislation proceed as soon as possible.
There will be time for all that.
The passage of the legislation through the House depends on the willingness of Members to enter agreements through their parties as to the ordering of business. As far as the Government is concerned, I have already indicated that as soon as it is legally prudent for us to publish the Bill we will do so and it will be ready to be taken in the House on that day or any immediately subsequent day, if time can be agreed for it. There will not be any avoidable delay by the Government but obviously the Legislature also has a role to play in this matter.
Given the defeat of the Government's light rail Bill on Tuesday evening, my party has put forward timetable proposals. How does the Government plan to progress this matter? Will the Taoiseach confirm that the new light rail legislation will be substantially different from the Bill defeated in the House?
The content of the legislation and the timetable are at an advanced stage of consideration and as soon as this is included I will be happy to ensure that the Deputy and the House are informed.
What groups will be consulted before the new Luas Bill is introduced in the House?
Will the Government call the bold boys to order and railroad through——
Deputies must await the submission of the legislation; we cannot debate the legislation in a vacuum.
There is no question of railroading, but we will get the matter back on the rails.
What about the sleepers?
The Taoiseach is going for heavy rail.
The Deputies are railing against the Government.
We seem to have upset the Minister for Social Welfare by being a constructive Opposition but I assure the Taoiseach that we will try to be helpful in this matter. Will the normal 14 days period between the presentation of proposals to the House and the taking of the legislation apply in this case?
I answered that question in response to Deputy Séamus Brennan who is a member of the Deputy's party.
I would not have asked the question if I had understood the Taoiseach's reply. Can I take it that the normal 14 day period will apply so that we can consult the people with whom we have been consulting in the past five to six months?
As I told Deputy Brennan, Fianna Fáil's proposals in regard to the timetable and the substantive issue of the content of the legislation are under consideration. I assure Deputy Ahern, as I assured Deputy Brennan, that as soon as we have reached a conclusion on these matters it will be conveyed to him.
On promised legislation, will the Taoiseach confirm that the Government has appointed Mark FitzGerald, the son of the former Taoiseach, Dr. Garrett FitzGerald, as chairman of BIM and that political patronage is alive, well and thriving under his leadership?
Your are on a list, Michael.
He was appointed on the basis of his ability.
The interruptions should cases.
Two weeks ago when I asked the Taoiseach the position in regard to the promised legislation on the greyhound industry he said it was in the early stage of preparation. The Taoiseach was will-informed as this Bill, on which most of the work had been completed, was withheld by the Tánaiste because of his party's dissatisfaction with it.
The Deputy is embarking on a speech.
When will that legislation be brought before the House?
This substantial legislation, which consists of 95 sections, deals with a very important industry and I hope it can be brought before the House during the early part of next year. I assure the Deputy work is continuing on the legislation.
Has the proposed legislation on bail been advanced to any degree? Has the Cabinet come to any conclusion on the matter or is it still under consideration?
It is still under consideration.
Eighteen months ago the Government promised to set up an interdepartmental committee under an independent chairperson and with outside members to review the national lottery. Was this committee set up and, if so, did it report? I cannot recall the setting up of the committee but perhaps my memory is at fault and, if so, can I have a copy of its final report?
I am not sure if this matter is in order now. There ought to be another way of dealing with the report.
I will rephrase my question. Does the Government intend to amend the national lottery legislation on the basis of the report of the interdepartmental committee which it promised to set up 18 months ago?
Can this be related to legislation in some way?
I will revert to the Deputy on that matter.
Arising from Deputy Ahern's question, is it proposed to introduce legislation, which was threatened at one stage, to outlaw betting on lottery results?
Legislation of that nature is not promised.
Having regard to the recent ban in the United Kingdom on the importation of certain types of clinical waste from Ireland, does the Government have any urgent proposals, legislative or otherwise, to deal with this serious problem for many hospitals and nursing homes which heretofore exported clinical waste to the UK?
I want to assist Deputy Cullen but he must raise this matter at a more appropriate time, and there are many ways open to him to do so.
I am simply asking the Taoiseach if there is any proposal to introduce urgent legislation to deal with this matter.
Has a date been fixed for the introduction of the long-awaited legislation on equality?
It will be ready later in the year.
Having regard to recent events where Members were the victims of a stalker, does the Taoiseach intend to introduce legislation to outlaw this activity?
No such legislation is under consideration but obviously the Government will be happy to receive representations on the matter.
The Taoiseach should examine the legislation on this matter prepared by Senator Michael Mulcahy.
What is the present position of the credit union Bill?
The credit union Bill, which consists of 180 sections, is currently being drafted and will not be ready until the latter half of this year.
Will the Taoiseach be more helpful and say when the heads of the greyhound legislation will be published?
It is not the practice to publish the heads of Bills. When the Bill is ready it will be published. That will be in the first half of next year.
That is a public relations exercise, which is all the Government engages in these days.
Would it be in order for the Government Chief Whip to propose a vote of speedy recovery and to welcome back Deputy Bhamjee? Is that in order? He looks so healthy, I am so glad to see him.
Attribute that to the medicine.
What is the position in relation to the telecommunications Bill? What will be the form of consultations with employees of Telecom Éireann?
As the Deputy is aware, there are two legislative proposals on telecommunications in preparation. The drafting of the first one, the Miscellaneous Provisions Bill, dealing with independent regulations, is almost complete. We except to see that Bill introduced next month or so. There is also a Telecommunications (Worker Participation) Bill which was being prepared, the content of which may well be incorporated in the Bill to which I have just referred, so that the two may be available next month. Then there is a further Bill concerning the strategic alliance and the making of arrangements derived therefrom which will have to await the conclusion of the alliance. It is unlikely that Bill will be available until the second half of 1997.