It is proposed to take No. 17, Control of Horses Bill, 1996 — report of the Select Committee on Enterprise and Economic Strategy and Report and Final Stages; No. 18, the Health (Amendment) Bill, 1996 — report of the Select Committee on Social Affairs and Report and Final Stages. It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that (1) the Report and Final Stages of No. 17 shall be taken today and, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 6.45 p.m. by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry; and (2) Private Members' Business shall also be taken tomorrow between 12 noon and 1.30 p.m. and the proceedings thereon shall be brought to a conclusion at 1.30 p.m. Private Members' Business shall be No. 39/Motion No. 14 re residential property tax.
Order of Business.
There are two matters to put to the House. Are the proposals for dealing with the Report and Final Stages of No. 17 agreed? Agreed. Are the arrangements for taking Private Members' Business tomorrow agreed? Agreed.
It was a great privilege for this House to listen to Chancellor Kohl today and to acknowledge one of the great statesmen of Europe and the world. It was gratifying for those of us on this side of the House to listen to his kind remarks about my predecessor, Charles Haughey, who during the meetings of December 1989, which he kindly recalled, and during the last Irish Presidency, worked to bring about self-determination for the German people and German unity. I express our appreciation in that regard. I am sure the Taoiseach will join me in acknowledging Chancellor Kohl's nice remarks about my predecessor as well as acknowledging the great contribution to European unity which Chancellor Kohl is working hard to achieve during our Presidency.
I heartily endorse what Deputy Ahern said. Chancellor Kohl was even more appreciative in private than he was in public of the role played by the Irish Government during its Presidency and by my predecessor, Mr. Haughey. He strongly believes this was a very important intervention by Ireland in assisting German reunification at a time when the issue could have gone either way. It was proper that he acknowledged that but it is also equally appropriate that we should acknowledge the vision, endurance and statesmanship of Chancellor Kohl at a time when many, even in Germany, did not believe German reunification was possible. He had the vision, the persistence and the international stature to achieve it. The House was privileged to hear a man whom I certainly consider to be perhaps the greatest European of his time. When in later years we consider the history of our times, we will be very pleased to tell our successors we were here when Chancellor Kohl spoke. We were in the presence of a truly great man. That frequently cannot be said about people who are still in office but it can certainly be said of Chancellor Kohl.
I was delighted to be part of the Government to which the Taoiseach referred and I look forward to being part of the next Government very shortly. Without adding a sour note, the Government has been considering the bail issue for 18 months. Three months ago the Taoiseach promised a referendum. To date, we have not seen the legislation and we do not know when the referendum will take place. Eight out of ten people want the law on bail changed. What is the delay? Are there still difficulties in Cabinet? When will we see this legislation and when will the referendum be held?
There is no delay. There will be a referendum and it will pass.
When?
This Government will change the bail laws. Other Governments, including the one the Deputy mentioned, did not tackle the issue. This Government tackled it and the referendum will be carried.
I asked the Taoiseach when we will see the legislation and when the referendum will be held.
Very soon, and the referendum will take place at the end of November.
Is there a date agreed?
Yes.
What date?
The 28th.
I am delighted the Taoiseach has given me the date because I telephoned the Department of Justice before coming to the House and the press officer there told me a date had not yet been agreed by the Government. Perhaps the Taoiseach would tell the press officer in the Department of Justice.
Furthermore, it will pass, and I hope that the Deputy and the other Opposition parties will campaign with vigour.
Will the Taoiseach tell the House when the decommissioning legislation will be published and, more important, when it will be debated in this House? Will the Taoiseach agree that the timing of this legislation will be crucially important, particularly after the remarks at the weekend by Mr. Trimble that even if there were a genuine IRA ceasefire, for which we continue to call in this House, there would still be preconditions set to create obstacles for inclusive, all-party talks?
Work on the legislation in question is at an advanced stage. We were anxious to take into account the views of all the parties which have been consulted in the Belfast talks and not to publish anything definitive until we had given all the relevant parties an opportunity to have their views heard by both Governments and, in the case of the legislation here, by the Irish Government. That consideration is coming to a conclusion and we will be in a position to finalise and publish the proposals reasonably soon. However, I cannot give a precise date to the Deputy. Obviously it is important with regard to the talks generally that parties should recognise the need for compromise, the need to understand the point of view of others and to accept that everyone has a responsibility for working towards a reasonable agreement that will bring peace and stability and a sense of self respect to every individual living in Northern Ireland and on these islands.
I thank the Taoiseach for that reply. On the other points I made following the remarks made by Mr. Trimble over the weekend that even if there were a genuine IRA ceasefire he would still set preconditions, will the Taoiseach agree that the timing of the passing of this legislation should be considered and that we should keep a close eye on how progressive other people are in dealing with other parts of the agreement within talks?
Does the Taoiseach wish to comment?
The second part of my comment was addressed to the second part of the Deputy's question where I made general remarks about the need for people to accept the need to satisfy the interests and concerns of people other than their own supporters. That applies very much to the topic the Deputy raised. As far as the Government's approach on the matter is concerned, the Government will make its own decisions as to the timing and content of any proposals it as a Government makes.
I do not know whether the Taoiseach is aware that Mrs. Bridget McCole, the Donegal woman with hepatitis C, died today. Hers was the case that was taken as a test case to the High Court. Will the Taoiseach ask the Minister for Health to ensure that this case goes ahead in the High Court? Perhaps the Minister for Health would make a statement on the matter.
That is not relevant at this time. I am sure the Deputy will find another way to raise the matter.
This lady was deemed healthy enough to survive until October but has now died. Does the case die with her?
There is a report today that 1,000 jobs are to be abolished by CIE alongside a photograph in one newspaper of two Government Ministers, the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Deputy McManus and the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications, Deputy Lowry, having a great laugh at the matter — the photograph seems to be attached to the article. Given that 1,000 jobs are to be abolished, will the Taoiseach give the House an opportunity to discuss the matter in detail?
We are on the Order of Business.
I realise that, but we are talking about 1,000 jobs.
Deputy Ahern should be aware that the photograph of the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications and the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment was taken at a function in respect of the extension of the DART to Greystones. It was not in any sense related, as the Deputy has sought to relate it, to any other matter affecting CIE. This remark by Deputy Ahern is quite unworthy of him.
In view of the fact that a serving member of the FCA, An Foras Cosanta Áitiúil has been charged in the UK jurisdiction with possession of explosives and conspiracy, does the Taoiseach envisage immediate changes in relation to recruitment, practices or procedures?
The Deputy will have to find another way of raising that. There are a number of Deputies offering. We have important business which is to conclude at 6.45 p.m., the Control of Horses Bill. There is a time limit on it, and I am sure everybody is anxious to get on with that business.
When is it proposed to introduce the legislation which will increase the functions and activities of credit unions?
That legislation is at a fairly advanced stage of preparation. It consists of 188 heads and is very substantial. I expect it will be published before the end of this year.
During Private Members' Business last week we discussed the crisis in the beef sector. It was agreed by everybody that the three hours a Private Members' motion affords Members was totally inadequate given the number of Deputies on all sides of the House who are under an obligation to express their views on this matter. Will the Taoiseach accede to the Opposition's request for a full debate on this matter in Government time, to start next week? Does he, as leader of the Government, regard the matter as of so serious a nature that he might speak on the matter? It is important.
It may well be important, but it is not relevant to the Order of Business and I cannot allow it. I am calling Deputy Nolan.
Is the Taoiseach saying he is not prepared to give Government time? Will the Taoiseach remain silent on this matter?
I call Deputy Nolan one more time.
It should be recorded that the Taoiseach has nothing to say.
Is it out of order to ask for a debate in Government time?
The Deputy knows that on the Order of Business one may ask questions with regard to promised legislation. Clearly this is not in that category. We are moving on.
On a point of clarification——
There is no such thing as a point of clarification.
——I respectfully ask the Chair in what way I would be in order in asking the Government to provide time for a debate on this serious issue.
Perhaps the Deputy would raise this matter through his party's Whip.
Might I inquire of the Taoiseach, since the Minister for Education is not here, whether he is aware of the serious industrial dispute within the regional colleges at the moment which has deteriorated to the extent that some colleges are not taking telephone calls? Will the Taoiseach, through his own offices, or through the offices of the Minister for Education, ensure that negotiations start immediately to resolve the situation?
When is it intended to take the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill to deal with antisocial behaviour in local authority housing estates where thousands of people throughout several parts of the country are marching against drug pushers and drug barons in their communities? Earlier this year we were told this Bill was urgent. Is it the Taoiseach's intention to introduce it early in this session?
Is legislation promised on this matter?
The decision to introduce legislation along these lines was taken in July and I expect the legislation will be before the House, and hopefully progress through it, during November.
Chancellor Kohl spoke to the House today on European issues and we know the major issues facing this economy are the Fischler proposals from the European Commission. Will the Taoiseach state if this parliamentary assembly will be given the opportunity in Government time to debate the most critical proposals to come before us——
I must ask the Deputy to leave that issue.
——in regard to the reorganisation of the beef regime under the Common Agricultural Policy in the past 20 years?
The Deputy is totally out or order in proceeding in this manner.
How can the Government be oblivious to this crisis?
I thank the Taoiseach for his Government's acceptance of Deputy Mary Wallace's Bill on access for disabled people to polling stations. Will he give an undertaking that that Bill will be put through the House before the referendum on bail so that disabled people can gain access to polling stations on that occasion?
The matter is in order.
That is a matter for the relevant committee and the House rather than for me. I understand there will be a significant number of amendments to be considered and it would be premature for me to answer the Deputy's question until those amendments have been considered by the relevant committee.
I urge the Taoiseach to encourage the Minister responsible to deal with this legislation as a matter of urgency.
We listened to one of the great statesmen of Europe today and it is said that a great statesman is someone who thinks of the next generation while a politician is a person who thinks of the next election. Will the Taoiseach tell us to which category he belongs?
There is much speculation in that.