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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 3 Oct 1996

Vol. 469 No. 4

Order of Business.

It is proposed to take Nos. 7-14, inclusive, motions re reports of Committee of Public Accounts; No. 15, Telecommunications (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, 1996, Second Stage (Resumed); and No. 1, Civil Liability (Amendment) Bill, 1996 [Seanad], Second Stage. It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that Nos. 7-14, inclusive, shall be moved together and decided without debate by one question. Private Members' Business shall be No. 26, motion re residential property tax (resumed). By agreement between the Whips, we will discuss the matter raised by our colleagues after Question Time.

There is one matter to put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with Nos. 7-14, inclusive, satisfactory and agreed? Agreed. I am sure the matter to which the Tánaiste referred has been noted by the Whips.

I welcome the Tánaiste's announcement that we will have a debate but I am sure he will accept that it is unforgivable for the State to bring many of its citizens to the brink of death and despair before admitting liability. Will the Tánaiste give a commitment that the Government will consider introducing legislation immediately to deal equitably with all those who have been affected? That is the least it should do.

Will the Tánaiste clarify the nature of the discussion or debate we will have this afternoon? When I raised this matter on the Order of Business on 28 March following the discovery of documents the Minister for Health rubbished me, said that I did not know what I was talking about and that I should read the report. I am anxious that we should have an opportunity to put questions to the Minister for Health, statements will not be sufficient. There was concealment in relation to this matter on behalf of the State.

(Limerick East): There was no concealment.

It took a court action by a dying woman to have the truth revealed. As the Minister knows, it would not have come out through the tribunal if the matter had not gone to court. We need an opportunity to put questions to the Minister.

I must dissuade Members from the notion that they can debate the matter now. Clearly, we cannot.

If this House cannot debate this issue seriously it is completely irrelevant.

Matters have been raised by the Opposition parties and we have said that we will provide time. The Minister for Health will have no difficulty in answering questions. There has been no concealment in this matter. We will provide as much time as the parties require this afternoon after Question Time up to the end of which the Minister has commitments. If the Whips meet immediately after the Order of Business, they can agree the time and the format. There are no difficulties about answering questions at the end of that debate.

Will the Tánaiste allow time for a debate on the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General? The Tánaiste will be aware of the case made by the Comptroller and Auditor General about the severe maladministration of the Local Development Fund and other issues in the Taoiseach's Department. I am not asking the Tánaiste to answer the attacks on the Taoiseach in the report but perhaps he might force the Taoiseach to come into the House and answer those allegations.

I deem the matter in order. It is referred to on the Order of Business today.

If the Whips meet I am sure we can arrange for time to discuss the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General, as we have always done in the past in this House. There is no difficulty in that regard.

It is more interesting this year.

Will the Tánaiste tell me who is responsible for making Government announcements? I have a letter from one of the Tánaiste's Labour Party colleagues which states he will announce that certain schools have been included in additional disadvantaged pilot schemes.

I do not know what the Deputy is getting at but it is not in order now. He will have to raise the matter some other way.

I phoned the Minister's office yesterday and was informed the announcements will not be made for some time, yet seven principals in Donegal have been informed of their school's inclusion in the scheme.

Deputy McDaid is showing flagrant disregard for the Order of Business. The Deputy will resume his seat.

(Interruptions.)

Are Fine Gael Deputies aware that these schools have already been announced?

The Deputy will be notified in due course.

Will the Tánaiste indicate when the carriage of goods Bill, under the Department of Transport, Energy and Communications, will be brought before the House? In that context, perhaps the Tánaiste might take the opportunity this morning to comment on his Government's proposals to make 800 workers in CIÉ redundant?

There are other ways of raising that matter.

The first part of the Deputy's question is in order. I am reliably informed that legislation will be introduced in the spring of next year.

And the second matter?

It is out of order.

They do not matter.

I confess some surprise at my colleague, Deputy McDaid. The matter he raised is par for the course with this Government. When is it intended to publish the companies (amendment) Bill?

It will be published in 1997.

Approximately 1,000 applications for fish farming licences await processing in the Department of the Marine; they have been in the Department for at least the past 12 months. Will the Tánaiste tell the House if the fisheries (amendment) Bill, which will enable these licences to be processed in time to proceed next year, will be introduced and pass all Stages before the end of this year?

The fisheries (amendment) Bill is on the list of promised legislation. The Deputy will be aware there is a great deal of work involved in its preparation but we hope to have publication in October 1996.

Will it be necessary to bring legislation before the House in this session to address the crisis in the health services?

That is a good question. The Deputy might table it in the ordinary way.

I asked a series of questions yesterday. This is not a laughing matter for the Government.

I am proceeding now to the business of the House.

When we welcomed our distinguished guest to this House yesterday, the Cheann Comhairle rightly remarked that he had the secret of long service and how to get to the top in politics. You, a Cheann Comhairle, also have that secret and today, as you complete your 36th year as a Member of this House, I congratulate you, and am sure everybody on all sides of the House wish you many more years as a representative.

My colleague from Tipperary has embarrassed me.

I would like to be associated with Deputy Ahearn's remarks but I also congratulate Deputies Harte and Pattison who were elected on the same day.

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