It is proposed to take No. 6, motion re. confidence in the Government. It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that (1) the proceedings on No. 6, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 8.30 p.m. tomorrow night and the following arrangements shall apply; (i) the opening speech of the Taoiseach 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 speech of each other Member called upon shall not exceed 20 minutes in each case; (iii) Members may share time; and (iv) the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs shall be called upon not later than 8.10 p.m. tomorrow night to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 20 minutes provided that, if the proceedings on No. 6 conclude earlier than the time stated, any division demanded thereon shall be postponed until 8.30 p.m. tomorrow night; and (2) there will be no Private Members' Business this week.
Order of Business.
There are two matters to put to the House. Are the proposals for dealing with No. 6 agreed? Agreed. Is it agreed that there will be no Private Members' Business this week? Agreed.
We avoided an argument by agreeing that there will be no Private Members' Business this week. The Government Chief Whip proposed that the no confidence debate should not continue tomorrow and that there should be no Private Members' Business. That made no sense. I am glad the Government has changed its position and responded to our request made over the weekend for a two day debate.
I welcome the change in the Order of Business and the fact that there will be a two day debate. This means, however, that the proposed debate on the situation in Rwanda and Zaire has had to be postponed. As every day counts to prevent loss of life in this tragedy, I reiterate what I said at Question Time. Rather than await a request from the United Nations, will the Government, on behalf of the people, immediately indicate our willingness to participate in a peacekeeping or peace enforcement mission to allow humanitarian aid to reach the one million people in the area?
That matter is not appropriate to the Order of Business.
Will the Taoiseach send the chief-of-staff to the United Nations to obtain its view on how best we can participate in such a force? This is a very serious matter affecting up to 800,000 women and children.
It is a very important matter but the Deputy should raise it on another occasion.
Will the Taoiseach indicate when the debate will be held?
I have allowed the Deputy much latitude. I appreciate it is an important issue but it is not appropriate to the Order of Business.
I beg your indulgence, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Will the Taoiseach arrange for the debate to be held this week and act on the points raised? He will have the full support of this side of the House on the participation of our troops.
Does the Taoiseach wish to comment?
The debate will be held either tomorrow night or Thursday. We will have discussions with the Whips on the best time to hold it. The participation of Irish troops in a peace enforcement mission would require the approval of the Dáil by means of a motion under the Defence Acts. I will discuss the matter with the Tánaiste and the Minister for Defence. I note the Deputy's interest in the matter. I also acknowledge Deputy David Andrew's interest in the matter last week.
Will the Taoiseach agree, as a matter of courtesy to the House, to follow the precedent followed in the hepatitis C debate when he facilitated Deputies who had tabled questions to the Minister concerned? Deputy O'Donnell has tabled 18 questions to the Minister for Justice which are due to be answered on Thursday. Will the Taoiseach be prepared to have those questions answered before the confidence debate concludes tomorrow evening?
This is the first I have heard of this request. As the Deputy has signed a motion of no confidence in the Government, I presume she has made her mind up about the matter. I will investigate her request.
There are two matters I wish to raise. The national task force on suicide has produced an interim report. Will the Taoiseach make time available to discuss it? It is important that the matter is debated. Because of the McKenna judgment I realise the Government is restricted in terms of the role it can play in the bail referendum but there is much ignorance throughout the country about what exactly is being proposed. Will the Taoiseach ensure every effort is made to explain what is being proposed?
I urge all Members to go out and meet members of the public and talk to them. When canvassing for a "yes" vote in various constituencies I found no ignorance on this subject. I advise all Deputies of that mind to do so. Any information the Government can provide in the normal way within the confines of the McKenna judgment will be provided but it cannot engage in anything that would be contrary to that judgment. On the interim report of the task force on suicide, the Deputy should direct his request for a debate through his party's whip, Deputy Dermot Ahern, but as he has raised the matter in the House I will investigate it. As he said, it is a matter of serious concern.
In view of the fact that we are about to debate a confidence motion relating to an abysmal failure of political control in the Department of Justice, will the Taoiseach indicate who is in charge of the Department of Social Welfare while the Minister is otherwise busily engaged——
It is in safe hands.
——forgetting which comrade shot who and reminiscing about his rusty old rifle?