It is proposed to take No. 4, Social Welfare Bill, 1997 — Second Stage (Resumed); No. 21, Credit Union Bill, 1996 — Second Stage (Resumed); No. 2, Freedom of Information Bill, 1996 [Seanad] — Second Stage. It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the proceedings on the resumed Second Stage of No. 4, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 1.15 p.m. today.
Order of Business.
There is just one matter to put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 4 satisfactory and agreed? Agreed.
When will the final Book of Estimates for 1997 be published? In view of the commitment given by Taoiseach some weeks ago, will the nurses' pay element be reflected in cuts in other Government Departments? Will the cut that is causing so much concern among officials in the Department of Social Welfare, which will reduce by half the students summer jobs scheme, be among them?
The first matter referred to in respect of legislation is in order.
I cannot give the Deputy a precise date for the publication of the Estimates but I will revert to him with the date.
Will the Book of Estimates reflect cuts for the nurses' pay issue as promised by the Government?
That matter can be raised at another time.
A Book of Estimates that is not based on the reality of the financial position is of no use.
This is not Question Time.
The Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance have both said the Book of Estimates will reflect departmental cuts to cover the nurses' pay. There is concern in the Department of Social Welfare that the Minister is being asked to cut by 15 per cent the students summer jobs scheme.
The detail of the measure can be raised in a variety of ways.
It is only fair that students applying for this scheme should know that £15 million is to be taken from the Department of Social Welfare.
I want to assist the Deputy but the matter must be relevant.
When the Minister, Deputy Bruton, visits Cork on Friday will he be making an announcement about Government intervention to safeguard existing jobs or to create new ones?
A Deputy
Is that the new PD line?
I advise the Deputy to raise the matter in another way.
It is an important matter. I would appreciate a reply. The Taoiseach always answers my questions.
That is all the more reason it should be raised at an appropriate time.
Deputy Quill is very lucky. At his meeting on Tuesday last with Chancellor Kohl, did the Taoiseach raise the matter of the need for the German authorities to drop their opposition to bail for Róisín McAliskey?
That is a question that should be put down in the normal way.
Has the Taoiseach any answer?
I can give the Deputy a full report on that matter.
In relation to the commitment in the programme, A Government of Renewal, in respect of non-nationals legislation, what progress has been made in this regard?
We hope to have that legislation enacted in the first half of the year.
The Taoiseach promised to regularise the position of the MMDS and deflector television distribution systems. Can he introduce that legislation as his promise requires it? In addition, will he release the consultants' report that was released to a local community group but withheld from the Dáil?
The latter part of the question——
The question relates to legislation.
There were strings attached to the question.
Nevertheless, the question relates to promised legislation. When will the legislation be brought before the House?
The Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications is examining the matter. There were a number of debates on the subject in the House so the Deputies are fully informed of the current position.
Does the Government have any legislative or other plans to assist the 500 students at the Advanced Technology College to complete their courses?
I am concerned that despite my rulings on this matter Deputies continue to flout my authority. I indicated to the House yesterday that the Minister has no responsibility in the matter.
On a point of order.
I am dealing with disorder on the part of the Deputy.
A Cheann Comhairle, on a point of order.
I have advised Deputies how to proceed in this matter, which is a private affair relating to a private college.
It is about private citizens who are our concern.
This was raised last week——
Deputy Kitt may not continue.
Time is running out for the students and the Minister will not meet them.
If Deputies wish to raise this matter, there are ways of doing so. They may put down a motion——
This is an urgent matter.
——or they can introduce a Bill in Private Members' time to rectify the matter.
That will be too late.
There are other ways of dealing with this matter.
Is it not true that under "rulings of the Chair" issues of a similar nature were dealt with in the House? Assistance was given in the case of Bewleys by the Government and Taoiseach of the day, the former Deputy Garret FitzGerald. That was also a case of a private company being debated in the House.
When a Minister disclaims responsibility in a matter of this nature——
They do that every day.
——which refers to a private institution or college——
They are public students.
——the Chair has no option but to rule the matter out of order. I have advised Deputies how to proceed.
They disclaim responsibility for everything.
Could the Ceann Comhairle use his influence to plead with the Minister to meet the students and make arrangements to deal with the situation?
I would like to be able to do so.
The Minister is quoted as being a partnership person. This is not partnership.
Item 2 on the Order Paper refers to the Freedom of Information Bill. Given the cross-party support for glasnost with regard to information held by the State which should be available to the citizen and public representatives, is the Taoiseach not embarrassed that his Government is responsible for the Dáil being misled daily as a result of the refusal of Ministers to answer questions? They refuse to give information legitimately sought by Members of the House.
The Deputy should await the introduction of the measure. She will have ample opportunity to make her views known.
It is cynical to talk about freedom of information when the Government has done nothing to reform the manner in which replies are given to parliamentary questions.
The Deputy is making a speech.
Deputies asking questions are thwarted and the Dáil is misled every day. I was misled yesterday by the Minister for Justice. She refused to give information which I legitimately sought with regard to how many prosecutions had collapsed——
The Deputy will have ample opportunity to vent her views on the measure when it comes before the House.
——because of the late filing of the book of evidence in criminal prosecutions. The Minister refused to release that information and that makes a nonsense of the concept of freedom of information.
When is it intended to introduce legislation to repeal the Official Secrets Act? Such legislation was promised and it is particularly important because the House will soon discuss the Freedom of Information Bill.
An interesting report on that topic was recently completed following more than 18 months of work by one of the committees of the House chaired by Deputy Flanagan. The study is currently being examined but there are no legislative proposals at present.
Will the book of Estimates which the Taoiseach mentioned earlier reflect the £10 million cut in spending proposed for county roads which is causing such concern in the Department of the Environment and in local authorities?
That is a good question, Deputy, and should be tabled accordingly.
Members of the House will welcome the latest initiative of the Garda and the Criminal Assets Bureau. Is the Government considering legislation to allow the Criminal Assets Bureau take action and investigate the assets of another type of drugs criminal?
Has the Deputy been promoted to spokesman on justice?
The Deputy must know he is out of order.
Can I finish my question about legislation?
On legislation only.
Is it the Government's intention to extend the Criminal Assets Bureau legislation to cover these convicted criminal, many of whom are known to the Taoiseach?
Any revision of the Criminal Assets Bureau will be examined on its merits. Any suggestions Deputies wish to make regarding crimes that should be included should be made in the normal way and they will be considered in the normal way.
What is the current position of the Charities Bill? Is there urgency in the Government to put a legislative framework in place to regulate the currently unregulated collection of money in our streets?
The legislation will be introduced in the second half of 1997.
Deputy Quill will be able to introduce it herself.
What is the present position with regard to the proposed Broadcasting Bill? According to the media, its introduction has been deferred indefinitely while Ministers say it has only been deferred for a week. It is 18 months since the publication of the Green Paper so when can we expect the introduction of the legislation?
This matter was dealt with on the Order of Business yesterday by the Minister for Finance.
I want to hear the Taoiseach's reply.
My reply is the same as the Minister's. He speaks on behalf of the Government when he represents the Government in the House.
Is it the same as the Democratic Left policy?
Can the Taoiseach say when the Government will deal with the legislation introduced by Deputy Gregory yesterday? In the meantime, I compliment the Tánaiste on the lovely photograph of him in today's newspaper which was taken at the coursing meeting at Clounanna, one of the oldest sporting events in the country. I hope it does not cause trouble with the SOS section of the Tánaiste's party.
It is to be dealt with in Private Members' Time and I am not certain when it will be before the House.
Never.
It is not a matter for the Government anyway.
The Tánaiste is nodding approval.
With regard to the charitable lotteries legislation, the Select Committee on Legislation and Security recommended to Government that the cap on lotteries be raised by ministerial order. Can the Taoiseach say if the Minister for Justice will use that method?
The possibility of doing something about that matter separately from the charities legislation is under consideration. No final decision has been taken.
This is a very promising Government.
When will the courts service Bill and the prisons board Bill be introduced? Last November we were told that one of these Bills would be introduced within a week. We were then promised that it would be introduced before Christmas and later that it would be introduced before Easter. Will we ever see this legislation?
The courts legislation will be available for consideration by the House during the first half of the year, while the prisons Bill will not be introduced until the latter half of the year.
Is it proposed to introduce companies legislation which will enable a solution to be found to the problems in the Companies Office where new companies have not been registered for several weeks?
Is legislation promised in this area?
A companies Bill will be introduced in the latter half of the year.
On page 29 of the programme, A Government of Renewal, under the heading "Education", the Government states its priority is to introduce legislation to regulate private education to ensure proper educational standards, consumer protection and employee rights. Will the Government introduce legislation under that heading to assist the students of the advanced technology college?
The Deputy is seeking to circumvent the ruling of the Chair in this matter.
I am in order as the legislation is promised in A Government of Renewal.
It is promised legislation.
I am entitled to ask about legislation promised in the programme.
The Deputy has adverted to a matter I have ruled out of order, and he knows it.
This is ridiculous.
Does the Taoiseach agree with his colleague, the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, that the general election will be held some time between the cutting of the hay and the bringing home of the cocks?
(Interruptions.)
As far as I can see some of the Deputy's hay from last year is still out in the fields.
And silage also.
I assure the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht that we know where the slurry is.