I regret the House divided on the issue and that it was not possible to accept our amendment with regard to answering questions.
Order of Business (Resumed).
We should not go back on the matter. The House has decided.
On a separate matter, I want to convey to the Minister for Finance the concerns of small firms, who supply Quinnsworth and Crazy Prices supermarkets, about the proposed take-over by Tesco. It is unclear whether the take-over is on——
The matter referred to by the Deputy is clearly not in order now. It is not relevant to the Order of Business.
Is the Deputy on or not on?
I am speaking to the Minister for Finance, not to Minister Dukes.
I am speaking to the House.
I appreciate the Chair's indulgence in this matter.
It is clearly not in order.
It is often the case that such take-overs are not to the benefit of either consumers or workers.
The Deputy should raise the matter at a more appropriate time.
Is the Minister for Finance concerned about the decision by Dunnes Stores to open its stores on Easter Sunday?
Since there is such a total disregard for what is appropriate to the Order of Business, the Deputy leaves me no option——
It concerns promised legislation.
I have a specific question on promised legislation. Are there any plans to introduce legislation to deal with this matter, as the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, announced publicly?
The matter is under active consideration. There are currently no explicit plans for legislation but I will give a more comprehensive reply to the Deputy.
Why did the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, jump the gun on the Minister of State, Deputy Eithne Fitzgerald?
For some time the Government has promised to introduce legislation to regularise the deflector television system. I understand the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications had promised to release the consultants' report which is on his desk. When will the legislation come before the House, and will the Minister release the consultants' report?
Legislation has not been promised.
The Deputy might get a more comprehensive reply to the history of this matter by asking a question of his colleague sitting beside him.
He does not have the report, the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications has it. He should publish it.
There are no specific proposals for legislation promised.
May I ask the Minister for Finance if the Government will now consider the issue of changing the law in relation to defamation?
That is a question Deputy McDowell might put down in the ordinary way.
In relation to the objective in the programme for Government to encourage fee paying schools to join the free secondary schools scheme, will the Minister for Finance outline the steps being taken to realise that objective?
To what legislation is the Deputy referring, if any?
I am referring to legislation promised in the programme for Government, which I am entitled to raise on the Order of Business according to Standing Orders.
Deputy Martin is a little confused.
It is an objective of Government to encourage fee paying schools to go into the free scheme. That is contained in the programme for Government. I am asking the Minister for Finance the steps that are being taken to implement it? Is that a real commitment?
The Deputy should deal with that matter in another way.
It is relevant and in order.
Are you telling me that, Deputy?
According to Standing Orders.
Is there any legislation in this area?
There is perhaps the most ambitious and comprehensive programme of education legislation this House has ever seen.
It was so ambitious the Government guillotined it in the House last week.
Answer the question.
I know it is a cause of continued anguish to the Deputy that my friend and colleague, the Minister for Education, has done more in the past four years than previous Ministers for Education have done in years in terms of legislation.
Where does the Government stand in regard to this commitment?
I, not Minister Bhreathnach, wrote the Green Paper.
I am sorry that annoys Deputy Martin so much.
The Minister will tell no untruths about me.
Under proposed legislation and the Public Service Management Bill, will the Minister for Finance indicate if there are any proposals to curtail the powers of the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht to permit his officials to meet rock concert promoters in connection with the use of the Phoenix Park?
Is the Deputy jealous?
It is dreadful that the Deputy is so against U2. What did they do to him?
Will the Minister for Finance tell the House where the Tánaiste is today? Is it true he is canvassing?
Resume your seat, Deputy.
Will the Minister confirm that 15 May——
Let us not make a mockery of our proceedings.
Where is Deputy Bertie Ahern?
I do not know.
I raised with the Taoiseach last week, and he seemed to agree with me, the prospect of legislation to deal with the illegal sale of cigarettes, which is a major problem here and in Europe. Will the Minister for Finance indicate if there are proposals in this area? If he were to introduce measures in the context of the Finance Bill, we would consider those positively.
We are now having questions.
I confirm there are detailed proposals in the Finance Bill which will be published next Wednesday. We will debate on Committee Stage the question of the existing powers of excise and Revenue officers and the Garda in regard to the illegal selling of cigarettes. I welcome the comment made by the Deputy. No doubt we will get the support of his party in enacting the measures.
When?
After Wednesday.
A Deputy
Would it be described as zero tolerance?
We are coming close to it now.
Deputy Harney got into trouble with that yesterday.
Will the Minister for Finance refer the question of the proposed take-over of Quinnsworth and Crazy Prices to the Competition Authority——
I am proceeding now to the business of the House. We are having irrelevancies.
In view of the statement yesterday by the Chairman of An Bord Tráchtála, and the subsequent comment of the Minister for Trade and Tourism, what is the Government's position on the revaluation of the Irish pound?
I will be answering questions this afternoon.
Will the Minister have anything to say?
I always have something to say.
May I ask the Minister for Finance when the legislation in relation to the designation of Waterford Regional Technical College and other regional technical colleges throughout the country as institutes of technology will be brought before the House?
Another hollow promise.
That is promised legislation.
Will the Minister for Finance indicate when this legislation will come before the House?
The legislation will be before the House when the detailed and comprehensive consultations the Minister is having with the various interested parties is completed.
The Minister for Education said it will not require legislation.
On a point of order, I can inform the Minister and Deputy Quill that the Minister for Education confirmed to me she will not be introducing legislation, but merely changing the name.
That is not a point or order.
I am simply keeping Members of the House up to date in regard to what is going on.
When is it proposed to bring forward the Local Government (Financial Provisions) Bill, dealing with the arrangements for financing local authorities? Will the Minister consider including in it a provision to allow group water schemes to levy charges on their members?
The first part of the Deputy's question is in order.
I am informed the legislation to which the Deputy has referred is almost ready and will be published immediately after Easter.