Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 Sep 1997

Vol. 480 No. 4

Order of Business (Resumed).

The Taoiseach

It is proposed to take No. 1, Allocation of Time Motion; No. 2 motion re. Restoration of Seventeenth Amendment of the Constitution (No. 2) Bill, 1997, to the Order Paper; No. 3, motion re. Agreement between the Government of Ireland and the Government of the United Kingdom Establishing the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning. A personal statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs shall be taken at the conclusion of the proceedings on No. 3, Seventeenth Amendment of the Constitution (No. 2) Bill, 1997 — Second and Subsequent Stages. A motion, pursuant to section 23 of the Referendum Act, 1994, prescribing a formal statement for the information of voters to be included on the polling card to be sent to every elector and on posters displayed in polling stations, shall be taken at the conclusion of the proceedings on the Seventeenth Amendment of the Constitution (No. 2) Bill, 1997; No. 4, motion re. Report of the Tribunal of Inquiry (Dunnes Payments); No. 5, Establishment of Tribunal of Inquiry.

It is further proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that:

(1) No. 1 shall be decided without debate;

(2) A motion re. Statement for Information of Voters shall be taken today and shall be decided without debate; and

(3) A personal statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs shall be taken today and shall not exceed 20 minutes; after which the Minister shall take questions: such questions, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion after one hour.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will now put to the House the remaining three proposals on the Order of Business. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 1 agreed?

Mr. Higgins

(Dublin West): This proposal relates to the allocation of time. Has the Taoiseach made provision in respect of those who wish to move amendments to the main subject of debate, namely, the proposal to establish a new tribunal on payments to politicians? What are the arrangements regarding Deputies who propose to table motions on the Supplementary Order Paper?

An Ceann Comhairle

I understand amendments may be tabled during the course of the day.

Mr. Higgins

(Dublin West): I have tabled amendments. I am seeking clarification regarding arrangements the Taoiseach intends to make whereby I can address the House on those amendments. The usual scenario is that the party Whips tie up the time allotted and Deputies from small parties, such as I, are excluded. Will the Taoiseach guarantee the right of a minority party with amendments on the Order of Business to be heard on this very important issue?

An Ceann Comhairle

Is the proposal for dealing with item No. 1 agreed?

Mr. Higgins

(Dublin West): I have asked a simple question. People who have tabled amendments——

An Ceann Comhairle

The function of the Chair is to put the motion. Is the Deputy opposing the motion?

Mr. Higgins

(Dublin West): I seek clarification. What is the procedure for Deputies who are not members of the main parties to move amendments to the new proposal in regard to payments to politicians?

An Ceann Comhairle

If others are willing to share time with the Deputy agreement can be sought.

Mr. Higgins

(Dublin West): I should not have to go cap in hand to the Whips of Government or Opposition parties to exercise my right as an elected Member to raise the concerns of my electorate, particularly when I have tabled amendments. I insist that provision is made at this point.

An Ceann Comhairle

There is provision in the motion for Deputies to share time.

Mr. Higgins

(Dublin West): Provided that the Whips agree. I have not received word from the Whips that they will give me time to move my amendment. I should have a right to move it.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy will be able to move his amendment at the end of the debate.

Mr. Higgins

(Dublin West): Thank you, a Cheann Comhairle.

An Ceann Comhairle

Is the proposal for dealing with No. 1 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with the motion re. statement for information of voters agreed? Agreed. Are the proposals for dealing with the statement by Deputy Burke agreed? Agreed.

Mr. J. Bruton

In regard to No. 2, the restoration to the Order Paper of a Bill introduced in the previous Dáil, is it proposed to restore other legislation from that Dáil to the Order Paper? On what date is it planned to publish the Book of Estimates and on what date will the budget be announced? In that context, does the Government intend to take any measures to deal with the growing problem of waiting lists in hospitals?

The Taoiseach

The Government Chief Whip intends to issue the legislative programme for the next session on 25 September. I am not sure of the date on which the Book of Estimates will be published, but budget day will be Wednesday, 3 December. The matter of waiting lists can be dealt with by question in the normal way.

Mr. J. Bruton

There will be plenty of questions.

Mr. Spring

Has the Taoiseach given consideration to re-establishing the Select Committee on Finance and General Affairs to hear submissions in advance of the budget? If not, will the Minister for Finance meet all delegations?

The Taoiseach

I am in favour of restoring most committees. The Government Whip and Whips from the other parties should reach agreement on this. I stated on the last day we met that the all-party committee on the Constitution should continue and its secretariat should remain. However, we should agree on which committees are to be kept before the new session begins.

Mr. Allen

Will the Taoiseach or Tánaiste outline the steps being taken to save the 107 jobs at Sea Ray, Little Island, County Cork which is due to close in October? Has the Tánaiste been in touch with the company's headquarters in Florida to find out if the plant can be salvaged? As Question Time and Adjournment Matters are not scheduled today, the Tánaiste should clarify the matter and make a statement.

An Ceann Comhairle

That matter does not arise on the Order of Business and the Deputy will have to find another way to raise it.

Mr. Allen

There is no other way.

Mr. J. Bruton

Will the Taoiseach take steps to deal with the use of mobile phones in the Chamber? It is not showing the proper respect for the House if mobile phones are brought anywhere near this Chamber.

An Ceann Comhairle

I draw the attention of the House to the fact that a rule of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges is that they are banned in the Chamber. I ask Deputies to adhere to that rule.

Mrs. Owen

And in the gallery.

An Ceann Comhairle

They are banned in this Chamber and in the gallery. I trust Deputies will abide by the rule.

Mr. Howlin

Is it proposed to re-establish the Cabinet sub-committee on monitoring Sellafield and its damage on this country?

The Taoiseach

The Minister involved is dealing with the issue. We do not have a Cabinet sub-committee on it but whenever necessary it will be dealt with at Cabinet.

Mr. Coveney

I ask the Taoiseach and the Minister for Agriculture and Food to consider providing time at the earliest opportunity for a debate on the income crisis facing farmers arising, in particular, from the continuing uncertainty in the export of live cattle, the disastrous weather conditions in August which affected cereal farmers so badly, as well as the decline in milk prices and other income related issues.

An Ceann Comhairle

Since the matter does not arise on the Order of Business today the Deputy will have to find another way of raising the matter.

Mr. J. Bruton

Will the Government consider providing time in an orderly way for a debate on that topic? It is a request that was made frequently from these benches in the past three years and is more relevant today than ever.

An Ceann Comhairle

The matter does not arise on the Order of Business today.

Mr. Higgins

(Dublin West): When is it proposed to fully implement the Refugee Act?

The Taoiseach

The Minister for Justice has made statements regarding that Act. It is not appropriate to implement some sections of that Act without some amendments, about which the Minister has already made statements in public. When the Dáil resumes the Minister will make the position clear on how he intends to deal with the issue.

Mr. G. Mitchell

Will the Taoiseach confirm there will be a referendum to ratify the Amsterdam Treaty and, if so, will he indicate when it is intended to have the referendum?

The Taoiseach

The answer to the first questions is "yes". I am advised there has to be a referendum. Given that a White Paper must be prepared and we must have a national discussion, the referendum will probably be held in the spring.