It is proposed to take No. 7a — motion re nomination of member of the Government which shall be taken following the announcement of matters on the Adjournment under Standing Order 21; No. 8a — Europol Bill, 1997, Committee and Remaining Stages; and No. 9 — statements on the 1996 Annual Report of the Ombudsman (resumed). It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that (1) the proceedings on No. 7a, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 6.45 p.m. tonight and the following arrangements shall apply: (i) the speech of the Taoiseach and of the main spokespersons for the Fine Gael Party and the Labour Party shall not exceed 20 minutes in each case; (ii) the speech of each other Member called upon shall not exceed ten minutes in each case; (iii) Members may share time; (iv) the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment shall be called upon not later than 6.35 p.m. tonight to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed ten minutes. If the proceedings on No. 7a conclude earlier than the time stated, any division demanded thereon shall be postponed until 6.45 p.m. tonight; (2) Private Members' Business, which shall be No. 15 — motion re farmers' incomes — shall take place today directly after the Order of Business for 90 minutes, following which the proceedings on the motion shall adjourn and shall resume at 7 p.m. tonight.
Order of Business.
On a point of order, there is something missing from the Order of Business. My understanding is that the debate on the nomination of a member of the Government will commence at 4.15 p.m.
That is correct.
It is not clear from the Order of Business.
Where is that stated on the Order of Business?
Item No. 7a covers it.
I just want to clarify that.
I was due to take this at 12.30 p.m. but following a question from Fine Gael I agreed to take it at 4.15 p.m. That is my understanding of the matter.
I do not have a problem with it. It is just not clear from the Order of Business.
It is. Read the second line.
The matter is covered by No. 7a — motion re nomination of member of the Government shall be taken following the announcement of matters on the Adjournment under Standing Order 21. There are two proposals to put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with item No. 7a agreed?
The text of the motion has not been circulated but will the Taoiseach in his statement announcing the person to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of the former Minister, Mr. Burke, also announce any consequential vacancies, including those at Minister of State level? It would not be fair to keep them waiting for a few days.
They are nervous enough.
I would not have had to keep anyone waiting after 12.30 p.m. if I had been able to obtain agreement. Unfortunately they will now have to wait until 4.15 p.m. I assure Deputy Quinn that no one will have to wait any longer than that.
Will the Taoiseach tell us now?
Is the proposal for dealing with item 7a. agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with Private Members' Business agreed? Agreed.
When is it proposed to bring forward the Equal Status Bill on which much work was done by the previous Government? The Bill was referred to the Supreme Court because some constitutional deficiencies were found in it but the bulk of it is constitutional. When will this legislation which guarantees non-discriminatory treatment of people, a matter of some importance, be brought forward by the Government?
The constitutional issues are still being examined.
Is the Bill a priority?
Yes.
Given that the Government intends to introduce the budget in December will the social welfare Bill, which is normally introduced in March, also be introduced earlier?
The Bill does not normally have to be introduced until April but it will be introduced in good time so that any necessary changes arising from the budget can be given effect to within a suitable timescale.
Has the Taoiseach reflected further on the question about the Local Government Act raised with him last week? Does he intend to amend the Act to allow the date of the next local elections to be moved? It is important that councillors and potential councillors have reasonable notice of any such move. In light of comments made by the STAD group, has the Taoiseach reflected further on re-establishing the Cabinet sub-committee on Sellafield and the Irish Sea.
The first question is a matter for the Minister for the Environment and Local Government who will bring forward proposals in this respect in due course. The other question is not strictly in order but I have seen the statements and will give consideration to the matter.
In light of comments by Government spokespersons, will legislation be amended to end the practice of selling passports?
There is no such legislation. This issue arose some time ago when a former Attorney General stated there should be legislation, otherwise the scheme should not exist. The Government is examining the matter.
When is it intended to introduce the traveller accommodation Bill?
It will be taken during this session.
Before the general election the Taoiseach gave a commitment to hold a referendum on Sunday working. Does he intend to bring forward legislation in this respect soon?
I made a commitment on this matter and the statements are on the public record. The Minister is looking at the action which can be taken on this issue. My views on the matter are well known.
(Mayo): In light of a High Court decision last week that assault and battery may no longer be a crime, is it proposed to bring forward amending legislation, particularly in the context of the Offences Against the Person Act?
As Deputy Higgins is aware that was an interim High Court decision and, therefore, it would be wrong to comment on it. However, there will be a further review based on the final decision of the High Court.
Will the Taoiseach make Government time available to discuss the present position on economic and monetary union having regard to the carefully prepared leak by the British Government in respect of its attitude towards it? Such a debate would be timely.
I would favour a debate not only on economic and monetary union but on all issues concerned and the Whips should look at that.
While I welcome the generosity of the Taoiseach there are a number of separate but related issues. There would be a loss of focus if we had a general debate. We need to have separate debates on Agenda 2000 and the implications for the mid term review on Structural Funds, but more importantly — and particularly from the point of view of the economy in the light of the very carefully designed leak by the British Government published in the Financial Times last Friday week — there should be a debate on this issue. That is what I am specifically asking for.
Deputy Quinn and the Minister, Deputy McCreevy, might discuss that issue with the Whips who might welcome a debate on it.
Given that the former Minister for Foreign Affairs signed the Amsterdam Treaty on behalf of the State, does the Taoiseach propose to bring that treaty before the House for approval and when is it intended to hold a referendum on it?
I stated in reply to a question last week that we would have a debate on that issue during this session.
I did not ask if we would have a debate on it, but will the treaty be brought before the House for approval?
The treaty was signed and I am not sure if it is necessary to bring it before the House. I stated that when the constitutional amendment is prepared it will have to be brought before the House and a White Paper is being prepared. At that stage the matter will have to be brought before the House. I was asked last week if we would have a debate on the matter prior to that.
I appreciate what the Taoiseach was asked last week, but I am asking him when that treaty will be brought before this House for approval and when it is intended to hold a referendum on it.
I would welcome a debate in the short-term if Members wish to have one. The matter must be brought before the House when the constitutional amendment is prepared. The White Paper will be published during the next few months, hopefully by November, and it is hoped the referendum will take place in March.
Is it proposed to introduce legislation establishing Teilifís na Gaeilge as a separate entity given that members of the Government promised such legislation? We have been told there will be no legislation on broadcasting in 1997. Is it the Government's intention to introduce separate legislation during 1997 or 1998?
I am conscious the Deputy introduced every coloured paper except the Bill, but the Minister hopes to introduce the Bill shortly.
Might I deconstruct "shortly" for the Taoiseach? Will it be introduced this side of the year 2000 or is it a millennial project?
The Taoiseach said that no legislation is necessary in respect of the passports for sale scheme.
I said there was no legislation.
Will the Taoiseach say if it is the intention of the Government to scrap the passports for sale scheme and, if so, when we are likely to get a statement in that regard?
In answer to Deputy Higgins, we hope to have that legislation in early 1998. In answer to Deputy Rabbitte, there is no legislation or proposals for legislation but for the past four or five weeks the Government has been considering the scheme.
How soon are we likely to have a decision?
The Department of Justice is preparing a report for the Government which I hope to have shortly. I do not know how many weeks it will take. We will look at the merits, advantages and disadvantages of the scheme before we take a final decision.
A decision has not been made yet?
No.
It was suggested that one had been made.
I know the decision Deputy Bruton made; then he ignored the advice.
All outstanding applications that were made have been dealt with.
When I asked the Taoiseach last week about the implementation of the Refugee Act, he indicated that the Minister for Justice was looking at it as a matter of urgency. Given the pressing need for the Act, has progress been made?
As I stated last week, the Minister for Justice is to bring proposals to the Cabinet and he has yet to do that.
Could we have an indication when that might be?
I do not know.
As part of the examination of the passports matter, has the Government considered revoking or withdrawing any passports which have been issued?
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
Presumably the Deputy is happy with the passports issued by his Government.
Has the Government considered refunding the money?
Is the Government no longer committed to fully funding the STAD group in Dundalk?
That matter was on the Adjournment last night and it is not in order now. You had your opportunity last evening, Deputy.