It is proposed to take No. 7b — motion re. Standing Order No. 106; No. 7c — motion re. Committee of Selection; No. 7d — motion re. appointment of Select Committee in relation to Standing Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills; and No. 10 — statements on the Report of the Review Group on the National Lottery. It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that Nos. 7b, 7c and 7d shall be decided without debate and the following arrangements shall apply in relation to No. 10: the opening statement of the Minister or Minister of State and of the main spokespersons for the Fine Gael Party and the Labour Party shall not exceed 30 minutes in each case; the statement of each other Member called upon shall not exceed 20 minutes in each case; Members may share time; and the Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 15 minutes.
Order of Business.
There are two proposals to be put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with items Nos. 7b, 7c and 7d agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with item No. 10 agreed? Agreed.
The Government has tabled an amendment to the Electoral Bill in its programme seeking to repeal some of the provisions concerning political funding which were passed by the last Dáil. Has the Government decided on the heads of this amending legislation?
No heads have yet come to Government.
Is the Taoiseach sure he will introduce legislation to repeal parts of the previous legislation?
We will bring forward legislation in due course but we have not yet decided on what it will be.
Does the Taoiseach know what he wants to do with the Electoral Bill? Has he made a policy decision?
The Deputy would be well advised to wait for our proposals.
The public is entitled to know the Taoiseach's intentions.
For decades it has been the practice in this House that legislation is brought forward either as heads of a Bill or as legislation. That practice will be followed by the Government.
Is it intended that the House will sit on Thursday, 30 October which is polling day in the presidential election?
I do not believe that matter has been discussed by the Whips, but the House should not sit on that day.
The Taoiseach should keep TDs at home even if he will not let the students home.
On a commitment in the programme for Government that there will be a review of the electoral system, has that review begun? Is it intended it will be a purely internal governmental review or will it include public consultation and discussion?
If the Deputy would like a policy discussion on that matter he should send a question to the Minister for the Environment and Local Government. I am sure the Minister would be glad to engage in such a discussion.
That is quite a truculent reply to a reasonable question. On the commitment in the programme for Government to review the electoral system, which is a very important matter for the people, is it intended that such a review will be an internal governmental review or a public review?
In the first instance —
It is promised.
It is still promised. In the first instance, it will be discussed by Government. The Minister for the Environment and Local Government has not yet brought forward proposals. The Opposition spokespersons on the Environment and Local Government have put forward views which will be taken into account when the Minister brings forward his proposals.
It is reported in one of today's newspapers that the Government intends to introduce legislation to permit real estate investment trusts. Is this the case?
There is no such legislation yet proposed.
It is reported in one of today's newspapers that the Government has such intentions.
It is not promised or proposed.
There is legislation listed in the Government's programme to modernise local government legislation and implement a range of reforms. Can the Taoiseach give the House some indication as to when that legislation might be brought forward? Is it intended to bring it forward in advance of local elections?
It will be next year before that legislation is brought forward. I hope it will be before local elections.
Has the Government given instructions to the Minister for Public Enterprise on the proposal from Commissioner Kinnock to reduce the permitted level of alcohol for drivers? What is the Irish position which will be presented to the Transport Commission in Brussels today?
That matter will be discussed at the EU meeting and subsequently by the Government.
Will the Minister representing us at the meeting express a view?
Is this in response to the rise of 5p in the cost of a pint?
It is only a discussion at this stage. I do not think the Minister will be involved in further changes to the proposals.
Will the Minister express a view on behalf of Ireland at the formal discussion in Luxembourg?
We cannot discuss that matter.
Will the Bretton Woods Agreement amendment legislation be discussed with NGOs, particularly debt and development organisations, before being brought before the House and when is it proposed to publish that legislation?
The legislation is at an early stage but it has been my long standing practice to discuss such issues with NGOs and I give a commitment that this will be done. It is based on an IMF report.
A Fisheries (Amendment) Act was successfully piloted through the Houses by the last Government. Will the Taoiseach indicate when a ministerial order will be introduced to commence the sections of the Bill as there are approximately 800 applications for licences?
It is a matter for the Minister and I will raise it with him.
In the light of promised legislation and the many election promises of Fianna Fáil, when does the Taoiseach intend to introduce legislation or controls to regulate the dispensing and prescribing of methadone? The current unregulated situation is causing many problems, especially in the Dublin area.
Yesterday I thought we were going to need it for Deputies.
Regulation rather than legislation is required. If it requires regulations these will be implemented speedily.
This is a matter of urgency in light of the serious problems being caused in the Dublin area of which, I am sure, the Taoiseach is aware. A proposal has been with the Minister for Health for a number of months and I ask that the matter be given urgent consideration and that the necessary regulations be introduced within weeks. I want a commitment from the Taoiseach on this matter.
Did the Taoiseach intervene to ensure the Asgard Restoration Committee, which is seeking to restore the yacht, would be allowed proceed with the restoration as quickly as possible?
That matter is not in order. The Deputy can put down a question.
It was rotting in Kilmainham.
We are now trying to restore it.
It is beautifully restored.
Like the Minister.
Will the Taoiseach indicate when the Valuation Bill will be brought before the House in the context of the problems associated with the valuation of properties?
It will be introduced in the second half of next year when the legislation is ready.
Has the Government finalised the Estimates and will the Taoiseach indicate when they will be published?
They have not been finalised but considerable progress has been made on them during the week. The Minister for Finance hopes to finish his discussions over the coming week or so.
Is the Government sticking to its targets?
Has the Taoiseach any intention of introducing legislation to amend the Companies Acts regarding donations to political parties in view of the revelations made during the year and the major private contributions which have been made to the three conservative parties in the House? Has he any intention to amend the legislation so the public will know the type of funding Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Progressive Democrats received during the last election? This is happening again in the presidential election.
That does not deal with promised legislation. It is out of order.
There is a proposed Companies (Amendment) Bill, although Deputy Broughan is talking about existing legislation. A provision in existing legislation states that companies must declare money over the prescribed amount.