Order of Business.

The Taoiseach

It is proposed to take No. 1a on a Supplementary Order Paper, the Interpretation (Amendment) Bill, 1997, Order for Second Stage and Second and Remaining Stages; No. 5, technical motion re Taxes Consolidation Bill, 1997 and, subject to the agreement of No. 5, No. 7, Taxes Consolidation Bill, 1997, Order for Report and Report and Final Stages; No. 8, Air Navigation and Transport (Amendment) Bill, 1997 — Second Stage (resumed).

It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that (1) the Second and Remaining Stages of No. 1a shall be taken today and the following arrangements shall apply: (i) the proceedings on Second Stage, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion after 35 minutes and the contributions shall be as follows: speeches shall be confined to the Minister or Minister of State moving the motion and to the main spokespersons for the Fine Gael Party and the Labour Party and shall not exceed ten minutes in each case; and a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed five minutes; and (ii) the proceedings on the Committee and Remaining Stages, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion after 25 minutes by one Question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Justice and (2) No. 5 shall be decided without debate. Private Members' Business shall be No. 15 — motion re Dublin Traffic.

An Ceann Comhairle

There are two proposals to be put to the House. Are the proposals for dealing with No. 1a agreed to?

Mr. Higgins

(Dublin West): On No. 1a and the proposal by the Taoiseach, it is wholly unacceptable that the Government should stampede the Dáil with virtually no discussion on what——

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy cannot debate the issue.

Mr. Higgins

(Dublin West): Nobody can predict with confidence the consequences of this Bill. At least one or two weeks are needed to debate it so that parties and Deputies can brief themselves on it. The court cases can be adjourned if necessary.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy cannot debate the issue.

Mr. Higgins

(Dublin West): We are about to rush through another item with nobody knowing the consequences. This is totally unacceptable and I oppose this proposal on the Order of Business.

An Ceann Comhairle

Are the proposals for dealing with No. 1a agreed to?

Mr. Higgins

(Dublin West): No. Question, “That the proposals for dealing with item No. 1a be agreed to” put and declared carried.

An Ceann Comhairle

Is the proposal for dealing with No. 5 agreed to? Agreed.

Mr. J. Bruton

Has the Taoiseach given thought to introducing legislation to provide that better information be given to the public in the context of referenda? Obviously constraints are imposed.

An Ceann Comhairle

As this matter is listed for the Adjournment I cannot allow the Deputy to pre-empt a debate which will take place later this evening. I have already indicated to the House that Deputy John Gormley has been given permission to raise this matter.

Mr. J. Bruton

Deputy Gormley might be coming at it from a different angle.

An Ceann Comhairle

We cannot allow a debate on the Adjournment to be pre-empted. I have already informed the House that it is coming up on the Adjournment.

A Deputy

That does not rule this question out of order.

An Ceann Comhairle

It does not arise on the Order of Business in any event.

Mr. J. Bruton

It relates to legislation.

An Ceann Comhairle

It is not promised legislation.

Mr. Barrett

It was promised by the Taoiseach who said he may have another referendum.

Mr. J. Bruton

I think the Taoiseach will be willing to answer this question. It is normal to allow a little latitude at this hour.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will allow the Deputy to ask a question.

Mr. J. Bruton

It is not abnormal to allow the Leader of the Opposition to ask a question at this stage.

An Ceann Comhairle

It is not in order to have a discussion on a matter which is coming up on the Adjournment this evening.

Mr. J. Bruton

Has the Taoiseach considered any proposals, legislative or otherwise, to allow the Government give more user friendly information in regard to referendum topics so that the public will participate in decisions of this nature on an informed basis?

The Taoiseach

There are no legislative measures but it seems a desirable matter to look at. In the recent referendum we followed strictly the interpretation of the judgment of some years ago in the ad hoc commission and what was allowed. Given that we knew from the outset that it was limited, there is an obligation on the Government to provide more extensive information than just an article on a difficult topic. Many more difficult issues will arise in the coming years. We intend to look at that in the context of the judgment of the courts to see whether there is any way of providing more extensive information through handouts, literature or presentations to the electorate on issues that will arise in respect of amendments to the Constitution.

Mr. Spring

Some weeks ago serious concern was expressed in the House regarding the appalling level of road deaths and the Taoiseach undertook to ask the Garda Commissioner, the National Safety Council, the National Roads Authority and the local authorities to examine the matter. In the past few days there have been further deaths on our roads. Has such a meeting taken place and, if not, will the Taoiseach arrange to hold it as soon as possible? Will he also organise a Government publicity campaign to avert further deaths on our roads?

The Taoiseach

Deputy Spring is correct in stating that a few weeks ago, after an appalling week of road deaths, I undertook to hold a meeting with various groups to discuss the matter. Within a few days the Ministers of State, Deputies Molloy and Dempsey, and I had a long discussion with those groups. At that meeting it was stated that it was not necessarily a question of legislative change but a matter of information. In the judgment of the officers involved in the accidents during that appalling week, all but four related to speed. At that meeting the groups in question asked the Government to consider a number of suggestions, which I agreed to do. We agreed to work together to organise a campaign in this area. Because of the traditionally large number of deaths on our roads in the last weeks of each year, it was agreed the matter should be examined in the context of the Christmas period.

Proinsias De Rossa

I congratulate Mrs. Mary McAleese on her election as President of the State. I also congratulate and thank all the candidates, organisations and parties who participated in the election process. Is the Taoiseach concerned about the declining participation rate of the electorate in elections and referenda? Does he agree an all-party Oireachtas committee should be set up to examine ways to improve electorate participation in elections and referenda?

An Ceann Comhairle

This matter does not arise on the Order of Business, but the Taoiseach may want to comment.

The Taoiseach

I will make a brief comment. All of us in political life would prefer a high poll at election time. This matter must be examined. Despite strenuous efforts to improve the register, we have had low polls in a number of by-elections and referenda. A decade ago people blamed the inadequate or out of date register for low polls but, while I welcome the improvements in that area, I do not believe the register was ever to blame for low polls. A committee of the House should examine the matter, but I am not sure which one.

Dáil Éireann debate - Tuesday, 4 Nov 1997

A Deputy

Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Nov 1997