It is proposed to take No. 2, Courts Service (No. 2) Bill, l997 [Seanad] — Second Stage, and No. 4, Geneva Conventions (Amendment) Bill, l997 — Order for Second Stage and Second Stage.
Order of Business.
There are no proposals to put to the House.
I welcome the Minister to the House. On promised amendments to the Constitution in respect of Articles 2 and 3 in the context of an overall agreement in the talks process, is there any truth in the suggestions in today's newspapers that there is an agreement, the content of which is unknown to the House, between the Taoiseach and a Member in regard to this matter?
It is not in order to ask about the content of an agreement. The Deputy can only ask about the timing of the agreement on the Order of Business.
I will rephrase my question in a way which will be of assistance to the Ceann Comhairle. Is the timing of the legislation likely to be influenced in any way by a written agreement which it is alleged exists between the Taoiseach and an individual Member of the House, if such an agreement exists?
Was the Tánaiste made aware of this written agreement? Was the British Government made aware that apparently there are limits to the options the Taoiseach has in relation to amendments of Articles 2 and 3? Will the Minister arrange to have laid before the House a copy of the alleged agreement?
I support the points made by the previous two speakers. The details of this agreement should be published and laid before the House.
The Deputies opposite will agree that everyone is concerned about the situation in Northern Ireland and the talks which are ongoing. On talks with Independent Deputies, the Taoiseach has answered questions in the House and set out his position. He made it clear that no deals have been done. He clarified his position for Independent Deputies and the House in general. Deputies would be better served by concentrating on the package everyone is striving to achieve and see what can be done with it at that stage. This is the line being taken by the Leader of the Opposition and the Government.
Deputies cannot discuss the matter now.
I understand that. I agree it is important that we should concentrate on the overall picture. My concern is to establish whether this is affected by a written letter which it is suggested an individual Deputy has in regard to the content or timing of a constitutional amendment which would be part of the package. As the House must be free to make a decision on any matter which comes before it and as it does its business in public rather than in private, it is important to know if its discretion has been prejudiced by private arrangements which might have been made between the Taoiseach and an individual Member. I will not press the Minister unduly as he is not directly involved, but will he let us know if such a letter has been written to Deputy Blaney?
Instead of depending on an Independent Deputy, the Government should seek the consensus of the main parties in the House on this legislative matter. I pledge the support of my party for an agreement on which there is consensus.
I am sure the Government parties recognise there is consensus in the House on the need to achieve an overall agreement and that Deputy Blaney will not be able to exercise a veto over this issue. Clearly what is afoot here is that Deputy Blaney is threatening to withdraw his support for the Government on everything as a way of exercising his veto. It is important that the agreement between the Government and Deputy Blaney is placed before the House so that we know precisely with what we are dealing.
The Government is seeking consensus in Northern Ireland and on this part of the island. That position also pertains in so far as the Opposition is concerned. On discussions with Independent Deputies, in reply to a parliamentary question tabled two weeks ago the Taoiseach dealt thoroughly with the matters raised by the Opposition. This question, which may have been tabled by the Leader of the Opposition, related to the arrangements with Independent Deputies. Those arrangements still stand.
We may have to return to this matter.
What is the position in regard to the Adoption (No. 2) Bill?
The Bill is being restored to the Order Paper and amendments are being prepared.
The proposal for the legislative programme stated that "a motion is being prepared to restore it to the Seanad Order Paper". Surely, we should have cited that motion before citing the amendments. In order to be helpful, perhaps the Minister would give a date when the motion to restore it to the Seanad Order Paper will be available to him.
This Bill has been restored in the Seanad where it is on Report Stage.
Is the acting Taoiseach aware that a serious attempt at piracy on four Irish fishing boats occurred in the early hours of this morning, 40 miles south west of the Mizen Head?
The matter is not one for the Order of Business. The Deputy should resume his seat. He may raise the matter during the day.
The Irish vessels were surrounded by three steel-hulled Spanish boats and the lives of the Irish crews were put in danger. A fisheries patrol vessel anchored off Castletownbere refused to go to their assistance.
The Government is walking the plank this morning.
I will certainly pursue the matter vigorously.
The Minister wants to hoist the Jolly Roger. I have been searching around for something to buoy the spirits of the Government this morning but I cannot think of anything.
Has the Government yet received the report of the Electoral Boundaries Commission and does the Minister think its conclusions will be in place before we have a general election?
The Deputy hopes.
There are strange things happening out the Deputy's way.
I understand it is due at the end of the month when it will be presented to the Ceann Comhairle and to the House.
What is the timing for the introduction of the Fisheries (Amendment) Bill concerning inland fisheries? Is legislation contemplated on contracts for the marine emergency helicopter service? If so — and it is included in the Governments legislative programme — when will the legislation be ready? What is the consequence for the marine emergency service contracts of not having the legislation in place?
The Fisheries (Amendment) Bill to reform inland fisheries, institutions and management is expected in the second half of this year.
Late 1999.
As the Deputy will be aware, it is fairly major legislation that has the support of the Opposition. There are quite a number of complex issues which should be resolved later this year.
The other question I asked concerned contracts for the marine emergency helicopter search and rescue service. I understand the Minister's Department is also preparing legislation on that matter, but when will it be ready?
That will be ready early next year. In the meantime the new service on the east coast is due to start from 1 July.
The Taoiseach indicated yesterday that the request from Mr. Justice Flood concerning the tribunal was being dealt with and was agreed. I understand that is not quite correct. Will the Minister confirm to the House that the Government has agreed to amend the Tribunal of Inquiries Act, but that it has not agreed to the request from Mr. Justice Flood for a specific amendment to the tribunal's terms of reference. I want that to be confirmed.
The amending legislation is expected to come before the House the week after St. Patrick's week.
Is the Government amending the tribunal's terms of reference?
That will deal with the amendments that are necessary. One has to amend the primary Act in the first instance.
I want to get clarification. Is it correct there is no agreement at Government level to amend the terms of reference of the tribunal along the lines requested by Mr. Justice Flood?
It would be wrong for the Deputy to anticipate what will be in the amending legislation.
That legislation has nothing to do with it.
It has.
It has not. The House was misled by the Taoiseach yesterday morning on this issue. I want to clarify whether the Government has now decided to amend the terms of reference of the Flood tribunal of inquiry. My understanding is that it has not so agreed and I want confirmation of that.
As far as the Government is concerned it has agreed to the necessary amendments but it will be necessary to amend the basic legislation first. That is in line with what the Taoiseach said in the House.
We cannot discuss the matter any further. The Deputy will have an opportunity to raise it at another time.
The answer to my question is "yes". I want clarification that what, in fact, is proposed is legislation to amend the Tribunal of Inquiries Act.
The Deputy has repeated that question a number of times.
It has not been answered. There is a necessity for clarification of this matter.
There certainly is.
The amendment to the basic legislation will allow the Government to make the changes which are considered necessary.
But the Government has made no decision on those changes.
The Deputy should wait for the legislation.
For the second time in a couple of weeks a Minister has withheld, indeed concealed, important information from this House. I refer to the Private Members' Bill which I moved. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform made a speech in which he concealed the fact — which we have now discovered in newspaper reports today — that the Government has embarked on the wholesale deportation of asylum seekers. Will he make a statement to the House as to how it was that he could conceal such important information in a democratic debate on a difficult issue? Does he accept that he has engendered more prejudice in one speech than Áine Ní Chonaill and her gang have managed to do in six months?
The Deputy cannot continue in that manner. If the Deputy wishes to make a charge she can only do so by way of a substantive motion.
Only one member of the Deputy's party turned up to vote for the Bill last night.
There is a parliamentary question this afternoon on that issue. In fairness to the Minister, he will answer that in detail. It is important to make clear that people entitled to protection under international law will be given that protection. We have a long and honourable record and Deputies can be assured it will be maintained.
Why did the Minister not tell the House he was going to commence deportations? Why does he continue to conceal information from the House?
Given that this is the 150th anniversary of the unveiling of the national flag, has the Government any plans to commemorate the event?
It is not an appropriate matter for the order of business. The Deputy should put down a parliamentary question.
There should be a discussion in the House on the matter.