Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 22 Apr 1998

Vol. 489 No. 7

Order of Business.

It is proposed to take No. 7c, motion re. Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions; No. 7d, motion re. Leave to introduce Supplementary Estimate [Vote 3] and, subject to the agreement of No. 7d, to take Supplementary Estimate [Vote 3]; No. 2, Nineteenth Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 1998, Committee and Remaining Stages; No. 7a, motion re. Statement for the Information of Voters in relation to the Nineteenth Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 1998; No. 7b, motion re. Referendum (Ballot Paper)(No.2) Order, 1998 — Nos. 7a and 7b shall be taken at the conclusion of the proceedings on the Nineteenth Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 1998; and No. 18, Education Bill, 1997, Second Stage (resumed). It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that: (1) Nos. 7c and 7d shall be decided without debate and any division demanded on No. 7d shall be taken forthwith; (2) Subject to the agreement of No. 7d, Supplementary Estimate [Vote 3] shall be decided without debate and any division demanded thereon shall be taken forthwith; (3) The proceedings on the Committee and Remaining Stages of No. 2, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 1.15 p.m. today 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 Taoiseach; (4) Nos. 7a and 7b shall be decided without debate; and (5) Private Members' Business which shall be No. 29, Licensed Premises (Opening Hours) Bill, 1998, Second Stage (resumed), shall take place today between 5.30 p.m. and 8.30 p.m.

There are five proposals to put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with Nos. 7c and 7d agreed?

I have no problem with the contents of those two measures. However, will the Government give time between now and the end of this session to discuss Supplementary Estimates in the light of undertakings given by the Minister for Finance when the pound was revalued some weeks ago?

Yes, time will be given before the end of the session.

Is the proposal for dealing with Nos. 7c and 7d agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with Supplementary Estimate [Vote 3] agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 2 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with Nos. 7a and 7b agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with Private Members' Business agreed? Agreed.

Does the Government plan to introduce a second Finance Bill, in view of the reports that it is about to accept the Fine Gael proposal for the abolition of stamp duty on the sale of second-hand houses to first-time buyers?

As the House is aware, the Bacon report on house prices will be circulated in the next few days. The Government's response to that report will be announced by the relevant Ministers. At that stage, the matters referred to by Deputy Bruton may or may not arise.

There is no exclusivity in good ideas.

Will the Government's response to the Bacon report require new legislation? If so, when will it be introduced?

That would pre-empt the announcements. The Government has completed its deliberations. When we announce our response, it will be obvious whether it requires legislation.

Arising from the latest Government meeting, have officials of the Department of Finance and the draftsman's office been instructed to prepare a second Finance Bill?

That is a good try.

It is a legitimate question.

The Government is afraid that telling us now will spoil its announcement.

(Dublin West): Is the Government proposing emergency legislation to repeal section 3 of the speculator's charter which is responsible for the obscene rise in house prices and the creation of suffering among young people who cannot afford to put a roof over their heads?

The Government is anxious to deal with the difficulties in the housing market. That is why the Minister for State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government, Deputy Molloy, requested some months ago a detailed report which would include full consultation with all elements of the industry. That report will be circulated in the next few days. If legislation is required, it will have to be brought forward. I do not want to pre-empt the announcement.

Is the Taoiseach aware that an estate agent in Dublin rang clients yesterday to tell them to complete their paperwork before midnight tonight because the Government had made decisions which would impact on their transactions? Is that the way to do business? Is it done by leaks?

The Deputy appears to be going into detail.

Should the House not be told first of legislative changes rather than them being announced at a press conference?

I understand the establishment of the Western Development Commission on a statutory basis has been on the Cabinet agenda for some time. When will this receive Cabinet approval and when will we see the legislation?

In reply to Deputy Howlin — members of the public would be wrong to make financial decisions based on purely speculative articles. This could prove costly. In reply to Deputy Kenny — the issue to which he referred is on the Cabinet agenda and should be taken shortly.

On a point of order, in light of the discussion we have had in which the Taoiseach indicated the Government has taken decisions on the matter, I wish to draw your attention, a Cheann Comhairle, to the fact that the Speaker of the House of Commons has had occasion to reprove the British Government for making announcements outside the House in regard to matters which are the business of the House. Given that decisions have been taken, do you consider this is a matter that ought to be the subject of clear answers in the House rather than press conference announcements?

Send for Betty.

That is not a point of order.

It is a point in regard to the privileges of the House which it is your privilege to defend.

I have ruled on the matter.

Which legislation to be taken before June or the end of the year will provide for the arrangements for the issue of the six multiplex licences to introduce digitalisation?

I have told the Deputy a number of times that the Broadcasting Bill will be introduced later this year. I cannot confirm without checking whether it will be introduced before June.

I am grateful to the Taoiseach for his reply. May I take it, therefore, that the six multiplex licences will be allocated in the context of the Broadcasting Bill rather than by the regulator?

That is a matter of detail.

We cannot deal with that aspect of the matter on the Order of Business.

I am anxious to be orderly and of assistance. Will the Taoiseach confirm that the six multiplex licences will be allocated in the context of the Broadcasting Bill and that the decision will not be taken by the Director of Telecommunications Regulation?

The Broadcasting Bill will be introduced later this year and will deal with the policy on digitalisation which is being formulated by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands.

(Mayo): As the Taoiseach is aware, there were reports last week of possible interference with the property and telephones of two RTE reporters, George Lee and Charlie Bird, who broke the NIB story. Why is there no reference in the Government's pre-summer or long-term legislative programme to legislation to regulate the private security industry given that the report of the consultative group on the private security industry has been with the Government since December 1997?

I answered that question previously. A detailed examination of the entire security industry is under way and legislation is being prepared.

In recent weeks the Tánaiste published two important reports on a national minimum wage and on unemployment. They were circulated in an insulting way to the House. Opposition spokespersons did not receive copies——

Does the Deputy have a question about promised legislation?

My question relates to the provision of time to discuss these two important reports.

That matter is not appropriate to the Order of Business.

The Tánaiste took it upon herself to announce on radio the findings of a significant report for which Opposition spokespersons had been asking for months. For 48 hours they did not know the details.

We cannot discuss the matter on the Order of Business.

It was extremely insulting to Deputies Rabbitte, Owen and myself.

The Deputy will have to find another way to raise it.

The Tánaiste should apologise to the House.

The Deputy should resume his seat. He is out of order. The matter is not appropriate to the Order of Business.

Where else can I raise it?

Not on the Order of Business.

Is it the Government's intention to accede to the request of the Committee of Public Accounts for a debate on Army deafness claims and, if so, when? Is it the intention to legislate for the green book and the accompanying table in respect of compensation awards?

The answer to the first question is "yes", there will be a debate as soon as possible subject to agreement among the Whips. In reply to the second question, the interdepartmental committee is finalising its deliberations on the legislative options open to the Government in what is an extremely difficult and complex area but the Deputy can take it there will be legislation.

Given that the report of the consultants on the Luas underground option is available to the Minister——

It is not. It will be available at the weekend.

Will the House have an opportunity to debate the issue?

That is a matter for the Whips.

No, it is a matter for the House.

The Whips will make the arrangements.

The Whips have no authority when it comes to ordering the Business of the House.

In recent weeks the Taoiseach gave a firm commitment that the Health (Amendment) Bill would be introduced before the summer recess. I notice that it has slipped off the Government's legislative programme. Is this an indication the Government is not committed to the restructuring of the Eastern Health Board which is long overdue? What is the reason for the delay? When can we expect to see the Bill?

I am informed that, following a review of the legislative programme for this session, the legislation to which the Deputy referred will not be introduced before the summer because of other priorities.

At what stage is the proposed legislation dealing with the National Claims Agency? Have the heads of the Bill been circulated to the Cabinet? When will it be sent to the parliamentary draftsman?

The heads of the Bill will be circulated in mid-May.

Top
Share