It is proposed to take No. 7a, Local Government Bill, 1998, Financial Resolution; No. 7b, Merchant Shipping (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, 1997, Financial Resolution; No. 3, Finance (No. 2) Bill, 1998, Order for Second Stage and Second Stage; No. 1, Oil Pollution of the Sea (Civil Liability and Compensation) (Amendment) Bill, 1998 [Seanad], Second and Subsequent Stages. It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that: Nos. 7a and 7b shall be decided without debate and the Second Stage of No. 3 shall be taken today and the proceedings thereon, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 6.45 p.m. today. Private Members' business shall be No. 50, motion re Luas (resumed).
Order of Business.
There are two proposals to be put to the House. Are the proposals for dealing with Nos. 7a and 7b agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 3 agreed? Agreed.
The Government has promised legislation to reform the criminal law. Will any of this be of assistance to the Garda in dealing with the apparent resurgence of murders of elderly people in the west? We have had a brutal murder in Charlestown and another in Athlone. The Government will recollect that operation Shannon was particularly successful in the past in dealing with this. Are there any plans to initiate a similar operation to protect the elderly?
I join Deputy Bruton in the outrage at the number of serious murders in the west. The legislative measures are all in place. The Garda are investigating the two recent cases and I hope under existing legislation they will be able to apprehend those involved in these murders. I do not think there is a need for any particular measures. I have spoken to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform regarding these matters and we will provide whatever resources or powers the Garda need.
Given that the Government has made available substantial sums of money and that a great deal of planning and effort has gone into the preparations for the Tour de France to commence this year in Ireland, is the Taoiseach aware of the threat to the operation of this event and has he any legislative proposals to ensure the threats to its commencement will not materialise? Will the Government take the necessary legislative steps to ensure this event proceeds as planned?
Is legislation promised?
No legislation is promised but there is a parliamentary question on the matter for answer tomorrow.
Will the Taoiseach take an early opportunity to condemn the murders of protesters in Indonesia and the explosion of——
This is the Order of Business. This matter is not in order on the Order of Business. There are other ways in which the Deputy can raise this matter. The Deputy is out of order in raising this matter at this time.
May I ask a question about an Estimate?
The Deputy may ask only about promised legislation on the Order of Business. The Deputy is not in order in asking about an Estimate.
May I ask the Taoiseach on the Order of Business about an estimate for the Department of Foreign Affairs?
No, you cannot.
May I ask that a token Estimate be brought forward so that we can discuss what is happening in Indonesia in relation to——
The Deputy is still not in order.
I will find it difficult to stay in order but I ask for your forbearance. Will the Taoiseach immediately contact the British Presidency of the European Union and try to ensure that a monitoring mission will go to Indonesia before there is further bloodshed and slaughter on the streets?
The matter can be raised in other ways.
It warrants intervention from the Taoiseach to the British Presidency before there is further bloodshed and slaughter on the streets of Indonesia.
This is not the appropriate time to raise these matters.
(Dublin West): On the Local Government Bill, 1998, which is before the Dáil, will the Taoiseach bring forward an emergency amendment to address the irresponsible, outrageous and disgusting remarks by a councillor yesterday about the travelling community?
This matter is not appropriate to the Order of Business. The legislation is before the House.
(Dublin West): The issue is so serious——
The Deputy can raise that matter when the legislation comes before the House again.
(Dublin West): If it were anywhere else——
It is not appropriate on the Order of Business.
Has the Government made a decision about legislating for Sunday working?
As I said previously, the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is engaged in a comprehensive review of the matter and he will introduce his proposals in due course.
With regard to promised electricity regulation legislation, will the Taoiseach indicate if draft heads of a Bill have been prepared and circulated to interested parties outside the Department and this House? If so, would it be possible to have them circulated to the Opposition? I understand the proposed Bill is very large.
It is a large Bill. A consultation document will be ready within the next few days and it will be circulated.
Other parties outside the House have received draft heads of a Bill.
I have no knowledge of that. A consultation document will be presented within the next few days.
There are no draft heads of a Bill.
(Dublin West): Will the Taoiseach make time available for a debate——
It is not in order to ask for time for a debate on the Order of Business.
(Dublin West): My request relates to the debate yesterday in the European Parliament——
The Deputy must find another way to raise this matter, either through a Parliamentary Question or on the Adjournment. He cannot proceed with this on the Order of Business.
(Dublin West): Will the Taoiseach permit time——
That is not in order on the Order of Business.
(Dublin West): The Leader of the Opposition does it all the time.
The Deputy should not challenge the ruling of the Chair.
Under promised legislation, the Government proposes to introduce a Bretton Woods Agreement (Amendment) Bill, which will enable an Irish contribution to be made to the enhanced structural adjustment facility of the IMF. The strictures laid down by the IMF are currently causing some of the problems in Indonesia. Will the Taoiseach indicate when it is proposed to introduce this legislation? It will enable the House to debate some of the actions taken by the IMF on the financial turmoil in south-east Asia.
We are awaiting a provisional report from the IMF and we can proceed as soon as we have the final report. In the meantime, it is out of our hands. I have raised the matter previously but I have not been given a date for the submission of the final report. I previously informed the House that the report was expected later this year but I do not have a firm date.
When is it proposed to introduce amending legislation to the legislation that established Iarnród Éireann to deal with the position of non-salaried pensioners? This problem, which left railway workers who had worked for over 40 years on a pension of £45 per week, could be addressed in pensions legislation by way of amendment.
I am aware of this matter. It is under examination. I do not know if it will require legislation but we are seeking legal advice.