Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 18 Jun 1998

Vol. 492 No. 6

Order of Business.

The Taoiseach

It is proposed to take No. 19c motion re. membership of Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine; No. 19b — motion re. UN Authorised Stabilisation Force (SFOR); No. 4b, Industrial Development (Enterprise Ireland) Bill, 1998 [Seanad], Second Stage.

It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders that: (1) Nos. 19c and 19b shall be decided without debate; and (2) the proceedings on the Second Stage of No. 4b, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 4.45 p.m. today and any division demanded thereon shall be postponed until immediately after the Order of Business on Tuesday, 23 June 1998.

An Ceann Comhairle

There are two proposals to be put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with Nos. 19c and 19b agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 4b agreed to? Agreed.

Mr. J. Bruton

On the Order of Business, I want to ask a question about the administrative procedures Bill and also about the Social Welfare Bill. Do the same administrative procedures apply to the Tánaiste keeping the Taoiseach informed about her plans to change the Social Welfare Act as apply to his keeping her informed about donations to Fianna Fáil Ministers?

The Taoiseach

The administrative procedures Bill is due next year.

Mr. Quinn

Yesterday on the Order of Business there was an exchange between the Taoiseach and leaders of other parties on the possibility of introducing legislation to give effect to the prisoners section of the British-Irish Agreement. I wonder, following the consultations that have taken place, whether the Government has decided to introduce legislation and whether the Bill I sent to the Taoiseach yesterday has assisted him in formulating that legislation.

The Taoiseach

As I indicated yesterday, I want to honour the agreement in full. I thank Deputy Quinn for the draft Bill he sent me. The idea of introducing a brief Bill is in line with what has been stated here over a number of weeks. I have asked the Attorney General and the Department of Justice to look at that. If it can be done as a short Bill that would certainly by my intention.

Proinsias De Rossa

I congratulate the Taoiseach on reining in his Tánaiste overnight. It must have been very sweet, given the lectures he has received from her in recent times about how he should do his business. Can he confirm the U-turn made by his Tánaiste this morning and that there is no proposal to change social welfare legislation to coerce unemployed people to take up training or specific jobs and that the action plan which was submitted to Brussels will continue to be implemented on the basis of co-operation and encouragement?

The Taoiseach

No change is envisaged further to the changes Deputy De Rossa put to Cabinet a few years ago.

Proinsias De Rossa

Which are working very well.

The Taoiseach

It was the Deputy who started the debate in the Department which led to the Minister Deputy Dermot Ahern bringing forward the regulations and the guidelines on changing these matters. That is precisely the same area about which the Tánaiste spoke yesterday.

Mr. John Bruton

Is it the same area or the same policy?

Proinsias De Rossa

The Taoiseach should answer the question I put to him. Does he propose to change the social welfare legislation to coerce unemployed people to take up training or jobs as the Tánaiste implied yesterday?

Mr. Dempsey

The only people using that word is the Deputy and Áine Lawlor.

Proinsias De Rossa

U-turn.

The Taoiseach

I did not hear anybody talk about coercion.

Proinsias De Rossa

The Tánaiste did yesterday.

The Taoiseach

The regulations and guidelines passed six weeks ago in the social affairs committee govern this area. The regulations were put forward in the Government's employment action plan. The issues of conditionality mentioned were raised by Deputy De Rossa. They are Government policy and that is precisely what the Tánaiste said yesterday.

Proinsias De Rossa

A back-down.

An Ceann Comhairle

We cannot pursue that matter any further.

Mr. Stagg

No more dirty dozens.

Mr. Higgins

(Mayo): As both Houses of the Oireachtas passed the Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) (Amendment) Bill enabling the House to amend the terms of reference of the Flood tribunal, will the Taoiseach indicate when we can expect to see the terms of reference given that only two weeks remain in the session?

The Taoiseach

I hope it will be cleared by the Cabinet on Tuesday and brought before the Dáil quickly thereafter.

Mr. M. Higgins

Will the Taoiseach clarify the position on the broadcasting Bill? He told us it would be available in the autumn but yesterday in the committee the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands suggested the Bill would be submitted to Government within two weeks. Will the Bill be published and circulated in the autumn or during the summer?

The Taoiseach

I referred to this Bill a number of times recently and the Minister will deal with this issue during Question Time today. The intention is that the Bill will be debated here in the autumn. I have already stated it will cover all the major matters, including digitalisation, but perhaps the Deputy might ask any further questions of the Minister this afternoon.

Mr. M. Higgins

I look forward to that.

Mr. Gormley

Have there been any further developments on the matter raised by Deputy Allen about replies to Dáil questions? Will the Taoiseach ensure that replies are received promptly——

An Ceann Comhairle

That is not a matter for the Order of Business.

Mr. Gormley

It was raised on the Order of Business last week. We need to get prompt replies from the Departments, even in digital form or by E-mail. This is an important point because it concerns the way we do business in this House. Will the Taoiseach ensure that is done?

Mr. Boylan

As a Cavan Deputy, I offer a warm welcome to the Taoiseach and his parliamentary party when they come for what I understand will be a weekend of meditation in the Slieve Russell Hotel. I hope he will be absolved of whatever little problems beset him and his party and that he will return to the House on Tuesday in a full state of grace. I suggest that over the weekend, between prayer, he will give some consideration to the case for Objective I status for the Border regions.

Mr. Sheehan

That was promised to west Cork a month ago.

Mr. Howlin

I hope the Taoiseach's remit will not be confined to the Border areas but will look to the south east also. On legislation promised, will the Taoiseach indicate if any progress has been made on the abolition of ground rents Bill?

The Taoiseach

I answered that question last week. The majority of ground rents were done away with over the past 20 years by a series of Bills brought forward by Government. The remaining areas pose constitutional difficulties which have not yet been overcome.

Mr. Howlin

Is it still the intention of the Government to bring forward the Bill?

The Taoiseach

That is still the intention.

Mr. Howlin

When?

The Taoiseach

When we overcome the constitutional difficulties.

Proinsias De Rossa

The Taoiseach has given the same reply he gave to me two weeks ago. When was the last time the Attorney General addressed the issue of overcoming the constitutional problems with regard to ground rents?

The Taoiseach

It is an ongoing issue.