Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 1 Jul 1998

Vol. 493 No. 4

Order of Business.

The Taoiseach

It is proposed to take No. 1, the Copyright (Amendment) Bill, 1998 — amendments from the Seanad; No. 23, the Criminal Justice (No. 2) Bill, 1997, [Seanad] — Second Stage (Resumed); No. 23a., the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Bill, 1998 [Seanad] — Order for Report and Report and Final Stages; No. 22, the Protections for Persons Reporting Child Abuse Bill, 1998 — Order for Report and Report and Final Stages; No. 7a. Motion re Terms of Reference for the Flood Tribunal; and No. 3, the Defence (Amendment) Bill, 1998 — Committee and Remaining Stages.

It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that:

1. The Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. tonight and business shall be interrupted not later than 12 midnight.

2. The proceedings on No. 1, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion after 30 minutes and any amendments from the Seanad not disposed of shall be decided by one question which shall be put from the Chair.

3. The proceedings on the resumed Second Stage of No. 23, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 12.30 p.m. today.

4. The Report and Final Stages of No. 23a. shall be taken today and the proceedings thereon, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 5 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 Minister for the Environment and Local Government.

5. The Report and Final Stages of No. 22 shall be taken today and the proceedings thereon, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 6 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 Minister for Health and Children.

6. The proceedings on No. 7a., if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 10.30 p.m. tonight and the following arrangements shall apply:

(i) The opening speech of a Minister or Minister of State and the speeches of the main spokespersons for the Fine Gael Party, the Labour Party, the Democratic Left Party and the Green Party, who shall be called upon in that order, shall not exceed 20 minutes in each case.

(ii) The speech of each other Member called upon shall not exceed 20 minutes in each case.

(iii) Members may share time, and

(iv) A Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and

7. The proceedings on the Committee and Remaining Stages of No. 3, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 12 midnight 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 Defence.

Private Members' Business shall be No. 35, Broadcasting and other Media (Public Right of Access and Diversity of Ownership) Bill, 1998, Second Stage (Resumed).

Mr. J. Bruton

No. 3 is the Defence (Amendment) Bill, 1998. Perhaps it is indicative of the lack of interest that the House takes in the Defence Forces that we are scheduling a debate on this important matter just before midnight. The House might note the comments today by the Chief of Staff about the matter. I hope that in ordering business for the next session the Government will give serious priority to the interests of the Defence Forces, the discussion on the Defence White Paper and to taking the necessary decisions so that our Defence Forces are modernised in such a way that they can serve the State, as they wish to.

An Ceann Comhairle

Is the proposal for dealing with No. 3 agreed to?

Mr. J. Bruton

I will not divide the House on this matter but will the Taoiseach indicate that the Defence Forces issue, including the White Paper, will be given serious priority in the new session?

The Taoiseach

The White Paper is being prepared. I understand that an hour and a half was allowed for debate on this legislation last night, so there will be a total of three hours for the debate.

Mr. J. Bruton

At that hour of the night it is almost guaranteed there will be no coverage.

An Ceann Comhairle

Is the proposal for dealing with No. 3 agreed? Agreed.

Mr. J. Bruton

Are any further endeavours being undertaken by the Minister for Public Enterprise with regard to the TEAM issue to ensure agreement by the employees and that TEAM survives?

The Taoiseach

Yes. The Minister for Public Enterprise is continuing to have contacts to try to assist in the resolution of this matter in a balanced and fair way. The Minister is in touch with all sides to try to make sure this is successfully concluded.

Mr. Quinn

In view of the commencement today in Belfast of the Northern Ireland Assembly, has the Taoiseach been in touch with the British Prime Minister in relation to the possible disruption that could occur from the proposed Drumcree march?

An Ceann Comhairle

A number of questions on that matter have been tabled for the Taoiseach for Question Time today.

Mr. Quinn

The Taoiseach may wish to answer.

An Ceann Comhairle

It would be better if those questions were dealt with at Question Time today.

Proinsias De Rossa

I am sure we all join Deputy Quinn in wishing the Northern Ireland Assembly well today. It is an historic day for this island. The Assembly will operate in fairly difficult circumstances but everyone of goodwill will seek to make the best of it.

When are we likely to see No. 86, the Registration of Births, Marriages and Deaths Bill, 1998, from the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs? The Bill is to reform the existing legislation with regard to such registration.

Is the Taoiseach aware of a report in today's newspaper of the death of a man because of the shortage of staff in Limerick Regional Hospital?

An Ceann Comhairle

This matter should be pursued in another way as it is not appropriate to the Order of Business.

Proinsias De Rossa

It is appropriate.

The Taoiseach

The answer to Deputy Quinn's question is yes; we will discuss it later today. Deputy De Rossa raised the issue of the Assembly, which will have already started its work when we meet at Question Time.

Mr. Currie

The less the Taoiseach says the better.

Mr. Quinn

The House should convey its best wishes to everyone in the Assembly.

The Taoiseach

We send our best wishes to everyone involved in the Assembly. It is another part of history. We talked about Strand One many times in this House since 1991.

The legislation on the registration of births, marriages and deaths will reform existing legislation. However, it will not be ready until sometime in the year 2000.

Senior management in the Mid-Western Health Board is currently trying to establish the precise circumstances surrounding the incident which is alleged to have occurred in March 1997.

Mr. Hogan

As regards the Government's decision to establish a boundary commission under the Local Government (Financial Provisions) Act, 1997, when will its report be published and will legislation be required for the new boundaries?

The Taoiseach

There is no legislation required in that regard. I am told the report will be ready next week.

Mrs. Owen

Has the Taoiseach seen it?

The Taoiseach

Not a line. I did not know until now that it would be ready next week.

Mr. McDowell

The commitment by the Government to legislate for a national minimum wage of £4.40 an hour, which was repeated by the Tánaiste during Question Time yesterday, seems to run contrary to a document given to me by the Department of Finance under the Freedom of Information Act which states that there is no Government commitment to introduce a statutory minimum wage of £4.40 an hour. Perhaps the Taoiseach could clarify that.

The Taoiseach

Legislation will be brought forward on that matter either late this year or early next year.

Mr. Ring

Is the Taoiseach aware of the gas find off the north Mayo coast and the fact that it will not benefit the people of Mayo or Ireland? Will he introduce the minerals exploration Bill to redress this disgraceful situation?

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy has asked a question about legislation.

Mr. Ring

Why will this economy not benefit from it and what will the Taoiseach do about it? It is a disgrace.

The Taoiseach

I hope it is a major gas find but only exploratory work is being carried out at this stage. The Bill will not be introduced until next year.

Mr. Ring

The British are taking over north Mayo.

Mr. J. Bruton

Mayo will declare its independence.

Mr. Gilmore

I raised the same matter last week and I knew the Government would be in serious trouble when Deputy Ring found out that the people of Mayo would not get jobs on the oil rig. I tabled a parliamentary question on this matter which you, a Cheann Comhairle, ruled out of order. I ask you to reconsider that decision.

An Ceann Comhairle

We cannot discuss whether parliamentary questions are in or out of order on the Order of Business.

Mr. Gilmore

You ruled it out of order on the grounds that the Minister did not have responsibility to the House on the matter. The Minister issues exploration licences.

An Ceann Comhairle

It is not in order to debate the disqualification of a parliamentary question on the Order of Business.

Mr. Gilmore

This is the last opportunity the House will have to consider this matter.

An Ceann Comhairle

It is not the first or the last opportunity because the Order of Business is not the place to raise that matter.

Mr. Quinn

I support Deputy Gilmore.

An Ceann Comhairle

I have ruled that it is not in order to discuss the matter on the Order of Business.

Mr. Quinn

I confirm that this and other related matters of evasion by the Government on questions for which it is clearly responsible will be raised at the meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.

An Ceann Comhairle

This is not the occasion to do it.

Mr. Finucane

Perhaps it would be possible to clarify in the minerals exploration Bill what is meant by goods and services in terms of granting exploration licences.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy cannot discuss the contents of a Bill on the Order of Business.

Mr. Finucane

The situation is a disgrace.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy is not in order in pursuing the matter at this stage. I ask him to resume his seat.

Mr. Rabbitte

Will the Taoiseach inform the House before it rises of the terms of settlement with the gardaí so that we can compare it with his stated position and that of the Minister for Finance on pay policy?

The Taoiseach

The negotiations are still ongoing. I do not know if they will be concluded before the end of the week but I am sure the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform will make that information available when they are concluded.

Mr. Durkan

I want to raise the question of the systematic disallowance of parliamentary questions.

An Ceann Comhairle

I have ruled that it is not in order to raise these matters on the Order of Business. The Deputy should not use the Order of Business to deal with these matters.

Mr. Durkan

Three Departments are attempting to dictate to your office.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy should resume his seat. It is not in order to discuss it now. He can deal with it in another way.