It is proposed to take No. 9, motion regarding the Freedom of Information Act, 1997; No. 30, Bretton Woods Agreements (Amendment) Bill, 1998 – Report Stage (resumed) and Fifth Stage; and No. 31, Social Welfare Bill, 1999 – Order for Report and Report and Final 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 10 p.m.; (2) No. 9 shall be decided without debate; (3) the Report and Final Stages of No. 31 shall be taken today and the proceedings thereon, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 10 p.m. tonight 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 Social, Community and Family Affairs; and (4) Private Members' Business shall be No. 78, motion regarding European Commission, and shall be brought to a conclusion at 8.30 p.m. tonight.
Order of Business.
There are four proposals to be put to the House. Is the proposal for the late sitting agreed?
Before we agree to today's business, may I raise a relevant matter?
We are on a proposal about the late sitting. Is that agreed?
I want to be sure before we agree the business that we get some commitment to business relating to this week. It is important that I raise it before we agree the business because we might have to disagree with the business if we do not get the commitment.
When the proposals are agreed, the Deputy will have plenty of opportunity.
I want to raise an issue before you put the question.
The Deputy may do so briefly.
Yesterday the Taoiseach agreed that the Minister for Public Enterprise, Deputy O'Rourke, would come into the House for a 20 minute question and answer session about the resignation from the Telecom Éireann board. Because of the suspension of the House yesterday, the Postal and Telecommunications Services (Amendment) Bill, 1998, was not taken and it will not be taken until next week because of a problem with the Minister. Will the Tánaiste ensure that the matter, for which we probably need more time now due to the second resignation, will be taken tomorrow rather than next week? All I want is a commitment on that and then we will agree the business.
On the same issue, I think all of us in this House know the reason the Minister for Public Enterprise is not with us today and we accept fully that she cannot be present. The arrangement which was made in respect of the time provided yesterday would have been appropriate had it been possible to deal with the matter then but it was not. I suggest, in support of the points made by the Deputy of the Fine Gael Party, that this matter needs to be addressed sometime this week rather than next week, that it should be taken tomorrow subject to agreement by the Whips.
I thank the Opposition for its understanding in relation to the Minister's absence today. We appreciate that. The Minister is prepared to come here tomorrow to deal with the issue and perhaps the Whips could discuss how that will be done. The Bill will be taken next Tuesday.
Is the proposal for the late sitting agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 9 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 31 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with Private Members' Business agreed? Agreed.
On Private Members' Business, may I take it that the normal speaking time will be reduced by 50 per cent and the sequence will prevail as normal?
Yes.
There must still be 15 minutes to reply.
Yes, but in the allocation of the other times, subject to the agreement of the Whips, will there be a pro rata reduction in time given that we do not have three hours to debate the matter?
The Whips may make an order of the House later to that effect.
That is fine.
Will the Tánaiste tell the House what were the nature of the discussions she and the Taoiseach had with the Prime Minister of Russia? What advice did the Government give to the Prime Minister in relation to NATO strikes? I must ask this now because I do not know whether you will allow a Private Notice Question, a Cheann Comhairle, and if the time goes now, we will not be able to get information on this matter. I understand the Taoiseach also had discussions on this matter with President Clinton when he was in Washington last week. It would be useful for the House to know what exactly the Government said to the Prime Minister of Russia in relation to potential NATO strikes which might take place tonight.
I will take questions on the same matter.
A Cheann Comhairle, it would be useful if you could indicate that we will discuss this matter today. It is a serious matter.
We are discussing the Order of Business and the Deputy should be brief.
Is it the view of the Government that this is an illegal action and it does not have a UN mandate? Will the Government be putting forward that point of view, particularly at the Council of Ministers?
There will be only one speaker from each group.
I sought to raise this matter yesterday and the Taoiseach, for his own reasons, sought to ignore it. A serious situation is evolving where NATO is planning to carry out bombing operations tonight. There is no UN mandate for this action. Ireland is committed to the pacific settlement of international disputes. It is important that we make our voice heard both at European and UN levels. Will the Tánaiste indicate the actions which are being taken by the Government today to make its voice heard on this matter?
(Dublin West): Did the Taoiseach convey, to President Clinton and EU or NATO leaders, that it would be highly irresponsible to attempt to solve complicated ethnic questions – I fully support the right of self-determination of the Kosovars – by the crude method of bombing which can—
We are on the Order of Business.
(Dublin West):—inflict injury on innocent civilians, including those—
The Deputy is now making a statement.
(Dublin West): Yes. I am about to finish.
The Deputy should resume his seat. We are on the Order of Business.
(Dublin West): I want to ask that question because the bombing can cause terrible damage to those who oppose Mr. Milosevic inside Serbia—
The Deputy is proceeding with a statement. I call Deputy Gay Mitchell.
I hope the Private Notice Question which has been submitted by Fine Gael will be allowed.
We cannot anticipate the Chair's decision.
We need to discuss the proposed air strikes, but I am also very concerned about the safety of Irish personnel in the region and of Irish football fans travelling to the region. On the safety of Irish people in the area and the air strikes, I hope the Minister will come to the House briefed on these issues, and that this will be part of the discussion on the Private Notice Question.
In our discussions yesterday with the Russian Prime Minister the Taoiseach reiterated the Government position which is that we wish to see success through negotiation and diplomacy and that we regret very much that the Holbrook mission has not been successful. We are clearly entering a very dangerous situation and, while not usurping the role of Ceann Comhairle, I am sure that later in the day you may allow questions on this matter. The aggression by Serbia against the Kosovar Albanian population cannot be allowed to continue. It is regrettable that this has not been stopped through negotiation and diplomacy. This has always been and remains the Government's position. The Taoiseach will reiterate it at the Heads of Government meeting. He has also had discussions, as Deputy Owen said, with President Clinton and others.
What contact has there been between the Government and the FAI and UEFA concerning the football matches on Friday and Saturday? Is the Government advising the Irish teams – the under-21 team and the senior international team – that it is safe to travel?
The Government is advising Irish people that it is not safe to travel at the moment. I do not know what contacts there have been with the FAI. I will check that and revert to the Deputy.
Will the Government consider making representations to UEFA to support what the FAI is saying? This day is of particular importance.
I will consider the Deputy's suggestion and will talk to the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation.
Will the Tánaiste inform the House if the Children (Juvenile Justice) Bill will consist of amendments to the existing Bill or will the Government introduce new legislation? I ask this given that yesterday the Eastern Health Board could not find a suitable place for a 16 year old boy. Surely this indicates the urgent need for this legislation?
The objective is to have this matter dealt with by the summer of this year. It has not been decided if it will consist of a new Bill or amendments. Given the scale of the change it is more likely to be a new Bill but this has not been agreed yet by the Government.
Surely there is an urgent need to deal with this matter? Places are not available for young people. The Bill has been before the House for two years.
The Bill to allow Ireland to accede to the UN Convention on the protection of personnel serving abroad is promised and a Private Members' Bill on this question in my name is also on the Order Paper. In view of the pending air strikes in the Balkans and the very difficult situation in the Middle East where our troops could be put in danger, will the Government give priority to bringing forward its legislation or accept the Fine Gael Bill so that this matter can be dealt with sooner rather than later?
The heads of that Bill were cleared by the Government on 9 March. It is a priority and I hope it will be published very shortly.
Yesterday we had a very unsatisfactory response from the Taoiseach regarding what is formally entitled the Children (Juvenile Justice) Bill although it is referred to in the Chief Whip's document simply as the Children Bill, 1996. The reportage of what the Taoiseach said led to some confusion as to whether there were two Bills. We know there is one.
Is the Tánaiste aware that a senior adviser to the Government indicated that the reason for the delay in getting a clear response was that no Government Minister will accept clear responsibility for this legislation?
That is outrageous.
On the question of promised legislation – or in this case, abandoned or orphaned legislation – will the Tánaiste state which Department and Minister will introduce an amended or completely new Bill at Second Stage and when will that happen?
The Minister responsible for this area is the Minister of State, Deputy Fahey who works with the Departments of Health and Children and Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The Bill will come from the Department of Justice and the Minister of State, Deputy Fahey will take the legislation.
The confusion has arisen because some people referred to the juvenile justice Bill and others to the children Bill. There is one Bill. It will be substantially different from the Bill published by the last Government. As the Taoiseach said, there will be between 240 and 250 amendments. That being the case, it is likely the Government will agree to a new Bill rather than amend a Bill on that scale. However, the decision has not been formalised.
When will the Bill be introduced?
The objective is that it will be introduced before the summer.
Prior to the recess for St. Patrick's Day I raised the case of William Geary, a 100 year old man in New York, regarding clearing his good name, as only the Cabinet can make this decision.
That matter was discussed on the Adjournment. It is not appropriate to raise it on the Order of Business. The Deputy should avail of some other opportunity to raise it.
Time is of the essence and Mr. Geary has been waiting a long time.
I seek clarification from the Tánaiste. Is the Tánaiste saying the Government will support NATO air strikes which do not have a UN mandate?
There is no question of that.
When the Amsterdam Treaty comes into force in May is it a possibility that under the Petersberg Tasks, Irish troops will find themselves in Kosovo in order to avert a humanitarian crisis?
It is not in order to raise this matter on the Order of Business.
Will the Tánaiste answer my question?
The question is not in order.
Yesterday the Taoiseach said the broadcasting Bill would be delayed because the staff involved in drafting were working on the Northern Ireland cross-Border institutions. The broadcasting legislation crucially affects the value of Cablelink. Can I take it therefore, that there will not be a decision on broad band technology in advance of the broadcasting legislation which deals with digitalisation? Will the Tánaiste give a date for the publication of the broadcasting Bill? If the Bill is to be delayed for a considerable period will there be separate legislation on digitalisation? If neither Bill is introduced, can we take it the sale of Cablelink will not be proceeded with until legislation is in place?
I understand the Bill will be published shortly after Easter, in the middle of April.