The Order of Business today shall be as follows: No. 7 – motion re: Agreement on Participation in the International Force East Timor (INTERFET). It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the proceedings on No. 7, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 7 p.m. and the following arrangements shall apply: (i) the opening speech of a Minister or Minister of State and the main spokespersons for the Fine Gael Party and the Labour Party shall not exceed 20 minutes in each case; (ii) the speech of each other Member called upon shall not exceed ten 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 five minutes. Private Members' Business shall be No. 73 – motion re: nurses.
Order of Business.
There is one proposal to put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 7 agreed? Agreed.
Will the Taoiseach make a statement in the House on certain suggestions which have been made that material he put before the House here in September 1997 regarding the Fianna Fáil leader's allowance may not have been fully accurate?
That is not appropriate to the Order of Business.
Will the Taoiseach correct the record?
This is a matter before the tribunal and is a matter for its concern. I call Deputy Quinn.
The Taoiseach misled the House in September 1997. He certainly did so in the light of subsequent information he gave to me on 25 May this year. Is it the Taoiseach's intention to come into the House today or some day this week to correct the record, as is the time honoured convention?
I have given evidence to the Moriarty tribunal and remain prepared to provide any further assistance required. My reply in the Dáil on 4 September 1997 related to the use of the leader's account solely during our time in Opposition from 1982 to 1987 and represented my best assessment of the situation, having talked to our administrator at that time, Ms Eileen Foy. These are matters now being reviewed by the tribunal. It will be for it to determine how both public and other funds paid into the account were used and whether payments corresponding to the amount of public funds paid in were used broadly for the purposes intended by the Oireachtas. It is for the tribunal, through its ongoing work of hearings with all relevant witnesses to establish a clear picture of the many transactions. I have no intention in the House of cutting across or duplicating the work of the tribunal and I am very surprised that experienced parliamentarians opposite should even contemplate doing so. As I have said, it was my best assessment of the situation. We must all wait until the tribunal reaches conclusions and then we can debate the matter in light of the information available.
Do I take it that if the—
We cannot have a debate on this. The matter should not be before the House.
There is no other way for me to raise this matter.
The Chair has ruled on a number of occasions and as recently as 11 May that issues before a tribunal are not a matter for the Order of Business.
Notwithstanding what work or conclusions the tribunal, or any tribunal, may engage upon, there has been a time honoured convention in the House when any Member misleads the Dáil, and we can all do so, that, at the earliest possible opportunity, the Deputy in question—
The Taoiseach has dealt with the matter.
With due respect, Sir, he has not, and if you would allow me finish my point—
Deputy Quinn, this is not the place to raise the matter. If a Member wants to make a statement to the House, there is a long standing procedure where the Member gives notice to the House that he or she wishes to make such a statement. It is not a matter for the Order of Business.
I respect that, but I put it to you that the Taoiseach seems to confuse one thing with another.
We cannot have a debate on it. I call Deputy John Bruton on another matter.
The House is independent—
Deputy Quinn, we cannot have a debate on the matter.
Will the Taoiseach make a statement?
I made my statement.
I will not allow the Taoiseach to be disorderly on the Order of Business in a manner similar to Deputy Quinn. This issue is not a matter for the Order of Business. I call Deputy Bruton on another matter.
I expect the House will return to this issue. On a separate matter, regarding No. 9 on today's Order Paper, the proposal from the Government to join Partnership for Peace without having the referendum which Fianna Fáil said it wished to have before such a decision would be taken, given that a referendum is not proposed, does the Taoiseach agree that there should not be any limits on the debate in the House, including limits on the length of speeches that Deputies wish to make, and that any Deputy who wishes to state his or her views at length will be allowed do so without being artificially constrained by rules of the House?
On the same issue, the Whips at their meeting last week with the Government Whip agreed an open-ended format for this debate with unlimited time for speakers so that everyone who wished to do so could speak, and a draft order issued accordingly. We then received a new order last night with a complete change in it to which we certainly have not agreed.
As I understand it, there are no limits on the debate. I am not so sure of the merits of returning to the days of long-winded speeches and having to listen to boring contributions. No time limits have been set at this stage so we will wait to see what happens.
Has the Government set a date for the Údarás na Gaeltachta elections? In late June, I raised on the Adjournment with the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science the question of staffing schedules in Gaeltacht primary schools, and I was informed on that occasion—
The first part of the Deputy's question is in order.
This is equally relevant. I do not want to accuse the Minister of State of misleading the House but I—
The second part of the Deputy's question is out of order.
You have not heard the second part yet. The Minister of State informed me on the Adjournment debate that the Minister would make an announcement shortly with regard to the staffing schedule as it applies in Gaeltacht primary schools. That was four months ago and, by any stretch of the imagination, that is not short—
That is not in order. The first part of the question will be answered by the Taoiseach.
Do I take it—
I wish to ask a question on the business of the House.
The Deputy should allow the Taoiseach—
Given that Partnership for Peace is an exceptional measure and that it was to be referred to the people and that that is not now happening, will the Taoiseach agree to remove the time limit not just on the debate but also on speeches so that every Member will have an opportunity to have their say and so that the public will see their representatives speaking freely on this issue?
I call the Taoiseach in response to Deputy Creed.
As I understand it, the debate begins this week and continues next week. Having been involved in many discussions and debates about this, there is not that much interest in it throughout the country.
There certainly is. Why will the Taoiseach not hold a referendum on the issue?
The Deputy protested outside my house for three days in a row and he only managed to get three people.
Has the Taoiseach been circulated with the same revised notice the rest of the House has? He seems to be misleading the House again. There is a motion to close the debate at 2.15 p.m. on Thursday.
It is a matter for the Whips to decide.
Deputy Quinn is endeavouring to create some confusion. There is not a proposal to close the debate this week. It will continue next week.
The Taoiseach has stated that there is not a proposal to close the debate this week and I ask all Deputies to be orderly. Deputy Creed asked the Taoiseach a question. He was on his feet when business was interrupted and I ask the Taoiseach to deal with Deputy Creed's question.
A revised order was circulated last night.
The Taoiseach has stated the position.
Can I just establish then—
The Taoiseach on Deputy Creed's question.
Do I take it the Government is withdrawing this order? Is that correct?
The debate on the motion re Partnership for Peace and the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council is listed as the fourth item ordered for tomorrow, Wednesday, 13 October, and is ordered to resume on Thursday. There is no question of it concluding. It will continue next week.
The piece of paper circulated to my office and to our Whip states immediately after that the motion re Partnership for Peace and the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council is to conclude by 2.15 p.m.
That is not on the schedule.
When did the Taoiseach change his mind?
Since when?
It is because Fine Gael objected.
The Taoiseach has clarified the matter. I would like the Taoiseach to answer Deputy Creed's question.
The Taoiseach has done another U-turn on the U-turn.
Deputy Creed asked a question.
I do not think the date for the election has yet been picked. I will ask the Minister to convey it to the Deputy.
What is the date for the publication of the White Paper on Defence?
It will be published before Christmas. I do not have the exact date.
Will the Taoiseach allow time in the House for a debate on the International Energy Agency Report which recommends the closure of the four remaining peat-fired power stations in the midlands?
That is not appropriate to the Order of Business.
It is.
Deputies would be allowed to ask any question on any matter if I were to allow that on the Order of Business.
On a separate matter, relating to promised legislation, under the Good Friday Agreement, the second anniversary of which is less than six months away, this House and this Government undertook to enact three Bills, one on the establishment of a human rights commission, one on equal status, and one amending the Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956. When does the Government intend to have this legislation enacted?
The legislation on the human rights commission is ordered for Second Stage. The equal status legislation is already before the House at Committee Stage. A Bill to amend the Nationality and Citizenship Act will be published this session.
Is it the intention of the Government that time will be made available both in committee in this House and in the other House to enact them, and will the Taoiseach be able to say when he meets the new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland that we will honour our commitments in the Good Friday Agreement?
This is going outside the Order of Business.
I am asking about critically important promises.
We do not want to take up the session making long-winded speeches on other matters.
(Dublin West): On legislation, there is one long-winded speech about which the Taoiseach is right to be embarrassed where he promised a referendum on Partnership for Peace.
The Deputy should ask a question.
(Dublin West): In an astonishing report publicised widely today it is suggested that the population of Dublin will be two million in a little more than ten years. In the light of that, will the Office for Economic and Social Development Bill be brought forward to an early date to allow a full discussion on this development which has very serious ramifications for all?
It is hoped that that Bill will be published next month or in December.
In connection with the Telecommunications Regulation Bill which appears at section (c) of the list of promised legislation, advertisements have recently appeared on behalf of the regulator seeking views on a paper she has published in relation to licences to be given under DTT television. In view of the total confusion that seems to prevail in relation to regulation, is the Telecommunications Regulation Bill being brought forward, and will the proposals in the announced Government decision for a separate regulator for broadcasting be introduced co-terminous with that legislation so as to avoid further confusion and legal action?
The preparatory work on the legislation is under way. It is expected that the heads will be submitted to Government in January next. The Bill will be before the House later in the year. Is the Deputy just asking me to note his other point? If he is asking me to answer it, he should put down a parliamentary question.
Do I take it from recent statements that the Telecommunications Regulation Bill, the heads of which are now being prepared for early next year, will contain a fundamental review of the manner in which the Minister transferred powers—
The Deputy knows it is not appropriate to ask about the content of legislation.
—perhaps imprecisely to the regulator?
No. The Deputy's party, the Deputy's Government, did.
Now that the Government has again changed the schedule for Thursday, and in view of the widespread concern across the country, is it the Taoiseach's intention to provide time to allow the Minister for Health and Children to come into this House and to outline what the emergency arrangements are for health care across the country? There is widespread concern.
The Deputy is pre-empting the Private Members' business tonight.
No. I am not. I am asking if we can have a public notice statement. I am not looking for a debate. I am looking for information. The Chair seems to misunderstand my question. Nobody on this side of the House—
It is the subject of Private Members' business tonight.
Nobody on this side of the House knows what the arrangements are.
The Deputy will have an opportunity to raise these points on Private Members' business tonight.
When will we know what the arrangements are?
The issue was discussed during Question Time. I call Deputy John Gormley. This is not appropriate to the Order of Business.
It is very relevant.
The matter was discussed at length at Question Time this afternoon. It is the subject of a one and a half hour debate tonight and again tomorrow night. I now call on Deputy John Gormley.
The Taoiseach says there is no public interest in Partnership for Peace.
Is the Deputy's question relevant to the Order of Business?
Yes. Is that the reason the Government is not providing legislation for a referendum on the issue?
That is not appropriate on the Order of Business. Deputy Liz McManus.
I can come up with as many people as you want.
Would the Taoiseach agree that people with mental illness have never really received the supports they need? Would he welcome the fact that all the organisations supporting the mentally ill have come together today in response to the proposal to publish the Mental Health Bill? When precisely will the Bill be published? Will he give a guarantee here that those organisations who have so much to contribute to ensuring that this Bill meets the needs of the mentally ill—
The first part of the question is in order.
Will the Taoiseach ensure that time will be given for those opinions, which are most welcome to be taken on board?
The Taoiseach on the first part of the question.
The Mental Health Bill is to be published this session. I cannot put a precise date on it.
Will the Taoiseach indicate a willingness to ensure that the opinions of people who are most involved are taken on board?
That is not appropriate to the Order of Business. I am calling Deputy Seán Power.
A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, that is all I am asking. It will hardly cause strain in the system. It will not cause any difficulty.
The Deputy knows it is not appropriate to the Order of Business.
Does the Taoiseach think it appropriate that the House should acknowledge the tremendous work Dr. Mo Mowlam did in Northern Ireland and wish her well, and also the new man who has taken over the hot seat in Northern Ireland?
While I am on my feet let me ask the Minister for Finance – Deputy Joe Higgins forgot to mention it although he had intended to do so – when we can expect to see a cheaper bottle of wine.
There is a man with a sense of priority.
Red wine. It would have to be red.
That is not appropriate on the Order of Business.
The Immigration Trafficking Bill was signalled as one of priority to be published before the summer recess. Where exactly does that stand now?
It has been ordered for Second Stage.
When will it be taken?
As soon as it can be scheduled.
Ba mhaith liom ceist a chur ar an Taoiseach faoin Mental Health Bill. D'éist mé go géar leis an Taoiseach nuair a dúirt sé go mbeadh sé foilsithe am éigin roimh an samhradh. Ach gheall sé cheana go mbeadh sé foilsithe roimh samhradh 1999. An féidir leis scríobh chugam agus chuig an Teachta McManus, b'fhéidir, agus a rá cathain go díreach a mbeidh sé ar fáil?
When will that happen? On the last occasion the Taoiseach answered this question the amendments had not been written.
It is ready to come back to the House.