The Order of Business for the day is Items Nos. 1, 2 and 3. Could I suggest, with the indulgence of the House, that on Item No. 1 we go past Report Stage and directly on to the next Stage and that discussion can take place without any inhibitions on the next Stage?
Order of Business.
On the Order of Business, could the Leader of the House give an indication of the finishing time today? Will it be normal finishing time for a Thursday? In fairness to all of us, including the staff, it would be nice to know now. I realise the Leader of the House has to complete the work but is it his intention to sit next week and, if so, on what day?
On the Order of Business, first, I would like to ask the Leader of the House if he can tell us, yes or no, whether he intends to honour his commitment to debate Item No. 5 before the end of this session? Could we have clarification on that?
Hear, hear.
Secondly, in the Dáil on 9 June, the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, 22 March 1985 was passed, as was the Montreal Protocol——
Senator Manning, the Ozone Layer is not relevant.
I am sorry, the question is relevant because this House will be rising next week. I am asking a question of the Leader of the House for information. The Dáil passed the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, 16 September 1987. It is my understanding that this country is not yet a party to the Vienna Convention of the Montreal Protocol for the Protection of the Ozone Layer. These have both been passed by the Dáil without division. Is it necessary for this House to accept these two protocols before this country becomes a party to that Convention? I do not want an immediate reply, but is it necessary to have it laid before the House before it rises for the recess? I am sorry, a Chathaoirligh, it was relevant to the Order of Business. I have no objection if, in terms of procedure, it is possible to go ahead with the Bankruptcy Bill, as indicated by the Leader of the House.
I would like to voice my disquiet at something that occurred yesterday and my hope that there will not be a repetition. Last night, we were debating Committee Stage of the Tobacco (Health Promotion and Protection) Bill and the Leader of the House found it necessary to use what I would describe as strong arm tactics when he introduced a guillotine motion——
Hear, hear.
Senator Bulbulia, in fairness, that was debated at the time.
It was a precipitate action which was not merited or warranted by the course of the debate, as was subsequently proved. My fear is that there would be a repetition of it.
That cannot be reopened now, Senator.
I would also like to express the hope that we will have item No. 5 — the debate on Northern Ireland — taken. I would like to place on the record of the House, as I drew to the House's attention yesterday, the fact that unfortunately an item in my name which had been on the Order Paper for a year has dropped off and I gave the House an undertaking that I would be putting it back on. I have so done, but it is not yet on the Order Paper. I would like to draw the attention of the Leader of the House to the fact that because this item was not taken, a serious situation has been allowed to continue — a decision of the Supreme Court handed down yesterday refers — which will cost the taxpayers £5 million. I hope that the Leader of the House can give some indication, in the light of the urgency of this matter, that planning legislation will be brought forward as is indicated——
Senator Norris, you can do all that talking when it is on the Order Paper.
I would like to ask the Leader of the House, first, when we intend to go into summer recess; secondly, if the outrageous decision of the Government last night to guillotine that Bill was motivated by a wish to go into summer recess, thirdly, whether the Seanad is now working under new rules or whether it is working under old rules; and whether the guillotine is going to be used when, and if, the Government wish it——
Senator Ross, you cannot reopen that debate.
I am asking about a future situation on the Order of Business.
I am not interested in the future; I am only interested in from now until tonight.
All right, I want to ask the Leader of the House about item No. 1. Will he please guarantee to the House on item No. 1 that he will not guillotine it?
Senators
No.
In fairness, that is a matter for the House.
It is a matter for the Leader of the House because he actually raised this procedure last night. He said he will not propose it. On Item No. 2 Committee Stage of the Forestry Bill — will the Leader of the House please give me a guarantee that he will not propose a guillotine on this today?
Senators
No.
And the same on Item No. 3 because if we are——
Senator Ross, in fairness, what happened last night happened. I do not think it is in the interest of the House or of any of us to start this morning by asking if item No. 1 will be guillotined and if Item No. 2 will be guillotined. That is a matter for the House and it is a little unfair.
I want an assurance.
Never mind your assurance. You know well in your heart that the Government or any party in this House, do not intend to guillotine every Bill before us.
Tell us that.
Do not be looking for publicity. Resume your seat.
I do not think that you should make remarks like that to me. I am very tired of Members of this House saying, when you ask serious questions which embarrass the Government, that you are sensationalising things and looking for publicity. If it embarrasses the Government and it looks for publicity, so be it. I welcome publicity if it embarrasses the Government if the Government are going to behave in that way. Thirdly, I want to ask a question on Item No. 4, Anglo-Irish relations.
You can ask a question; you cannot discuss it.
That is what I would like to ask the Leader of the House and it would be much quicker if I could go through it. We have had several guarantees on this and I would like to know, as would other Senators, whether the Leader of the House will give time for a debate on this before the summer recess.
The Order of Business will be Items Nos. 1, 2 and 3. I totally reject the accusation made by Senator Bulbulia about strong arm tactics. The House decided last night that the debate would conclude at 11 o'clock. It was put to the House by vote and the House decided. I am not indicating when the House will go into recess. I am talking about today's Order of Business.
When do we conclude?
At 6 o'clock.
I asked the Leader of the House an important question about international protocol and he has not even bothered to refer to it in his reply.
I will ask the Government what the situation is in connection with the ozone layer and if it is a matter that can be brought before the House without discussion before the end of this session.
Order of Business agreed to.
Before the Minister comes in I would like to welcome Mr. Harley Rivers Dickinson, a Member of the Australian Parliament, to the House.