: It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 2, 16, 8, 9, 10 and 11.
Order of Business .
: I ask the Taoiseach again what legislation the Government intend to put through before the recess.
: I was given to understand that the Chief Whip of the Government party made that information available to the Chief Whip of the Deputy's party yesterday, but I can repeat it. They are the Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) (No. 2) Bill which is now in the Seanad, the Land Bond Bill which is in Committee, the International Development Association (Special Action Account) Bill, which is on Second Stage, the Fisheries (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill in the Seanad, the Mergers Bill if amended in the Seanad, the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill, which is on Second Stage and the remaining Estimates. There are two motions as well.
: Would the Taoiseach not agree that the legislative performance of the Government in their first 12 months of office is at the least very disappointing and unsatisfactory?
: That is not in order.
: The performance of a Government is not measured by legislation alone. The more legislation appeared in the term of the last Coalition Government the less performance there was.
(Interruptions.)
: Order, please.
: The Taoiseach himself relied on Coalition legislation, which his party bitterly opposed tooth and nail, in making a public reply to Mr. Callaghan last month.
(Interruptions.)
: Order. One at a time, please.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Do I understand from the Taoiseach that it is not proposed to proceed with the Local Govern-ment (Finance Provisions) Bill, 1977, notwithstanding the fact that until this Bill is passed the relief of rates cannot be passed on to about 300,000 people?
: It can be passed on. I am advised that it is not absolutely statutorily necessary for that purpose to have the Bill enacted.
(Cavan-Monaghan): I take it that the Taoi-seach appreciates that, if the reports in the city are correct, not anything like 5 per cent of the tenants have had this relief passed on——
: We cannot have a debate on this.
: Could the Deputy specify which city he is referring to?
(Cavan-Monaghan): The first city, and I am told it is also the case in Cork.
: It is two cities the Deputy is talking about.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Is the Taoiseach's infor-mation——
: We cannot have a debate now. I have permitted the Deputy to raise the matter. That is sufficient.
(Cavan-Monaghan): There are 300,000 people affected by this. If the landlords choose to pass on the benefit, they can do so, but, if they do not, the tenants cannot compel them to do so until this Bill is enacted, and the Taoiseach knows that.
: In regard to item No. 15 on today's Order Paper, is it the Gov-ernment's intention, as seems to be the case from the list of business which the Taoiseach read out a moment ago, that the 1978 budget debate will be still unconcluded by the time the 1979 budget is presented?
: That is possible.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Is there any precedent for it?
: Yes. The Deputy would have known that if he had read the record.
: Two questions were submitted by Deputy Ryan and myself regarding a recent bugging incident in industrial concerns and both questions have been disallowed by you, Sir.
: We will not have a discussion on disallowed ques-tions.
: One was to the Minister for Labour and the other to the Minister for Justice. Could I have an explanation as to whom such questions could be addressed?
: The Deputy has already got an explanation. If he wishes to call to my office I am always prepared to discuss the matter. That has always been the standing practice.