It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 1, 8, 9 (resumed), 10, 11 and 5. Business will be interrupted at 3.30 p.m. to take item No. 5 and the order will be resumed thereafter. By agreement there will be no interruption for Private Members' Business this evening.
Order of Business.
When is it the Government's intention to provide the usual debate on the White Paper which appeared at the end of last year?
I will ask the Whips to make arrangements for that.
May I take it that there is an intention to have this White Paper debated in the usual way?
I am not clear which White Paper the Deputy has in mind. Which particular White Paper is the Deputy talking about?
The only White Paper over which the Taoiseach presided, the one which came out at the end of last year.
There are several White Papers in connection with the budget.
Very well, the most recent White Paper.
The one on expenditure?
The Taoiseach should not play the smarty-boots so early.
(Interruptions.)
The White Paper on the economy that came out at the end of the year. Do the Government propose to have that debated here in the usual way or not?
I think the White Paper to which Deputy Kelly is referring is the one which on the first page states that it is not necessarily the views of the management. I think that is the one.
That is being facetious.
May I be told whether or not it is the Government's intention to have this White Paper debated?
Again, I had no notice that this matter was going to be raised but if the Opposition wish to discuss whether or not that White Paper should be debated in the Dáil, apart from the budget discussion, that is something we can consider. But I suggest that there are——
Surely it does not require a Whip's discussion to decide to debate a White Paper, as every economy White Paper has been debated since such things were in existence in this House, or are the Government running away from that too?
I would suggest to the leaders of the Opposition parties that there are channels through which these things can be raised and discussed and agreement reached. We will endeavour to facilitate the Opposition parties to the greatest extent we can.
I was simply asking for a commitment in principle that the debate will take place. They have run up the Jolly Roger and are now sailing in a different direction.
(Interruptions.)
May I ask the Taoiseach for a debate on foreign policy, in view of the deplorable international situation, and in view of the fact that we have not had any reply either from the Taoiseach or through Government representatives?
Again, I indicated that the Government would not be averse to having such a debate if it is desired.
Could the Taoiseach indicate now?
The Deputy must know that we cannot encourage this practice of raising matters without notice.
The Taoiseach said last week that this matter would be referred to the Whips. It has been referred to the Whips and we have had no reply.
Does Deputy E. Collins wish to raise some matter?
Is Deputy Cluskey saying that this matter was raised with the Whips and has not yet been dealt with?
Yes.
Well, I will see to it that it is dealt with.
On the Order of Business, I was given quite clearly to understand from the Minister for Education quite some time ago that the White Paper on Education was to have been produced before the end of 1979. That was as a result of approximately three questions by me at different times last year. There was no sign of the White Paper on Education last year and I am now asking the Taoiseach when we can expect this White Paper to be published.
Draft 2 of the White Paper on Education has——
(Interruptions.)
Order, please.
If Deputy Collins wants to hear the answer he might listen.
He would prefer to see the White Paper.
Of course, rudeness is characteristic of him. Draft 2 of the White Paper on Education has been completed and will be considered by the Government shortly. Draft No. 1 was so large, so full of ideas, so innovative, that it took us some time to get draft No. 2 ready.
They will have to be cut out because there is no money
(Interruptions.)
——and Deputy Collins made no contribution whatever.
Not being fully aware of the mechanics of Government but being fully aware of the substantial cuts that have had to be made in education might I ask the Minister will it be draft 3 or draft 4, or is draft 2 going to be published?
We cannot debate something that has not yet been seen. Item No. 1.
I asked for a date——
Will the Deputy please resume his seat? Deputy FitzGerald.
Am I going to have an answer to my question? They are waffling. They are not doing anything.
(Interruptions.)
The Deputy is being grossly disorderly.
That is typical.
A crowd of chancers.
On the Order of Business yesterday I asked the Taoiseach if he proposed to make a statement on the alleged deficiencies in the accounts of Erin Foods. He made the point that he had not notice of it, although we had a Private Notice Question down which was disallowed. Would he now indicate his intentions in this matter?
Yes. I recognise the right of the House to be informed on something of this nature in one of our major State companies. I want to inform the House that there is a situation there, in the Sugar Company, Comhlucht Siúicré Éireann, which is being investigated both by the company themselves and by the Garda authorities. However, I want to suggest to the House that any sort of debate or discussion on it at this stage might not be desirable in view of the fact that Garda inquiries are under way. Perhaps the House will accept my suggestion that it be left at that at present and as soon as information is available it will be made available to the House.
Is it possible to give any indication of the suspected magnitude of the deficiency?
No. I am not in a position to answer that question.
I agree with the Taoiseach that it would be undesirable to have a discussion in the House on this subject when it is a matter of investigation by the Garda.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Have the constituency commission reported yet to the Government and, if they have, when is it proposed to bring it before the Dáil?
The commission have not yet reported.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Has the Taoiseach any idea when they might be expected to report?
I understand that they hope to report during March.
Has the Taoiseach any idea when?
(Interruptions.)
(Cavan-Monaghan): Will the Government accept the report of the commission as presented?
That is not in order and is not for discussion now. We cannot have questions as to what may happen on a report that has not yet been presented. The Deputy knows perfectly well that that is not in order and the Chair will not allow it.
There was an undertaking by the last Taoiseach.
I wish to raise, uncontentiously, a point of order. The House, a moment ago in dealing with inquiries by the Leader of the Opposition and Deputy Cluskey about the Sugar Company's affairs seemed to agree that merely because police inquiries were going on it would not be appropriate to debate them. It is very important for someone to say that we are not accepting any such principle to inhibit debate in the future that merely because police investigations are going on——
That is not discussion; it is argument.
Sub judice is bad enough without sub-policemen as well.
Order.