It is proposed to take business in the following order—Nos. 1 and 6 (resumed).
Order of Business.
As a matter of extreme urgency——
Deputy FitzGerald.
I might ask the Taoiseach whether he is now or will shortly be in a position to make a statement on the position in Erin Foods. He will have seen, no doubt, in the papers a report that at one stage in very recent days there was a suggestion of an imminent arrest. If that happens the matter would be sub judice. I think he will agree that this House is entitled to hear something before that happens. I would ask him, therefore, whether he can now say when such a statement can be made and assure us that there will be a statement before the matter becomes sub judice.
Yes, I think that would be desirable. I will see what can be done.
As a matter of extreme urgency I would ask the Taoiseach and the Minister for Fisheries to take immediate steps to prevent the scandal of fish being dumped all around this coast——
The Deputy may not raise this matter in this fashion now.
Fish is being dumped, fish that would cost in Dublin——
The Deputy may not raise the matter in this fashion now. The Chair will not permit——
——and if this crazy policy of the EEC requires the dumping of fish all around the coast, it is out of place and is something that should be stopped. I would ask the Taoiseach principally to intervene because this dumping of valuable food all around our coast——
Would Deputy Murphy please resume his seat?
No, Sir, I want a reply from the Taoiseach to my question.
The whole thing stinks.
The Chair will not allow an answer to a question which is raised in a disorderly fashion. I am calling on Deputy Mitchell.
I beg your pardon, Sir, I do not think the question was raised in a disorderly manner. I am in this House as long as the Chair and know what is orderly and what is disorderly and, as spokesman for fisheries, I expect to get a reply.
Order, please. The Deputy must know that Deputies may not come into the House and raise any matter off the tops of their heads they may think of.
It is a question of urgency when valuable food is being thrown back into the sea. It is lunacy. I resent your ruling, a Cheann Comhairle. I think it is out of place. Deputies are entitled to raise a matter of urgency here at the commencement of business. My statement was——
The Deputy is not entitled to raise a matter of which there has been no notice whatever given, and a precedent of this type may not be created.
Several questions were raised——
The question may not be raised. The Deputy has his means of doing it in the proper manner. There is a proper way of doing it.
With respect, Sir, I should like the Taoiseach and the Minister for Fisheries to take note of this——
Deputy Mitchell.
——that there are thousands of tons of fish being dumped all around our coast, valuable fish, fish with which so many people could very well do.
If the Deputy was serious about a reply he would not have raised it here. It is not a reply he wants, but publicity.
Whatever the Minister may say about it, it is an absolute fact and as Minister for Fisheries he has forgotten about it.
Order, please.
The Deputy will never be forgotten as Minister for Fisheries anyway.
If the Minister was doing his job as Minister for Fisheries——
(Interruptions.)
The Minister will never be forgotten as Minister for Fisheries.
The Minister will not be forgotten for a fair length.
Is it not nice to know that I was not completely ignored by Deputy L'Estrange.
Deputy Mitchell.
Yesterday I gave notice that I wished to raise on the Order of Business this morning the question of whether or not the Minister for Labour would make a statement on the action he proposes to take to solve the unofficial dispute at Dublin docks. First of all, I want to protest that the Minister is not here, having given my notice in his presence yesterday, and I want to ask the Taoiseach now if it is proposed to make a statement.
The Chair is not aware of any notice of the type.
I raised this matter at the end of Question Time yesterday in the Chair's presence. Again I want to protest at the Minister's absence. I want to know from the Taoiseach what action the Government propose to take to solve this very serious dispute. Is it the intention of the Government to make a statement?
The Chair has no notice of any question. Deputies are well aware of this device of seeking to raise matters on the Order of Business which is not in order and which must not be encouraged or allowed. The Chair will not allow it.
Might I draw the attention of the Chair to the fact that the Minister replied to me yesterday to watch the evening papers? There was nothing in the evening papers or this morning's to show what the Minister's intention——
That may be, but the Chair has nothing whatever to do with it.
I gave notice yesterday of my intention to raise this matter this morning and I want the Taoiseach to say whether there is any intention to make a statement on the matter.
Deputy Griffin.
When can we expect a reply from the Taoiseach, in the absence of the Minister, on this very important matter?
Deputy Griffin.
This is a discourtesy, Sir.
Deputy Mitchell will not persist.
I gave notice yesterday that I intended to raise this matter on the Order of Business this morning and I am protesting that the Minister is not even here.
The Deputy is well aware that getting up in the House and stating that he intends to raise something the next day is not giving notice. The Chair has no notice of this matter. The Chair cannot and will not accept matters being raised on the Order of Business which are not relevant. If this gets out of hand we could have any Deputy getting up raising any matter he thinks of. That is not permissible. Matters raised on the Order of Business must relate to the business of the day.
Well, I have no wish to fall out with the Chair but I have asked——
The Deputy is well aware that the Chair is correct in his ruling.
May I ask the Chair for guidance? How can we give notice to the Chair that we intend to raise a matter if we cannot know——
A Deputy can ask the Chair's permission to raise it by means of Private Notice Question and the Chair will judge whether or not it falls within that category. The Deputy does not need to be told that; he knows.
Will the Chair accept a Private Notice Question today? Again I want to protest at this discourtesy by the Minister.
Deputy Griffin. The Chair is only upholding a ruling as old as the House itself.
I am now giving notice of my intention to put down a Private Notice Question which I hope will be replied to today.
The Chair cannot state what will be the position until the question is received.
Would the Minister indicate to the House if he, or his Minister of State, can give details to the House of the recent archaeological finds in County Tipperary?
This is a similar matter. This matter may not be raised.
No, Sir, this is a case of extreme national importance.
The Chair is not concerned about the importance or otherwise; it is a matter of regularity.
As a matter of urgency would the Minister make a statement to the House giving details of these archaeological finds?
The Chair would completely disallow the Minister answering questions that should not be raised. Otherwise it is encouraging——
Would the Minister make a statement later on today?
Deputy Collins.
I could not catch what the Minister said.
I obey the Chair.
I see. The Minister will make a statement in due course?
Could the Minister for Education indicate when the Bill to dissolve the National University of Ireland will be introduced and the other requirements to establish the constituent colleges as independent universities?
That question is in order; that can be regarded as business.
What is the question?
Could the Taoiseach or the Minister for Education say when the Bill to dissolve the National University of Ireland will be introduced and the setting up of the constituent colleges as independent universities as well as St. Patrick's College Maynooth?
I will communicate with the Deputy.
With the permission of the Chair I wish to raise on the adjournment the problems confronting persons in my constituency who are pensioners from Northern Ireland and who are unable to cash cheques drawn on Northern Ireland banks because of the industrial dispute?
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy in regard to the matter.
Will the Minister for Industry and Commerce inform the House when it is his intention to take the Second Stage of the National Film Studios of Ireland Limited Bill, 1979, and the Irish Film Board Bill, 1979?
This is a matter to be raised with the Whips.
The Deputy is entitled to ask the question.
Ask the Whips to discuss when it can be taken.