It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 1, 5, 6, 9 (Resumed), 10 (Resumed) and 11. Private Members' Business from 7 p.m. to 8.30 p.m., No. 24 (Resumed). Deputy Fitzpatrick raised with me the question of the report of the Commission on the constituencies. I understand that the work of the Commission has now been completed and the report will be available in a matter of days.
Order of Business.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Has the Taoiseach got a copy of that report?
No.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Is that true? Is that for sure?
(Interruptions.)
The Taoiseach sent word through the whips that the Finance Bill will not be taken until, at the earliest, 6 May. Does the Taoiseach not consider this unsatisfactory, for a major piece of legislation the Second Stage of which must be finished by 15 May?
I will ask the Minister for Finance to explain the situation to the House.
Deputies will appreciate that the interval between the date of the budget and the circulation of the Bill is determined by a number of factors especially by the number of changes that have to be made. This year the interval will be 68 days. Deputies opposite will appreciate that this is not unduly long having regard to the intervals that occurred in 1974 and 1977. If Deputies take into account the significant amendments to the Finance Bill because of the new income tax scheme and the provision for the 10 per cent rate for manufacturing companies this year they will understand that this is far from being unduly long and is reasonable in the circumstances. The House will have a week before the Second Stage is taken and precedents set in previous years show that the time available for discussion on Second Stage is reasonable.
I assume the Minister is answering on behalf of the Taoiseach. Does the Minister not consider that in this major legislation there are people involved besides Members of the House and that people from various organisations outside of the House will want to see the Bill and make representations to the Minister and Deputies before the Bill is taken?
Deputies will appreciate that most of these representations would arise on Committee Stage. The limitations relate rather to the circulation of the Bill and the conclusion of the Second Stage. I am sure Deputies opposite have been getting representations as I have, but these matters can be dealt with satisfactorily on what is after all the major element of the Finance Bill, the discussions on Committee Stage.
The Minister will appreciate that representations cannot be finalised until the small print of the Bill is seen by the associations involved.
In relation to the constituency report, will copies be made available to the Opposition Parties at the same time as to Government Deputies?
Naturally the report has to be considered by the Government first but there will be no delay in making it available to the House and to the general public.
I take it that it is the Taoiseach's intention, as he indicated here last week, to submit the Bill to the House unaltered?
I have already indicated that that matter can be dealt with when we see the report.
I understood the Taoiseach to say last week in the House that he would honour the commitment made by his predecessor in respect of submitting the Bill unaltered.
I have already indicated that that matter can be dealt with when we see the report.
I understood the Taoiseach to say last week in the House that he would honour the commitment made by his predecessor in respect of submitting the Bill unaltered.
I do not intend to have an ongoing discussion on this matter every day the House is sitting. The report will be published shortly and then we can all make our decisions about it. As far as the Government are concerned we have not the slightest wish to take any advantage of this matter because we will not need it.
(Interruptions.)
I am glad that the Taoiseach realises that, irrespective of what he does with that Bill, he goes. Has the Taoiseach decided on a time this week to make a statement on the situation in the Lebanon?
Not yet.
Will it be either today or tomorrow?
It might be better to leave it until next week. However, I will keep in touch with the leaders of both parties.
On the basis of what the Taoiseach said yesterday, that he is anxious to keep the House fully informed of developments, would the Taoiseach consider it more appropriate to make even an interim statement this week and if desirable a further statement next week?
I do not want to give the impression of being unduly anxious about this matter, in that we need to discuss it here too frequently. That, of course, is subject to keeping the House fully informed. Practically all the elements in the situation are being freely discussed in the press and there is not much extra that we could add at this stage to what is already fairly widely known to the general public. I will keep the situation under review.
Surely the Taoiseach will appreciate that there may be certain aspects of developments which have taken place in the Lebanon that Deputies other than Government Deputies may wish to point out but would be reluctant to do so outside the House.
Yes, that is a consideration.