It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 9. By agreement the debate on all of the Votes in item No. 9 will be concluded by 5 p.m. today, and also by agreement the House will not meet next week until Wednesday at 10.30 a.m.
Order of Business.
(Limerick East): On the Order of Business, may I ask the Taoiseach in view of the major changes in the Finance Bill which were not presented in the budget introduced by the Minister for Finance, does the Taoiseach intend to introduce a supplementary budget to collect the approximately £60 million which is not being collected?
That is a matter for discussion on the Finance Bill.
(Limerick East): It is a reasonable question. I am asking the Taoiseach does he intend to introduce a supplementary budget.
That matter arises on the Finance Bill. The Deputy can make that point on the Finance Bill.
(Limerick East): I am not making a point on the Finance Bill. I am asking the Taoiseach does he intend to introduce a supplementary budget.
That does not arise now. Deputy Cluskey.
(Limerick East): On a point of order, am I not in order in asking the Taoiseach about impending legislation?
No, unless it is promised. If it were promised the Deputy would have a right to ask about it.
(Interruptions.)
Deputies should keep quiet. I may be doing them a favour. On the Order of Business, could I ask the Taoiseach if and when he intends to appoint additional Ministers of State? If he does intend to appoint them, can he explain the inordinate delay in doing so?
I have already answered questions on that matter at Question Time.
I asked the Taoiseach if and when he intends to appoint additional Ministers of State and if he can explain the inordinate delay in doing so. Can we assume that the reason the Taoiseach has not done so is that he attaches no value to these positions?
That was already dealt with in a Dáil question.
The Taoiseach does not attach any value to them? Is that what the Chair is telling us?
No. Deputy Tom Fitzpatrick.
The questions I asked were not answered.
Deputy Cluskey was replied to and told it arose on a Parliamentary Question. That is the reply. I am sorry about that.
On a point of order, Sir, to be clear on what you are telling me, can I take it that the questions I addressed to the Taoiseach appeared as questions on the Order Paper?
Yes.
Could I ask you during the course of the day to furnish me with the dates on which they appeared?
The Deputy can find that out by checking the Official Report.
My contention is that they did not appear. Your contention is that they did.
I understood there were questions on the Order Paper about those Ministers of State.
That is the point. I do not understand that.
Do you not?
I am asking the Chair if it is his contention that the precise questions I asked the Taoiseach appeared on the Order Paper and that is why he is ruling them out of order. I am asking him if he will give me the dates on which they appeared on the Order Paper.
I am not responsible for the replies of Ministers or of the Taoiseach. The Taoiseach gave you a reply. He said there was a Parliamentary Question about that and he answered it.
He did not answer it.
Two Parliamentary Questions.
On a point of order, I accept fully, sir, that you may not be responsible for the Taoiseach's replies. You are responsible for your own rulings. You gave your ruling that the questions I addressed to the Taoiseach appeared on the Order Paper and therefore you are not allowing my supplementary.
I allowed you to ask the question.
No.
Yes, I did. Then I told you that the Taoiseach answered you that he replied to Parliamentary Questions on the subject. I told you that and I said I understood that was it. I am not responsible for continuing the argument about it. I certainly could not allow that. You asked the question. You are given the reply and that is the matter ended.
You are saying these questions appeared on the Order Paper?
I said I understood from the Taoiseach's reply that they were on the Order Paper and I asked would you care to look up the debate yourself.
No, sir, they did not.
Well, I can take it from you that they did not. The Taoiseach said he understood they did. I will not enter into an argument with Deputy Cluskey.
Could the Taoiseach explain the inordinate delay in making these appointments if he intends to make them?
That is more appropriate to a Parliamentary Question.
No, it is not.
Yes it is.
No.
I decide that it is, Deputy. If you decide that you would like to take over the Chair you had better make arrangements accordingly. I am telling you now, whether you like it or not, that that is the end of it. I am calling Deputy Tom Fitzpatrick on the Order of Business.
(Cavan-Monaghan): On the Order of Business, it has been agreed that item No. 9 will be concluded by 5 o'clock this evening in order to facilitate the Government. I take it there will be no question of Government speakers trying to hog the time and that a fair debate will be afforded to the Opposition.
I can assure the Deputy that we have no such intention.
(Cavan-Monaghan): I am glad to hear that, because otherwise the offer will not be repeated.
We never do that.
I should like to raise on the Adjournment the question regarding St. Martha's Domestic College in Navan which you did not allow me to raise yesterday.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
Would it be possible for the Chair to communicate with me before 4.55 p.m.?
I am sorry, I thought you had been told. There are a number on the Order of Business. You certainly will be told early this morning.
This matter is so important to the area that it needs urgent attention. That is why I want to raise it.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
(Dún Laoghaire): May I ask if the Minister for the Environment will provide any additional funds for local authorities particularly in view of the shortfall that is now arising with results such as in my own constituency with the closure of the swimming baths in Blackrock and Dún Laoghaire. To have an amenity closed down without having funds made available is something which I am sure the Taoiseach and his Ministers would not like to see happening particularly in view of the crime rate that is now apparent in my constituency.
Would the Deputy like to raise the matter on the Adjournment?
(Dún Laoghaire): I would.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
Is the Minister for Health prepared to provide extra finance for the Western Health Board where transport facilities have now been withdrawn due to lack of funds?
That is another matter which is appropriate to the Adjournment. Is the Deputy applying for permission to raise it on the Adjournment?
Yes.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
Would the Minister for the Environment also consider making funds available to Donegal County Council who have had to lay off caretakers of public toilets because they have no money to pay them? They have no money to pay cleaners. That is how bad it is. Would the Taoiseach like to comment?
Is this a matter the Deputy would like to raise on the Adjournment?
Yes, I shall raise it on the Adjournment.
The Deputy can then reserve his speech for the Adjournment.
What I am really asking——
This is not an instant question time. I am sorry. If the Deputy wishes to raise this matter on the Adjournment, he should let me know.
Could I further ask the Taoiseach if in view of his agreement with Deputy Gregory he would care to comment on any agreement that he has made with Deputy Blaney——
That is not appropriate to the Order of Business.
——to repay Deputy Blaney for his vote?
The Deputy is not allowed to make statements like that.
There is no money for housing. There are no houses and bad roads.
Deputy George Birmingham please.
(Interruptions.)
Could the Taoiseach give us some indication of his legislative programme for the remainder of the session and could he indicate if he expects the Dáil to resume after the summer recess?
The programme for the remainder of this session is under active consideration by the Whips at this moment and, if Deputy Birmingham is not in favour with his Chief Whip, if he contacts our Chief Whip, we shall be glad to help him out.
(Interruptions.)
Since obviously we will be coming back in October could I ask the Taoiseach when the Government proposes to introduce motions in the House establishing the Joint EEC Committee and the State-sponsored bodies committee?
I must apologise to Deputies about that. I did intend to have it this week, but I can assure him that we will get it done first thing next week.