It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 8 (resumed), 3, 4, 5, 6, and 11 (resumed). By agreement, the proceedings on all stages of the Local Government (Financial Provisions) (No. 2) Bill, 1983, will, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion not later than 7 p.m. The proceedings on Items 3 to 6 will, if not previously concluded, be brought to conclusion not later than 10.30 p.m. Private Members' Business will be No. 14 (resumed).
Order of Business.
Does the Taoiseach acknowledge that there are five items on the Order of Business which are fillers, just put there to give us something to do? This makes a hollow mockery of all the protestations here yesterday about Dáil reform and conducting our business more effectively.
The Order of Business has been agreed and we cannot reopen a debate we had yesterday.
I do not agree with what Deputy Haughey said.
(Interruptions).
It is appropriate to raise traffic chaos as a result of what we have seen. Would the Minister for Transport tell the House what, if anything, he is doing with regard to settling the air traffic controllers' dispute?
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
With respect, it should arise on the Order of Business. We are in the middle of the tourist season. Bord Fáilte are extremely worried——
Deputy Wilson is being disorderly.
The Ceann Comhairle knows that this is the season when invalids go to Lourdes.
I must ask Deputy Wilson to resume his seat.
(Interruptions.)
Deputy Wilson is being grossly disorderly. The Chair is on its feet and will have to act. Deputy Wilson will either resume his seat or leave the House.
It is a matter of invalids at Cork Airport.
Deputy Wilson will resume his seat.
(Interruptions.)
The Chair is not going to tolerate his ruling being violated. The House is adjourned for 15 minutes.
Sitting suspended at 10.40 a.m. and resumed at 10.55 a.m.
For the benefit of the Members I propose to read Standing Order No. 40. It is quite short.
Whenever the Ceann Comhairle rises during a debate, any Member then speaking or offering to speak, shall resume his seat.
The matter being raised by Deputy Wilson before I suspended the sitting had been ruled by me as not in order on the Order of Business. When the 24th Dáil met, or shortly afterwards, I read out a statement made by one of my predecessors, intimating what was in order and what was not in order on the Order of Business.
There are ways by which Members can explore the raising of matters of importance in an orderly way. I appeal to Members to allow the business of the Dáil to proceed in an orderly way, particularly on the Order of Business, otherwise we would simply have nothing but disorder.
Might I, on the Order of Business, ask the Taoiseach, in view of the apparent breakdown in the public service pay negotiations, if he would inform the House what steps are being taken to have the negotiations resumed, or what alternative strategy is being planned by the Government in respect of pay policy?
I shall allow that question and one answer on it, but no further questions.
The situation which has arisen as a result of what happened yesterday will be considered by the Government at their next meeting. In the meantime I would hope that from all sides of this House a message would go out urging the trade unions and members of the public service to consider carefully the national interest in the matter and to reflect further before creating a situation which could be one of great difficulty to all concerned. I hope that the approach of the Government to the negotiations will have the support of all sides of the House. It is important that that should be the case.
A Cheann Comhairle, you see——
I just want to ask——
It is so difficult.
Are we going to have a debate on the matter?
I just want to say a few words concerning our support, in response to what the Taoiseach has said. We all, on all sides of the House, deeply regret that these negotiations have broken down. In so far as we are concerned on this side of the House, we fully support the attempts which are being made to secure a satisfactory settlement.
When the Taoiseach asks us to support the Government in this matter, we gladly do so; but we also must say that we support the public service unions in their legitimate claim. However, we on this side of the House would like to say to both sides, to the Government being the protectors of the public interest in this matter and to the public service unions who are the protectors of their members' interests in the matter, that we urge both sides to resume negotiations at the earliest possible moment and come to a mutually satisfactory settlement.
Would the Taoiseach, as a matter of urgency, urge ministerial intervention in the position arising in the Dublin Gas Company where——
I am ruling that out of order.
I will observe the Chair's ruling before I sit down.
I am disallowing that.
Would the Taoiseach consider whether ministerial intervention would be justifiable in the circumstances?
That is not in order.
Could I have a response? Does the Taoiseach know about it?
Is it intended to introduce regulations under section 26 of the Private Rented Dwellings Act before the summer recess? Is it intended to introduce the rents tribunal which was promised before the summer recess?
Legislation is being prepared by the Government in relation to the rent tribunal. There is a certain time constraint but we hope to have legislation before the House before the recess.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the recent decision by Dublin Gas to award a contract for polyethylene pipes to a Canadian firm at a time of redundancies in the Irish pipe industry and in particular in Wavin Pipes, Balbriggan.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
Would the Chair accept a Private Notice Question about the air traffic controllers dispute?
I will consider it carefully when I get it.
I wish to ask the Minister for Fisheries if he proposes to make a statement in relation to the talks which took place in Luxembourg during the week.
This was raised yesterday.
The Chair ruled it in order yesterday.
I did not rule it in order but I did not rule it out of order.
The Chair allowed the Taoiseach to answer.
It shows how inadvisable it is to give an inch.
It shows how kind the Chair is.
The first round of talks have taken place but we did not get very far. The second round is scheduled for the week after next. There is not much to report in relation to what took place in the last few days.
It would not be appropriate to report now.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the question of fire regulations in business and entertainment premises in Dublin city.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the cutback made by the Government of £100,000 in the Estimates prepared by Fianna Fáil to provide grants for the national sporting organisations.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to ask the Minister for the Environment when he intends to introduce legislation to give statutory strength to the building regulations?
It will be before the House before the next session of the Dáil.
In view of the unsatisfactory progress in relation to the rent tribunal and the regulations under section 26, I wish to raise the matter on the Adjournment.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.