It is proposed to take Nos. 1,3,8,9 and 10, Private Members' Business No.44.
Order of Business (Resumed).
Does the Taoiseach propose to make a statement on the reopening of the Clondalkin Paper Mills in view of the fact that two men are on hunger strike because of the Taoiseach's refusal to honour a commitment to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions?
Deputy, please——
These men are on hunger strike and——
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
The issue lies squarely with the Taoiseach at the present time.
The Deputy is being disorderly. I am calling Deputy Woods.
Deputy Lenihan did not go to the Clondalkin Paper Mills over the last two years——
(Interruptions.)
Would the Taoiseach confirm that the Minister for Justice plans to meet the prison officers today? If this meeting is taking place, I will not ask the questions I wanted to ask now.
That does not arise on the Order of Business. I am calling Deputy Wilson.
This is a matter of national security.
It does not arise on the Order of Business.
It is very urgent and is a matter of national security.
Will the Taoiseach instruct the Minister for Justice to intervene in the CIE enginering operatives' dispute which has been going on for many weeks? Does he realise there are 400 operatives involved?
I regret that does not arise on the Order of Business.
In view of the serious situation which exists in the Clondalkin Paper Mills——
I am sorry Deputy, but that does not arise on the Order of Business.
With your premission, I wish to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the delay in the formal sanction of Athlone as the orthopaedic centre for the Midland Health Board.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the question of the Balty-daniel national school, Doneraile, County Cork.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
Mr. Leonard
With your permission, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the drainage of the River Fane.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the Government's decision not to go ahead with the decentralisation of the Department of Agriculture to Cavan town.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
Ba mhaith lion ceist a chur ar an Taoiseach ar Riar na hOibre. An mbeidh sé sásta am a thabhairt dúinn an conspóid atá ar siúl i láthair na huaire faoi Údarás na Gaeltachta a phlé anseo sa Dáil chomh luath agus is feidir?
Ní éiríonn an cheist sin ar Riar na hOibre. Deputy H. Byrne.
Go mba leath scéal, ach tá mé ag iarraidh ar an Taoiseach am a thabhairt dúinn an conspóid atá ar siúl in Údarás na Gaeltachta a phlé. Baineann sé sin le Clár na Dála.
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
(Interruptions.)
An bhfuil an Taoiseach sásta——
Deputy H. Byrne.
A Cheann Comhairle, led' thoil, an bhfuil an Taoiseach sásta am——
Bhí rún ar an Clár chéanna ar an gceist sin.
Perhaps the Taoiseach did not understand Deputy Gallagher's request——
(Interruptions.)
Would the Taoiseach agree to give Government time——
(Interruptions.)
The Taoiseach sat there very silent as if this was not an urgent matter.
(Interruptions.)
Order, please.
Would the Taoiseach agree to give Government time to debate the situation which is developing in Údarás na Gaeltachta arising from the attitude of the Minister for the Gaeltacht?
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
Will the Taoiseach respond to our request?
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
Why is the Taoiseach so silent on this matter?
I am calling Deputy H. Byrne.
Does the Taoiseach agree that he should feel guilty about the campaign to destroy——
Deputy Molloy, please stop. That does not arise on the Order of Business.
This is a very serious matter, especially for those who live in constituencies with large Gaeltacht areas. Is the Taoiseach unconcerned——
This is not in order.
His silence condemns him.
Will the Taoiseach allow Government time to debate the milk super-levy in the belief that such a debate will help strengthen his hand because of his admitted failure to convince the Greek and British Prime Ministers——
Will the Deputy please resume his seat when the Chair is standing. It is too bad that the Chair has to stand to be allowed speak. This is a reflection on the House. I have to rule this formula out of order whereby Deputies ask if the Government will do this or that, and then proceed to make five minute speeches.
What should we do?
I have ruled it out of order.
I am asking if the Taoiseach will allow Government time to debate this issue since he has already failed to convince the Greek and British Prime Ministers——
That is not in order.
Can we have Government time?
I am calling Item No. 1.
Please allow the Taoiseach to answer if he will give Government time——
I am calling Deputy Tunney.
May I have an answer? Will the Taoiseach allow time——
I have ruled that out of order. I am calling Deputy Tunney.
With your permission, Sir, I would like to raise on the Adjournment the question of the reported intention of the Minister for Transport to allow CIE buses to intrude on the amenities of the Phoenix Park.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
In line with the Chair's request about giving notice of questions, I submitted a Private Notice Question today dealing with the armed robbery at the Galway Post Office last Friday, where a considerable amount of money was taken——
The Chair communicated with the Deputy informing him that his question did not qualify for Private Notice. If it is helpful to the Deputy, I will tell him that I understand the question will appear on Thursday's Order Paper.
The fact is that this is a very serious situation. Last Friday there was an armed robbery in Galway and two members of the Garda Síochána were shot.
Deputy Leyden, please. The Chair is charged with enforcing Standing Orders. If Members of the House, or any party of the House, want to change the Standing Orders, they should take the initiative and do so. If Standing Orders are changed. I assure Deputies that as long as I am here I will do my best to enforce and carry out Standing Orders. It is no credit to the House when Deputies get up knowing they are out of order but persisting in speaking.
Ex-poacher turned gamekeeper.
In the circumstances may I raise on the Adjournment——
I will communicate with the Deputy.
You do not know what I was about to say.
I assumed, perhaps incorrectly, that the Deputy wants to raise the subject matter of his Private Notice Question on the Adjournment. If that is not so, I apologise and I ask him to tell me what he wants.
(Interruptions.)
Do I take it that your ruling on my question is that it is not in order for a Deputy on the Order of Business to ask the Taoiseach to give Government time to a particular issue?
If the Deputy wants to challenge my ruling he has a way of doing that. I am saying that the formula has grown up here whereby Deputies are asking, one after the other, if the Government will give time for this, that and the other. Government time and public time are being wasted in an unreasonable way.
Is the Ceann Comhairle ruling that it is not in order for me, an ordinary Deputy, to ask for Government time?
Yes.
On the Adjournment, I should like to ask the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs to outline the circumstances surrounding the major armed robbery at Galway Post Office on 4 November and if he will take immediate steps to review security arrangements at all post offices in view of the circumstances of that robbery. I should like to ask also the Minister for Justice to outline the circumstances surrounding the shooting of two members of the Garda Síochána at Roosky, County Roscommon, on Saturday.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
Will the Minister for Transport make a statement regarding the accusation by the Chairman of the Cork Harbour Commissioners that he gave incorrect information about the B & I sailings during the summer——
I have explained at some length that the Deputy is not in order.
The Minister gave incorrect information and we are entitled to an explanation. Will the Chair give me permission to raise the matter on the Adjournment?
I will communicate with the Deputy.