It is proposed to take Nos. 6, 7, 8 and 9. Private Members' Business will be No. 12.
Order of Business.
Can the Taoiseach confirm newspaper reports to the effect that he will be meeting with the ICTU today in connection with the re-opening of Clondalkin Paper Mills?
I will allow a yes or no answer on that.
Yes.
Is the Tánaiste speaking for the Government in saying that the paper mills will be kept open?
Again, I will allow a yes or no answer but I will not allow a discussion on the matter. I am calling Deputy Noonan.
Who is speaking for the Government?
Will Deputy Fitzgerald please resume his seat?
(Limerick West): Is the Taoiseach prepared to make Government time available for discussion of item No. 42 on the Order Paper? This item concerns the implications for Irish agriculture of the proposed EEC milk super-levy.
I will allow a yes or a no answer on that.
The Chair is becoming very cryptic.
If the Deputy were in my place, he would learn a trick or two also.
The answer is no but if I were allowed to add to the "no", I would point out that we have had a debate already on the issue and that this is a matter for Private Members' time.
That is an indication of the interest the Taoiseach has in agriculture.
(Limerick West): Can the Taoiseach say——
I am calling Deputy De Rossa.
(Limerick West): I am endeavouring to ask a different question.
The Deputy may ask the question when he is called.
The Minister for the Environment indicated on 19 October that he would be introducing an amendment to the Housing Act to enable local authorities to give houses to people outside their area. He indicated that the legislation would be introduced within a matter of weeks. Can he say now when that legislation will be brought in?
I hope to have the legislation before the House very shortly.
May I ask——
I am calling Deputy Gerard Brady.
The Deputies opposite are interrupting themselves.
Some of the Minister's constituents are in trouble, too. My question is on the issue raised by Deputy De Rossa.
I will look after my constituents.
Last week I endeavoured to raise a matter on the Adjournment but your office——
The Deputy may not question the matter in this way.
But I have no other way of raising the issue.
If the Deputy wishes to come to my office to discuss the matter he will be very welcome.
On a point of order, surely I am entitled to ask a question.
That is not a point of order.
My question related to the siting of Cruise missiles in the North of Ireland but I was informed by your office that the matter could not be discussed other than by way of substantive motion. Today I see the question on the Order Paper as Question No. 1 to the Taoiseach. I thought it would be of help to the Taoiseach before going to see the British Prime Minister to have had the matter discussed. Last week you allowed a motion on the culling of seals. One might ask which is the more important: the culling of seals or the culling of people?
Deputy Brady is not entitled to question the Chair's ruling.
I am asking only for an explanation.
I am asking the Taoiseach to reconsider his decision not to have a full debate on the super-levy which is a matter of such national importance.
The Deputy is not in order.
I am seeking to have the discussion in the interest of the farmers and of the workers. Are we to allow a situation in which there will be 400,000 people unemployed?
If the Opposition were serious about seeking a second debate on this matter they could have put it down for Private Members' Time but they have not bothered to do so.
This is disgraceful.
I am asking Deputy Byrne to resume his seat.
Why not debate the issue?
The Taoiseach is not treating this matter seriously enough.
I am ordering the Deputy to resume his seat.
I find it difficult to do so because of my concern for the livelihoods of the many people involved in so far as this issue is concerned. I am fighting on behalf of the farmers and the workers.
I am calling on the Taoiseach to name Deputy Byrne.
The Government are selling the farmers down the drain. It is another example of their mickey-mousing.