It is proposed to take Nos. 2, 3 and 1. By agreement it is proposed that, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, statements in relation to Údarás na Gaeltachta may be made subject to (1) no Member shall make more than one statement, (2) the statements of the opening speakers for the Government and Opposition parties shall not exceed 30 minutes, (3) the statement of each subsequent speaker shall not exceed 20 minutes, (4) the concluding speaker, who shall be a Government speaker, will be called at 7.45 p.m. By agreement, the Dáil shall sit later than 5.30 p.m. today to take these statements and business shall be interrupted at 8 p.m.
Order of Business.
(Dún Laoghaire): I wish to thank the Opposition for their co-operation in this matter. In the course of negotiations yesterday it was agreed that, because of the debate, the Minister would be allowed to reply at 7.45 p.m. The wording may not make that too clear, and we are asking the agreement of the House that that is understood.
In view of the somewhat haphazard manner in which the developments were disclosed to the House and to the public, will the Taoiseach arrange for a full statement to be made to the House on what exactly the future arrangements for Clondalkin Paper Mills now are?
A statement was issued last night but, if the Deputy wishes to take the matter further, perhaps he could raise the matter through the Whips.
The Taoiseach will understand that the Minister of State made a statement in the House last night and, subsequently, the Minister for Industry and Energy made another statement on television. It would be appropriate and proper for the Minister for Industry and Energy to make a full statement to the House because there is a fair amount of confusion as to what exactly has been decided.
I cannot accept that there is confusion. The statement issued by the Minister for Industry and Energy is extremely clear. If the Deputy wishes to take the matter up in the House perhaps he will do so with the Whips. I have heard nothing from him up to this point.
May I ask the Taoiseach, pending the decision regarding the statement to the House, if he would arrange today to have a copy of the agreement placed in the Library because of the confusion and concern created. Am I right in assuming——
I am ruling Deputy Fitzgerald out of order.
——that only 10 per cent of the work force will be employed at the end of two years?
The Leader of the Opposition has intimated that he would like a further statement to clarify the position. It has been suggested by the Taoiseach that this should be taken up through the Whips and I am not going to allow any further question or statement on the matter.
(Interruptions.)
There is great concern in the city about this matter.
Your leader has taken this up in an orderly way with the Taoiseach and the Deputy should leave it at that.
Will the Minister for Industry and Energy make a copy of the agreement available to us or is it only a bluff?
Deputy Fitzgerald is out of order.
Yesterday morning I asked your permission, Sir, to make a personal statement in the House and subsequently I gave you a copy of this statement that I wished to make to clear my name in this House.
I have considered the Deputy's application and, without adjudicating on its merits, I have decided to disallow the application on the grounds that this matter will be debated this evening and that the Deputy, presumably, will have an opportunity of intervening in the debate.
If I am not called this evening to make a contribution, will you reconsider my application?
First of all, we will have to wait and see whether the Deputy gets an opportunity of intervening but, if he does not get an opportunity, the Chair will then reconsider the matter.
Could I endeavour to raise yet again on the Adjournment the Windscale project in relation to the recent report on Downe's Syndrome children?
Lest the Deputy has the impression that he is being refused permission to raise something on the Adjournment which is in order for the Adjournment, I should explain that the Deputy's subject has been ruled not in order for the Adjournment debate and more in order for a substantive motion.
On what grounds?
I am not going to give reasons.
(Interruptions.)
I am sorry. I understand it has been phrased differently and I will communicate with the Deputy.
I should like to know from the Chair if it is customary or in order for information to be given in relation to a parliamentary question tabled by a Member of the Opposition to Members on the Government side before it is communicated to the questioner or is it in order for the reply to such a question to be given to Government Deputies at the same time as it is given to the person who tabled the question, thereby allowing the information to be used by Members from the Government side?
It is a question of who puts the boot in first.
The Chair is not familiar with the topic the Deputy is raising but if he has any particular question in mind perhaps he would come to my office where I could discuss it with him.
I asked the question in a general way, but the one I had in mind related to Blarney Boys' National School in respect of which the information was given to someone else before I got the answer.
(Interruptions.)
Order, please.
I wish to ask the Minister for Justice if he will make a statement in the House regarding the Garda Task Force and if he will let us know what is the up-to-date position regarding the harsh treatment being meted out to members of that force in the matter of transfers.
That is not in order. The Deputy may table a question about the matter if he wishes.
Can the Minister for Health and Social Welfare confirm that a double week's payment will be made to social welfare recipients at Christmas?
(Interruptions.)
If so, does this not indicate the change in policy of the Government from what seemed to be the situation on 28 September last?
This is not in order.
Another stroke, another deal, another Avoca Mines.
Deputies are behaving in a most unbecoming manner. Deputy Ahern must resume his seat.
Has there been an improvement in the national finances in the past two months?
Order, please.
Is the Minister of State at the Department of Industry and Energy aware of a factory in Ballymote, County Sligo, where men are being laid off——
That is not in order. I am asking the Deputy to resume his seat. We cannot have this type of impromptu question.
I wish to raise the matter on the Adjournment.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
On a point of order, is the Minister for Foreign Affairs prepared to make available extra copies of the terms of the Convention establishing and the operating agreement relating to the European Telecommunications Satellite Organisation, since, so far as I am aware, there are only four copies available and there are quite a number of Members who are anxious to have copies. I appreciate that there are cutbacks but when the Convention has been debated, surely we are entitled to copies of it.
The Deputy has asked a question. He does not have to make a speech.
I shall see what can be done in that regard but I might add that a telephone call from the Deputy would have resulted in the information being made available to him much faster.
I have raised the matter in the General Office and in the Library and now I am raising it with the Minister.