It is proposed to take Nos. 1, 2, 3, 9, 5, 10 and 11. Private Members' Business will be No. 16.
Order of Business.
Because of the extraordinary meeting arranged in a most unusual way between the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Mr. Prior, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, would the Taoiseach let us know whether he proposes to make a statement in the House today on that meeting?
That does not arise on the Order of Business, I am sorry.
Would the Taoiseach care to comment on the meeting or tell us anything about it because there is a great responsibility on him to let us know why this emergency meeting took place, what was discussed at that meeting and what assurances, if any, were sought or given?
When a matter like this is raised it is not a question of whether the Taoiseach or a Minister wishes to comment or not. It is either in order or not and if the Chair were to run the business of the House on those lines it would be impossible to say what was or was not in order.
It is a very dramatic development.
If the Taoiseach refuses to comment on the meeting, I wish to give you notice that I propose to raise it by way of Private Notice Question.
If the Deputy submits a Private Notice Question it will be considered.
The Taoiseach should not have anything to hide and should not have to wait to be asked before making a statement.
May I ask the Taoiseach if he or the Minister for Industry and Energy would make a statement outlining what took place at yesterday's talks at Brussels concerning the pricing structure of Irish Steel Holdings or the future of that company?
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
Would you advise me then how I can get information for my constituents on what took place?
I refer the Deputy to Standing Orders.
Does that mean that I am also entitled to submit a Private Notice Question?
The Deputy is entitled to submit a Private Notice Question and I will be advised whether it is in order for Private Notice. I will consider the advice I get and rule on the question.
You will consider my request?
I will consider it.
Has the Taoiseach any proposals to bring a Bill before the House in this or the next session regarding satellite television? This is a very important development and it is appropriate that a proper Bill should be debated in this House before we embark on this very important step. It is a very costly exercise ——
I have allowed the Deputy some latitude but that does not arise on the Order of Business.
On a point of order, from my experience in this House it has always been in order to ask the Taoiseach about his proposals for the legislative programme in this House. I remember you asking such questions ——
I did not establish a precedent until I got into the Chair.
You are not answering my question. I believe it is in order to ask the Taoiseach if he has a proposal for a particular Bill to bring before this House.
It is in order to ask about proposals for legislation on the Order Paper. It is also in order to ask about legislation that has been promised in the House by the Government but not beyond that.
Will the Minister promise to bring forward a Bill?
The Deputy surely would not believe his promise.
That is an impromptu question.
What you have just said about legislation which has been promised in the House reminds me of the question I put to the Taoiseach if he is satisfied that the Minister concerned should have made a statement about this very important matter outside the House at a time when the House was sitting?
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
It does. If the Minister makes announcements about very important proposals outside the House, according to your ruling Deputy Leyden or any other Deputy has no right to raise it here.
If legislation is promised in the House, it is quite in order to ask when will it be ready, but I am following a ruling made by my predecessor.
If important statements are made outside the House which would involve legislation, perhaps you would consider providing some means to us to raise that matter?
It can be raised by a parliamentary question.
Because of the way questions are these days it might be months before it was answered. In this case the Minister made a very important statement outside the House about a matter which will involve legislation. Your ruling is somewhat anomalous. If the statement had been made inside the House Deputy Leyden could have asked the Minister about it, but because it was made outside the House he may not ask about it.
It was promised in the House.
It is a cover-up situation but we will get to the bottom of it yet. It is a question of giving the franchise to friends.
Dublin Central got to the bottom of the people opposite.
It is difficult for me to be heard because of the disorder on the Government side. I wish to raise on the Adjournment the Government's decision to cancel the decentralisation of the Department of Agriculture to Cavan town.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the report that the Construction Industry Federation have instructed their members to cease sponsoring first-year apprenticeships in AnCO training centres.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
(Limerick West): In the light of the statement made yesterday morning by the Minister for Agriculture, can the Taoiseach say if it is the position of the Government that the farmers may not expect any further aid from Europe and that they will not be supported further by the Exchequer?
If the Deputy considers for a moment, he will realise that he is asking a question of which there is no notice on the Order Paper and of which there is no Private Notice. It is simply an off-the-cuff question.
(Limerick West): I am endeavouring to draw attention to a matter that is of vital concern to the economy. Surely this is the forum for raising such issues.
The Deputy must act in accordance with procedure. I would refer him to Standing Orders.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the matter of the discontinuance after 6 p.m. of CIE services to west Tallaght, a situation that has arisen as a result of actions of serious vandalism against CIE staff.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
Can the Taoiseach say if he has received a request to meet a deputation from the Tuam sugar factory and, if so, if he will agree to meet the people concerned?
Obviously, Deputies are not listening to the Chair.
May we have a reply from the Taoiseach?
If we were to allow this type of impromptu question, this situation could continue until 1 o'clock.
I should like to know what is the situation in regard to the future of the factory.
I should like to raise on the Adjournment the question of the uncontrolled sale or hire to minors of video nasties.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
I should like to raise on the Adjournment the circumstances in which servants of the Department of Justice denied to an Irish citizen the right to converse in the Irish language.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.