Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 15 Dec 1983

Vol. 346 No. 11

Order of Business.

The Taoiseach

It is proposed to take Nos. 4, 5, 6, 11, 2, all Stages, and 7.

By agreement the Dáil shall sit later than 5.30 p.m. today and the hour at which business is to be interrupted shall be 12 midnight. The sitting shall be suspended from 1.30 p.m. to 2.30 p.m. today. The Dáil shall meet tomorrow at 10.30 a.m. and shall adjourn not later than 6 p.m.

In the case of items 4, 5, 6, 11 and 2, the question or questions necessary to bring proceedings on each item to a conclusion shall be put forthwith and decided without debate. These items may be debated after item 7 has been moved.

Mr. Gene Fitzgerald

Before we begin this debate I should like to have a clear answer from the Taoiseach or from the Minister for Finance regarding the Estimates. Has the money been provided for the Cork deep harbour facility?

An Ceann Comhairle

That arises on item No. 7 and the Deputy will have all day today and tomorrow to ascertain the information he seeks.

Mr. Gene Fitzgerald

There has been confusion created as a result of statements made to the press by the Minister for Finance so before the debate commences we are entitled to be told the true position. If provision has been made for harbour development surely at this stage the Minister for Finance knows which harbours are concerned. I am asking a straightforward question. Has money been provided in the Estimates for a deep port facility in Cork?

An Ceann Comhairle

I am ruling that that matter is appropriate to the debate.

Mr. Gene Fitzgerald

May we have a yes or no answer?

Mr. Haughey

As the Government are aware, we have facilitated them to an extraordinary degree on this question of the Estimates, Supplementary Estimates and so on, but I wish to draw the Taoiseach's attention to a matter which is of considerable importance from the point of view of our proceedings here. Deputies received the Book of Estimates at a very late stage and are expected to debate the Estimates now on the Adjournment Debate. Apparently the media have been given a very detailed briefing on exactly what is involved in the figures set out in the Book of Estimates but this information has not been made available to Deputies. I wish to protest seriously to the Taoiseach about this. We are expected to debate these Estimates in detail to the best of our ability without having been given the very basic information which apparently was made available fully to journalists sometime yesterday.

An Ceann Comhairle

Surely the Leader of the Opposition can make that point in the course of his speech.

Mr. Haughey

I wish to make the point on the Order of Business.

An Ceann Comhairle

It is duplication.

Mr. Haughey

We are dealing with the Order of Business and I wish to draw the attention of the Taoiseach to the fact that this sort of procedure on the part of the Government makes a mockery of any pretence they have as to Dáil reform or to a better way of dealing with financial business.

Mr. Gene Fitzgerald

Propaganda.

The Taoiseach

Is it in order for me to reply?

An Ceann Comhairle

I suppose it is as much in order for the Taoiseach to reply as it was for Deputy Haughey to say what he has said, but neither is in order.

The Taoiseach

Briefly, and I hope non-contentiously, the Book of Estimates is published in the same format as was the case last year but containing additional information and explanatory tables. Further, we have endeavoured to identify and highlight the significance of the figures in order to make the debate more meaningful.

Mr. Gene Fitzgerald

They are published much later than last year and many months later than promised.

The Taoiseach

I cannot understand the objection by the Opposition to the fact that instead of merely publishing the figures flat and leaving it to the Opposition to work out the significance of them, we have endeavoured to come clean and give the facts.

Mr. Haughey

Why not give them to the House?

The Taoiseach

We have given the facts in order to enable Deputies to debate the Estimates properly. They have had advance notice of them.

Mr. Haughey

I only read them in the paper this morning.

Mr. Lenihan

This is merely a matter of cosmetics.

Mr. E. Collins

So says the original cosmetic man.

Mr. Haughey

The people opposite would be more appropriate in the zoo. They are like a bunch of laughing hyenas.

(Interruptions.)

An Ceann Comhairle

Order, please.

Mr. Noonan

(Limerick West): Is the Taoiseach prepared to make a statement on the comments of the Minister for Agriculture as reported in yesterday's papers regarding the sale of dairy products by Bord Bainne to the UK market? We need such a statement if the confusion is to be cleared up. Bord Bainne have stated that they are continuing the sale of dairy products to the UK market. Yet the Minister has stated that they have withdrawn from the market. Will the Taoiseach make a statement on the matter in order to clear up the confusion?

An Ceann Comhairle

Statements on such matters can be made under item No. 7.

Mr. Wallace

In view of the serious concern being expressed in regard to the future of the Ford motor company in Cork will the Minister tell the House if he has any plan to meet the Ford management to discuss the matter?

An Ceann Comhairle

That is a matter for the Adjournment Debate.

Mr. Wallace

I am putting a direct question.

Mr. Gene Fitzgerald

It is an important issue and surely a Deputy is entitled to put a question on it.

An Ceann Comhairle

Not alone are questions out of order now but there will not be any Question Time today.

Mr. S. Walsh

I should like, with the permission of the Chair, to raise on the Adjournment the slaughter of sheep on the Dublin mountains.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. M. Barrett

In view of the widespread concern about the condition of the water supply on the north side of Dublin I should like to ask the Minister for Health if he, or his Department, will make a statement to allay local concern.

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy Tunney raised that matter yesterday.

Mr. Gene Fitzgerald

There has been a new development.