It is proposed to take Nos. 5, 10, 11 and 4. Business will be interrupted at 3.30 p.m. today to take item No. 4 and the Order will not be resumed thereafter. By agreement the Dáil will sit later than 9 p.m. today and not later than 12 midnight to enable the Financial Resolutions, with the exception of the General Financial Resolution, to be concluded. It is proposed that, following the budget statement of the Minister for Finance and the statements of the spokesmen of the parties in Opposition, the sitting will be suspended for 30 minutes.
Order of Business.
Are the arrangements as outlined for today's business agreed?
They are, subject to a question. Could the Tánaiste tell us at this stage how many Financial Resolutions there will be?
I believe it is not customary at this stage to reveal the number of Financial Resolutions.
Even the number?
Yes, I believe it is not customary.
My question really relates to the suspension for 30 minutes. If there were to be an enormous number of Financial Resolutions we might ask that that 30 minutes be extended to an hour. Maybe there is not an enormous number of resolutions.
I think that 30 minutes will be adequate to consider the number of Financial Resolutions.
I take it from that there are not many resolutions. Perhaps we could be a little flexible on that 30 minutes when the time comes.
Could I ask a question?
(Interruptions.)
Order.
Could I ask the Tánaiste if he will arrange for ministerial intervention in the dispute at NET in Cork which means that protective notice has been served on a very big number of workers and only a small number are involved in the dispute there?
That seems to be of a nature similar to that of a matter raised by Deputy Fitzgerald yesterday.
No, Sir.
It is of a similar nature, and after some exchanges it was ruled out of order and this is not in order today either.
I assure you, Sir, there will be no exchanges as such, but I believe it is a different issue because it is an industrial dispute on this occasion involving a small number of people and it is affecting a large number of workers.
The Deputy will have to raise it in another manner.
On the Order of Business I would like to ask the Minister for Energy if he is aware that a considerable number of complaints are coming in about the freezing up of diesel again——
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
It is of considerable importance. The standards laid down by the IIRS are not being complied with.
(Interruptions.)
Order, please. I am ruling that the matter raised by Deputy Flynn is not in order on the Order of Business.
I want to ask if the Minister is taking steps to see to it that the IIRS standards are complied with.
That is an impromptu question.
(Interruptions.)
It is very important to a large number of people who have freezing oil in their tanks. We will all freeze before the day is out but at the same time——
I can give a solemn assurance that the question was not impromptu.
A Deputy
What are they giving you the microphone for?
I am the only one who has been given one and there are good reasons.