It is proposed to take Items Nos. 1, 7 and 6.
Order of Business.
The Leader of the Opposition.
I came to your office and indicated that I wished to make a very short intervention at this stage in the Order of Business. As you are aware, yesterday there were heated exchanges and remarks were passed across the floor of the House in a fairly turbulent atmosphere. During the course of these remarks something was said from this side of the House about Deputy Alan Shatter which, in my view and that of my colleagues, went beyond the bounds of what we regard as acceptable political charges here in this House. I wish to express my regret that that remark was made.
I want to say that when the Leader of the Opposition gave me notice that he intended to refer to this matter this morning, I readily agreed with that. I want to express my appreciation to the Leader of the Opposition——
Deputies
Hear, hear.
——for coming here and saying what he did say this morning. I think it is a good day's work for our parliamentary institution. I do not want to say very much about the matter beyond saying that the incident to which Deputy Haughey referred ended in my adjourning the House for a half-hour. As long as I am in the Chair, I would deprecate very much any attacks on Members of the House on the basis of their profession, trade, or occupation and even more so would I deprecate attacks on a tiny minority involving the religious belief or faith of that religious minority. Either directly or by implication, it is humiliating and completely out of keeping and out of character with the Irish character. I hope that this good day's work which the Leader of the Opposition has done here this morning will bear fruits for many a day.
Deputies
Hear, hear.
Might I just add my words of appreciation for the statement of the Leader of the Opposition?
May I ask the Taoiseach, in the harmonious spirit now prevailing, two important questions? Firstly, because of the seriousness of the economic situation in the country, could Government time be allocated next week to a discussion of the latest redundancies in the ESB? Confusion exists in my mind and in the minds of others on this side of the House regarding the position.
Deputy Fitzgerald has asked a question. The Deputy knows that this sort of matter does not arise on the Order of Business. Might I suggest to him that he could initiate, at any rate, his request through the Whips?
I accept entirely your ruling and would hasten to say that I shall be very brief. Newspaper reports which have been emanating from some sources all week have created a certain confusion in the public mind regarding the closure of shops and generating stations, adding up to job losses. Could we have a statement from the Minister to clarify the position?
That does not arise on the Order of Business. The Deputy will have to find some other way of raising it.
The second question is also very brief and relates to something else. Can you indicate to me how I may raise the first question?
I shall try by other means, with your permission. Secondly, I ask the Taoiseach if, in the interest of preserving the democracy of this House and country, a copy be made available to the Opposition Members of the document issued to the trade union movement and the employer bodies?
That matter was raised yesterday.
It might be in order for me to reply on that matter. I explained yesterday, when the matter was raised, that the paper was presented in the context of on-going discussions with the social partners and forwarded to them as agreed with them in discussions last week. I considered it necessary, therefore, or appropriate, to speak to them before giving the document the wider circulation requested by Deputy Haughey. I felt that it was a necessary courtesy. Following that, the document has now been placed in the Library of the House.
Could the document be circulated to us?
Copies to be circulated have been made.
It will obviate any need for us to go over to ICTU's office and retrieve it from the waste paper basket.
It is in the Library of the House. It was delivered to the ICTU office by the normal means and they were aware of its presence.
(Interruptions.)
In view of the fact that the European Assembly Elections Bill has been tabled could the Taoiseach indicate if progress has been made on the provision of postal voting for the disabled? Will such legislation be introduced in time for the European elections?
There will not be such legislation in that time-scale.
I intend to raise on the Adjournment of the House this evening the question of the provision of a new vocational school for Killarney.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
With your permission, I would like to raise again the question of Irish Biscuits at Tallaght. You very kindly allowed it last night but it could not be taken due to the time.
I will commnicate with the Deputy.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the closure of Avair and its blow to the economic life of Cork.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
I did not catch the Taoiseach's reply. Will there be postal voting for the disabled in the European elections? Such legislation has been promised.
An answer was given. I understood the Taoiseach to say that it would not be possible to have it arranged for the European elections.
I said that such legislation will not be introduced in that period.