It is proposed to take Nos. 6, 2, 7, 8 and 9. Private Members' Business is No. 16.
Order of Business.
Could I ask the Taoiseach when, if ever, the Government's White Paper on industrial policy will be published and if, in view of the daily increases in unemployment, he will tell the House when the Government intend to bring forward a strategy to tackle the unemployment crisis?
The first part of the Deputy's question is in order, anyway.
Work on the industrial policy is in progress, following receipt of views from various Departments and Ministers. As far as the other part of the Deputy's question is concerned, the report of the National Planning Board should be available around the end of this month or the beginning of next month. On the basis of that document the Government will be preparing their plan for economic development and for tackling unemployment.
When will the task force have a meeting?
I have one further short question. Could the Taoiseach now confirm that the White Paper has already been withdrawn at least twice, if not three times, from the Cabinet and if we are going to have the White Paper before the report of the National Planning Board?
That does not arise.
I can confirm that that is not the case.
There could be a meeting of the task force in the US when the Government members are all over there.
Following on the lines of my colleague, Deputy Reynolds——
(Interruption.)
Order, please.
Who is not going? Hands up who is not going to the US?
We are full of sprats this morning.
Who is going to Libya?
Would the Deputies let Deputy Fitzgerald continue, please?
The Opposition are interrupting their own spokesman on Labour. He has an important statement to make, one of the three important statements which he makes every day.
The Minister does not make too many affecting this country.
(Interruptions.)
As a matter of fact, when the Minister, Deputy Barry budges on Saint Patrick's Day, we will not know for what exotic resort he is departing.
If the Deputy has a question to ask, he should ask it. Deputies from both sides of the House are being disorderly.
Deputy Fitzgerald is interrupting his own spokesman on Labour.
Following on what Deputy Reynolds has said, might I ask how I can raise the urgent matter of the deterioration in the unemployment situation this week? I endeavoured yesterday, by way of a Private Notice Question to raise the issue of the February figures and the appalling trends which they reveal for 1 March. Coinciding with the announced closures, particularly in the southern county, again——
Not a speech, Deputy, please.
I failed to have that Private Notice Question accepted. Subsequently, I asked to have the issue raised on the Adjournment of the House. Again I failed. I submit to you, Sir, that you read to us here yesterday a lengthy document on your interpretation of——
The Deputy may not make a speech. Will the Deputy please sit down?
Your explanation of Standing Orders yesterday conveyed to me that my Private Notice Question had all the criteria of urgent national importance necessary and yet I failed to have that question accepted.
The Deputy is being disorderly now.
Could I ask now how I can raise the issue of unemployment and the ineptitude of this Government where job creation is concerned?
I went to the trouble yesterday of outlining ways and means of raising matters such as that which the Deputy had in mind. I gave a list — I think about six methods — which were open to Deputy Fitzgerald. He has so far only exhausted two of those methods and the matter which he had in mind did not meet the criteria laid down for either a Private Notice Question or——
Despite the levity of Deputy P. Barry, who is obviously not interested in job creation.
——a question on the Adjournment. There are at least four other methods to be tried.
A Cheann Comhairle——
Deputy, please. I am not going to have an acrimonious or any discusion on this matter at this time.
In other words, in this Dáil we can no longer discuss unemployment or job creation, except when the Taoiseach so wishes.
That is not so.
It appears to me to be the case.
It is not.
How can I raise the matter and when?
I referred the Deputy to a list of methods yesterday. These will appear in the Official Report of yesterday's proceedings, if the Deputy was not here.
Surely my Private Notice Question met all the criteria?
That is questioning the decision of the Chair in a disorderly way and I cannot have that. I call Deputy Sean Walsh.
With your permission, I wish to raise again the question of the very serious position in the Tallaght area due to the partial closure of Irish Biscuits Limited.
I shall communicate with the Deputy.
Yesterday I endeavoured to raise the matter of employment of 60 non-nationals by Dublin Gas Company. I have previously endeavoured to raise that matter through the normal channels and each time the question has been disallowed. I understand that the Minister has no function in this as far as the employment of local people is concerned.
Is the Deputy giving notice that he wishes to raise the matter——
I have given notice on previous occasions, without success.
The Deputy is not in order. There is nothing the Chair can do about it.
I have been trying to raise the issue through normal channels and have not got anywhere on it. What would you suggest that I should do?
The Deputy should talk to his colleagues over there.
I suggest that the Deputy look at the list of methods which I read out yesterday and his case may fit into one of them.
(Interruptions.)
With all due respect, I have tried all those channels without success. All we want here this morning is for the Minister to——
I suggest that the Deputy have Standing Orders changed.
I would like permission to raise on the Adjournment the increasing crime and vandalism in Tallaght, County Dublin, culminating in the stabbing of two residents.
I will communicate with Deputy Mervyn Taylor.
(Interruptions.)
Would the Minister for Health make a statement on the proposed cutbacks, closure of works and losses of jobs in the Southern Health Board area? What plans has he to deal with that serious situation?
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
Can I raise it as a matter on the Adjournment?
I will communicate with Deputy Wallace.
I would like to raise on the Adjournment the increasing unemployment in the Youghal area following on the closure of Youghal Carpets and Blackwater Cottons and the inactivity of the Government in regard to it.
I will communicate with Deputy Ahern.
This day last week the Taoiseach indicated that he would communicate with me concerning the legislative programmes he had in mind for this term concerning company law legislation. I have not yet received a communication from him. Perhaps the Taoiseach will deal with the matter today.
I apologise to the Deputy and I will certainly do so.
Would the Taoiseach like to comment to the House on the loss to Ireland of the 1,000 jobs in the national semi-conductors project that went to Scotland yesterday, an investment of £100 million?
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
Could I give notice that I wish to raise it on the Adjournment?
I will communicate with Deputy Reynolds but I should point out that I have been informed that permission is sought to raise at least a dozen matters on the Adjournment. Only one of those can be raised today and all of them would have to be processed.
I hope that jobs will not be ruled out. That matter is the most important.
Fifty non-nationals have been employed by the Gas Company in pipe-laying and the Minister for Labour has indicated that he would like to make some comment on that.
The Deputy should take that up with the Whips and perhaps it could be arranged.
Surely to goodness some preference should be given to Irish people as far as employment is concerned.
It does not arise on the Order of Business.
Five or six questions from both sides of the House have been around now for a month. Could we, by agreement, extend the sitting of the House tonight for an hour to get them out of the way? I see your difficulty, a Cheann Comhairle.
I suggest that Deputy Ahern contact Deputy Barrett and maybe that can be arranged.
Sir, you failed to recognise my Private Notice Question yesterday and you refused to take it on the Adjournment. It concerned the suspension of a stock-broking firm. I ask that you consider it favourably for today.
Certainly.
Would the Taoiseach indicate if the Government intend to allow time to discuss the recent ESRI report on employment creation and the essential element of the Government's direct participation in job creation?
I am sorry, that does not arise on the Order of Business. It is a matter for the Whips.
I understood, Sir, from your explanation yesterday that matters could be raised which were on the Order of Business or which one sought to be on the Order of Business——
That would be very wide indeed.
——or that the Government had indicated that they would discuss or present matters. It is not unprecedented that these reports have been discussed in the House. On the basis of that precedent surely it is an appropriate question to ask.
No, Deputy, not in accordance with the ruling I gave yesterday.