It is proposed to take No. 7. By agreement, it is proposed that, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, the proceedings on the Second Stage of the Social Welfare Bill, 1984, shall be brought to a conclusion at 6.45 p.m. today and the Minister for Social Welfare shall be called on not later than 6.30 p.m. to conclude the debate. Private Members' Business will be No. 17.
Order of Business.
Are the arrangements for the conclusion of the Social Welfare Bill agreed?
In fairness to our spokesman on Social Welfare, the first time he saw this Bill was when it was delivered by a senior official of the Department of Social Welfare to his home at 10 o'clock on Saturday night. The Fianna Fáil Front Bench did not see the Bill until yesterday. We have not had a party meeting since then and it is a very unsatisfactory way of dealing with it. Unfortunately, the treatment is usual with regard to major Bills and I hope that when the Finance Bill is introduced shortly adequate time will be given to study it rather than stating that the Bill has to be through the House within four or five days.
I am not familiar with the background to the Social Welfare Bill but I can assure Deputy Ahern that every effort will be made to ensure that adequate time is given to the Opposition party to consider the Finance Bill.
The arrangements for the conclusion of the Social Welfare Bill are agreed.
On a number of occasions, this week and last, I have endeavoured to raise the question of the provision of a Cork-Swansea ferry link. I have failed——
I thought we dealt with that yesterday.
I failed to have it dealt with.
I thought I dealt with the procedure which the Deputy sought to employ and pointed out to him that it was not in order.
If you will bear with me for a moment, your dealing with it yesterday coincided with ICL's dealing with it——
If the Chair were to bear with Deputy Fitzgerald for a couple of minutes Deputy Fitzgerald would have defeated the Chair's anxiety to keep within Standing Orders.
There is no anxiety on my part to defeat the Chair but there is a certain amount of frustration on my part and on the part of those in Cork who do not understand the Minister's handling of this affair. I wish to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
I promise the Deputy that I will consider it and communicate with him.
I seek to raise on the Adjournment the question of severe hardship being caused to a number of small farmers in the west due to the fact that their assistance was removed several months ago——
I will communicate with Deputy Fahey.
Since 1 February the púnt has been revalued by 9 per cent against the dollar. Could I ask the Tánaiste if negotiations have taken place with the oil companies——
I am sorry, that does not arise on the Order of Business.
May I raise it on the Adjournment?
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to protest at the lack of implementation by the Government in regard to a specific guarantee given in the House with regard to Clondalkin Paper Mills which has not yet reopened in any shape or fashion——
Does the Deputy want to raise this matter on the Adjournment?
Yes.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
Could the Tánaiste explain the reason for the disastrous decision by the Minister for Agriculture in Brussels in capitulating——
That does not arise on the Order of Business. The Deputy is out of order as I allowed a Private Notice Question on that yesterday.