It is proposed to take Nos. 1 and 8, Votes Nos. 28 and 47. By agreement, the debate on Vote No. 28, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 1.30 p.m. and the Minister for the Environment shall be called on to conclude not later than 1.15 p.m. The debate on Vote No. 47, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 5 p.m. and the Minister for Health shall be called on to conclude not later than 4.45 p.m.
Order of Business.
Would the Taoiseach consider making Government time available next week for the purpose of having a debate on the European crisis?
I will allow that question.
I will naturally consider any reasonable request from the Opposition but my response will depend on the negotiating situation at that time. I cannot, therefore, give an assurance at the moment.
Briefly——
You cannot have a debate on this matter.
Without being argumentative, I wonder would the Taoiseach take into account when considering my request that because of the very great uncertainty that now exists — no dates have been fixed and no meetings arranged — there is very grave concern throughout the country——
This is the difficulty I have now——
There is a meeting of Ministers for Agriculture arranged for next week and a special meeting has been called with the Minister for Foreign Affairs for a date not yet fixed. Certain moves are taking place and that is why I cannot respond at present to the request, but of course I will bear it in mind.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the question of the tree slaughter on the Dorney Court Estate in Shankill. Is the House aware——
Deputy Andrews, please, this is not in order. I will communicate with the Deputy.
Are you aware that there is no tree felling licence——
Deputy Andrews is being disorderly. Will he please resume his seat? I will communicate with the Deputy about his question on the Adjournment.
It is a matter of national importance.
Which of the Taoiseach's 15 or 16 Ministers or Ministers of State who were recently in the United States saw fit to call on the Ford management in Detroit?
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
Last week I raised the question of the local radio authority Bill with the Tánaiste who informed me that he would introduce it before the summer recess. However, a crisis has already arisen——
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
I should be allowed to ask the Taoiseach why there is a delay in relation to the legislation. There is a war of the airwaves at present and Radio Sunshine——
Deputy Leyden will please resume his seat.
I am asking the Taoiseach to respond to my question.
The Deputy asked that last week. He is now making a speech and I am ruling it out of order.
I am entitled to ask a question.
The Deputy-must resume his seat. I am asking him to sit down.
I will sit down but I will get up again.
I wish to add my support to what Deputy Andrews said——
I am communicating with Deputy Andrews.
With the permission of the Chair, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the crisis facing parents in North County Dublin regarding the non-availability of places for their children in the second level colleges in Portmarnock and Swords.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
Will the Taoiseach say when it is proposed to introduce the Bill dealing with local broadcasting?
That question was asked last week.
The Bill is with the Parliamentary Draftsman and it will be before the House before the summer recess. The Deputy will be aware that the matter has been with the Committee on Legislation until quite recently. The Bill has to be looked at again in the light of what has come from that committee.
On a point of order, the Chair in his responsible position as Ceann Comhairle would not allow the Taoiseach to reply to me but the Chair allowed him to reply to a member of The Workers' Party.
Deputy Leyden got up and made a speech. If he is going to make another speech now, he is not in order.
With the permission of the Chair, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the totally unsatisfactory situation in Dublin in relation to the war of the airwaves, with the possible loss of 43 jobs in Radio Sunshine as a result of jamming by RTE.
I will communicate with the Deputy. I appeal to Deputies not to abuse the Order of Business or the Standing Orders of the House. It is an abuse to make a speech when requesting to raise a matter on the Adjournment.
Like Deputy Barnes who wished to support Deputy Andrews on a local matter, I wish to support Deputy Leyden in asking the Chair to consider favourably allowing him to raise on the Adjournment the very serious matter of the jamming of Sunshine Radio by RTE?
I will consider that and communicate with the Deputy. That is quite in order. I am calling Deputy Brennan.
(Interruptions.)
Order. I have called Deputy Brennan.
With the permission of the Chair, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the alarming increase in the number of old people in my constituency who have been robbed in recent times.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to ask the Minister for Labour to intervene in the impasse that has occurred in the Youghal Carpet Group——
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
This is threatening 500 jobs in the county.
Is the Deputy requesting permission to raise the matter on the Adjournment?
I should like the Minister for Labour to intervene. There is no point in talking about it if he does not do something.
Is the Deputy asking permission to raise the matter on the Adjournment? He is not?
The Government are doing nothing about jobs. They are only closing down places.
I am calling item No. 1.