Vol. 350 No. 3
It is proposed to take No. 7.
By agreement and notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders the proceedings on the Fourth and Fifth Stages of the Finance Bill, 1984, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 5 p.m. today by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only amendments set down by the Minister for Finance.
Is the Order of Business agreed? Agreed.
On the Order of Business, as a matter of extreme urgency in view of the serious situation which has arisen at the Moracrete Plant in Clondalkin, would the Minister for Labour make a statement on the situation in which nine workers are now in jail and there appears to be no attempt made to restart plant and get production going?
That is not in order on the Order of Business, Deputy. I am sorry.
In view of that——
I think the Deputy is not doing too badly.
Could I ask the Ceann Comhairle for permission to raise the matter on the Adjournment in order to get a fuller statement from the Minister?
I shall communicate with the Deputy. Deputy De Rossa has offered at the same time as Deputy Woods, so I shall call Deputy De Rossa first and then Deputy Woods.
In view of the promise made by the Minister for the Environment regarding postal voting for the disabled, could the Tánaiste indicate if the required legislation will be brought into the House and passed in time before the Summer Recess? If I might explain my reason for asking——
Would the Deputy just ask the question, please?
My reason for asking is that, assuming the local elections are held next year, the register for those elections——
You cannot make a case for it, Deputy, I am sorry.
The register will be prepared in September and it is necessary that this legislation be passed by the summer if disabled persons are to have postal votes for the local elections.
My information, Deputy, is that the heads of the Bill will be going to the Legislation Committee as soon as possible. I do not think it would be possible or practical to have the legislation before this session ends.
Is it the intention of the Minister for Justice to introduce before the end of this session a Landlord and Tenants (Ground Rents) Amendment Bill to continue the special purchase scheme which would otherwise expire on 31 July next?
Limerick East): I am considering that matter, but have not made a decision yet.
Could I ask the Tánaiste or the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism if the Government have yet considered the special report of the task force in Cork, if they have made any decisions thereon, if it will be published and if the House will be given an opportunity to discuss its contents?
That does not arise on the Order of Business, Deputy.
That is the third time it has been raised. It was allowed twice before on the Order of Business. I cannot understand how the circumstances have changed.
Gene's privilege.
Gene is working for himself.
Probably a number of previous attempts were made, but did not succeed.
A reply was given by the Taoiseach of the day, with all due respects. That reply was that the Government had received it, that it was under consideration and that we would hear more about it. That was a month ago.
The Chair must have nodded on that day.
We could not have done it better ourselves.
The Tánaiste is prepared to answer my question.
I am always prepared to facilitate Deputy Reynolds.
I am sorry, I cannot allow it. I have ruled it out of order.
This is the first time that we have had the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism here for a long time. I am sure that he would tell us about it.
It would become a precedent.
On the Order of Business, could I ask if the Minister for Communications will be bringing the Dublin Transport Authority Bill before the House in the immediate future?
I shall make inquiries and telephone the Deputy before the day is out.
Could I ask the Tánaiste if the Government intend making any approaches to the Soviet Embassy here in Dublin with a view to asking them to reconsider their decision on their participation in the Olympic Games?
That may be topical but it does not arise on the Order of Business.
Our Olympic Council are participating in the Olympic Games and it is of interest to us. Our views should be made known to the Soviet Embassy.
The Deputy will have to find some other occasion on which to raise the matter. It cannot be raised now.
Could I assure the Minister for Justice that he will have our full support if he brings forward the Landlord and Tenants (Ground Rents) Bill? The time has virtually run out for it and otherwise there will be panic between this date and the end of July.
