It is proposed to take No. 5, Votes Nos. 1 and 2,6 to 8, inclusive and 10 to 17, inclusive. By agreement, the proceedings on these Votes, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion not later than 4 p.m. and the Minister for Finance shall be called on to conclude not later than 3.45 p.m., provided that, if a division is challenged on any Estimate today, the taking of such division shall be postponed until 8.30 p.m. on the next Wednesday on which the House shall sit until that hour.
Order of Business.
Will the Minister for Health confirm that the working party on adoption have now concluded their work and indicate when their report will be published and debated in this House?
That does not arise on the Order of Business. I take it the arrangements for today's business are agreed.
What action is the Minister taking in the case of the Irish citizen, Noeleen Delaney, missing for nearly 11 months in Zambia, together with three other European citizens? The Department of Foreign Affairs have been totally lax in this matter and I would ask the Minister to report to the House.
It does not arise on the Order of Business. The Deputy will have to find another way of raising it.
With your permission I will raise the matter on the Adjournment.
Today's order does not provide for an Adjournment debate.
In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply to Question No. 208 on 18 January 1984 I should like to raise the matter on Tuesday next.
Perhaps the Deputy would raise it with me on Tuesday.
Yes. It is scandalous that the family have been treated like this by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Perhaps the Minister would elaborate on the terms of the release of Fr. Niall O'Brien in the Philippines. It appears that it is a very conditional matter and his lawyers have some difficulty. It is a matter of real public concern.
It does not arise on the Order of Business.
The House would be totally agreed on this.
It does not matter whether the House is agreed or not. I cannot allow it.
The Government will be able to report back to us on Tuesday because what is being offered is totally unacceptable to any Irish citizen, much less Fr. O'Brien.
Could I say ——
It does not arise on the Order of Business and I will not have a discussion on it.
When will the House debate the White Paper on Industrial Policy?
I think we had that question yesterday.
Then the Minister will not have any trouble in answering.
If the Deputy wishes that matter to be raised he should arrange, through his own Whip, to communicate with the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach after the publication of the White Paper. I am quite sure that arrangements will be made to facilitate any such Opposition request for a debate. But the question does not arise until such time as the White Paper is actually published.
Is it the intention to have a debate on it?
I see no reason that the Government would be unwilling to accede to a request from the Opposition for a debate if it is made in due time through the normal channels.