It is proposed to take item No. 6. By agreement there will be no Private Members' Business today. Interruption of business will take place at 7 p.m.
Order of Business.
On the Order of Business I would like to raise with the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism the very serious matter of the computer firm to be located at Blanchardstown, County Dublin, where factory premises have already been built and where apparently very serious difficulties have arisen in the negotiations between the IDA and the parent firm in California.
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
In the event of it not arising, I would like to get permission from you to raise it on the Ajournment.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
Is it the Taoiseach's intention to go ahead with his promised judicial inquiry into allegations of political interference with gardaí which is set out in the Programme for Government? I raise this now particularly because of the implications——
The Deputy has asked a question and I am allowing it but I will not allow a speech on it.
I am raising it now because of the very serious implications which arise from an article in this evening's Evening Herald in relation to a Garda sergeant being demoted——
I am not going to allow a speech from the Deputy.
I am asking the Taoiseach if he is going to establish a judicial inquiry as he promised or is he going to continue to pick out selectively members of the Opposition and members of the Garda——
Deputy Woods is being disorderly.
It is a very serious matter.
I am allowing the question.
The question of a judicial inquiry still remains open but, as the Deputy is aware, there are a number of outstanding issues which arose and which have been under inquiry by other methods. That has made it impossible for us to reach a firm conclusion on the matter.
Would the Taoiseach agree——
I am not allowing it to develop.
—— that a year and a half has elapsed and a number of these internal inquiries have been completed? It is the Taoiseach's intention——
I have allowed a simple question and I am not prepared to allow it to develop.
Will the Taoiseach treat this as a matter of urgency and have the inquiry which he promised?
In view of the reported view expressed by the Minister for Finance to Rosslare Harbour Board when he said that he was not convinced that the idea of a free port status could give rise to significant benefit at Rosslare or anywhere else at this stage——
Question Time is over, Deputy Lyons. You must give notice of questions.
Will the Taoiseach tell me when this Government propose to introduce legislation so necessary to give status to the promised free port for Ringaskiddy in Cork?
I will allow that.
That legislation will be introduced after the recess.
(Interruptions.)
On the Adjournment I wish to raise the question of the serious health hazard on beaches in the Dublin Bay vicinity.
The Chair will communicate with Deputy Brady.
I said on Friday last that I wished to raise with the Minister for Foreign Affairs — who I am glad to see is present now — the case of the Irish citizen missing since July last together with three other European citizens and the lack of action by the Department of Foreign Affairs to assist the family.
I do not accept the implication of the question.
Do not be facetious about something that is of serious concern to a family.
I am not being facetious.
All the Minister can do is laugh when a daughter and a sister are missing. He should be ashamed of himself.
The Deputy should be ashamed of making that remark.
(Interruptions.)
Order.
I would like to raise on the Adjournment the continued imprisonment of Nicky Kelly almost one year after his hunger strike protest.
The Chair will communicate with Deputy Gregory.
I seek the guidance of the Chair on a matter of great public concern. I have been told that the Taoiseach following consultations with the Minister for Justice had agreed to the deportation of Mr. Valery Agapov——
That does not arise on the Order of Business and I have been given notice that I have been asked to allow it on the Adjournment tonight.
I tried to raise this as a Private Notice Question.
And I ruled it out as a Private Notice Question.
I was informed that this was not a matter of urgency and that it was now a fait accompli. Is this the way people are to be treated in this respect?
Will you, Sir, be allowing this matter on the Adjournment?
I have to consider it with a number of other matters.
I have no option but to ask you to consider this as a matter on the Adjournment on my behalf.
I have already received notice of it for the Adjournment and I am ruling it out of order now.