Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 27 Jun 1984

Vol. 352 No. 4

Order of Business.

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. P. Barry)

It is proposed to take Nos. 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 (Votes 42 and 43).

By agreement, the Dáil shall sit later than 9 p.m. today and not later than 10.30 p.m. and the hour at which business is to be interrupted shall be 10 p.m.

Also by agreement, the proceedings on the Second Stage of the Misuse of Drugs Bill, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 11.30 a.m. and the Minister for Health shall be called on to conclude not later than 11.15 a.m. In the case of each of the following Bills the proceedings thereon, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at the time indicated by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall in relation to amendments include only amendments set down by the Member in charge of the Bill:

No. 13 — All Stages — 1.30 p.m.

No. 14 — All Stages — 5.00 p.m.

No. 15 — All Stages — 8.00 p.m.

The debate on Votes 42 and 43, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 10 p.m. and the Minister for Defence shall be called on to conclude not later than 9.45 p.m.

An Ceann Comhairle

Is the Order of Business agreed?

Mr. B. Ahern

Yes, with the exception of Item No. 15. I have not had a chance to speak to the Government Whip this morning. The order refers to all Stages and I should like a chance to discuss the matter with him.

An Ceann Comhairle

Order of Business agreed, subject to clarification between the Whips of No. 15.

Mr. Kelly

I give notice of my intention to raise on the Adjournment the matter of the length of time during which a group of women were held in custody in the Bridewell during President Reagan's recent visit. For your information, I understand that the charges against these women were not proceeded with, so that no question of sub judice should now arise.

An Ceann Comhairle

I have been reading the newspapers. I will communicate with Deputy John Kelly.

Mr. Reynolds

I have been asked by the Whips to take all Stages of the Irish Steel Limited (Amendment) Bill, 1984 tomorrow. In order to make some rational assessment of the investment of £90 million in a rescue package prepared by the Government, are they prepared to make available to me all the consultants' reports on which this Government decision has been based? Otherwise we cannot have a rational assessment.

An Ceann Comhairle

It does not arise on the Order of Business.

Mr. Reynolds

It is a reasonable request.

An Ceann Comhairle

It may be, but I suggest you make it through the Whips.

Mr. Reynolds

I am putting down a marker that if I do not get the sort of information on which I can make a rational assessment I may not be prepared tomorrow to discuss all Stages of the Bill.

Mr. P. Barry

The Deputy will get the same co-operation as previous spokesmen.

Mr. Reynolds

May I say——

An Ceann Comhairle

We cannot have a discussion on it.

Mr. Reynolds

I was the last Minister to bring in an amending Bill and I was not asked for this type of information. This Bill involves £89 million of taxpayers' money and a rational decision should be made on it following discussion in this House.

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy Reynolds is out of order.

Mr. R. Burke

For the third time — and on the basis that hope springs eternal — I ask your permission to raise on the Adjournment the urgent need for a decision by the Government on the construction of an east-west runway at Dublin Airport.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with Deputy Burke.

Mr. De Rossa

Is the Minister for Foreign Affairs aware when the legislation to eliminate the legal status of illegitimacy is to be introduced? It was promised about a year ago by the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, Deputy Fennell.

Mr. P. Barry

If the Deputy will approach the Whip's office later today I will try to have the information for him.

Mr. Leyden

I wish to raise on the Adjournment the closure of Hanley's meat factory in Roosky, County Roscommon with the loss of 500 jobs and the failure by the Minister for Labour to intervene and solve the crisis.

Mr. Dukes

The Deputy should speak to Deputy Reynolds about that.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with Deputy Leyden.

Mr. G. Mitchell

I wish to raise on the Adjournment the allegation by prisoners in Mountjoy Jail that post addressed to Members of this House and members of the public has gone astray.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. Gregory-Independent

For the third time in a week I ask your permission to raise on the Adjournment the continued imprisonment of Nicky Kelly in Portlaoise prison, now more than a year after his hunger strike. This prisoner's ongoing protest in an attempt to attest his innocence is reaching a critical stage.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy may not elaborate. He is in fact raising the matter.

Mr. Gregory-Independent

I ask you to allow me to raise it on the Adjournment.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. Kirk

I wish to raise on the Adjournment the position regarding the agreement on the supply of natural gas to the North.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with Deputy Kirk.

Mr. F. Fahey

I would ask the Minister for Justice when it is proposed to introduce legislation to reduce the age of majority to 18, which was promised before the end of this session?

Mr. P. Barry

If the Deputy will approach the Whip's Office I will have the information for him.

Mr. R. Burke

What is the present position with regard to legislation to deal with the proposed takeover of the Irish Civil Service Building Society by the Bank of Ireland?

Mr. P. Barry

If the Deputy will approach the Whip's Office later on in the day we will have that information for him.

Mr. R. Burke

It is a very serious matter.

Mr. P. Barry

I am not being facetious about this but——

Mr. Haughey

On a point of order, I am sure you are aware, Sir, that on a number of occasions the Minister for Foreign Affairs has referred matters to the Whip's Office. The rules of procedure here are such that where legislation is promised it is legitimate to ask questions about it and that these questions should be answered here on the floor of the House.

An Ceann Comhairle

Yes, the question is in order but it has been said, and I think reasonably suggested, that if notice were given some short time before the question is asked it would be easier to get the information.

Mr. P. Barry

A Cheann Comhairle, I agree with you, we would be very happy to give the information here when it is asked at 10.30 a.m. or whenever is the Order of Business. But, in consideration of getting an answer that is suitable for publicity, if Deputies would give even half an hour's notice that they intended raising something, then we could have accurate information here for them, which would be of assistance to them as well.

Mr. R. Burke

In other words, that the Government would have had an opportunity of laundering the information they want to give.

Mr. Gene Fitzgerald

Precisely.

Mr. R. Burke

I did not get an answer to the question I asked and it is a very serious matter. We were promised that legislation would be introduced before the end of this session. It affects very much all of the financial institutions in this country, the building society movement, the banks and——

An Ceann Comhairle

I am not going to allow a speech on it, Deputy.

Mr. R. Burke

We were promised legislation in this House. Have the Government changed their minds on it or what sort of backdoor dealings have been going on?

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy Burke will resume his seat. I am calling on Deputy O'Malley.

Mr. O'Malley

Might I inquire in relation to item No. 15, the Air Transport Bill, 1984 — which is a Bill to which there will be a great deal of opposition — whether it is necessary to have the agreement of the whole House that it be disposed of and passed in three hours this evening or whether, if there is not universal agreement, the Bill could be put back to be debated more fully tomorrow, next week or on some suitable occasion that would underline the gravity of what is proposed in this Bill and the damage its provisions will do?

An Ceann Comhairle

I will answer that question. The unanimous agreement of the House is not necessary. Decisions are reached by a majority and, if necessary it can be put to a vote.

Mr. O'Malley

I beg your pardon, what was the last part?

An Ceann Comhairle

I said that, if necessary, it could be put to a vote before it was agreed.

Mr. O'Malley

Put to a vote this morning?

An Ceann Comhairle

Yes. I asked were the arrangements for today's business agreed. I then said that they were agreed subject to consultation between the Whips on this item. That is the position.

Mr. O'Malley

You did, Sir. But I can recall here many times being told that one cannot put the Order of Business to a vote.

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy O'Malley misunderstood what was said then. The position is that the Government order the business. But, when business is being carried on a certain day in a way that requires, shall we say, an amendment of or departure from Standing Orders, the consent of the majority of the House is necessary and that was got here.

Mr. O'Malley

I should like you to be aware, Sir, that I for one do not consent to the disposal of item No. 15.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy could have said that earlier on. I am not going to have it now.