It is proposed to take items Nos. 3, 8, 4, 5 and 12. By agreement the proceedings on item No. 3 will be interrupted at 12 noon to take items Nos. 8, 4, 5 and 12. Also by agreement the Supplementary Estimate being introduced today will be taken immediately after leave has been granted for its introduction. Private Member's Business will be No. 20.
Order of Business.
Will the Taoiseach indicate when the promised legislation on illegitimacy will be introduced particularly in view of the speech made last night by the Minister of State?
That legislation is at an advanced stage now. I cannot give an exact date because of the complexity of the drafting but I hope it will not take too long.
Last week I put down a Private Notice Question to the Minister for Communications regarding the provision of a car ferry service from Wales to Cork for the coming tourist season and my question was disallowed. Yesterday I put down a similiar question to the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism which was also disallowed. Will the Chair ask the Taoiseach to get one of his Ministers to reply to me? This is very important for the tourist industry.
Deputy O'Leary has asked me to ask the Taoiseach to get someone to reply to his question. If I did that I would be contradicting myself as I ruled that his question was out of order because it did not comply with Standing Orders.
Will the Chair advise me on how to raise this matter? It is a matter of real importance for the promotion of tourism in the area.
The Deputy has a question on the Order Paper and that will be reached in due course.
I wish to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
In The Cork Examiner this morning there is an article about an American firm closing down in Fermoy. How concerned are the Government about the closure of this high technology firm? The future of Cork was to depend so much on this high technology industry. Will the Taoiseach make a statement on the matter?
That does not arise.
I have been sent here by the constituents of East Cork to raise their problems and this is the only forum where I can raise problems on their behalf.
The Deputy should use his undoubted energy in having Standing Orders changed.
Has the Minister for Labour taken any action to bring the strike at bacon factories to an end?
That does not arise.
This matter was raised on the Adjournment last week.
I know but it does not arise on the Order of Business.
At least the Government should be concerned and should give us an indication if the Minister for Labour has taken any steps to bring it to a satisfactory conclusion.
My instructions are that that matter does not arise on the Order of Business.
Is the Taoiseach aware that the very lucrative Libyan cattle trade is being discontinued?
That does not arise.
Will he make a statement on the matter?
That would not be in order.
I should like to ask the Taoiseach if and when the report of the committee of inquiry into electricity prices will be published.
Within a couple of months.
Will the Taoiseach say if in the meantime he will freeze any new increases pending publication of the report?
This is developing into a discussion.
He will not publish the report for a couple of months and he will not tell us about electricity prices in the meantime.
(Limerick West): Last week I asked the Taoiseach to indicate when he was likely to introduce legislation to control the sale and use of farm insecticides.
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
Perhaps this might be a case of third time being lucky. Have the Government given any consideration to allowing time for a debate on the imminent closure of the Cork dockyard?
As regards third time lucky, Standing Orders have not changed since the Deputy asked this question before. It is still out of order.
In view of the seriousness of this matter, if the Government are not considering that would the Whips at least discuss it and allow us have a discussion on it in the House?
I suggest that the Deputy sees the Whips
I am not satisfied that it is my job to go running around after the Whips.
The Government are not interested.
I am making a suggestion about getting the Whips——
The Deputy is out of order.
I raised the question of the closure of a high technology firm in Fermoy. There are 70 jobs at stake. I want to know from the Taoiseach——
The Deputy will have to resume his seat.
I am asking a question.
I am ordering the Deputy to resume his seat.
Seventy jobs in the high technology area are at risk here.
(Interruptions.)
I do not want any unpleasantness. Will the Deputy resume his seat?
I would like, with your permission, to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of a Private Notice Question to the Minister for Communications last week requesting him to examine the possibility of licensing some sort of private evening service in the Finglas area, which has been without any public transport for nearly two years?
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the question of funding and the finalisation of plans for the Shankill County Dublin by-pass and the Blackrock County Dublin by-pass.
I will communicate with the Deputy.