It is proposed to take items Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7, 10 and 8. At the conclusion of business today the Dáil will adjourn until 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 31 October 1984.
Order of Business.
Is the Tánaiste aware that there is widespread and deep concern about the famine in Ethiopia and an equal amount of disappointment with the reaction of the Government? Would he be in a position some time today to indicate whether the Government, as such and as a member of the European Community, could take immediate urgent action to alleviate this appalling problem in Ethiopia?
That does not arise on the Order of Business. It was dealt with on the Adjournment last night.
I know that.
It is a very relevant matter. I am appealing to the Chair. Let us make the Dáil relevant.
I am dealing with Deputy Haughey and I do not want to be interrupted by Deputy Andrews.
It would make the Dáil more relevant. We have seen media pictures. The Chair should listen to the Leader of the Opposition.
Deputies should learn how to behave themselves.
I know how to behave myself.
I have a suggestion to make. On item No. 10 we will be discussing the 21st Report on Developments in the European Community. With the Chair's indulgence we could use that occasion to refer to the matter.
I suggest that the Deputy's Whip get in touch with the Government Whip and see if that might be arranged.
We could perhaps discuss the matter under that heading.
When does the Minister for Agriculture intend to go to Libya and make a proper deal for our beef?
That does not arise.
The Minister lost the deals he had.
(Interruptions.)
Order, please.
The Deputy could not get his figures right. Do not send him out to Libya. I started the business out there and I will go back and finish it.
I wish to raise the question of an extraordinary reference in a newspaper this morning to a phantom debate, which did not take place, in the House yesterday on the Criminal Justice Bill.
Perhaps it took place behind the scenes.
It is not in order to raise that matter on the Order of Business.
Perhaps it took place in a tent in Libya.
Order, please. It is not good enough to ignore the Chair and that is what Deputies are doing.
Deputy Coveney is still on his feet.
I agree and I name Deputy Coveney for being disorderly.
I accept what the Chair says but the House must be concerned about reported debates that never took place. Does it not concern the Chair?
Tell us what happened?
If the Deputy is raising an alleged report of an extraordinary debate which never took place it just shows the inadvisability of discussing items that appear in a newspaper on the Order of Business.
Perhaps Deputy Coveney is referring to the debate on the contraception issue. He is probably confusing it with the debate which was supposed to take place on the contraceptive legislation at the Fine Gael Party meeting yesterday.
That is a most penetrating remark.
(Interruptions.)
I fail to see who Deputies think they are impressing.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the issue of health hazards caused by pollution in the air in Dublin.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
With the Chair's permission, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the matter of Blackrock by-pass and the Shankill by-pass.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
Have any arrangements been made by the Taoiseach or the Tánaiste for a meeting between themselves and management to discuss the future position of Verolme Cork Dockyard?
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
The Tánaiste might answer.
The Deputy will have to find another way to raise it.
The Chair is probably aware of a long-standing strike in the New Ireland Assurance group. I wish to raise this matter on the Adjournment in the hope that we might have a restoration of the operation.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I rise in support of my colleague from Cork who has raised a very relevant issue. It is the important matter of Verolme Cork Dockyard. It is an on-going situation and affects 600 workers.
The Deputy knows he is not in order. It was somewhat difficult to make him admit yesterday that he was out of order but eventually, with the help of someone else, I got him to realise that he was disorderly. Would he please not start that again today?
The Tánaiste's answer is not satisfactory. We should have a debate on the matter.
This does not arise on the Order of Business.
I also believe that time should be given for a debate on the Ethiopian situation, that more is required than the debate on the Adjournment last evening.
The Deputy should approach the Whip of her party in that regard.