It is proposed to take Nos. 5, 6, 7 and 8.
Order of Business.
On the Order of Business, could the Taoiseach indicate to the House what plans or arrangements he has for distributing copies of the national plan and the arrangements for public meetings concerning the selling of the national plan around the country?
We had a three day debate on the national plan and it certainly does not arise in this manner on the Order of Business.
We made 7,500 copies available to the Deputy's party.
Will the Taoiseach confirm, as reported in today's Irish Times——
If I were to allow this to be raised on the Order of Business it would not be in order, and it would develop into a long harangue on the Order of Business which would be grossly disorderly.
I would not wish it to develop into anything like that. I want to ask the Taoiseach——
I appreciate that but the Chair, in its wisdom, thinks it would be inevitable.
On the Order of Business I should like to ask the Taoiseach if he is aware that some 3,000 invitations have been issued to a meeting, including public officials who are thus intimidated——
The Chair is on its feet. Deputy Flynn put down a Private Notice Question on this matter yesterday and, after consideration, it was ruled out of order on the grounds that the Taoiseach has no responsibility to the Dáil on this matter.
For the Fine Gael Party.
I am advised and I accept that it would not be in order even for a Private Notice Question. Please, Deputy Flynn, do not pursue the matter.
If there were a matter of the expenditure of public funds on meetings organised by a political party, would that be in order?
The question submitted to me was not in order because the Taoiseach has no responsibility to Dáil Éireann on the matter. I am not saying it might not be possible, with the Deputy's ingenuity, to raise a question that might get through.
A Cheann Comhairle, I am asking for your ruling on a point of order. If the expenditure of public funds were involved, would the Taoiseach then have responsibility?
That is a hypothetical question which I will not deal with.
It is not. It is a fact.
Further to my original question, there appears in the letters columns of The Irish Times this morning——
I will not allow the Deputy to raise this matter.
In the letters columns of The Irish Times today there is a letter from the Leader of the Labour Party suggesting that it is quite proper for a political party to go on a selling campaign on certain decisions——
Deputy Flynn will please resume his seat. Usually he is a very orderly Deputy.
(Interruptions.)
Anonymous telephone calls.
The fact that Deputy Flynn is pursuing this indicates that he is determined to do so. The Chair will not allow him to do so.
The Fine Gael Ard Fheis was a disaster.
An invitation was issued on behalf of Fine Gael and, as far as I am concerned, it is improper for the Government to use public funds for the purpose of intimidating public officials.
This is grossly disorderly.
(Interruptions.)
Anonymous telephone calls.
Deputy Kelly, will you behave yourself? Item No. 5.
Misappropriation of public funds for political purposes.
Order. I want order from all sides of the House. Deputy McCarthy.
Could I ask the Minister for Social Welfare why he has refused to grant double payment at Christmas time to those on long term unemployment?
That does not arise.
It is on legislation.
I wish on the Order of Business to ask the Taoiseach if he will make Government time available——
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
This is an entirely different matter.
That is a matter for discussion between the Whips.
I want to ask the Taoiseach to make Government time available to discuss the matter of ESB electricity prices.
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
The mickey-mouse clockwork has not fully run down. Let him run his course.
Please, Deputy Kelly. I call Deputy Woods.
On the Order of Business, the Minister for Social Welfare has promised——
Send them on the emigrant ship. That is Deputy Kelly's answer to everything.
The Minister will be bringing in regulations to provide a double week for old age pensioners. The question asked by Deputy McCarthy is quite correct. He is asking if the Minister will not, in addition to this innocuous legislation, make provision for those who are unemployed.
No, Deputy. That is not in order.
That is a very reasonable question.
All the Deputy would be entitled to ask is when the legislation, if it is necessary to bring it before the House, is coming before the House. When the legislation comes before the House, it would then be in order for him to raise the matter that he is raising now and ask to have that aid extended to other people.
Could the Minister tell the House when he will bring regulations before the House to provide a double week for those who are unemployed, particularly long term unemployed?
If it has been promised, but I understand that that has not been done.
Would you not let the Minister answer? Are you taking the decision for the Minister that he is not to give a double week to these people?
The Deputy knows that I am trying——
Would it not be more appropriate to allow the Minister to answer the question himself? He is just trying to avoid the issue, a Cheann Comhairle.
I call Deputy Leyden.
Is the Taoiseach aware of a statement issued via the Government Information Services on behalf of Telecom Éireann in relation to his unpaid telephone account and if it is in order for the Government Information Services to issue a statement on behalf of a semi-State organisation——
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
I am asking if he is aware of the abuse of his own Government Information Services. May I raise the matter on the Adjournment of the House of the abuse by the Taoiseach of the Government Information Services?
I shall communicate with the Deputy. Deputy Gene Fitzgerald has risen.
(Interruptions.)
These laughing hyenas.
Obviously, the manners on the other side of the House have not improved. Could I please ask your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to raise on the Adjournment the matter of the serious implications of decisions which have been taken and are about to be taken and the disastrous consequences they can have for tourism in the Cork-Kerry region?
The Chair will communicate with Deputy Fitzgerald. I call Deputy Gay Mitchell.
Thank you for your courtesy.
On these motions, a Cheann Comhairle as I was saying yesterday evening, there should be a full and independent tribunal available to members of the public——
I want to raise a matter on the Adjournment.
I have passed to Item No. 5.
(Interruptions.)
Order, please.
This is ridiculous. I have stood up on about six occasions. On a point of order——
This is not acceptable.
It is a device on the part of Deputy Mitchell to prevent Deputies from speaking. Two Deputies on our side of the House indicated that they wished to raise matters on the Order of Business. These two Deputies are now being prevented from doing so by a ruse on the part of Deputy Mitchell. That is the way business is being done and it is not acceptable to this side of the House.
We got up to speak and we were not able to speak.
There has been nothing but interruption on the Order of Business. I have said on several occasions that I was passing to Item No. 5. I called Deputy Mitchell some time ago and he actually stood up and started to speak, but some other Deputies wanted to raise matters and I allowed them to speak. I am calling Item No. 5 again and I ask Deputy Mitchell to speak.
On a point of order——
If it is a point of order.
It is. In accordance with Standing Orders and good procedure and discipline in the Chamber, I followed the correct procedure and stood up to raise a point on the Adjournment later this evening. That is all that I am doing now. Is that not in order?
Hear, hear.
Would the Deputy not be in favour of raising the matter at another time?
He should be entitled to do so now.
Could I, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, raise the question of health risks to the elderly from air pollution in Dublin?
I shall communicate with the Deputy.
Could I ask permission to raise on the Adjournment the very serious unemployment situation in Nenagh due to factory closures and liquidations which are unprecedented there?
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
Would the Taoiseach say when local authorities will be notified of details of the £5,000 grant?
That does not arise on the Order of Business, Deputy.
The Taoiseach told us only three weeks ago that the local authorities would be notified.
It does not arise on the Order of Business.
Would the Taoiseach——
Deputy Fitzgerald, the position has not changed since you were here. The question does not arise.
I am still a Member of the House.
It does not arise on the Order of Business. Will you please accept the Chair's ruling.
The same question was asked three weeks ago and the Taoiseach answered.
Yes, that is true.
It may have been asked at Question Time. I do not know.
Why can the Taoiseach not answer it today?
I asked for co-operation with the Chair. I call Deputy Gay Mitchell.
I just wanted to say that three weeks ago on the Order of Business I raised the question that Deputy Wallace has raised. You allowed me to ask the question as to when the details of this £5,000 scheme would be introduced. I asked the question and I was promised the details within two weeks. It is exactly the same question. It was promised in this House three weeks ago that we would have the details in a fortnight. There has been a flimsy announcement, but the full details have not been announced.
In a week.
Next week. That is all I wanted to know.
Certainly, the question was not put by Deputy Wallace in that fashion.
It was exactly the same question. It was asked three weeks ago.
Perhaps the Deputy did last week. I am calling on Deputy Mitchell.
On a point of order, just to correct something which was said, I draw your attention to the fact that I am still an elected Member of this House, Sir, and entitled to the same consideration on these benches as I was on the front benches.
I quite appreciate that. I made a remark to Deputy Fitzgerald in a jocose manner, as sometimes I do.
I accept that apology from you.
If Deputy Fitzgerald took it seriously and if it hurt him, I apologise.
Thank you.
Any humour from you is welcome.
It is always welcome.
I call on Deputy G. Mitchell, please.