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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 13 Nov 1984

Vol. 353 No. 9

Order of Business.

It is proposed to take Nos. 7 and 2. Private Members' Business will be No. 67.

I should like the Taoiseach to indicate whether he will have the Minister for Communications make a statement about a rumour that is rampant around this House, that is, that a liquidator is to be appointed in the immediate future to Irish Shipping Limited.

That does not arise on the Order of Business.

You will realise that this is a very important matter in view of the history of the founding of that company, of their 15 years profitable trading and of the implications involved.

I am asking Deputy Wilson to resume his seat.

Would the Ceann Comhairle ask the Taoiseach to tell the Minister that he has an obligation to scotch these rumours here and now?

Deputies

Hear, hear.

Would the Taoiseach give an assurance that if such a drastic step is to be taken it will be debated here first?

I cannot allow this. I have already ruled it out of order.

Would the Taoiseach tell us that the House will have a chance to debate it because it is having a devastating effect——

On the country's credit.

I wish to raise on the Adjournment the closure of Technology Limited in Finglas with a loss of 300 jobs.

I had a Private Notice Question on that matter but your efficient, charming secretary told me that you had asked her to advise me that the Minister had indicated that he had no responsibility in the matter.

I ruled the question out of order. The reason was given to Deputy Tunney and the Deputy was told that if he wanted to have an orderly discussion on it he was welcome to come to my office.

I always have orderly discussions. I do not see any provision in Standing Orders to prevent me having them here. I am asking the Ceann Comhairle why he adjudicated that the Minister has no responsibility in this matter of public importance.

The Chair has adjudicated on the matter and ruled it out of order because it does not meet the criteria laid down for Private Notice Questions. If the Deputy wants to argue the matter with me he will be welcome to come to my office.

That puts me in mind of the spider and the fly. There is nothing in Standing Orders to prevent me——

I am surprised at Deputy Tunney. Nobody knows better than he that he is out of order and he should accept that.

I do not agree.

I am telling the Deputy that he is out of order. I have ruled the matter as being out of order and that is all the discussion I will allow on it.

You are making a mockery of this place. You had better hand it over to Fergal Quinn or somebody else. Did the Ceann Comhairle not say that the Minister had no responsibility because it was in the hands of a liquidator?

I am surprised at Deputy Tunney making this sort of abusive attack on the Chair. It is unworthy of him and I ask him to withdraw it.

I submitted under Standing Order 31 ——

I ruled that Deputy Tunney was out of order.

I pointed out that 163 people had lost their jobs——

We are becoming irrelevant.

You ruled out of order a Private Notice Question by me on the grounds of lack of urgency. Could I raise the matter on the Adjournment of the House?

Would the Minister for Social Welfare inform us if in view of yesterday's High Court ruling quashing the decision of the Eastern Health Board who had refused a fuel allowance to a deserted wife he will alter the eligibility limits to ensure that unemployed people will be granted fuel vouchers in future?

I share the view of Deputy Tunney and I should like to raise it on the Adjournment.

I wish to raise on the Adjournment the recent train crash at the Oranmore level crossing, particularly the announcement by CIE and Galway County Council that they cannot make this crossing safe without the approval of the Minister.

I wish to raise on the Adjournment the possible liquidation of Irish Shipping Limited.

I will communicate with the Deputies.

I should like information on the proposal by the POWU to withdraw services in regard to the delivery to and collection of mail from Leinster House. It is a very serious matter. It is a serious blow at democracy. Therefore, the Minister should come before the House and give an explanation of what is happening.

Could I have your guidance on a matter I tried to raise here on numerous occasions? My request has been refused on the grounds that it is not of an urgent nature. I refer to the development of Greencastle harbour.

Is the Deputy asking for permission to raise it on the Adjournment?

I have raised this repeatedly and I want some guidance as to how I can air the grievances of the people of Greencastle. I do not see any item on the Order Paper that will enable us to have an early debate on it.

I am interpreting Deputy's Conaghan's interjection as a request for a debate on the Adjournment.

I seek permission to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of a Private Notice Question I had down today.

I should like to raise on the Adjournment the milk super-levy and the long-awaited arrangement by the Minister for Agriculture for the implementation of the scheme.

The House will appreciate by now that the Chair would need to be a Solomon if he were to facilitate everyone.

I wish to raise on the Adjournment whether the Minister for Social Welfare will extend eligibility limits to allow those on short term social welfare benefits to qualify for free fuel vouchers.

I should like permission to raise on the Adjournment the circumstances surrounding the death during the weekend of a 17 year old youth in my constituency from a heroin overdose and the ready availability of heroin in that area in central Dublin.

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