It is proposed to take Nos. 4 and 5. By agreement, the debate on items 4 and 5, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 1.30 p.m. and 5 p.m. respectively and the chairmen of the Joint Committee on Small Businesses and the Select Committee on Crime, Lawlessness and Vandalism shall be called on to conclude not later than 1.20 p.m. and 4.50 p.m. respectively. Also by agreement, if a division is challenged on items 4 or 5, the taking of such a division shall be postponed until 8.30 p.m. next Wednesday.
Order of Business.
Before we face into this very heavy and intimidating legislative programme the Government have set out for today, may we have some information either from the Tánaiste or from the appropriate Minister on the situation in regard to NET or are this State company to be auctioned off today also?
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
It would not have arisen yesterday either but a company were put into liquidation before the end of the day.
It is reported widely in this morning's paper that the Minister concerned appears to be about to sell off another national asset. Perhaps we could have some advance warning of this one.
We could set up an auction hall here.
Are we to take it that the Government legal officers are sneaking down to the Four Courts again today to effect another piece of national sabotage?
(Interruptions.)
Order, please.
Can the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism say what proposals, if any, he has to deal with the threatened loss of 280 jobs in Burlington Industries (Ireland) Limited at Gilloge, County Limerick?
(Interruptions.)
Order, please.
I intend, with your permission, to raise the matter on the Adjournment.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
I should like the Minister for Labour to indicate whether he is prepared to allocate additional staff to the Employment Appeals Tribunal so that cancellation of sittings for the month of December can be avoided?
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
It would arise, a Cheann Comhairle, if your job was before the tribunal.
It would arise on the Order of Business if Standing Orders were changed.
There has been a long precedent that the Department of Labour and the Labour Court do not affect areas relating to the hearing of employees' cases.
If the business of the House is to proceed in an orderly way, the Chair must be respected on the Order of Business.
I acknowledge that and I seek permission to raise the matter on the Adjournment.
The Chair will communicate with Deputy Ahern.
Are you accepting motions for national liquidation at this stage?
Any motion that Deputy Haughey or any other Deputy wishes to put before me in writing will be considered.
(Interruptions.)
We must have order.
As a matter of urgency, will the Government confirm that the liquidator has control of Irish ships this morning, that they are not in the hands of foreign governments?
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
Who is in control of the ships this morning?
When did Deputy Brennan change his mind?
Do the Government know where the ships are? It is a disgraceful situation.
Where are the ships?
The question does not arise on the Order of Business.
We ought to be told who owns the ships at this moment.
Run up the Jolly Roger instead of the Tricolour.
We are entitled to an answer.
If the Deputy wishes to have the information he must find some other way of eliciting it.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the question of the steps the Government may be taking to protect the jobs of 363 workers at Storage Technology Limited and also to protect the £3 million involved by way of grants.
They will resign.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
In view of the urgency of the matter of the Cork-Swansea ferry service and its implications for the planning of tourism for next year in the south-west region I should like the Tánaiste, who comes from that region, to ask the Minister for Communications to make a statement on the matter as he promised last week to a deputation.
This does not arise on the Order of Business.
Is that the end of it? Are we not to hear anything more about the car ferry?
I wish to raise on the Adjournment, because of the unsatisfactory nature of the replies given by the Minister for Agriculture and the Minister for the Environment, the unprecedented landslide we had in Geevagh, County Sligo, which caused great loss to farmers and to the environment.
Surely the Minister for Energy is aware that it is impossible for tourism interests in the south-west to do any marketing in Britain until such time as the Government decide to introduce a car ferry service between Swansea and Cork.
There have been a number of requests for Adjournment debates. Yesterday a question on the Adjournment was allowed but it was not taken. Is there any reason for that?
There was not an Adjournment debate yesterday because the two divisions took up to 11 o'clock.
Could we not provide that the question would be taken after that?
When is it proposed to introduce legal controls on drug testing companies?
I cannot give the Deputy accurate information but I will contact him during the day.
When will the Minister make the statement he promised last week on the Cork to Swansea car ferry?
I wish to raise again the question of the dangerous level crossing at Oranmore.