It is proposed to take Nos. 9 and 10 and Private Members' Business, Motion No. 20.
Order of Business.
May I ask the Taoiseach if, in view of the very far-reaching implications for business, commerce and industry, and especially for householders and mortgages, he will make a statement or provide some way in which the House can discuss the impending rise in the bank rate and its consequential impact on mortgage rates?
That does not arise on the Order of Business. Deputy Haughey asked if some other way can be found to deal with this matter, and I have no objection to the Taoiseach answering.
It is quite clear from all the evidence——
I am not going to have a discussion.
I want to make this point which will help the Taoiseach in replying. This impending rise in the bank rate is directly attributable to the Government's economic and financial policy.
That is an inch and span operation. The question is whether time can be made available to discuss interest rates.
This matter should be raised between the Whips. It is unsatisfactory to raise the matter at this time without notice. Whether such a debate would be appropriate at this time is a matter on which I will have to reflect——
There was a Private Notice Question asked yesterday.
In suggesting a discussion between the Whips, I am not prejudging the issue as to whether such a debate would be appropriate at this time.
I find it very difficult to follow what the Taoiseach says. Is he indicating that the Whips can constructively discuss this matter and that he is disposed to giving the House some way of examining——
No. I said very clearly that a matter of this kind would be more constructively raised between the Whips rather than without notice in the House. In saying that I am not prejudging the question as to whether such debate would be appropriate at present.
Is that not typical of the way the Taoiseach does most of his business? He is asking the Whips to discuss something——
That does not arise on the Order of Business. I allowed the question but I am not allowing any further questions.
We are ordering business for today——
There is no use raising eyebrows. I propose to implement Standing Orders as they were handed to me until such time as they are changed by the House.
On this side of the House we are very conscious of the fact that you ruled out no fewer than seven questions of urgency yesterday. We are ordering business for today and surely it is part of ordering our business whether the Government will give us time to discuss this matter of fundamental and far-reaching importance which will affect practically every citizen in the country? If the Whips discuss this matter, will they be discussing it with a view to coming to some arrangement? There is no point in the Whips discussing something if the Taoiseach is not prepared to indicate that he will accept their decision.
The ordering of business is a matter for the Government. There is no point in anybody getting his blood pressure up or getting excited——
Least of all yourself.
I was handed Standing Orders and practice and I propose to operate the system which was entrusted to me until such time as that procedure is changed in an orderly way by the House. It is as simple as that.
You will accept questions today as a matter of urgency on the impending increase in bank rates——
I will accept any question put to me which——
—— on the closure of Irish Shipping, on the closure of Clover Meats and the fact that the country is falling apart.
(Interruptions.)
Order, please. I want to make it clear that I will accept any question put to me for Private Notice which meets the established criteria, but if it does not, I will rule it out of order until those criteria are changed.
This is a matter of a different dimension. This has been discussed on every radio programme and on the front page of every newspaper. I appeal to the Taoiseach to make this House relevant——
I am calling Deputy De Rossa.
The office of the Minister for Social Welfare have indicated that legislation on the equalisation of social welfare benefits will be introduced by the end of this session. Could the Taoiseach say when this Bill will be circulated to Deputies?
I cannot answer that question precisely.
(Interruptions.)
Dún Laoghaire): Every morning we are asked a list of questions and expected to give answers straight away. If we were given notice of these questions ——
(Interruptions.)
I cannot give a precise date as to the circulation of this legislation.
Will the Taoiseach or the Minister for Agriculture make a statement concerning the loss of jobs in Clover Meats?
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
Could I ask the Minister for Communications whether, in view of statements attributed to Hong Kong interests, he will meet them today to discuss Irish Shipping——
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
I should like to ask the Minister for Communications when he will make a decision on the Cork-Pembroke Ferries?
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
Would the Taoiseach tell the House if the Government are considering taking up the offer of renegotiation in relation to Irish Shipping?
This matter will have to be raised in some other manner.
I have made every attempt to try to get the Government to take up an offer of renegotiation as far back as two weeks ago. The Taoiseach should indicate to the House whether he proposes to take up the offer of renegotiation.
It does not arise on the Order of Business.
I will put down a Private Notice question in this regard.
I want to clarify the question of the social welfare legislation which was referred to yesterday——
I understood that the Taoiseach said he would communicate with the Deputy.
Will the Bill be circulated in time so that Deputies will have an opportunity to study this very important legislation before Christmas?
I am sorry I cannot give the Deputy a date. I will communicate with him as soon as possible.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the question of the drainage of Burtonport harbour.
Is it proposed to take any of the Estimates before Christmas which, as the Minister said, would give effect to Government policy for Dáil reform?
It will be difficult to do so because of the legislative programme.
What programme? There is no legislative programme.
The Deputy should make jokes elsewhere. It is difficult to find a time to discuss the Estimates although I am not opposed in principle to doing so. It is a matter which should be taken up with the Whips.
This is a central element of Government policy for Dáil reform and the Taoiseach's commitment to it. On that basis it is not good enough to tell us that there is no time to discuss the Estimates because of the legislative programme. It is clear that we do not have a heavy programme and we need implementation of principle if those commitments mean anything.