It is proposed to take Nos. 2, 3, 4, 1, 5 and 6. By agreement, proceedings on all Stages of the European Communities (Amendment) Bill, 1984, shall be brought to a conclusion not later than 7 p.m. today by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall in relation to amendments include only amendments set down by the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Private Members' Business will be No. 63.
Order of Business.
Can the Taoiseach say if it is intended to change the procedure for Question Time and, if so, what has he in mind in this regard?
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
It is something that concerns everyone in this House.
If that were to be the criterion for what might arise on the Order of Business, we would have a very long session.
Would the Taoiseach like to indicate when the Dublin Transport Authority Bill will be before the House?
It is at a very advanced stage.
I have been getting the put-off for about six months. Can the Taoiseach add anything to what he has said?
Only that the Deputy will not be put off much longer.
The same phrases were used six months ago.
And I was naive enough to believe what I was told on those other occasions.
Can either the Taoiseach or the Minister for Labour say when it is proposed to introduce legislation to implement the recommendations of the Costello Tribunal on the Whiddy disaster? I am asking the question in the light of an announcement that was made just before Christmas to the effect that Whiddy is to reopen and it cannot reopen until the tribunal's recommendations are implemented. I understand that will have to be by way of legislation and I am asking whether the legislation will be introduced in this session.
I cannot answer that offhand but I will communicate with the Deputy in the matter.
At least that is a more honest approach.
When is it proposed to bring before the House the independent local radio authority Bill, a Bill that was promised twice during the last session?
That, too, is at a very advanced stage of preparation. It is to be given final consideration by the Government in the immediate future and the Bill will be before the House early in the session.
In the light of the promise made in 1984, can the Taoiseach state clearly that the Bill will be brought before the House early in this session, that it will be brought to the Dáil first rather than to the Seanad?
Certainly.
Can the Taoiseach assure me that the Bill will be brought to the Dáil first?
Yes.
As a matter of courtesy to the House, can the Taoiseach indicate whether there are proposals to change the procedure relating to Question Time and, if so, whether he is prepared to make them available to all of us?
I have ruled that out of order already on the basis that it does not arise on the Order of Business.
I am asking the Taoiseach to let us have the information as a matter of courtesy.
The Deputy may put down a question seeking the information.
In the light of media reports to this effect, is it not only reasonable that we would be told whether there are any such proposals?
If I were to allow every hare raised in the newspapers to be followed here we would have quite a bit of coursing.
Can the Taoiseach tell us when we may expect a statement announcing the date of the local elections?
I would require notice of that question. The local elections will be held at a specified time—in the month of June — but the date has not been decided on yet. It will be announced in due course.
This year?
Yes.
Perhaps Mr. Peter Prendergast can supply the information.
When will the Bills dealing with the proposed changes in the boundaries and in the structure of urban local authorities be brought before the House?
As part of their content at least, these Bills depend on the work of the two independent commissions established by the Government and who are to report by the end of February. It will be in the light of the recommendations of those commissions that the legislation will be drafted. It will be drafted rapidly and brought before the House as soon as possible.
May we take it that the Bills will be brought before the House early in March?
The legislation will be brought before the House as early as it is possible physically to draft it after receiving the recommendations of the two commissions.
The Taoiseach will probably be aware that a number of people on this side of the House suspect that the legislation has been drafted already.
The Deputy should reconsider that remark. We have appointed two independent commissions with certain terms of reference and it is a matter for those commissions to recommend what should be done. We have not made up our minds or predetermined anything. When the recommendations are made to us we will bring them before the House.
Time will tell.
Can the Taoiseach tell us when it is intended to introduce the legislation that has been promised by himself and by several Government Ministers regarding the creation of free port facilities in Cork Harbour?
That legislation, I am glad to say, is at an advanced stage.
On a number of occasions some of my colleagues and I have been fobbed off in this House with that sort of answer.
Has the Deputy a question?
Can we have a specific date or at least an assurance that the legislation will be introduced in this session?
Of course.
On what date may we expect the legislation?
I will make the announcement.
It is about time the Minister announced something for Cork and when he makes the announcement he will not be booed.
Is the Taoiseach in a position to indicate when he proposes introducing legislation to implement the Fourth Directive of the EC on company law?
Is that, too, at an advanced stage of preparation?
Or at an advanced stage of decomposition?
The legislation will be introduced during this session.
Is the Taoiseach aware that on 23 October last the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism said he proposed circulating the Bill in the then session? Now the Taoiseach is indicating that it might be ready during this session.
It was hoped to circulate it but the Bill will be before the House this session.
When do the Government intend to introduce legislation to implement the decision of the people in the recent referendum when it was decided to extend the vote in certain cases to non-citizens?
(Interruptions.)
That legislation is at an advanced stage also.
(Interruptions.)
The Deputies are picking out all the Bills that are coming forward in the near future. They have made a very good choice.
I put down two questions on Private Notice, one about the pink card system for travellers entering Britain and the other about pensions for former Irish Shipping employees and both of them were ruled out of order——
(Interruptions.)
I should not express surprise but I cannot understand the principles on which the Ceann Comhairle is working in order to rule them out of order.
If the Deputy and myself get together I will be able to explain the principles to him.
I put down a Private Notice Question in relation to legal costs being made available from the Minister for Justice to the Hayes family who are involved in a judicial inquiry in Kerry and it was refused.
The Deputy was told why it was refused. I am not saying what I am going to say now in relation to Deputy McEllistrim's question alone but one of the major criteria for allowing Private Notice Questions is that there is not enough time to put them down for ordinary questions. The Deputy handed in his question on 2 January.
I handed mine in today in relation to the pink card system that came into operation last Friday.
The reply I got is not relevant, the case is going ahead and these people are in suspense to know if they will get the costs.
The question is down on ordinary notice, I am not going to argue about it.
(Interruptions.)
I seek permission to raise the matter on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with Deputy McEllistrim.
I had a private Notice Question about one of my constituents, one of many people being held since Christmas under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. This man was taken off the B & I boat yesterday and is still being held. I was told this was not urgent but this perfectly respectable person is still in detention along with many others. How does that not come within the ambit of urgent business?
Deputy Ahern is now arguing with the Chair and I will not have an argument.
The Chair gave some explanation to the House about urgency and the considerations that decided whether or not the Chair allowed a Private Notice Question. Surely following on that the Chair should indicate to Deputy Ahern at least, whether or not the fact that a man is in jail is a matter of urgency?
I am not going to do so, Deputy. Every time the Chair yields a fraction of an inch Deputy Haughey convinces him that he was foolish for doing so. In other words, because I give a general ——
(Interruptions.)
Will the Chair kindly elaborate on that rather bizarre statement? In order that I might conduct myself in an orderly fashion will the Chair kindly indicate to me in what way I am transgressing ——
I did not say anything about the Deputy.
The Chair said something about giving an inch.
(Interruptions.)
Does the Chair not think that if a man is deprived of his liberty in a foreign country, it is a matter of urgency?
I can honestly say that if all Deputies in this House devoted a fraction of their energy to changing Standing Orders they would probably get where they wanted to get and make it much easier for the Chair. The Chair is bound by Standing Orders.
We are accepting in this case the question of urgency. I want the Chair to indicate, so that in future I can instruct my front bench and my Deputies how to behave in an orderly fashion, under what use of language an unfortunate man being cast into jail is not a matter of urgency, at least for that man, whatever about you.
The Deputy knows where my office is.
(Interruptions.)
I should be in that office myself but I very kindly gave it to you.
(Interruptions.)
Sometimes I am inclined to regret it.
(Interruptions.)
I have taken that into consideration. The Deputy will be very welcome in my office and not alone will I explain what he wants to know in an orderly way but I might even be exceptional and provide a little hospitality.
In view of the continuing situation on the sub-Saharan continent I would like to raise the subject matter of Question No. 15 on the Order Paper on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy.