It is proposed to take Nos. 1 and 12, Votes 35 and 36. By agreement, the Dáil shall sit later then 5.30 p.m. today and not later than 12 midnight and business shall be interrupted at 11.30 p.m. The sitting shall be suspended from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Dáil shall meet at 10.30 a.m. tomorrow and shall adjourn not later than 4 p.m. and business shall be confined to Estimates for the Public Services. Also by agreement, if a division is challenged on the motion for the Second Reading of the Farm Tax Bill, 1985, today the taking of such division shall be postponed until 8.30 p.m. next Tuesday. Also by agreement, Votes 35 and 36 shall be taken at 6 p.m., if not reached earlier, and the proceedings thereon shall be brought to a conclusion not later than 11.30 p.m. and the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry shall be called on to conclude not later than 11 p.m. Also by agreement, if a division is challenged on any Estimate today, the taking of such division shall be postponed until 8.30 p.m. next Wednesday.
Order of Business.
Are the arrangments for the time of sittings today and tomorrow agreed?
Agreed.
Are the arrangements for the taking of Item 12 today agreed?
Agreed.
Finally, is it agreed that if any division is called on an Estimate today it shall be postponed until next Wednesday?
Agreed.
For the purposes of clarification, is it also agreed that if a division is called on the Farm Tax Bill today it shall be postponed until next Tuesday?
Agreed.
Will the Taoiseach inform the House of the present position of the legislative package or administrative changes orders that need to be made to give legal effect to decisions regarding local government reorganisation, the three new councils in Dublin County Council area and the metropolitan council? What timescale has the Taoiseach in mind?
The necessary legislation will be introduced in the autumn. Following that, the process of what we might call administrative disentanglement will have to take place. That will necessarily be preceded by consultations. These consultations have already started. It is not possible to say when the legislation will come into effect, but clearly we would wish it to come into effect as soon as possible after it had been passed and after consultations had taken place with the staff interests involved.
Does the Taoiseach envisage the three councils being established as legal entities within the next 18 months?
I certainly hope so and I would be very disappointed if that was not the case. However, it is necessary to have consultations with the staff interests involved and these have started on a very constructive note.
Could the Taoiseach say when legislation regarding the devolution of powers from the Department to local councils will be brought before the House, particularly in regard to the administration of housing grants which was one of the commitments made by the Government?
In so far as legislation is necessary for these measures of devolution — which would not necessarily be the case in every instance — I hope that will also be introduced in the autumn so that the devolution process can take place as rapidly as possible.
Is it intended to introduce legislation in this regard in the autumn?
Yes, in so far as legislation is required. The Deputy will appreciate that not all of the measures will require legislation.
In the case of the devolution measures which do not require legislation, when will ministerial orders be made?
As soon as the necessary arrangements can be made.
Will they be made during the summer recess?
It depends on the particular instance. I cannot answer the Deputy now in regard to each individual item, nor would he expect me to. In some cases, administrative arrangements may have to be made which will take a bit longer to implement. In other cases, the procedures could be quite rapid.
I can understand that.