It is proposed to take No. 5. By agreement, the following arrangements shall apply: (1) The speech of each Member contributing to the debate today shall not exceed 20 minutes, with the exception of the Minister for Education and the opening speaker for the main Opposition party, who shall not exceed 45 minutes. (2) The Minister for Education shall be called on to conclude not later than 4.30 p.m. today and the question or questions necessary to bring the proceedings to a conclusion shall be put forthwith and successively at 4.45 p.m. today.
Order of Business.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the proposed closure of Carysfort College.
Has a protest been made to the British Government in regard to the most recent discharge of nuclear waste from Sellafield?
You are out of order.
This is a most serious matter.
Will the Deputy resume his seat.
Put him out.
Is it the Taoiseach's intention to make a statement regarding the recurrent discharges from Sellafield? It is a danger to this nation. Would the Taoiseach demand from the British Government that they close the plant immediately?
The Deputy can approach the Whips and request permission to raise the matter.
Perhaps the Taoiseach would wish to make a statement on it.
The Taoiseach should not be afraid to answer.
I will communicate with Deputy Brady.
Would the Taoiseach state if it is intended to introduce a Bill to establish an Irish deep sea fleet in view of the fact that quite recently there have been legal proceedings in Hong Kong and a French legal opinion given that the Irish Spruce could be taken out of Marseilles and that there is no law to hold it there? Those who are manning that ship are not being paid by the liquidator.
As far as I know there has not been a promise to bring in legislation on this matter.
This of of great importance not only to the crew——
It may be, but the Deputy will have to find another way to raise it.
(Interruptions.)
Order.
This is not a matter for clowning.
The Chair must have order. I would draw the attention of Deputies to the fact that we will be having a confined debate and we should get on to it. The Chair would request Deputies not to put him in an embarrassing position in certain eventualities.
Mr. Coughlan
In view of the serious situation in the Sligo and Letterkenny General Hospitals in regard to the dialysis service, I wish to draw the attention of the Minister for Health to the seriousness——
The Deputy cannot do it in that way. You are a very orderly Deputy.
Mr. Coughlan
I wish to establish what this is all about.
If the Deputy has a request I will hear him. I will communicate with him.
On a number of occasions I submitted questions in relation to exchange rate policy. On the last occasion you indicated to me it is not a matter of Government policy. In any event, Government policy has not changed.
It is not in order to raise it in this way.
I accept your ruling but the last notification I got from your office was that this was a matter exclusively for the Central Bank and that Government policy had not changed.
If the Deputy wishes to come to my office I will discuss it with him.
There are three grounds on which Government policy has changed——
I will not allow this. The Deputy is abusing the process of the House.
It is Government policy which has given rise——
The Deputy must resume his seat.
(Interruptions.)
It is because of Government policy that——
The Deputy should not blame me.
The Deputy does not understand anything.
Could I ask the Taoiseach when it is proposed to bring the Poverty Agency Bill before the House?
That is very appropriate; you could call them the poverty agency.
It is hoped to introduce it during the present session.
It is two years since the Cork Task Force were appointed and I should like to know the reason for the delay in taking the remaining stages of the Bill dealing with free ports.
It will be taken at the first available opportunity and it is a matter for the Whips.
I should like to raise on the Adjournment the question of St. Dympna's Hospital, Carlow.
An assurance was given by the Minister for the Environment during the last session and by the Taoiseach on the last day of the session that the clean air Act would be introduced after the Christmas recess. Could the Taoiseach given an assurance now that this legislation will be forthcoming during the next two weeks? If he has a date in mind could he tell the House when it will be presented?
It is ready for publication.
When will the Taoiseach introduce the legislation?
It is intended to introduce it in the Seanad within the next couple of weeks.
Deputy O'Kennedy rose.
Please, Deputy.
I wish to call to your office——
You will be very welcome.
It is important to clarify this matter.
I wish to raise the matter of Irish Shipping on the Adjournment.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the question of the authorised share capital for Comhlucht Siúicre Éireann Teoranta.
I will communicate with the Deputies.