It is proposed to take Nos. 4, 5, 6 and 22. Private Members' Business will be No. 46.
Order of Business.
Can the Taoiseach say if it is now the position that the Government reluctantly, and having been dragged into doing so, propose to allow time for a two-day debate Thursday and Friday of this week — to consider a very well justified motion of no confidence?
The Government are prepared to allow a two-day debate. Originally we offered a one day debate and I understand that was accepted but subsequently the Opposition changed their minds.
A one day debate was not accepted.
In the light of their having changed their minds we accept their latest view.
The Taoiseach should tell the truth.
(Interruptions.)
Order, please.
He will not be able to tell lies in Madame Tussauds.
Waxy Taoiseach.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the decision of the Minister for Education to close down the Cappanalea outdoor education centre in Killorglin, County Kerry with effect from 28 February.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
On a point of order, will the Taoiseach confirm the claim of Deputy Creed, as reported in yesterday's Cork Examiner, that the Taoiseach told a lie in the House on Thursday last and thereby misled the House?
That is not a point of order.
Will the Taoiseach confirm whether Deputy Creed was correct in that statement?
The Deputy is not in order. He will have an opportunity to raise such matters on Thursday and Friday.
Is the Taoiseach prepared to confirm that Deputy Creed told the truth when he said that the Taoiseach told lies?
The Deputy must resume his seat.
(Interruptions.)
Order, please.
The Deputy should take a valium.
I must intervene at this stage in regard to the word "lie" in all its forms. I listened carefully to the remarks of Deputy Haughey in regard to the words, "lie" and "untruth". The words used by the Deputy were in order and within the precedents of the House but I get the impression that that seems to be taken as a licence to use the term "lie" freely and to use it also in all its shapes and forms.
(Interruptions.)
Order, please. The Chair should be given the respect of a hearing. I have the book of precedents here and these go back to the foundation of the State. There are approximately two pages of these precedents all of which make it perfectly clear that an allegation that a person is telling a lie is not in order. I have had this book here for some considerable time and I will summarise the ruling in regard to that word. It is that the use of the word "lie" or words which imply a lie cannot be allowed, that otherwise the conduct of debate in an orderly and dignified way would become an impossibility. That is the position and I am now calling for order.
On a point of order, I am merely asking the Taoiseach ——
The Deputy is not in order in asking any question.
You are presuming to know what the question is.
We know the Deputy is a gurrier.
I did not make any allegation in regard to lies. I am only asking the Taoiseach if he is prepared to confirm what one of his own colleagues is reported as saying, that is that the Taoiseach told lies.
The Deputy is not in order. He will resume his seat quickly.
You referred to the book of precedents and said that these precedents go back to the foundation of the State but on a point of order may I ask if there is any precedent in that book for a Taoiseach coming here on a Thursday evening to make a statement and then a few days later having to come back and say he misled the House?
That is not in order.
On the basis of what we have heard here today we ought to know whether there is any such precedent.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the matter of the continuing deplorable delays in the carrying out of inspections throughout the country for the purpose of the housing reconstruction grants.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
There are plenty of applications being dealt with in my constituency.
The Deputy should go back to his gombeen men.
There are no gombeen men in west Cork, only true Irishmen.
What are the Government doing with the £40 million that was intended for Bantry.
What did the Deputy's party ever give to Bantry?
(Interruptions.)
I am appealing to Deputies on all sides to behave themselves and to allow the business of the House to continue.
Could I once again ask the Taoiseach or the Minister for the time being responsible when we will have the Book of Estimates to enable us to adhere to proper procedure in the House? I would impress on the Chair, particularly today, in view of the fact that unless we do other Ministers face the risk of summary execution like their colleaguse who have gone into——
Deputy O'Kennedy, please, I have allowed the question——
(Interruptions.)
It is vitally important.
——but I cannot allow a speech.
Two Ministers have been fired——
Deputy O'Kennedy is one of the greatest offenders against Standing Orders in this House.
(Interruptions.)
Would the Taoiseach please tell us when we will get the Book of Estimates?
There is no change in normal procedures under which where changes in the Estimates announced in the budget to the Book of Estimates are advised and prepared, and they will be made available as soon as possible. The Deputy is well aware of precedent.
I want to pursue that.
You cannot, Deputy. The Deputy may pursue it in the budget debate.
I am talking about the order.
(Interruptions.)
Deputy O'Kennedy will resume his seat.
(Interruptions.)
On a point of order.
I hope you have a point of order.
I will be advised by the Chair on the point of order which goes to the root of orders in the House. I understand we are about to resume debate on the budget. I want the advice of the Chair as to how we proceed when we do not have the Estimates yet on which that debate is to be based.
(Interruptions.)
If the Chair can tell me how that can be properly done I will be satisfied.
(Interruptions.)
Will the Deputy sit down?
(Interruptions.)
Will Deputy O'Kennedy resume his seat?
(Interruptions.)
Order, please.
(Interruptions.)
This is a positive disgrace. The House should be ashamed of itself. Deputy O'Kennedy can make the point he is making now on the budget debate, or get somebody to make it for him.
That is not the point. I am asking for a ruling on a point of order.
It is not a point of order. The Chair has no control over this.
(Interruptions.)
I must ask Deputy O'Kennedy——
(Interruptions.)
If Deputy O'Kennedy does not resume his seat I will have to invoke Standing Orders.
This is a point of order.
Deputy Woods.
In relation to the Order of Business for today, items No. 4 and 5 were mentioned and they concern justice. Will the Taoiseach say when it is intended to bring item No. 28 back into the House as it seems to have been forgotten by the Government. It is the Garda Síochána (Complaints) Bill. It is now nearly a month since it was in the House previously.
It is a matter for the Whips but I hope it will be before the House as soon as possible.
Item No. 4.
Is it the Government's intention to go ahead with that business or to put other business in before it? This is relevant to the agreement about the introduction of the Second Stage of other business on the order Paper.
We are anxious to go ahead with it as soon as possible.
Item No. 4.
In relation to the Order of Business, when will item No. 30 on the Order Paper, the Local Radio Bill, 1985 be reintroduced in the Dáil? During the Taoiseach's recent reshuffle did the Taoiseach consider that the Minister for Communications——
I am allowing a question but not a speech.
——after three and a half years was unable to bring forward a Bill to legalise local radio?
(Interruptions.)
I already answered that question the other day. We will bring that Bill into the House during this session.
As soon as possible.
Is the Taoiseach aware that the Second Stage Reading took place in July——
I will not allow a cross-examination on it, Deputy.
——1985 and that Deputy Frank Cluskey is preventing this Bill coming before this House today?
(Interruptions.)
Item No. 4.