Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 19 Feb 1986

Vol. 363 No. 14

Order of Business.

The Tánaiste

It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 1, 20, 21, 22 and 23.

By agreement, the Dáil shall sit later than 9 p.m. today and not later than 11 p.m. and business shall be interrupted at 10.30 p.m. Also by agreement, the proceedings on the remaining Stages of item 20 shall be brought to a conclusion not later than 1.30 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 Communications.

Also by agreement, the proceedings on the remaining Stages of item 21 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 Health.

Also by agreement, item 23 shall be taken at 8.30 p.m., if not reached earlier. Private Members' Business shall be No. 44.

An Ceann Comhairle

Is it agreed that the Dáil shall sit not later than 11 p.m. and are the arrangements for taking items 20 and 21 agreed? Agreed. So far as it is necessary, are the arrangements with regard to item 23 agreed? Agreed.

Mr. Haughey

May I ask the Tánaiste if his attention has been drawn to a statement by the newly appointed Minister of State, Deputy Avril Doyle, with regard to the Arts Council? In view of that statement, is he in a position to tell the House if it is the intention of the Government to dismiss the present Arts Council?

An Ceann Comhairle

That does not arise on the Order of Business.

Mr. Haughey

The Tánaiste is doing something with his head.

An Ceann Comhairle

I am not responsible for the Tánaiste's head.

Mr. Haughey

I know the Government find it difficult to communicate with each other——

The Tánaiste

My attention has not been drawn to the statement——

Mr. Haughey

I cannot hear the Tánaiste. Does he mean that a Minister of State can unilaterally dismiss a State body?

(Interruptions.)

Mr. Haughey

Has the Minister's demotion to Justice encouraged him to be even more disorderly than when he was Minister for Finance?

An Ceann Comhairle

Order.

Mr. Dukes

I always like to give good advice.

An Ceann Comhairle

I ask Members of the House to leave the matter to the Chair.

Mr. Haughey

I name Deputy Dukes for being disorderly.

An Ceann Comhairle

There is an impression abroad that Members name Deputies. That is not so. If there is any naming to be done the Chair will do it.

Mr. Haughey

My understanding was that the Chair asked a member of the Government to name somebody.

An Ceann Comhairle

That is not so. I asked a member of the Government for a suspension, the Chair having named the Deputy.

Mr. Haughey

Therefore this Minister for Justice can continue to be disorderly in the House? May I take it that the Arts Council are secure for the moment?

An Ceann Comhairle

If the Deputy wishes to pursue that matter I am sure he will find another way of doing it.

Mr. Wilson

I got one of your love letters——

An Ceann Comhairle

I have no observation to make on that.

Mr. Wilson

——saying that the Minister for Communications had no responsibility in relation to the purchase of a ship or ships for a new deep sea fleet. This puzzles me because the committee he set up advocated the setting up of a deep sea fleet.

An Ceann Comhairle

Whatever description the Deputy may put on the letter, he cannot raise the matter here.

Mr. Wilson

Although both Deputy Kelly and I resent this, I can see that the liquidator can be used as a kind of umbrella——

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy may not realise it but he is——

Mr. Wilson

This part has nothing to do with the——

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy Wilson may not realise it, but he is questioning the ruling of the Chair and that is not in order. I am sure the Deputy would not wish to do it. Could we get on to the next business?

Mr. Wilson

The Chair knows perfectly well that there is no way I would challenge his authority.

(Interruptions.)

Mr. Wilson

But I am puzzled. I got this letter only this morning and I am very puzzled by it.

An Ceann Comhairle

I am sorry that the Deputy is puzzled. Can we get on to the next business?

(Interruptions.)

Mr. Wilson

Would the Chair undertake to let me know how I can ask if he is going to start buying ships for a deep sea fleet?

An Ceann Comhairle

I will look at it.

Mr. Leyden

I wish to ask the Minister for Labour if he would intervene in relation to the postal dispute at Sheriff Street which is affecting the main delivery in the city.

An Ceann Comhairle

It does not arise.

Mr. Leyden

The Minister should take an interest in this dispute and try to bring it to an end.

An Ceann Comhairle

Item No. 1.

Mr. P. Gallagher

Because of the alarming details raised in a recent publication in a national newspaper regarding the disbursement of finance from Roinn na Gaeltachta to repair roads for individual houses in the Gaeltacht, I contend that this was an expenditure——

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy cannot raise that here. If the Deputy were to raise everything that appears in the national newspapers we would never get anywhere.

Mr. P. Gallagher

I tried to raise it in the House on a number of occasions and the Minister for Finance, standing in for the Minister for the Gaeltacht, said it was quite in order. I contend that it is——

An Ceann Comhairle

I am sure the Deputy will find a way of mentioning it on the budget debate which is before the House.

Mr. P. Gallagher

With the permission of the Chair I hope to raise it this evening on the Adjournment.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. Wilson

I have one other point. Mr. Tempany, the liquidator of Irish Shipping, is in Marseilles this morning, so I would like to know from the Minister for Communications if he has any intention of saving the Irish Spruce for the Irish nation.

An Ceann Comhairle

This is an ad hoc impromptu question and we cannot have it. Item No. 1.