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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 30 Apr 1986

Vol. 365 No. 11

Order of Business.

It is proposed to take Nos. 22, 23, 5, 6 and 24. 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 Committee Stage of No. 22 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 Justice. Also by agreement, the proceedings on the remaining Stages of No. 23 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 Justice. Also by agreement, it is proposed that the Order for Committee Stage of the Finance Bill, 1986, which was to be taken on 6 May 1986 be discharged and that the Bill be taken tomorrow, 1 May 1986. Private Members' Business shall be No. 46.

Are the arrangements for the late sitting and for taking Items Nos. 22 and 23 agreed?

May I ask the Government and the Opposition Whips to reconsider the agreement that No. 23 be dealt with and finalised by 7 o'clock this evening? There is a substantial number of amendments tabled to that measure and on the basis that discussion on them will not start before 3.45 p.m., I do not see how the House can do its job realistically and properly on Committee and Report Stages. I would ask that that matter be given further consideration.

To whom is the Deputy talking?

We agree with the Order of Business.

I have sought agreement on those three items.

We agree. We had not given our agreement before this unruly Deputy interrupted.

Any Deputy is entitled to speak.

I wish to raise a matter on the Order of Business, if I may.

Not on the Order of Business, but Deputy Haughey may speak on the proposal that agreement be given to the late sitting and the procedure for taking Nos. 22 and 23. If the House prefers, I will but them separately.

I told the Chair as graciously as I normally do that that procedure is agreed. I wish to raise a very important matter concerning the Government's business. I am asking the Taoiseach, in view of newspaper reports to the effect that the Minister for Foreign Affairs has been appointed director of the Government's campaign in the divorce referendum, will Deputy Peter Barry continue to carry out his duties as Minister for Foreign Affairs, or will the Taoiseach appoint somebody in his stead, or can we expect another restructuring of the Cabinet?

The Deputy cannot even read the newspapers right. Deputy Barry will be director of the Fine Gael campaign, not the Government campaign.

In view of that comment, may I have the Tánaiste's comments?

I should like to ask the Minister for Education if he will make a statement on the present state of the talks in the teachers' dispute which is a matter of great concern to the country.

It does not arise on the Order of Business.

The Deputy had his chance to vote and he did not do so.

Would the Minister consider making a statement during the day?

The Deputy should take that up with the Whips.

Could I ask the Taoiseach on the Order of Business when it is proposed to introduce the Control of Dogs Bill which has been with the Government now for over two years?

Does the Deputy think it is necessary?

The situation is serious.

This session.

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