It is proposed to take Nos. 5 to 23, inclusive, and No. 39. By agreement, the Dáil shall meet at 10.30 a.m. tomorrow and shall adjourn not later than 4 p.m. The business shall be confined to Estimates of the Public Service.
Order of Business.
May I ask the Taoiseach if he will confirm or deny the statement by a senior Civil Defence officer that there is no plan for a peace time nuclear disaster — say for example, Sellafield, as reported in this morning's newspaper? The Taoiseach finds it something to smile about and to be amused about. It is not a matter that the Irish people feel the slightest bit amused about.
The Deputy is not in order.
May I ask the Taoiseach——
I apologise for smiling at the blatant opportunism of the Deputy.
—— if he considers that the safety of the Irish people is not a matter of importance?
I have ruled that out of order and I ask the Deputy to accept the Chair's ruling.
On the Order of Business I would ask the Taoiseach, in view of his responsibility and that of his Government in regard to the chief executive of the Nuclear Energy Board, what action he is prepared to take——
The Deputy will have to find another way of raising the matter.
This is a very serious matter and I wish to give notice that I wish to raise it on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
Is the Taoiseach prepared to take action against Dr. Nolan who has been guilty of serious irresponsibility?
If the Chair is not allowed to have control of the House it is impossible to run the business of the House. The first elementary rule is that when the Chair stands up there should be silence. I want to impress that on Deputies.
Perhaps I could make a suggestion to the Taoiseach and to the House. There is obviously very considerable anxiety and worry about this whole nuclear problem. Would I be in order in asking the Taoiseach to say whether or not the Government would give some time today or tomorrow, either by way of statement or otherwise——
That is not in order.
The Chair realises as well as I do that it is a matter of accident that our Irish children are not queueing up at hospitals seeking medication against radioactivity as Polish children are.
The Deputy is out of order.
It is no wonder that this House has very serious disorderly scenes when a reasonable proposition of this kind will not be listened to.
Deputy Haughey is not in order. A practice has grown here where it is the House versus the Chair. That is not desirable. The Chair is here to implement Standing Orders and to apply the rules of the House made by the House. The Chair is not against anybody, he is for everybody and for order in the House. Day after day the situation arises where it is the House against the Chair. I appeal for an end to that.
Would I be in order pointing out to the Deputy that there will be a discussion in the Seanad today on this subject? He is fully aware of it and he is not making much sense in this House by pretending that he does not know that it has been requested and will take place in the Seanad. Playing games like that does not make sense in this House.
I will not accept those impertinent statements by the Taoiseach. They are disorderly. I am trying to conduct the business of this House as Leader of the Opposition and I am suggesting——
If the Chair——
The Chair did not stand up when the Taoiseach was speaking.
I pointed out in the beginning that this was out of order. When something that is out of order is raised then somebody else thinks he or she has the right to reply and we have a situation which is undesirable. I appeal to Deputies to accept the ruling of the Chair until the Orders of the House are changed.
On a point of order, I wish the Chair to take notice of the fact that the Taoiseach has made very serious accusations against me, that I am playing games about a matter of great importance. I am asking the Chair to ask the Taoiseach to withdraw that statement. I have put a serious proposition to the House.
I am ruling that what the Taoiseach said was no more than a political charge.
I repeat my proposal. I am not playing any games. I am simply voicing widespread public concern about this matter and I am asking the Taoiseach through the Chair to consider ——
I am ruling the Deputy out of order. I appeal to him to accept the ruling of the Chair.
Then, Sir, I ask you to rule the Taoiseach out of order in his gratuitously insulting remarks ——
It is well known that what the Taoiseach said is no more than a political charge. I am calling Deputy De Rossa.
With the permissison of the Chair, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the question of the extension of funding for the Suss Centre in Ballymun which is due to close very shortly.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
I would appreciate if the Chair would express concern regarding the lack of balance displayed on RTE, particularly in the "Today Tonight" programme, in relation to legislation that is before this House but not yet debated. RTE are taking a partisan approach in relation to advocating divorce. I am asking the Chair to protect the interests of Members. RTE are partial in their attitude ——
If the Deputy wishes to raise this matter at the Committee on Procedure and Privileges he has a way of doing that.
I think I am entitled to raise it in the House through the Chair.
The Chair is the protector of this House. The legislation has not yet been debated but RTE are taking a partisan view.
This is another example of trying to shout down the Chair. I am calling Deputy Mac Giolla.
Will the Taoiseach say when the Minister for Labour intends to bring to the House the proposed amendments and extension of the Worker Participation (State Enterprises) Act, 1977? He announced this in a statement two years ago on 12 July 1984.
During this session.
With the permission of the Chair, I should like to raise on the Adjournment the application for an extension for Lavall national school, Tuam.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
(Limerick West): I wish to ask the Taoiseach if he will allow the army to transport fodder to the western portion of the country where there is widespread starvation of cattle.
The Deputy is out of order. I ask him to resume his seat.
(Limerick West): This is a very serious matter.
It is starting this morning.
With the permission of the Chair, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the serious position of the farming community in Mayo due to the fodder crisis.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.