It is proposed to take Nos. 6, 1 and 7.
Order of Business.
Item No. 6, Control of Clinical Trials Bill.
May I ask you first, Sir, if you intend to establish whether the Order of Business is agreed?
It is the prerogative of the Taoiseach to decide the Order of Business.
It has been a custom of the House, a Cheann Comhairle, to have——
It is not necessary for me to do so.
Also on the Order of Business I should like to ask the Taoiseach if he could indicate to the House when he intends to bring forward a programme of law reform in the areas of judicial separation, the age of marriage and other matters on which a consensus seemed to emerge during the course of the last referendum debate.
I have no particular plans to bring forward any such programme.
I regret to hear that because once the Taoiseach's party had decided which side of the fence they were sitting on during the course of that debate they showed a degree of enthusiasm for other areas of law reform.
The question was raised on the Order of Business. A reply has been given and it may not be debated now.
May I ask then, a Cheann Comhairle, further to that on a different matter if the Government will make time available in the House to discuss the recent UK report on the effects of the Chernobyl disaster?
I will consider that.
(Limerick East): Would the Taoiseach inform the House if the method of appointing senior civil servants has been changed or if the appointment of the secretary to the Department of Finance is a once off event?
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
A Cheann Comhairle, on the Order of Business, could I ask the Taoiseach if following his visit to west Cork he would indicate which Minister within his Government has overall responsibility for co-ordinating the activities relating to the pollution caused by the Kowloon Bridge ship-wreck?
There will, of necessity, be two Ministers directly involved. Primary responsibility will rest on the Minister for the Environment with regard to the environmental aspects and, of course, the Minister for the Marine will have responsibility for the maritime aspects. I hope to take a personal interest in the matter and between myself and my colleagues to co-ordinate the efforts which have to be undertaken in regard to it.
May I say that the co-ordination has not got very far seeing that Question No. 19 on the Order Paper addressed to the Minister for the Marine——
Has the Deputy a question on the Order of Business?
(Interruptions.)
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the Government's decision relating to the top level appointments committee with regard to the appointment of the secretary to the Department of Finance.
I will communicate with Deputy Desmond on the matter. Was Deputy Boland offering?
Could the Minister for the Environment tell the House whether it is proposed to introduce legislation either to modify or abandon the scheme of new house grants or house improvement grants presently in operation?
Item No. 6.
I asked if legislation is going to be introduced.
(Interruptions.)
I have called Item No. 6.