It is proposed to take Nos. 14, 7, 8, 15 and 16. It is also proposed that Nos. 7, 8 and 15 shall be taken together for the purposes of debate.
Order of Business.
I should like to raise on the Adjournment the strike at the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. I asked permission in respect of this yesterday but I appreciate that other matters took precedence. It is a matter on which there would be all-party contributions and in view of the fact that the strike has been running for many months I am anxious that it should be——
The Deputy need not elaborate now. I will communicate with him.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the reported exclusion of people under 18 years from participation in AnCO and other training courses. It would be helpful to the House to have information on this before the debate on the Estimates begins next week.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
May I ask the Taoiseach or the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether, pursuant to the election programme which their party put forward at the time of the election and in the light of increasing evidence about obvious exploitation of consumers, it is proposed to introduce any legislation in the near future to protect consumer interests, particularly in view of the rip-off which many people are enduring. There was increasing evidence in this regard last night on television——
That is not in order now, Deputy.
The Fianna Fáil election programme undertook to take consumer interests into account and I am asking if any legislation is pending.
I am not aware that any legislation is promised.
I am drawing your attention to it.
God bless your innocence.
I am one of a number of Deputies who intended to ask you to consider allowing the ISPCC dispute to be raised on the Adjournment. I am aware that other Deputies are in a similar position and I should like to support Deputy McCartan's request.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
Can the Taoiseach clarify the Government's position in relation to EC Directive 85/339 which relates to the banning of beer beverage cans? Is he aware that we are one of the largest producers in the world in this regard and that there is a £12 million investment——
The Deputy will have to find another opportunity of raising that matter.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the abolition of the National Social Services Board.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
Will the Taoiseach clarify with the Minister for Agriculture and Food and his Minister of State who is the real Minister for Agriculture and Food so that they will not make a show of themselves again in Europe?
I should also like to add my voice to the request for an Adjournment debate on the ISPCC dispute together with Deputies McCartan and Higgins in the light of the fact that an allparty committee has been working on this.
I am aware of the request and I will communicate with you in the matter. I should now advise the House that item No. 14 should have read "Order for Second Stage".