It is proposed to take Item No. 5. It is also proposed that the following arrangements shall apply for the debate on Item No. 5: (a) the speech of the opening speaker for each of the groups as defined in Standing Order 89 (1) (a) shall not exceed 40 minutes; (b) the speech of each other Member called on shall not exceed 20 minutes; (c) the Taoiseach shall be called on to conclude the debate not later than 6.40 p.m. Private Members' Business shall be Item No. 33.
Order of Business.
I observe that Deputy Tomás Mac Giolla wishes to speak.
I wish to oppose the Order of Business particularly as set out in paragraph (a) which states that the speech of the opening speaker for each of the groups as defined in Standing Order 89 (1) (a) shall not exceed 40 minutes. That is designed to exclude The Workers' Party from this area and I wish to register my objection to that. In fact, The Workers' Party are the only party in this House who are organised both in Northern Ireland and in this State. I wish to oppose the Order of Business. I hope The Workers' Party will be given equal treatment with the other parties.
I am formally putting the question. The question is: "That the proposed arrangements in relation to the debate on No. 5 be agreed".
Question put and declared carried.
I wish to ask the Taoiseach when regulations under the Air Pollution Act will be published so as to take under control the very serious air pollution problem we have, especially in Ballyfermot, in my constituency.
I will communicate with the Deputy. I will give him a considered reply to that.
May I have a reply on tomorrow's Order of Business?
Yes.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the accident at the Inniscarra dam in December 1987 which flooded a wide area of my constituency, caused extensive damage and put lives at risk. I wish to raise the possibility of a departmental inquiry into the circumstances of that accident.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the same question I sought to raise yesterday, in relation to the killing of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
I will be in touch with the Deputy.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the failure of the Government to proceed with the legislation to set up the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Authority.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the extensive damage done to the coastline of Clare as a result of the recent storms.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to repeat my request of the last two weeks to raise on the Adjournment the situation in Crumlin Children's Hospital with regard to heart surgery.
I will be in touch with the Deputy.
Yesterday I had a question in my name for written reply. I asked whether the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases had decreased because of the availability of condoms but the Minister was not in a position to say whether it had or had not. In view of the serious nature of the reply and the lack of information available, I wish to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy.