It is proposed to take Nos. 1, 7, 15, 16 and 17.
It is also proposed that Nos. 1 and 7 shall be taken without debate.
It is further proposed that there shall be no Private Members' Business this week.
Order of Business.
May I ask, in respect of Nos. 1 and 7, if it is agreed that they shall be taken without debate? Agreed.
May I ask if it is agreed that there shall be no Private Members' Business this week?
I sought to place an amendment before the House asking that the reference to there being no Private Members' Business be deleted as far as today is concerned. I asked instead that item No. 47 on list No. 2 of the Order Paper be taken. This relates specifically to the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank where Palestinians are being killed now on a daily basis by Israeli security forces. That amendment has been ruled out of order. I communicated by letter with the Taoiseach and last weekend the Chief Whip told me that no time could be found for a debate on this matter. For that reason, I oppose the deletion of Private Members' time this week. I urge the Taoiseach, even at this late stage, to allow a debate either tonight or tomorrow on this very urgent matter.
The Deputy may not table an amendment at this stage but he may, of course, oppose the Order of Business in the ordinary way.
Will the Taoiseach indicate whether a debate is likely to take place today or tomorrow, in view of the urgency of the matter?
That is a matter for the Whips to decide. I am putting the question: "That consideration of Government business be not interrupted today and tomorrow at the time fixed for the taking of Private Members' Business." Will the Members who are claiming a division please rise?
Deputies De Rossa, McCartan, Mac Giolla and Sherlock rose.
As fewer than ten Members have risen, I declare the question carried.
Question declared carried.
The names of the Members dissenting will be recorded in the Journal of the Proceedings of the Dáil.
I should like to ask the Taoiseach when the House will be given final and definitive information about the steps that are to be taken in connection with the setting up of a new commercial television channel. There has been a degree of uncertainty about this matter with the appearance being given from time to time that legislation would be required, statements then being made that no legislation would be required and the Government Information Service giving a different story from both the Taoiseach and the Minister. Could we have some clarification on this matter?
I may have misled the House on this matter, inadvertently. I think I misinterpreted the question put to me about legislation. Legislation will be required.
To make sure that this is beyond any doubt, is the Taoiseach saying it will be necessary to have legislation before the proposal to set up a commercial television channel can be proceeded with?
Yes.
I should like to ask the Taoiseach if the Government have arrived at a decision in relation to the necessity to set up an electoral boundaries commission to revise the constituencies, which I believe is necessary, and when they will be announcing it.
We have been very busy and totally committed to restoring the economy and our minds have not got round to other matters yet.
I should like to ask the Taoiseach, or the Minister for Industry and Commerce, if either of them will be good enough to make a statement, or facilitate the holding of a debate in the House, on the disposal by the IDA of advance factories? Will the Taoiseach, or the Minister, say whether this is a principle or a practice that will be pursued by other semi-State bodies?
That does not arise now. It is not a matter for the Order of Business.
I am asking that the Minister be afforded an opportunity to make a statement in the House on the matter.
The Deputy should put down a question about that matter.
I should like to ask the Taoiseach when the Government propose to provide time for the discussion of the Report Stage of the Bankruptcy Bill which has been on the Order Paper since last May? In regard to promised legislation, I should like to ask the Taoiseach when the proposed amendments to the legislation dealing with moneylenders, and other legislation, will be made in order to comply with the provisions of the EC directive on consumer credit?
The Bankruptcy Bill is a matter for the Whips, as the Deputy is aware. I will try to get information for the Deputy and try to see if it can be brought forward and brought to a conclusion.
Will the Taoiseach take a personal interest in this matter because I am sure he will agree that the activities of moneylenders ought to be more tightly regulated and that the opportunity of EC provisions on this matter should be availed of speedily by the Government? Will he endeavour to ensure that this matter which has been apparently dragging on for almost 12 months will be quickly brought before the House?
I will do that and communicate with the Deputy.
I should like to ask the Taoiseach to make available to the House in due course the report being sought by the Minister for Communications concerning the serious breach of section 31 of the Broadcasting Act on "Morning Ireland" this morning?
That does not arise now. It is not in order to pursue that matter now.
The broadcasting of a statement by a spokesperson on behalf of the Provisional IRA——
It is not in order to pursue that matter now.
I am more in order than RTE were this morning in broadcasting IRA propaganda.
Deputy Desmond should resume his seat; Deputy Noonan is in possession.
The Taoiseach may wish to reply to my question.
I must ask the Deputy to resume his seat and if he does not do so I shall have to proceed to name him.
This is grossly unfair.
It is uncalled for.
The Taoiseach should be entitled to give a reply to a serious breach of the Broadcasting Act.
I have called on Deputy Noonan and if he does not offer I shall go on to other business.
I wonder who is protecting whom.
(Limerick East): Is the Taoiseach aware that a recent publication issued by the Industrial Development Authority for industrial promotion purposes has erased the mid-western region from the development map of Ireland? Does that accord with Government policy for the region?
That does not arise.
(Limerick East): My question concerns legislation, I want to finish my sentence.
Is legislation promised?
(Limerick East): I want to ask the Taoiseach if he intends to introduce legislation to delineate the relationship between SFADCo and the IDA in the region?
No legislation is promised.
I am grateful to the Taoiseach for his statement that legislation will be introduced to provide for an independent television channel. I should like to ask the Taoiseach to elaborate on the scope of the proposed Bill. Will he confirm that there will be open competition for the television channel and that that will be provided for in the legislation?
I will not allow the Deputy to go back on that question.
It is a very central question, as the Taoiseach did mislead the House last week.
In view of the consistently conflicting statements made by the Minister for the Environment as to whether legislation is to be introduced in the House to enable the introduction of a domestic property tax, will the Taoiseach state in a definitive way whether the Government intend to introduce such legislation and, if so, will it contain a proposal to introduce a levy to transfer moneys——
Has this legislation been promised?
It was promised on days which do not have an "S" in the name. It was promised on Monday but denied on Wednesday.
It has been threatened.
Will the Taoiseach indicate if it is being introduced?
I should like permission to raise on the Adjournment the problem of the proliferation of illegal gaming in amusement halls in the city of Dublin and the non-enforcement of the law in them.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I should like permission to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of Question No. 56 on Wednesday, 2 March 1988 and the reply given by the Minister for Industry and Commerce to the effect that there was no full bovine tanning activity in Ireland despite the huge unemployment figures and the availability of splendid facilities in Carrick-on-Suir.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
In view of the refusal of the Chair to permit the Taoiseach to reply to my question, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the transmission of a statement by RTE on "Morning Ireland" this morning by a spokesperson of the Provisional IRA in contravention of section 31 of the Broadcasting Act.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I look forward to hearing from the Chair.
I should like to raise on the Adjournment the proposal of the Mid-Western Health Board to downgrade Ennis Hospital thereby putting lives at risk.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
Arising from the Taoiseach's refusal to guarantee that there will be open competition for the licence for commercial television I should like permission to raise the matter on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I should like to raise on the Adjournment the continuing confusion as to whether mná tí sna limistéir Gaeltacht are required to register with the Revenue Commissioners in view of its impact on the revival of the Irish language.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I should like to ask the Taoiseach if he is aware of the serious effect recent legislation is having on the promotion of tourism in the Border region. I am referring to the decision to introduce rod licences.
The Deputy will have to find another way and another time to raise that issue.
Will the Taoiseach answer my question in view of the fact that the Minister concerned will not take responsibility for this?
The Deputy is not in order in raising that matter now.
I will not have an opportunity of getting a reply to that question.