It is proposed to take Nos. 8, 4 and 18. It is also proposed that the Dáil shall sit later than 9 p.m. today and business shall be interrupted at 10.30 p.m. It is further proposed that No. 8 shall be taken without debate. Private Members' Business shall be No. 45.
Order of Business.
Is the proposal for a late sitting today agreed? Is it agreed that No. 8 be taken without debate? Agreed.
I would have preferred to have got in before we agreed the Order of Business as I wanted to raise with you, Sir, the item in relation to Private Members' Business this evening. Last week I tabled a motion on the rod angling crisis in the country that I requested be taken today and tomorrow during Private Members' time and you ruled it out of order. In view of the fact that you allowed parliamentary questions to the Minister for Tourism and Transport last week on this very matter——
I thought the Deputy had a pertinent question on the Order of Business.
I have. Please hear me out since it is very pertinent. Apart from the parliamentary questions to the Minister for Tourism, you also allowed the Second Stage debate on the Finance Bill to deal quite extensively with rod angling licences.
This is enough, Deputy Doyle. I will not have my rulings challenged in this manner. The Deputy will resume her seat.
A Cheann Comhairle——
I am sorry, Deputy Doyle. If you persist I shall have to deal with the matter in the normal way. I shall not have my rulings challenged in this manner.
The Chair does not appreciate the chaos in the country on this issue.
Deputy Doyle will resume her seat.
It is a farce if this House cannot discuss the issue which the whole country is talking about.
If the Deputy does not resume her seat now I shall have to ask her to leave the House.
What is the relevance of this House if we cannot talk about the issue the country is talking about?
Deputy Doyle will now leave the House.
The newspapers and the television can discuss the subject but this House is prevented from doing so.
Please leave the House.
It is high farce if the proceedings in this House are not relevant to the people.
This is most disorderly. The Deputy will resume her seat.
It is a disgrace on us all if we cannot talk about matters which are taxing the minds of the people.
Deputy Doyle withdrew from the Chamber.
(Limerick East): Is it a correct interpretation that anybody with £80 to serve a plenary summons in the High Court can prevent any item being debated in this House?
We are proceeding to Item No. 8 on the Order Paper.
(Limerick East): I should like a ruling on that. It is in breach of all precedent. I remember answering questions as Minister for Justice even though summonses had been served.
Please desist.
(Limerick East): We cannot operate as a democratic forum if any citizen can prevent debate by serving a plenary summons. What is the position? Is this a House of Parliament or can one man stop any debate?
Why not put down a question on it?
(Limerick East): You have ruled and I should like you to inform the House.
To whom does one put down a question?
(Limerick East): Is it not the case that the Anglo-Irish Agreement is the subject of court proceedings and we have had a series of questions on it?
I have nothing to add to my ruling.
(Limerick East): I should like you to indicate to the House that you will consider the overall situation because if your ruling is to be a precedent it is contrary to previous rulings and it handcuffs the House completely.
If there is to be a change in the procedure of this House it is a matter for the House or for the Committee on Procedure and Privileges in the first instance.
You have changed it.
I will not allow my rulings to be challenged in this fashion. I call Deputy Robert Molloy.
(Limerick East): The issue of a plenary summons was never taken to make an issue sub judice in this House.
May I suggest that you consider whether we could debate this matter by way of statements?
This is becoming very disorderly. The Deputy ought to have given way when Deputy Dukes was already putting his question. Deputy Molloy.
In the hope that you may reconsider your decision regarding the ruling referred to earlier, I give notice of my intention to raise on the Adjournment the whole question of the difficulties which have arisen in tourist angling.
I will communicate with Deputy Molloy.
To return to the serious matter raised by Deputy Noonan, I should like your guidance on the suggestion that it would be proper for the House to debate the content and the reasons for your ruling, which I do not dispute, by way of statements so that we can get the mind of the House on the issue.
We did that not very long ago.
Depending on the feeling of the House, appropriate action should be taken.
I note that the Minister for the Environment is not in the House but I have been waiting for some time to raise the question of promised legislation to make safe high rise dwellings following the Raglan House explosion. The Taoiseach may not be familiar with the up-to-date position but will he undertake to communicate with me in this matter? I have been pressing it for some time. I see the Taoiseach is nodding. Does that mean "yes"?
I also said "certainly"sotto voce.
I should like to raise on the Adjournment the proposed closure of 30 geriatric beds at the Edenburn Hospital.
I will communicate with the Deputy in respect of that matter.
I once again seek permission to raise on the Adjournment the question of the formulation of an integrated plan for County Kildare and adjoining counties with the object of obtaining essential funding for infrastructure.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the question of the illegal export of historic items. One such item is going on sale at an auction in London tomorrow. This item is very valuable and I feel this House should make some form of protest to the British Government regarding the sale of these objects which is in total contravention of our legislation.
I will communicate with the Deputy.