It is proposed to take Nos. 6, 14, 7, 8 and 15. It is also proposed that the Dáil shall sit later than 9 p.m. today and business shall be interrupted at 12 midnight. It is further proposed that No. 7 shall be taken without debate. It is further proposed that the proceedings on No. 6, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 1.30 p.m. It is further proposed that the proceedings on Committee Stage of No. 14 shall be brought to a conclusion, if not previously concluded, at 12 midnight by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only amendments set down by the Minister for Communications. Private Members' Business shall be No. 30.
Order of Business.
May I ask if the proposal for the late sitting today is agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal dealing with item No. 7 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal in relation to item No. 6 agreed?
In relation to this item, which is a motion introducing a new aspect into the Sound Broadcasting Bill, may I ask the Taoiseach to allow the debate on this motion to continue for the day? We have no objection at all to sitting to 12 midnight but we regard the debate on the introduction of a Bill which allows for a new television service to be too restricted by being confined to up to 1.30 p.m. While I am on my feet, in relation to item No. 14 agreement to which I realise, has not been reached, it is proposed in that respect to introduce a guillotine at 12 midnight on Committee Stage of the Bill. Again, we feel that adequate time should be given to debating more than 100 substantial amendments to this Bill. We do not regard the time allocated as adequate.
I take it, therefore, that there is an objection to the proposal for dealing with No. 6.
I did ask if the Taoiseach would indicate whether he is prepared to consider, or ask the Whips to consider, an extension of the debate.
I put forward the Order of Business as agreed by the Whips.
The Taoiseach is now told there is some objection. We are asking him to reconsider the matter.
I am again putting the Question: "That the proposal for dealing with item No. 7 be agreed to."
Níl.
Question put and declared carried.
Is the proposal for dealing with item No. 14 agreed?
I shall put the Question formally: "That the proposal for dealing with item No. 14 be agreed to."
Question put and declared carried.
On the Order of Business, may I ask the Taoiseach if he intends to take an opportunity today to issue an apology and to withdraw the very gratuitous and offensive statement he made yesterday with regard to the Ombudsman?
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
It does, Sir. The House is being brought into disrepute——
The Deputy knows there are ways and means of dealing with such matters. It does not arise now.
——by his trampling upon one of the very few avenues the ordinary citizen has in seeking redress against the Administration. For the Taoiseach to describe that and the activities of that office in the way in which he did——
Please, Deputy Dukes, I must ask you to desist.
——is a direct attack on legislation passed by this House.
Deputies
Hear, hear.
Would I be in order in asking the Taoiseach if he would consider availing of the opportunity of inviting President Reagan and Secretary General Gorbachev to consider having their promised forthcoming end of the year Summit meeting in this country because of the considerable benefits it might confer on this nation?
The Deputy should give proper notice of such a matter. He ought to do it in the proper way.
Is the Taoiseach in order to reply?
He might make up for the rod licences.
(Limerick East): Could I ask the Taoiseach if the Minister for Finance is informed of the sale by Irish Life plc of shares in Irish Distillers?
That, again, is a matter that does not arise now.
(Limerick East): Will he seek to be informed of any future sales against the background of the delicate situation which is now pertaining?
The Deputy should seek to raise that matter in the appropriate way.
A Deputy
Did he agree to it?
(Limerick East): Can the Minister for Finance seek means to inform us and to give us some manner of dealing with this matter which would be in order?
The Minister for Finance should seek to inform himself.
You may not be disorderly.
(Limerick East): After seeing the Taoiseach's performance in Limerick, I know how not to be disorderly on a bridge.
I am grateful for the Deputy's attendance and courtesy on that occasion. It is in the better traditions of Limerick city.
(Limerick East): I thank the Taoiseach.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the matter of the statement in today's newspapers, attributed to the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs while speaking in Brussels yesterday, that overseas development aid will face further cuts next year.
I shall communicate with the Deputy.
With your permission, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the question of the proposed closure of Kilkenny Design Workshops, the payment of creditors and the consequences of this sale to the workforce.
I shall be in touch with the Deputy about that matter.
May I ask the Taoiseach if he will indicate when it is proposed to take item No. 22, Committee Stage of the Broadcasting and Wireless Telegraphy Bill, 1987, which Bill has up to now been running in tandem with the Sound Broadcasting Bill with which we are dealing today?
I shall ask the Whips to discuss the matter to see when it can be brought forward.
On the Order of Business, now that the Taoiseach has had a few minutes for reflection, could he indicate to the House whether he is willing to withdraw the gratuitous, unwarranted attack he made on the person of the Ombudsman yesterday?
Please, Deputy Shatter, I have already ruled that matter out of order.
Will he outline to the House that it was not fully and properly in accordance with his statutory functions?
Deputy Shatter should resume his seat.
I seek to raise on the Adjournment the issue which I raised yesterday, the recent suspension of a prison officer at Portlaoise Prison and the need for a full inquiry into the circumstances surrounding that suspension.
I will communicate with the Deputy.