Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 25 Jan 1989

Vol. 386 No. 1

Order of Business.

The Taoiseach

It is proposed to take Nos. 9 and 10.

It is also proposed that the Dáil shall sit later than 9 p.m. today and shall adjourn not later than 12 midnight to enable the Financial Resolutions, with the exception of the General Financial Resolution, to be concluded.

It is further proposed that No. 9 shall be taken without debate.

It is further proposed that following the Budget Statement of the Minister for Finance and the statements of the spokespersons of the parties in Opposition, the sitting shall be suspended for 30 minutes.

By agreement there will be no Private Members' Business this week.

An Ceann Comhairle

May I now ask if the proposal for the late sitting today is agreed? Agreed. Is it agreed that No. 9 be taken without debate? Agreed. Having heard the Minister for Finance and the spokerpersons for the parties in Opposition, is it agreed that the sitting be suspended for 30 minutes? Agreed. Is it agreed that there shall be no Private Members' Business this week? Agreed.

Mr. Connaughton

May I ask the Taoiseach and the Minister for Defence if they will make Government time available very soon to debate the appalling mess——

An Ceann Comhairle

That is not in order now, Deputy Connaughton.

Mr. Connaughton

Is it not——

An Ceann Comhairle

That matter is not in order and the Deputy will have to find another way of raising it. There are many ways open to the Deputy.

Mr. Connaughton

On the Order of Business——

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy Connaughton, resume your seat.

Mr. Connaughton

On the Order of Business——

An Ceann Comhairle

I have asked the Deputy to resume his seat.

Mr. Connaughton

On the Order of Business, may I ask why my Private Notice Question, which could not have been more urgent, was disallowed?

An Ceann Comhairle

My office will be glad to inform you. I have nothing to add to my advice to you in the matter.

Mr. Connaughton rose.

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy Connaughton, if you rise again I shall have to ask you to leave the House.

Mr. Connaughton

In the best Army tradition——

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy must desist from any further interruption. He will now resume his seat properly.

Mr. Connaughton

In the best traditions of the army I accept your command.

An Ceann Comhairle

Thank you Deputy.

Mr. D. O'Malley

I wish to ask the Taoiseach how the Government propose to deal with today's Financial Resolutions which will be proposed under the Provisional Collection of Taxation Act, 1927, in view of the recent decision of the High Court which declared an Act, very similar in its effect to that Act, unconstitutional, with the result that there is now a strong likelihood that the 1927 Act——

An Ceann Comhairle

May I advise Deputy O'Malley that that matter can be raised appropriately when the Financial Resolutions, if any, are reached today. That is the appropriate time to raise it, Deputy.

Mr. D. O'Malley

It is a matter that should be clarified before they are moved because the whole question arises whether they can be moved——

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy will be afforded an opportunity of raising that pertinent question at the appropriate time, if and when a Financial Resolution is moved.

Mr. D. O'Malley

Assuming a Financial Resolution is moved — and I assume there will be — it will be too late at that stage to raise it. This is a matter that the Government should clarify before any resolution is put before the House.

An Ceann Comhairle

I have indicated to the Deputy that I am quite satisfied that he will get an opportunity of raising that matter at the appropriate time.

Mr. D. O'Malley

Has the Chair adverted to this problem that has now arisen and can he give the House any guidance?

An Ceann Comhairle

I am satisfied the Deputy's question can be cleared up today at the appropriate time.

Mr. D. O'Malley

On the substance of the matter?

Mr. Molloy

I wish to give notice of my intention to raise the folowing matter on the Adjournment of the Dáil tonight — this question was also the subject of a Private Notice Question which was disallowed — to ask the Minister for Defence, in view of the increase in the number of Permanent Defence Force personnel applying to leave the Defence Forces, if he will publish the report of the committee which reviewed Army pay.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. M. Higgins

Your office informed me, a Cheann Comhairle, that my Private Notice Questions on the cuts in school transport lacked urgency, I do not question your ruling, but I would like to raise on the Adjournment the matter of the projected cuts in school transport in 1989.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy.