It is proposed to take Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10. It is also proposed that for the debate on Financial Motion No. 8 in the name of the Minister for Finance, the following arrangements shall apply: the speech of the main spokesperson nominated by each of the groups, as defined in Standing Order 89 (1) (a), shall not exceed one hour, and the speech of each other Member called on shall not exceed 30 minutes.
Order of Business.
Are the proposals for dealing with the budget debate agreed? Agreed.
May I ask the Taoiseach if he is prepared to make Government time available to discuss the appalling situation in the Defence Force?
There are questions tabled in respect of that matter, Deputy. I ruled the matter out of order yesterday. It is not in order today, either.
Those questions are a fortnight away. This is a vital national——
The Deputy has an ample opportunity of ventilating his views on this matter on the budget debate which is about to start this morning. He ought not to behave in this fashion.
This is a vital issue.
I am sorry, Deputy. You are clearly out of order. You will have every opportunity of expressing your views on the matter later.
May I raise this matter on the Adjournment?
I will communicate with the Deputy.
Yesterday I received a written reply to Question No. 248 regarding the death of John Roderick in the Hospital of the Assumption, Thurles, on 3 June 1988. I wish to raise on the Adjournment the content of that question as the reply is totally unsatisfactory.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
May I ask the Taoiseach the up to date position in relation to two items of promised legislation? The first relates to the legislation to give greater autonomy to the RTCs. This was promised in the last session. The second item I want to ask the Taoiseach about is the legislation that would be required to give effect to the decision to give university status to the two NIHEs. Is it the Government's intention that that legislation should be through in sufficient time to benefit those students who will be doing their finals this year?
It is the Government's intention to proceed with as much expedition as possible with the production of the two items of legislation in question.
Would the Minister confirm that the NIHE legislation is relatively straightforward and that it would be reasonable if on all sides of the House we set ourselves the target of benefiting this year's students?
We will certainly bear the Deputy's observations in mind.
While the order for Second Stage of the Building Societies Bill and the order for Second Stage of the Central Bank Bill have been proposed for today's Order of Business, may I ask the Taoiseach, or the Minister for Finance, when it is likely that the Second Stage of both these Bills, which are to be taken together, will be taken?
We will be dealing with that precise matter shortly. Allow us to deal with it in the proper order and to put the question to the appropriate Minister.
I would like to raise on the Adjournment the unbelievable, but real proposals put forward by the European Commission, and which are the subject of bilateral discussions between the Commission and the Minister for Finance, to extend value added tax to domestic tap water.
That is hardly relevant now, Deputy.
I asked if I could raise it on the Adjournment.
I am sorry. I will communicate with the Deputy.
May I ask the Minister for the Marine whether it is his intention, in accordance with a promise given to me in this House, to reveal the number of new rod licences taken out and the total revenue taken in?
That is not relevant, Deputy.
When is it intended to introduce the promised legislation to liberalise passenger road traffic?
Was that promised?
The heads of the Bill are with the draftsman.
How soon do you expect to have it introduced?
I would not be able to assess the speed with which the legislation will be drafted but there will be no undue delay.
May I ask the Minister for Health, in view of the large number of institutions which are established for elderly, disabled and incapacitated people as a result of health boards not being able to make provision for them if it is the intention to bring in legislation to govern the standards in such homes?
I am not aware that legislation is promised in this area. Perhaps the Deputy would raise it in another way.
Much reference has been made to it, it is becoming a major issue.
No such legislation has been promised.
Deputy Griffin is offering.
Deputy Deasy has inquired about the same matter. I was to inquire about pending legislation in respect of the Transport Bill which the Minister for Tourism and Transport promised to introduce.
The Deputy has had the information.
May I seek permission to raise on the Adjournment the recent conclusions of four inquests into deaths in our prisons in 1988, the conclusion of the juries, the recommendations of the juries at the conclusion of the inquests and the failure of the Minister for Justice to date to respond to any of them?
I will communicate with the Deputy.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I seek to raise on the Adjournment the decision by the Minister for Communications to remove and replace a member of the board of Horan International Airport at Knock, County Mayo.
I will be in touch with Deputy Jim Higgins in respect of that matter.
Are you a supporter of it now?
I always was.
(Interruptions.)
Let us now proceed to the business proper, Orders for Second Stage.