It is proposed to take Nos. 6 and 1.
Order of Business.
Is the Taoiseach in a position to clarify the position in relation to the search for a partner for the Whitegate Oil Refinery? The Taoiseach informed the House yesterday that the only discussions which are ongoing or about to begin are those with the Soviet interests involved.
I regret to interrupt the Deputy——
It is on the record of the House.
This is clearly not a matter for the Order of Business.
We read this morning that the Nigerians believe this deal is still going on.
This is a matter which can be clarified through other means in accordance with the Standing Orders of this House.
On the Order of Business yesterday, the Taoiseach gave what is apparently inaccurate information to the House——
Rubbish.
——and I would like him to give us some clear and accurate information this time. How many sets of negotiations are going on?
I urge the Deputy to find another way to raise this matter.
The Minister, the Taoiseach and one of the parties to the negotiations all have different views of what is going on. Does the Taoiseach have any idea of what is going on?
Deputy Dukes, please desist.
I seek permission to raise on the Adjournment the report of the Consumers Association of Ireland which shows that the cost of drugs in this country is the second highest in Europe and the action the Minister urgently needs to take to rectify the matter.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the reasons for and the circumstances surrounding the removal from office of the acting chief executive of the Southern Health Board in a most dramatic fashion by three civil servants at Cork Airport last Friday morning.
The Deputy need not elaborate now. I will be in touch with her concerning the matter.
Can the Taoiseach tell us when the annual report of the Garda Commissioner on the crime rate will be laid before the House and if it is the Government's intention to make time available for a debate on crime in Dublin?
I take it that this does not refer to legislation.
The question I am asking is if the report will be laid before the House soon, are the Government suppressing the report and will time be made available for a debate on that report?
That is a matter which can be resolved by way of a question. Deputy McCartan.
A Cheann Comhairle——
The Deputy knows it is not in order now.
It is perfectly in order.
It is not in order and I say so, Deputy. You will have to raise it in another way.
No, Sir. I am merely rising——
I have indicated to you quite clearly that it is not in order to pursue the matter now.
I merely wish to ask——
Deputy Mitchell, please resume your seat.
I certainly will, but I merely wish to rise to ask——
I have advised the Deputy of the way in which to proceed.
I am proceeding by way of asking——
I must ask the Deputy finally to resume his seat. Deputy Spring.
Deputy Spring rose.
May I raise a point of order?
Deputy Mitchell is seeking to circumvent the ruling of the Chair.
I am not. Perhaps the Chair has misconstrued my intentions. I now seek to raise on the Adjournment this evening the crime rate in Dublin.
The Deputy might have mentioned that matter earlier to me and I would have communicated with him on the matter.
That is what I was trying to communicate to you.
On Tuesday I asked the Taoiseach if the Shannon Free Airport Development Company Limited (Amendment) Bill, 1988, No. 11 on the Order Paper, could be brought forward as quickly as possible. Can the Taoiseach tell us if he has had time to consider the matter and if that Bill will be taken shortly. It is very important.
I will endeavour to have it brought forward as quickly as possible. I will try to give the Deputy more specific information during the course of the day.
I would like to ask the Taoiseach again when it is proposed to bring forward the annual report on the operation of the Extradition (Amendment) Act which is now well overdue. Would the Taoiseach not agree that we should have a discussion on this matter in the light of the recent announcement of Patrick Ryan to stand as a candidate and the Attorney General's decision——
I would prefer if names were not mentioned in this House.
I would like to know what is happening about the report.
Is this legislation promised?
There is a statutory obligation on the Government to lay it before the House.
It is a matter which can be dealt with by the Deputy through a normal Dáil question.
The Taoiseach agreed at my request to include the statutory obligation in the Extradition (Amendment) Act on Committee Stage.
The matter will have to be resolved in another way. Deputy Shatter.
Excuse me, there is a statutory obligation on the Government. The Act requires the Government to bring before the House an annual report on the operation of the Act as soon as is possible after the end of the year.
I have only asked the Deputy to put down a question on the matter.
I should not have to put down a question. There is a statutory obligation on the Government to bring it forward.
I intended to call Deputy McCartan as he was offering.
May I have an answer to the question. We are not here as dummies. We are public representatives and we need an answer.
I have no responsibility for such matters. Deputy McCartan.
I seek to raise on the Adjournment——
A Cheann Comhairle, we are entitled to an answer.
Deputy Barrett is creating disorder of a serious kind.
I am not. I am entitled to ask the Government if this report will be brought before the House.
Deputy Barrett, the Chair cannot compel any Member of this House to speak if they do not want to. You will have to raise the matter another way.
I suggest that in a case where there is a statutory obligation imposed on itself by this House to have a certain matter brought before the House, it seems to me — if I may say this without being impertinent — that Deputies have a right to know when that statutory obligation will be fulfilled and that you, Sir, in your capacity as the Chairman of this House, the person who guides our work, make sure that order is preserved and that the House carries out its obligations and should, when a question like that arises, make sure that an answer is forthcoming from those——
How can the Deputy put that obligation on the Chair?
We are seeking your co-operation.
You will have that fulsomely.
The Government are——
Hiding.
——compelled by statute of one kind or another to put before this House literally hundreds of reports. If every one of them were to be the subject of a question on the Order of Business the Order of Business would be interminably protracted.
This is a very serious matter.
The Taoiseach will not fulfil his obligations to the House in relation to hundreds of reports. I am not a bit surprised.
This matter must be decided in another way. I am calling Deputy McCartan. I will not call you a third time, Deputy.
I am more than willing to contribute whenever the Chair calls me.
You seemed to be reluctant to proceed.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the loss of upwards of 500 jobs among taxi drivers in Dublin by reason of the actions of the insurance companies in doubly increasing premia on cars and the need for action by the Minister.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I seek your guidance on a matter. Some weeks ago the question of threats being made against Members of this House was brought to your attention and you said the matter would be referred to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. Has this matter been dealt with and will there be a report to the House?
The matter was before our meeting. It was on the agenda but it was not moved in the name of the Deputy concerned. It is still on the agenda.
Will the Taoiseach confirm whether recent reports in the media regarding the Government's intention to postpone indefinitely planning for the regional sports centres and the National Stadium are true?
Please, Deputy, put down a question on the matter.
This is very serious.
This is not a matter for the Order of Business and the Deputy knows that.
I would like to raise on the Adjournment the issue that has arisen in relation to necessary improvements at Gairm Scoil Colmcille in Indreabhán, Contae na Gaillimhe, and the need for the contracts to be placed.
I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning the matter.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the delay in issuing certificates to students who have completed the intermediate and leaving certificates. These delays have lasted a few years.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
(Limerick East): With regard to promised legislation, does the Taoiseach envisage that the Trustee Savings Banks Bill will be introduced before the summer recess?
I will let the Deputy know.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the situation which now obtains in Our Lady's Hospital, Cashel, County Tipperary, where there is a huge waiting list for admission while two wards remain closed.
I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning that important matter.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of my Question No. 40 of Tuesday of this week and the unsatisfactory and uninformative nature of the reply.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
In relation to promised legislation, is it the Taoiseach's intention to have the revision of constituencies legislation enacted before the next general election?
(Interruptions.)
I am not certain that that is promised legislation.
I am not sure that there was any particular promise in regard to that or any related matter, but it is under consideration.
As I did yesterday, I seek to raise on the Adjournment the mismanagement of lottery funds as exposed by the Evening Herald last night and to seek an explanation from the relevant Minister as to what sports centres will be built.
I will communicate with the Deputy, he need not elaborate now.