Would the Taoiseach agree that the method of having statements on the Anglo-Irish Agreement on Thursday and Friday is not the best way to deal with this matter? Would he agree to have a motion tabled which we could debate, amend or whatever because the idea of us all making our statements and then going away is not satisfactory?
Order of Business (Resumed).
I think it is the right way to deal with it. Any motion that might be put down could be unnecessarily divisive and perhaps give a wrong impression.
We might have a real discussion for once.
A Cheann Comhairle, may I seek your permission to raise on the Adjournment the virtual collapse of the civil legal aid scheme?
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I tabled a Private Notice Question in relation to matters arising out of a recent court case which led the trial judge to state that a serious miscarriage of justice could have arisen. In your wisdom, Sir, you did not allow my Private Notice Question. I am anxious to pursue the matter. In the circumstances I would ask you to allow me to raise the matter on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy. Deputy Mac Giolla has been offering. Perhaps he had not completed his earlier remarks.
It was just that I thought, a Cheann Comhairle, that this was not a satisfactory way for this House to deal with an issue such as the Anglo-Irish Agreement, that we can make our statements inside or outside the House——
The Deputy has already made that point quite effectively.
Could we not devise a system under which there would be agreement on some particular line of policy that the House might debate, discuss and decide? I think that is really what the people want us to do.
That is a matter for the Whips.
In view of the achievement of the Irish soccer team in winning their way to the World Cup finals in Italy, would the Taoiseach consider making available a sum of money to the FAI to enable them to bring old internationals to Italy?
The Deputy is taking undue licence.
What about some of us who never made the grade?
I am calling Deputy Gay Mitchell.
I should like to raise on the Adjournment the case of a doctor in my constituency, who is a qualified anaesthetist and worked as such in St. James's Hospital for five years but who is now unable to so much as prescribe a cough bottle because of the practices of the Irish Medical Council who have denied him registration.
I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning that matter.
Approximately a week ago you gave me permission to raise on the Adjournment the future of Coolock community law centre, for which I am obliged, and the undertaking given by the Minister that evening was that the law centre would be protected. May I ask the Taoiseach or the Minister for Social Welfare, Deputy Woods, if they are aware that the law centre is facing imminent closure on 31 November, that nothing has happened——
That is not in order now, Deputy.
The Deputy can set his mind at rest.
My mind was set at rest a week ago——
Sorry, Deputy McCartan what you are raising now is clearly not in order. The Deputy should put down a question.
The problem is that tomorrow the centre intend to announce that they are closing their doors——
The Deputy must find another way of raising the matter. Deputy Stagg.
May I ask the Taoiseach if he has anything to say——
Deputy McCartan must now resume his seat.
Would the Taoiseach be prepared to say what his proposals are in this regard?
The Deputy should know that, without any assistance from him, the Minister, Deputy Woods, and I have kept this institution in being and will continue to do so.
Why are they calling a press conference tomorrow to announce——
The Deputy should stop trying to climb on another bandwagon.
Why are they closing their doors——
Can we hear Deputy Emmet Stagg?
I tabled two Private Notice Questions today on the ERAD chairmanship and the milk quota extra allocation. While accepting, reluctantly of course, your ruling that they were not in order, I seek your guidance as to how these urgent and important matters might now be brought before the House.
My office will be in touch with the Deputy or he may get in touch with my office.
May I ask the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, in the light of the warnings he has issued to retailers and importers of goods from Britain — following the matter we on this side of the House brought to his attention in relation to a reduction in prices — he intends introducing legislation or some other means to reduce prices at the end of this week?
The Deputy will have to find another way——
I asked my question of the Minister for Industry and Commerce.
Does he refer to legislation promised?
There is no need for legislation in respect of the matter which I first adverted to publicly on 25——
In view of the success of the Irish soccer team and their participation in the World Cup Finals next June, may I ask the Taoiseach if he is considering making any changes in the dates for the leaving certificate——
Please, Deputy, this is becoming a joke.
The Deputy should know that Jack Charlton and I are in constant communication on these matters.
I should like to raise on the Adjournment the proposed new airport at Clifden which will impinge on a large blanket bog of international importance in the area.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
May I ask the Taoiseach when the Government propose to introduce legislation to statutorily establish the national roads authority?
It is under active preparation.
That is not appropriate for the business now.
On a point of order, may I ask if it is in order to ask questions on occasions like this about promised legislation?
The legislation is going through the process at the moment.
Does this appertain to promised legislation?
May I ask the Taoiseach exactly at what point in the process is this legislation?
It is with Departments.
May I ask the Taoiseach if the heads of the Bill or the Bill itself is with the Departments?
I have given the Deputy all the information he needs at this stage.
May I say, Sir, that I will be the judge of the information I need.
I will be the judge of what I give the Deputy.
May I ask the Taoiseach——
This is not Question Time, Deputy Bruton.
The Taoiseach presumed to indicate what information I need. The House needs to know when legislation will be prepared——
I will permit a question and an answer if it is relevant——
——in respect of the establishment of a national roads authority.
——but this kind of interrogation is not in order.
Would the Taoiseach mind giving the information, and if he does not have it will he get it so that he can give it to the House?
I have given the Deputy full information——
You have not.
——and I have told him the legislation is going through the administrative process. It is with the Departments at present and if the Deputy wishes to attend my office I will help him in any way I can.
If necessary, I will take up the Taoiseach on that offer and I hope he will give me a better answer than the one he has given me here.
A Deputy
You will get a cup of tea anyway.
In view of the fact that a 15 year old constituent of mine was murdered in the centre of Dublin at the weekend and the reports which have been in the media since then about the importation of weapons of death from Britain which are illegal there, would the Taoiseach tell us what he intends to do to prevent the importation of these weapons of death and their sale in Dublin?
Legislation will be brought forward.
When?
As soon as possible.
I seek your permission to raise on the Adjournment the Housing Finance Agency's policy in the case of deserted wives of assessing mortgage repayments on the income of absentee husbands which is no longer available to households.
I will be in touch with the Deputy. A large number of Deputies are offering. I call Deputy Michael Moynihan.
With your permission I wish to raise on the Adjournment the provision of an employment exchange in Killarney.
I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning that matter.
With your permission. I should like to raise on the Adjournment the provision of adequate educational facilities at Listowel vocational school County Kerry.
I will be in touch with the Deputy.
I should like to raise on the Adjournment the future structure of the Family Mediation Service.
I will be in touch with the Deputy.
On the Order of Business, may I ask the Taoiseach if he would consider ordering an inquiry into the cir cumstances whereby a young man is wait ing extradition to this country? He is in Pentonville Prison at present——
The Deputy has many ways of raising that matter.
——for a crime he did not commit——
This is not in order now, Deputy.
May I ask your permission to raise this matter on the Adjournment?
I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning that aspect of the matter.
May I raise on the Adjournment the outrageous delays which many non-nationals have to endure in applying for residents' permits from the Department of Justice and the action the Minister for Justice proposes to take to rectify the situation?
I will be in touch with the Deputy.
May I ask your permission to raise on the Adjournment the virtual collapse of the Farm Development Service and Teagasc in relation to the processing of the farm pollution control grants because of inadequate staffing in those offices?
I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning the matter.
I seek your permission to raise on the Adjournment the plight of many small farmers in the Mayo area who face financial ruin following the collapse of the uninsured and unbonded Balla cattle mart.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
May I ask your permission to raise on the Adjournment the serious housing crisis which has arisen, and is likely to continue, in the north Cork health, housing and sanitary district as a result of the fact that some housing schemes have been with the Department since 1986, the reduction in the allocation for housing and the requirement whereby——
I will be in touch with the Deputy. He need not elaborate now.
——the revenue which would accrue to the council must be used——
Please, Deputy Sherlock.
There is also a requirement to borrow from the Housing Finance Agency——
Please, Deputy. Deputy Taylor-Quinn has been offering.
In view of the fact that the Taoiseach has already told the House that he is in regular contact with Jack Charlton, may I ask him if he spoke to Jack Charlton before he did a television advertisement to advertise fishing in Ireland and when he will be in a position to tell the House——
Please, Deputy.
——when the rod licence dispute will be resolved?
Deputy McCartan.
May I——
This is promised legislation. Is the Taoiseach in a position to tell the House when the legislation to resolve the problem will be brought before the House?
I am not aware that it is promised legislation.
It is promised legislation.
Please, Deputy let us not have argument.
The Deputy is displaying a remarkable propensity to fish in troubled waters.
Can the Taoiseach be called to order?
(Interruptions.)
He was fishing all day and did not get anything.
Even the great fixer of all could not fix this one.
I should like to raise on the Adjournment this evening the fact that the Coolock Community Law Centre propose holding a press conference tomorrow in Buswells Hotel to deal with their imminent closure, to quote their press statement, due to a lack of funds and the failure of the Minister for Social Welfare to honour his commitment in this regard.
I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning the matter.
I should like to raise on the Adjournment the legalisation of a limited amount of monofilament net for salmon fishing.
I will be in touch with the Deputy.
I want to point out to Deputy Bruton that that is sea fishing.
I should like to ask the Taoiseach if he had negotiations with the Leader of the Progressive Democrats in regard to the committee he established, under the chairmanship of Deputy Bertie Ahern, to review constituencies.
That does not arise.
With a view to depriving the Deputy of his representation in this House?
The Taoiseach tried on five occasions and failed.
The Deputy should try to look after his own affairs.
I am calling Deputy McGrath.
(Interruptions.)
Deputy Farrelly's interruptions are causing serious disorder.
He is being encouraged.
I should like the permission of the Chair to raise on the Adjournment the proposed sale by Bord na Móna of cutaway bogland at Rochfordbridge, County Westmeath. That proposed sale will have serious implications not just for small farmers on the perimeter of the property but for all farmers who have holdings adjoining Bord na Móna boglands.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
In the light of the recent industrial action by the ushers of the Houses of the Oireachtas, I should like to ask the Chair if he is in a position to confirm that an agreed arbitrator has been appointed to arbitrate in the dispute.
I am not; the matter is still under consideration by both sides. I hope for an early decision in that regard.
Now that the Minister for the Environment is present in the Chamber — he is welcome back — I should like to ask him if he is aware of the serious problems facing Cavan County Council in regard to the repair and upkeep of county roads and the action he proposes to take.
I am calling another Deputy. This is clearly out of order.
Will the Minister for the Marine have a word in the ear of the Minister for the Environment on behalf of the people of Cavan?
Deputy Boylan should desist.
I should like to raise on the Adjournment the obvious change in policy by the Department of Education in regard to the need for a new school building for a Fingal community college at Swords.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I should like to ask the Minister for the Environment, and the Taoiseach, if it is the Government's intention to take the remainder of the Building Control Bill before Christmas.
Hopefully.