It is proposed to take Nos. 2, 5 and 9. It is also proposed that Nos. 2 and 5 shall be taken without debate. Private Members' Business shall be No. 19.
Order of Business.
Is it agreed that Nos. 2 and 5 shall be taken without debate? Agreed.
A Cheann Comhairle, in the light of your letter to me from the General Office yesterday, is it in order for me to ask the Taoiseach why a question which I had put down to be answered by the Taoiseach concerning the procedures, if any, which exist for ascertaining the financial background of proposed appointees to the boards of semi-State bodies has been transferred to the Minister for Finance? I am asking about appointments made by the Government to boards of semi-State companies. I know the Minister for Finance has wide ranging functions in Government but they do not extend that far. Why was that question transferred to the Minister for Finance?
This is hardly in order, Deputy.
There is no other way I can ask the question. If I ask you, Sir, either in private or in public, you will tell me that the matter is entirely for the Government.
That is so, Deputy, I have no function whatever in the matter.
This is the only place I can ask the Government the question. I gather the Taoiseach is not inclined to answer it. Is the Taoiseach uncomfortable at the fact that there may be a member of a semi-State company whose financial background is chequered?
This type of question is one for the Taoiseach and his Cabinet, and always has been.
I will deal with the last point made by the Deputy. The Deputy is treading on very dangerous ground because some of the appointments he personally made called for some comment.
I am glad I have got the Taoiseach to go that far. Is the Taoiseach aware that a member of a semi-State company who has been giving advice on various issues has had three companies that failed and two Revenue judgments outstanding against him?
Let us not indulge in personalities. I now call Deputy Ryan.
I submitted a Private Notice question this morning asking whether a member of the Permanent Defence Forces Other Ranks Representatives Association is to be charged with a breach of Defence Forces Regulations.
Please, Deputy Ryan. I thought the Deputy had something legitimate to raise. This is not in order.
May I ask the Minister for Defence to make a statement on the matter?
This is not in order.
This is very legitimate, we have to have an opportunity to raise it.
The Deputy had better find another way of raising the matter. The Deputy will find another way of raising the matter, I am sure.
As a new TD I am looking for your advice, a Cheann Comhairle, on how to raise this very important issue.
Deputy Ryan, please do not seek to circumvent my ruling. Are you seeking to raise the matter on the Adjournment?
If I cannot get any other opportunity to raise the matter, with your permission, Sir, I wish to raise the matter on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
May I ask the Taoiseach when it is proposed to introduce legislation to privatise some commercial State bodies?
Has legislation on this matter been promised in this House?
Yes, on the privatisation of the Great Southern Hotels.
I now call Deputy Mac Giolla.
I have not asked too many questions of late——
That is so, but I have asked if this matter refers to legislation that has been promised in this House.
It was promised on the Adjournment last Thursday.
On the Adjournment last week the point was made——
I am calling Deputy Mac Giolla.
I am not satisfied, I have not had an answer to my question.
The Deputy will raise it in another way.
The Minister for Labour was on the radio last week and——
Deputy Barrett, please desist. It may not be adverted to now, Deputy. The Deputy must raise it at another time in another way.
It is a legitimate question——
It is not in so far as——
——to raise.
Deputy Barrett, please.
The Taoiseach was elected by this House, he was not voted by the people——
Deputy Barrett did not vote for me.
I know, but I am quite entitled to ask a question——
Deputy Barrett, for the second time I ask you to resume your seat. I have sought to ascertain whether the matter was in order now on the Order of Business. I have been assured by the Taoiseach that it is not in so far as this legislation was not promised in the House and that is the end of that, Deputy Barrett.
It was promised last week on the budget debate.
(Interruptions.)
What do we have to do?
Deputy Barrett, the Deputy is clearly out to defy the Chair.
What do we have to do — march in the streets — to get an answer in here? They had to do it in Eastern Europe and they got an answer.
The Deputy knows the rules of this House. I am calling Deputy Mac Giolla.
There is a Bill being prepared for the privatisation of Irish Life at present and I am endeavouring——
The Deputy should put down a parliamentary question.
The Taoiseach says to put down a parliamentary question. I will use the Standing Orders of the House.
I wish you would, Deputy.
(Interruptions.)
I am calling Deputy Mac Giolla.
Standing Orders are for the protection of Deputies and not of the Government.
(Interruptions.)
Chairman Mao.
A Daniel came to judgment.
We will not talk about judgments. The Taoiseach is certainly no Solomon when it comes to making them himself.
Deputy Mac Giolla.
May I ask the Minister for Justice, through the Taoiseach, what is the current state of play in regard to the investigation into the planning scandals in the Dublin area? Are they ongoing——
Deputy Mac Giolla, that is clearly not in order now.
The House should be informed whether they are ongoing, have been completed or are with the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Deputy Sherlock is offering. Well, then, he is not offering. I am calling on Deputy Nealon.
This is a question in which every Member of the House is interested.
Sorry, Deputy, the Deputy must put down a question. It is not in order now.
A Cheann Comhairle, is it continuing? I concede that this could be called sub judice. Is it continuing, has it been completed or——
Please proceed in the ordinary way with that matter, Deputy. It is not in order now. I am calling Deputy Nealon.
I too had a Private Notice question ruled out of order. I know you cannot accommodate everybody. Therefore I should like to raise on the Adjournment the decision of the military authorities to proceed with charges against a spokesman for PDFORRA.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
May I seek permission, for the fifth time, to raise on the Adjournment the provision of funding, as a matter of urgency, for our youth services?
I will communicate with the Deputy.
May I raise on the Adjournment the continuous delays, postponements and failure to meet targets in the provision of a community school in Cashel?
I will communicate with the Deputy concerning the matter.
I might raise two matters briefly, through the Taoiseach, to the Minister for Justice. Would the Taoiseach explain to the House the reason he directed his Whip not to accede to the request of all parties in Opposition for a debate on the urgent position with regard to the Legal Aid Board resignations?
That is not in order now, and the Deputy knows that.
On a previous Order of Business the Taoiseach indicated that if a reasonable request was forthcoming from the Opposition he would consider if favourably. Requests from the Fine Gael group, the Labour Party group and the The Workers' Party group, at the invitation of the Taoiseach, requesting time to debate that matter simply were not dealt with, were not acceded to. I am asking the Taoiseach to indicate why they were not?
Deputy McCartan knows that is not in order on the Order of Business.
A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, if I could just briefly——
No, you may not; I am sorry, you may not because it is not in order.
On the Order of Business, twice in the last two weeks we have discussed this matter. Why is it now out of order when the Opposition want to know the reason the Taoiseach has backtracked on his promise?
The Chair is indicating to Deputy McCartan that the point he raises is not in order now.
How can that be: on two previous occasions it was and is not now?
We can only conclude that the Taoiseach made that apparently accommodating gesture because, at the time, he wanted to gain a bit of credibility on this side of the House because he was trying to wriggle out of an awkward situation.
Deputy Dukes——
Can we raise anything at all in this House?
Deputy Dukes, personal or party conclusions do not make it in order. It is not in order for discussion now. I am calling Deputy Sherlock.
It is not in order for debate to be stifled in this House.
On a point of order, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I am simply seeking the ruling of the Chair——
I have given it to the Deputy. He must accept it and resume his seat.
——how, on two previous occasions, it was in order and is not today.
Deputy McCartan, I am indicating to you that if you attempt to raise it again, I will ask you to leave because it is not in order now.
One in three shall be out of order.
Is Deputy Sherlock offering or not?
May I seek your permission, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, to raise on the Adjournment the continuous deterioration of the conditions of the pier at Ballycotton in County Cork and, as a result, the possible obstruction in the use of the lifeboat from that pier?
That is perfectly in order and the Ceann Comhairle's office will communicate with the Deputy.
May I ask when the radiological protection Bill promised for three years will be introduced in this House?
Is it in the list of promised legislation?
Most definitely it is.
It is proceeding.
But when will it be introduced?
As soon as possible.
The Government stated in their environmental protection programme that it will be introduced in the House in this session. Is the Taoiseach now slipping back from his commitment to the green Presidency and failing to honour that commitment?
Deputy Bruton, you have asked a question, received a reply and we cannot have further questions on it, I am sorry.
The Deputy might come to my office.
A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I think you are going very far from——
Actually, on that criterion there is very little that is satisfactory to anybody.
(Carlow-Kilkenny): With your permission, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I should like to raise on the Adjournment the damage caused by severe flooding in Carlow over the past week.
The Ceann Comhairle's office will communicate with the Deputy.
Again, with your permission, Sir, I should like to raise on the Adjournment the crisis and confusion in the fish farming industry given the failure of the Minister for the Marine or the Minister for the Environment to draw up any guidelines or standards for the operations within that industry——
Is it on the Adjournment the Deputy wishes to raise it?
Yes, on the Adjournment which resulted last week——
The Ceann Comhairle's office will communicate with the Deputy.
——because of the failure of the Minister for the Environment to draw up any guidelines on the various environmental——
If the Deputy elaborates he may prejudice——
We are subject to constant interruptions from the Chair when Deputies on this side of the House are asking questions.
Deputy Mitchell, the Chair has——
The record will show——
The Chair is endeavouring to keep the order that he knows Deputy Mitchell and everybody else would wish to have maintained.
They are very one-sided interruptions from the Chair.
That is not true and the Deputy knows it.
Perhaps the Chair would check the record when——
May I say to Deputy Creed that he has indicated the reason he has asked to raise a matter on the Adjournment, that notes have been taken and the Ceann Comhairle's office will communicate with him.
The reason I wanted to raise it relates to a specific closure in my constituency at Carrigadrohid, County Cork, because of a decision by the Minister for Energy to close the operation of Poulaphouca——
Deputy Creed, you do not have to give the reasons nor is the Chair required to listen to the reasons.
(Interruptions.)
A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, you do not know the reasons I wish to raise the matter on the Adjournment.
The Deputy has already indicated a sufficiency of reason; as an intelligent Deputy he knows that as well as I do.
With your permission, Sir, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the injustice to prospective tenant purchasers in Dublin Corporation occasioned by the delay in their applications to purchase local authority dwellings because of the failure of the Minister for the Environment to provide adequate valuation staff in Dublin Corporation.
The Ceann Comhairle's office will communicate with the Deputy.
With your permission, Sir, may I raise on the Adjournment the severe flooding and consequent loss to farmers in the south-west Offaly area of Banagher, Shannonbridge, Shannon Harbour, right across that area.
The Ceann Comhairle's office will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the emergency position obtaining because of flooding of the River Shannon at Clonbonny and Golden Island near Athlone.
The Ceann Comhairle's office will communicate with the Deputy.
With your permission, Sir, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the matter of assistance from the Department of the Environment to the local authority in County Westmeath to deal with the damage and hardship caused residents there by the recent flooding.
The Ceann Comhairle's office will communicate with the Deputy.
A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, may I have your permission to raise on the Adjournment the continuing failure of the Minister for the Environment to sign the special amenity order for the Liffey Valley over two years since its arrival on his desk? May I ask whether he intends to visit that area as was promised by his Minister of State before Christmas?
The Minister visits it every single week on his way up and down to this House.
——as fast as he can possibly go.
The Minister knows where it is. I wonder does the Deputy.
(Interruptions.)
Deputy Currie, you asked your question and got your reply.
I previously indicated that there is a second item I want to raise and I am glad of the opportunity of doing so. May I ask the Minister for Justice what is the position with regard to the Solicitors (Amendment) Bill and when is it anticipated it will be before the House?
It is with the parliamentary draftsman at the moment.
Is there any truth in the suggestion that its final drafting may be suspended pending the publication of the Fair Trade Commission Report on the legal profession?
No.
Is there any indication when the parliamentary draftman will be finished with it and when will we see it in the House?
As soon as possible.
Ba mhaith liom, ag críoch na hoibre inniu, ceist teilifís Ghaeltachta a thógaint suas toisc go bhful míchinnteacht á scaipeadh trí na Gaeltachtaí faoi láthair faoin geallúint a thug an Taoiseach faoi theilifís Ghaeltachta a bhunadh.
An raibh sé sin fógraithe sa Teach seo?
Tá sé geallta.
Is féidir linn a fháil amach.
Tugadh geallúintí speisialta i rith an toghócháin agus craoladh iad ar Raidio na Gaeltachta, go mbeadh teilifís Ghaeltachta bunaithe agus go raibh airgead ar fáil dó sin. I leith na míchinnteachta atá luaite agam, is é atá i gceist agam ná go bhfuil daoine ag rá go bhfuil athrú polasaithe ceaptha i dtreo teilifís Ghaeilge.
Tuigfidh tú, a Theachta, go mbeidh daoine ag rá seo agus ag rá siúd ach ní chuirfeadh sé in ord sa Teach seo é. Sílim nach bhfuil sé geallta——
Is é an cheist a chuir mé ort, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, ná an féidir liom an cheist seo a thógaint suas ag críoch na hoibre inniu.
Cuirfidh mé an scéal in iúl don Cheann Comhairle agus má éirionn leat, mar a d'éirigh cheana, beidh an oíche agatsa anseo.
When does the Minister for Social Welfare propose to circulate the Social Welfare Bill, 1990?
It must be this session.
In view of the extensive damage that has been caused to a number of harbours around our coasts as a result of the recent storm, may I raise on the Adjournment the extent of that damage and ask what the Government propose to do? I specifically refer to Union Hall, Ballycotton, Kylemore East and Arklow.
The Ceann Comhairle's Office will communicate with the Deputy.
In the light of the failure of my Private Notice Question of today's date to gain the favour of the Ceann Comhairle's Office and in view of the failure of the Minister for Justice to make a statement on a recent High Court action, with your permission, I seek to raise on the Adjournment the present law on criminal insanity, about which there appears to be some confusion at present.
The Ceann Comhairle's Office will communicate with the Deputy.
May I take the opportunity on one of the rare visits of the Minister for Justice to the House to inquire of him when he proposes to fill the three vacancies that now exist on the Legal Aid Board?
That is not in order.
Perhaps the Minister could take the opportunity——
The Minister cannot put in order what is not in order.
The Minister has no regard for the Legal Aid Board.
I seek your permission to raise on the Adjournment the number of homes being repossessed at present both by building societies and local authorities, specifically the fact that homes purchased under the HFA system are being sold at knock-down prices, and whether there is anything the Minister for the Environment can do to respond to this crisis.
The Ceann Comhairle's Office will communicate with Deputy Rabbitte.