It is proposed to take Nos. 8 and 9. It is also proposed that business shall be interrupted at 10.30 p.m. today. Private Members' Business shall be No. 24, motion 51.
Order of Business.
May I ask if the proposal for the late sitting for today is agreed?
No, Sir. We object to the taking of the Bill today to abolish Fóir Teoranta, the State rescue agency, because the alternative arrangements promised at the time this decision was announced to provide for company rescue are not yet in place and the abolition of Fóir Teoranta is, therefore, premature and could well be a serious error.
Shall I put the question?
Yes, please.
Question put, "That Business shall be interrupted at 10.30 p.m. today."
The Dáil divided: Tá, 70; Níl, 41.
Tá
- Ahern, Bertie.
- Ahern, Dermot.
- Ahern, Michael.
- Andrews, David.
- Barrett, Michael.
- Brady, Gerard.
- Brady, Vincent.
- Brennan, Mattie.
- Brennan, Séamus.
- Briscoe, Ben.
- Burke, Raphael P.
- Calleary, Seán.
- Callely, Ivor.
- Clohessy, Peadar.
- Coughlan, Mary Theresa.
- Cowen, Brian.
- Cullimore, Séamus.
- Davern, Noel.
- Dempsey, Noel.
- Dennehy, John.
- de Valera, Síle.
- Ellis, John.
- Fahey, Frank.
- Fahey, Jackie.
- Fitzgerald, Liam Joseph.
- Fitzpatrick, Dermot.
- Flood, Chris.
- Foxe, Tom.
- Gallagher, Pat the Cope.
- Geoghegan-Quinn, Máire.
- Harney, Mary.
- Haughey, Charles J.
- Hillery, Brian.
- Hilliard, Colm.
- Hyland, Liam.
- Jacob, Joe.
- Kelly, Laurence.
- Kenneally, Brendan.
- Kitt, Michael P.
- Kitt, Tom.
- Lawlor, Liam.
- Lenihan, Brian.
- Leonard, Jimmy.
- Lyons, Denis.
- Martin, Micheál.
- McDaid, Jim.
- McEllistrim, Tom.
- Nolan, M. J.
- Noonan, Michael J. (Limerick West).
- O'Connell, John.
- O'Dea, Willie.
- O'Donoghue, John.
- O'Hanlon, Rory.
- O'Keeffe, Ned.
- O'Leary, John.
- O'Malley, Desmond J.
- O'Rourke, Mary.
- O'Toole, Martin Joe.
- Power, Seán.
- Quill, Máirín.
- Reynolds, Albert.
- Roche, Dick.
- Smith, Michael.
- Stafford, John.
- Treacy, Noel.
- Tunney, Jim.
- Wallace, Dan.
- Wallace, Mary.
- Wilson, John P.
- Wyse, Pearse.
Níl
- Ahearn, Therese.
- Barnes, Monica.
- Barrett, Seán.
- Barry, Peter.
- Bruton, Richard.
- Carey, Donal.
- Connaughton, Paul.
- Connor, John.
- Cosgrave, Michael Joe.
- Cotter, Bill.
- Creed, Michael.
- Currie, Austin.
- D'Arcy, Michael.
- Deasy, Austin.
- Doyle, Joe.
- Durkan, Bernard.
- Fennell, Nuala.
- Finucane, Michael.
- FitzGerald, Garret.
- Flaherty, Mary.
- Flanagan, Charles.
- Boylan, Andrew.
- Bradford, Paul.
- Browne, John (Carlow-Kilkenny).
- Bruton, John.
- Higgins, Jim.
- Kenny, Enda.
- Lee, Pat.
- McCormack, Pádraic.
- McGahon, Brendan.
- McGinley, Dinny.
- McGrath, Paul.
- Mitchell, Jim.
- Nealon, Ted.
- Noonan, Michael. (Limerick East).
- O'Brien, Fergus.
- O'Keeffe, Jim.
- Owen, Nora.
- Reynolds, Gerry.
- Timmins, Godfrey.
- Yates, Ivan.
Tellers: Tá, Deputies V. Brady and Clohessy; Níl, Deputies J. Higgins and Boylan.
Question declared carried.
On the Order of Business, can I seek some clarification from the Taoiseach? Some weeks ago the Taoiseach or the Government announced that a task force of the Cabinet were being set up in relation to storm damage. I want to know if that task force have reported to the Cabinet; if not, when their report can be expected and if it will be published?
It is not something which arises on the Order of Business, Deputy Spring.
The Taoiseach wants to respond.
The Deputy will have to find another way of raising that matter.
Perhaps I should seek to raise it on the Adjournment but, if the Chair should not grant me that permission, I would seek, more importantly, to raise on the Adjournment the implications of last week's Supreme Court decision in the McGimpsey v. the State case for the Anglo-Irish Agreement?
I will communicate with the Deputy.
Has the Taoiseach yet taken a decision on the request made by Fine Gael this morning for a debate in this House during which the Government might make a statement on the implications of the Supreme Court decision in the McGimpsey case?
No, I have not yet considered the matter in any depth. I am not so sure that a debate would be of any great assistance. The judgement of the Supreme Court is fairly specific and comprehensive. I do not know that a debate here would add much to the situation, but perhaps the Deputy might persuade me.
Would the Taoiseach agree that the terms of the Supreme Court decision do quite tightly circumscribe the Government's ability in certain respects in regard to Anglo-Irish relations and that it would be useful for the House to have a statement from the Government as to how they see the implications of this decision on their conduct of Anglo-Irish relations? If the Taoiseach feels that a debate is not the best format perhaps he would suggest another format in which such clarification could be achieved.
We certainly cannot debate it now.
Perhaps the request I made earlier in regard to a statement might be helpful.
I will consider that.
In the absence of the Minister for Agriculture, is the Taoiseach aware that one of his Cork TDs stated on local radio County Sound 103 last week that he would personally see the disadvantaged areas files in the Department of Agriculture this week before they went to Brussels.
Please, Deputy Connaughton, I thought the Deputy had something relevant to raise on the Order of Business. I am calling Deputy Deenihan.
Can all Deputies see them? Who is going to decide on the criteria? Is it the Fianna Fáil Deputies?
Please desist, Deputy Connaughton.
(Interruptions.)
When do the Government intend to publish the report of the Special Commission set up to examine safety procedures at our major stadia in view of the incidents that occurred recently——
Will the Deputy please put down a question, or some such matter.
It is very important. Many people could be killed. This is a matter of public safety.
If it is worthy of a question, Deputy, put down a question.
When will the promised pensions Bill be circulated?
Is the Deputy talking about the Social Welfare Bill?
No. There was a new updated pensions Bill promised in the House a few weeks ago. I was wondering when it might be circulated.
It will be available soon. I do not think it will be taken this session.
I appreciate it will not be taken, but will it be circulated before the end of this session?
I hope so.
Quite some months ago I understood from the Taoiseach that he was agreeable to the establishment of a committee on crime. Will the Taoiseach confirm that he will issue an instruction to his Whips to ensure that the necessary terms of reference can be agreed and that this committee can be established at this stage.
It is being discussed by the Whips at the moment and it will be established as soon as possible. The Deputy will recall that it was a Fianna Fáil idea in the first place.
I have asked my own Whip to raise this at a number of Whips' meetings. He tells me that he is making no progress whatever and that the Government Whip is not co-operating at all in reaching agreement on the terms of reference. Would you instruct him accordingly, Sir?
I will discuss it firmly with him.
We will await developments.
In the usual manner.
Some weeks ago a group of parliamentarians from this House visited Nicaragua to observe the elections. I would like to know if they have filed a report and whether that report will be debated in this House in the near future?
That is not in order on the Order of Business.
Have they not come back?
It is nothing to do with me. I think the Deputy is being mischievous.
I am certainly not. I would like to hear a fair discussion and not a one sided discussion on the matter.
A Deputy
Where is the Deputy?
There is a month's mind.
(Interruptions.)
Could I appeal to the House to listen to the pleadings of the Deputy on whom I have called, Deputy Ahearn.
He is being adopted by Daniel Ortega.
With your permission, Sir, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the question of St. Joseph's Hospital, Clonmel, where over 50 per cent of the nursing staff are employed in a temporary capacity, for six years or more.
The Ceann Comhairle will communicate with the Deputy.
May I ask the Taoiseach when a statement will be made this week on the establishment of the committee on local government reform, as promised by the Government Chief Whip last week.
It is on its way.
May I ask the Taoiseach if the announcement will be made this week?
Maybe not this week but very soon.
(Limerick East): May I ask the Taoiseach when the promised legislation to set up a debt management agency will be introduced in this House?
I think it is at an advanced state of preparation. I am not sure when it will come before the House but it will be as soon as possible.
(Limerick East): Does the Taoiseach recall promising that it would be published in advance of the Finance Bill being published and does he think now he will fulfil that commitment?
We will try to adhere to that.
With your permission, Sir, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the ongoing dispute at Anglo Irish Meat Processors, Rathkeale, which is causing much hardship to constituents.
The Ceann Comhairle will communicate with the Deputy.
Is the Taoiseach aware of the decision made by the Minister for Agriculture and Food while he was away with regard to the division of the additional quota of 11.5 million gallons available to farmers——
That would not arise on the Order of Business.
——and the discriminatory nature of the allocation.
May I ask the Taoiseach if on the occasion of his visit to the Liffey Valley next Sunday to open the new bridge he will take the opportunity of stating the Government's intention in relation to the signing of the amenity order for the Liffey Valley?
Suggestions of that kind are not proper to the Order of Business.
It is a nice jump.
May I ask the Taoiseach what steps the Government intend to take to compensate farmers and householders in south Galway who have been so badly affected by the recent flooding.
Is this on the Adjournment? The Deputy is entitled to request to raise the matter on the Adjournment.
I am entitled to ask the Taoiseach.
You are not entitled to do so.
I heard one of his own Minsters asking the Taoiseach on the 1.30 p.m. news what he is going to do about it. If I am not entitled to ask him here, I do not know what he was doing.
You, Deputy, are not one of his own Ministers yet and what happens on the news is not relevant to the Order of Business.
I will have to ask the Taoiseach this question on the radio this evening. I toured the area yesterday and they are in a serious situation.
Accounts of the Deputy's tours of his constituency are not in order on the Order of Business.
This is a national problem.
I now call Deputy Kenny.
A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I thought you were going to refer to me as the Right Honourable Member in view of your recent co-chairmanship.
In reply to that I might say Deputy that you would be the Right Honourable Member from my own county and in that way I could not object.
With your prermission, Sir, I seek to raise on the Adjournment the matter of the provision of a regional technical college for Castlebar, County Mayo.
The Ceann Comhairle will communicate with the Deputy.
May I ask the Taoiseach to right a certain slight to this House done by the Minister for Social Welfare and to clarify something which to date neither the Taoiseach nor the Minister have been able to clarify, that is, when exactly the Occupational Pensions Bill will be before this House and if the timescale outlined by the Minister to a single journalist last week can be taken as the timetable?
It was announced five minutes ago.
My apologies.
I am afraid the move to the left is not quick enough.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the present serious threat to the Ring of Kerry road caused by the recent very serious coastal erosion at Waterville.
The Ceann Comhairle will communicate with the Deputy.
The Deputy is close to home.
I was here for the Order of Business and I gather the specific time table was given for the Social Welfare Bill but were the specific details given on the Occupational Pensions Bill?
Both were given.
To whom?
Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and at the Department of Defence (Mr. V. Brady)
It was announced in the House.
We will communicate with the Deputy.
With your permission, Sir, I seek to raise on the Adjournment the issue of irregular work practices in the Department of Justice relating to supervisors in the community services area.
The Ceann Comhairle will communicate with the Deputy.
With your permission, Sir, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the need for the Government to fulfil their commitment to decentralise a Government Department to Waterford.
Beidh an Ceann Comhairle i gcomhairle leat faoi sin.
May I ask the Taoiseach if he can give any further information on the introduction of legislation to provide statutory authority for the regional technical colleges to co-operate with industry and engage in various other matters involving the amendment of the Vocational Educational Acts?
I do not think it will surface this session.
Without wishing to be repetitive, may I ask if the Taoiseach is aware that it was promised for this session?
Not categorically.
It was promised as much as any promise could ever be obtained from the Taoiseach.
With your permission, Sir, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the serious flooding in south Galway.
The Ceann Comhairle will communicate with the Deputy on that matter.
With your permission, Sir, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the question of the understaffing of the Dublin Carriage Office which has resulted in taxis being unsupervised at week-ends and with no inspection of PSD licences or cars.
The Ceann Comhairle will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the need for the Minister for the Environment to extend the completion dates of the house improvement grants in view of the impossibility of carrying out the work within the specified time due to weather conditions.
The Ceann Comhairle will communicate with Deputy Higgins.