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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 14 Jun 1990

Vol. 399 No. 12

Order of Business.

The Taoiseach

It is proposed that statements on European Political Union shall be made now and, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, the following arrangements shall apply: (a) The statement of the main spokesperson for each of the groups shall not exceed 40 minutes; (b) The statement of each other Member called on, shall not exceed 15 minutes; and (c) The statements shall conclude not later than 5 p.m.

It is also proposed that the Dáil shall meet tomorrow at 10.30 a.m. and shall adjourn not later than 4 p.m. and any divisions demanded tomorrow shall be postponed until 6.45 p.m. on Tuesday, 19 June 1990.

Mr. Dukes

I am opposing today's Order of Business for several reasons. First, today's debate is taking place without any statement from the Government as to what their tentative views might be in relation to European Political Union. Second, we are not debating the Second Stage of the Broadcasting Bill. Third, I have made it very clear in this House that my party oppose debate on the Fóir Teoranta (Dissolution) Bill, 1990, until the Companies Bill comes out of Committee. Finally, I can see no reason whatever why any votes that might be called tomorrow should be postponed until next week.

An Ceann Comhairle

Since I have had an intimation that the Order of Business is being challenged I will hear a brief statement from the leaders of the main parties in the House. We have had one from Deputy Dukes; I now call on Deputy Spring. Perhaps the Deputy will be brief.

Mr. Spring

I intend to be brief. We consider today's Order of Business to be completely unsatisfactory. We requested a debate many weeks ago on the topic of European Political Union. We also requested the Government to outline their position and we had hoped that a position paper from the Government would have been forthcoming prior to this debate. It is unfortunate that we do not have any idea of whether the Government have a position. In that situation, today's debate is rather pointless and it is unfortunate that the Government have not seen it as their responsibility to have a position paper in relation to European Political Union. It would have given us a focus for this debate. If the Government had a position perhaps they would have wished to have sought the support of the House for that position.

Deputies

Hear, hear.

Mr. Spring

In the event, Sir, it is totally unsatisfactory and we are opposing the Order of Business.

Proinsias De Rossa

The Opposition Parties have, over a considerable period, requested a debate on the issue of political union and the European situation generally, including the situation in Eastern Europe. The Taoiseach has given indications on numerous occasions that he was considering this option. Now we are faced with a proposal that only statements can be made. As the Taoiseach and the House are aware, the Dáil is not in a position to amend, to oppose or to vote on any of the positions put forward by the Government on the matters which will be debated here. On that basis I will be opposing the Order of Business.

Question put: "That the arrangements for today's statements be agreed to and that the arrangements for tomorrow's sitting be agreed to".

The Dáil divided: Tá, 67; Níl, 59.

Tá

Níl

Tellers: Ta, Deputies Gallagher and Clohessy; Níl, Deputies J. Higgins and Howlin.

Question declared carried.

Mr. Dukes

Will the Taoiseach explain the difference in views between himself and the Minister for Finance on the 48-hour rule? The Minister for Finance bluffed his way through the House here yesterday talking of 36-hour rules and arrangements being made. The Taoiseach yesterday seemed to take a much more forthright view and said the 48-hour rule has to go. Can we have an indication of what the Government really think and who is right? Is the Taoiseach right or is the Minister for Finance right?

An Ceann Comhairle

The question is, is the matter in order now?

Mr. Dukes

The question is entirely in order. We have another division of views on an important issue.

An Ceann Comhairle

There are other ways of dealing with the matter.

Mr. Dukes

Have they nothing to say about it? Has the Taoiseach any other way of dealing with it?

(Interruptions.)

Mr. Quinn

Now that the Taoiseach has returned can he tell the House whether his Government have sorted out the difficulties in relation to the drafting of the Environmental Protection Agency Bill and whether the problems which have been encountered have now been successfully resolved? Will the Bill, as promised, be circulated before the end of this session?

An Ceann Comhairle

Has the legislation been promised?

Mr. Quinn

Yes, very much so.

The Taoiseach

That is still the intention.

Mr. Quinn

Still the intention?

Proinsias De Rossa

I wish to raise on the Adjournment the issue of the Aoibhneas women's refuge Ballymun, which is urgently in need of additional funding, and I wish to raise with the Department of Health the possibility of providing funding.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. Connaughton

May I raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of the ongoing dispute between the Department of Agriculture and Food and the agricultural officers at the poultry processing plants?

An Ceann Comhairle

I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning that matter.

Mr. Nealon

On legislation, in view of the fact that the EC Commissioner for Regional Affairs, Bruce Millan, announced to the European Parliament during the week that the Commission had approved the spending of £30 million on the re-opening of the Ballinamore-Ballyconnell canal and work could start immediately, will the Taoiseach give us an assurance that he will seek to have the necessary legislation, the Shannon Navigation Bill, 1990 processed as quickly as possible in the House?

An Ceann Comhairle

Has this legislation been promised?

The Taoiseach

I am delighted to hear Deputy Nealon coming in here and supporting a project which I have been pushing forward for the last ten years. I assure him that every possible step, legislative, financial, physical and engineering, will be taken to get this very valuable, useful, far-seeing, cross-Border project into operation as soon as possible.

(Interruptions.)

Mr. J. O'Keeffe

I take it from that flow the answer is "yes".

Mr. Sherlock

When can we expect to have the report of the inter-departmental committee on the sell-off of the majority stake in the Irish Sugar Company or, more appropriately, the privatisation of the Irish Sugar Company?

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy Sherlock will surely pursue that in another, more effective way. It is not in order now.

Mr. Sherlock

It is the report of an inter-departmental committee.

An Ceann Comhairle

It is not legislation promised in this House. I call Deputy O'Shea.

Mr. Sherlock

The main point——

An Ceann Comhairle

I have called another Deputy. My office will assist the Deputy in raising the matter properly.

Mr. O'Shea

Again, Sir, I am seeking your permission to raise on the Adjournment the need for the Minister for Education, bearing in mind the fact that 10,500 students failed the ordinary leaving certificate paper last year, to introduce a second ordinary syllabus of equal standard but of more practical content.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. Finucane

I would like to raise on the Adjournment what can best be described as a miracle of loaves and fishes, in other words how the Minister for the Environment intends to divide £6.5 million among people whose applications total £160 million. A number of bodies are awaiting that funding.

(Interruptions.)

An Ceann Comhairle

I will be in touch with the Deputy.

Mrs. Owen

Will the Taoiseach or the Minister for Finance indicate what instructions have been given to the Irish Customs officials at the Border if they apprehend any citizen coming through with goods who has not spent 48 hours in the North? We need to know that.

An Ceann Comhairle

An ideal question, Deputy.

The Taoiseach

Is the Deputy thinking of doing a bit of smuggling?

(Interruptions.)

Mr. Barry

That is a serious question.

Mrs. Owen

The Taoiseach obviously wants people to break the law.

Mr. Barry

He has contempt for this House.

Mr. Howlin

I would ask the Minister for Education when the AIDS education programme will be circularised from her Department to schools.

An Ceann Comhairle

Does this refer to legislation promised?

Mr. Howlin

It is a promise given. It is in preparation and I am wondering when it will be circularised or will it be circumvented by other programmes already——

An Ceann Comhairle

It is worthy of a question at the proper time.

Mr. Ryan

I wish to raise on the Adjournment the application currently with the Department of the Environment from Dublin County Council for funding for the construction of a link road between Drinam and the Malahide Road at Swords.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will be in touch with the Deputy.

Mr. Browne

(Carlow-Kilkenny): In view of the fact that a very important event is taking place, namely the leaving certificate examination — not the World Cup — is the Minister for Education happy with the facilities available to students for the aural examinations? Some students have to compete with noise from lorries and ambulances passing their classrooms and they cannot hear the tapes.

An Ceann Comhairle

I take it the Deputy is seeking my permission to raise the matter on the Adjournment and I will communicate with him.

Mr. Carey

I sought permission to raise on the Adjournment the case of an in-transit refugee who has been in Limerick jail since 10 May without charge. He is virtually interned without trial. The best the Minister and the Department of Justice have offered is that if this man agrees to return to Somalia, where he will be summarily executed, he will be free to go. I wonder——

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy may not elaborate now. I am aware of his interest in the matter and I will be in touch with him.

Mr. Stagg

I seek to raise on the Adjournment the issue by the Catholic Church authorities to schools of an alternative AIDS advice programme which seeks to supersede the Department of Education's programme and which has serious implications for Church-State relations and the health of young people.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy.

Mrs. Taylor-Quinn

Is the Taoiseach in a position to outline the conditions relating to the issue of Structural Funds for tourism projects?

An Ceann Comhairle

A question would be a more appropriate way of dealing with this matter. I thought you had something relevant to raise. It is not relevant now.

Mrs. Taylor-Quinn

I wish to raise on the Adjournment the proposed development of a marina in Dingle where the applicant, who has not got planning permission, has stated publicly that Structural Funds have been provided for the project.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy in respect of that aspect of the matter.

Mr. Byrne

I wish to raise on the Adjournment the dreadful poverty of women and children in view of the fact that only 13 per cent of maintenance orders awarded by the courts are fully paid up and the vast majority of maintenance agreements made through the courts are not even honoured. This was exposed recently in a report by the Combat Poverty Agency.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy need not elaborate now. I will communicate with him.

Mr. Hogan

I wish to raise on the Adjournment the need to amend the Casual Trading Act, 1981. I would also ask the Taoiseach or the Minister for Agriculture and Food when the promised legislation to establish a national milk purchasing agency will come before the House.

The Taoiseach

I will have to communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. Flanagan

While we are sitting here this morning, the European Council of Justice Ministers are discussing at Dublin Castle draft proposals for the harmonisation of asylum law throughout the European Community. It is shameful, in the light of what Deputy Carey has said earlier on a particular case, that we as the national Parliament have not had an opportunity of discussing what our Minister is ratifying. I wish to raise the matter on the Adjournment.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning the matter.

Mr. Allen

I sought to raise on the Adjournment the question of itinerant salesmen in the Cork area but was told it was out of order because the matter may come before the courts. When will we have some guidelines regarding the sub judice rule? It has reached a ridiculous stage.

An Ceann Comhairle

That is another matter. I understand the Committee on Procedure and Privileges have been dealing with that issue.

Mr. Allen

It has gone to extremes.

An Ceann Comhairle

A decision in that regard is expected from the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. I cannot say when. It is a difficult matter to resolve.

Mr. Allen

It should be as quickly as possible.

Tomás Mac Giolla

In view of the fact that the Minister for Education will not be answering questions again until October or November, I wish to raise on the Adjournment her failure to issue revised guidelines on the AIDS education programme, particularly in view of the fact that the hierarchy have issued their own guidelines which, from the health point of view, would not be acceptable. It is essential that the revised guidelines be available before the new school year commences.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. Spring

When will the promised legislation be brought to the House to amend the Fisheries Act, 1987, which is still the law of the land?

The Taoiseach

It is at an advanced stage of drafting. We will bring it forward as soon as we can.

Mr. Spring

This session?

The Taoiseach

That is the intention.

Mr. Garland

I seek again to raise on the Adjournment the incidents at the Lawns in Castlebar.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. Rabbitte

I wish to raise on the Adjournment the fact that plinths for toll booths have been erected on the Western Parkway at the direction of the Minister for the Environment, despite the fact that this is a reserved function of the elected members of Dublin County Council who have not so decided.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. Gilmore

I wish to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of Question No. 144 on the Order Paper for 6 June.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will be in touch with the Deputy.

Mr. G. O'Sullivan

I wish to raise on the Adjournment the serious problem throughout the country caused by the indiscriminate parking of caravans on public and private property which is a threat to job creation and a matter of serious concern to local authorities and community groups.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning the matter.

Mr. Durkan

The Minister for Industry and Commerce might give some indication to the House now or on the Adjournment as to the trend in the current bread price war, whether the officials in his Department have monitored the possible effects and whether these developments are to the long-term benefit of the consumer.

An Ceann Comhairle

It does not arise now. We dealt with that matter on the Adjournment last week.

Mr. Durkan

There have been subsequent developments.

Barr