It is proposed to take Nos. 10 and 11. It is also proposed, notwithstanding the resolution of the Dáil of Tuesday, 10 July 1990, that the proceedings on No. 10 shall be brought to a conclusion at 6.45 p.m. today. Private Members' Business shall be No. 21.
Order of Business.
Is it agreed that No. 10 be brought to a conclusion at 6.45 p.m. today? Agreed.
On the Order of Business, there are two matters I would like to raise. First, in the event that Brian Keenan is released today — which is something we all wish to see — can we have an assurance from the Government that all the arrangements for bringing him back will be made and handled by our Government and that no other Government will be involved? The other matter I would like to raise concerns the setting up of a proposed committee of this House on crime. We will be proposing, Sir, an addition to the terms of reference of that committee to allow the committee to send for persons and papers and specifically that the chairperson of that committee be provided by one of the Opposition parties, in line with previous precedents in the matter. I would like to have an indication from the Government that we could finally resolve this issue and proceed in that way.
I have allowed the Deputy to express his view on these matters, strictly speaking they are not in order.
I think, Sir, on both issues it would be useful to have an indication from the Government and we would do no violence to the other groups.
Of course, the Government are very deeply involved in that matter. It is a sensitive matter which is best left as the Government have handled it.
It should be dealt with entirely by this Government.
I would like to join with Deputy Dukes in relation to his request for a committee on crime. Perhaps the Tánaiste would inform the House why there is now a delay in setting up this committee? We have waited for it for months. There has been a good deal of discussion between the Whips and given what is happening on the streets of Dublin, as late as last Friday, surely the House has a responsibility to have a committee on crime. Perhaps the Tánaiste could take steps to ensure the committee is appointed before this House rises.
Last week my colleague, Deputy Quinn, put down a question to the Taoiseach in relation to formal decisions made by the various Ministers in the context of the Presidency. We were informed that the decisions will be laid before this House. It has not been done, Sir, and when will it be done?
Deputy Spring will appreciate that the first matter to which he referred is not strictly in order now.
It is on the Order Paper.
I understand that matters appertaining to the Presidency were dealt with yesterday by way of parliamentary question.
With respect, Sir, item No. 7 on today's Order Paper is the proposal to set up a committee on crime. I believe I am entitled to a response in relation to some difficulties that have arisen. The second matter related to a parliamentary question. It is important in relation to Private Members' Business of this House this evening and I think I am also entitled to a response on that.
Does the Tánaiste wish to respond?
I should say that the Government are very anxious to establish a committee on crime and, indeed, and delay in the matter is because of a certain stance taken by the Opposition parties in regard to the chairman.
No, this House previously had a Select Committee on Crime, Lawlessness and Vandalism. At that time it was clearly decided and accepted on all sides of the House that the Chair of that committee would be occupied by a Member of the Opposition. All we are asking is that this Government in setting up this committee on crime follow that precedent. The Government so far have dug their heels in on this, for some reason which I cannot understand.
We cannot debate the matter now.
I would urge the Government to follow the precedent that was fixed on the last occasion so that we can have that committee set up before this House rises for the summer recess and they can get down to work during the recess.
I am not sure if the Tánaiste is aware that there is an agreement between the Opposition parties in relation to a nominee for chairman of this committee. Surely it can be done before the House rises.
It is a matter primarily for the Whips.
Will I be allowed to add my voice of concern on this issue under cover of the latitude being granted to the other parties because it is a matter I sought to raise on many occasions?
It should not be taken as a precedent.
The up-to-date position so far as the Whips are concerned is that we put a proposition to the Government Chief Whip — the Tánaiste may not be aware of this. He undertook to have the matter considered. We understood in that context that we would hear from him. The delay in establishing this very important committee rests with the Government and nowhere else.
It is a matter that should, at this stage, be left to the Whips. I appreciate what the Deputies have said. The matter could be settled immediately if there was agreement on the Government chairman. There is no question about that. If the Opposition parties have another view it can be——
There is no need for a pussy cat committee.
Give the Whips a simple instruction.
If the Opposition have another view it can be discussed——
Please, this is getting very untidy.
——and we will take into account what has been said here. If the House would be patient and leave it to the Whips we should make every effort to settle this matter before we adjourn so that they can meet as a committee during the vacation.
Give the Whips one simple instruction. The Tánaiste should tell the Whips to appoint an Opposition chairman.
We cannot resolve the matter now. I am calling Deputy Quinn. I presume it is on another matter.
It is on another item. I put down a question to every one of the Government Ministers on 3 July 1990 seeking to obtain from them the context and the format of the decisions which were taken during the course of the Irish Presidency and the Councils for which they had responsibility and the subsequent action that would follow from such decisions. All of those questions, sent to each individual Minister, were answered by the Taoiseach who, in a holding reply, said that the information was being assembled in comprehensive form and would be laid before the House. This morning I checked with the Library again when I ascertained that the reply to these questions — to which I am entitled — has not yet been supplied. I do not know what is happening over on those benches, perhaps they themselves do not know, but will somebody please co-ordinate the information and let me have the reply to which I am entitled?
There are 125 regulations in agriculture alone.
Can they be had in the Library?
It is a huge volume with which we are dealing.
On the question of promised legislation, in view of the decision taken yesterday in Cork by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to seek not to have moneylending licences renewed because, they allege, moneylenders are charging up to 74 per cent interest to unfortunate people who can least afford to bear such payments, is the Tánaiste in a position to say if the legislation promised by the Minister for Industry and Commerce will be introduced early in the next session?
Has this legislation been promised?
Yes.
It certainly will not be ready before the next session.
Will it be ready then?
I hope so.
On the question of promised legislation this House has been waiting a long time for an environmental protection agency Bill. It now appears that this promised legislation is held up because of what are termed in the papers today personality differences between the Minister for the Environment and his Minister of State, Deputy Harney. Can the Tánaiste now give this House an assurance that the Bill will be circulated even at this late stage? Can he also inform the House what he is doing from the point of view of resolving the personality differences between the Minister for the Environment and his Minister of State, Deputy Harney?
Deputies must ask brief questions and avoid personalities if possible.
I would not believe everything I read in the papers.
Only the bits the Minister writes himself.
(Interruptions.)
Perhaps he would tell us who leaked the information to the papers.
The Government regard this measure as of great importance. It will be available for circulation during the recess, when Deputies can contemplate it in detail, come back to this House refreshed and make positive contributions when the Dáil resumes.
Next October — some priority.
When does the Minister for the Marine intend submitting the report of the review group on air/sea rescue services?
It is not strictly relevant now.
It may not be but may I have an answer because he promised me in a letter that he would have laid it before the Dáil by 30 June and we are now at 11 July.
The Deputy can raise it in another way.
When will the Minister for Agriculture and Food announce to the House the names of areas approved for inclusion under the extension of the disadvantaged areas scheme? When does he expect that approval will be forthcoming from Brussels because there are informed leaks circulating around the House that certain areas have been included.
Deputy Sheehan should raise that matter in the normal way. There are many ways open to him by which he can do so.
I would like to know from where that information emanated?
It will be very extensive. We will look after the Deputy.
It is like waiting for Godot.
This is a disgrace.
Deputy Sheehan may not ignore the Chair. The Deputy will resume his seat.
With your permission, Sir, I seek to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of Question No. 40 on the Order Paper of Wednesday, 4 July 1990.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
(Carlow-Kilkenny): With your permission, Sir, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the subject of a parliamentary question regarding the right of public access to Fenniscourt Lock in Carlow which the Office of Public Works have sealed off.
I will be in touch with the Deputy.
Will the Tánaiste inform the House when the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food intends announcing the members of the new body, Bord Glas, since the relevant legislation was passed in this House over five months ago. What is the delay in appointing these board members?
The Deputy must raise that in another way.
With your permission, Sir, I wish to raise on the Adjournment with the Minister for Labour the lack of funding by FÁS for the social employment scheme as it relates to caretakers in Powerstown national school in Clonmel.
I will communicate with the Deputy in respect of that matter.
Bearing in mind that the schedule of business has been agreed to the end of this session, would the Tánaiste say whether he would agree to the Joint Committee on Secondary Legislation of the EC being used as a vehicle for Members to discuss with Government Members the effects of the GATT talks over the recess period? This would be an ideal opportunity for Members of this House to have some input into these most important talks from the point of view of this country over the recess period?
It is not relevant to the Order of Business.
It is an EC committee, not a GATT committee.
It is the Common Agricultural Policy which is under threat.
(Interruptions.)
A Cheann Comhairle——
The matter is not in order now, Deputy.
I do not mean to be disrespectful, Sir, but with your co-operation——
I have already ruled the matter out of order on the Order of Business. The Deputy will obey the Chair.
I cannot ask for time in the House because the programme of business has been agreed to the end of this session.
There are other ways of dealing with the matter. If the Deputy will communicate with my office I will endeavour to facilitate him.
A Cheann Comhairle, last week I raised the question of the regulations arising from Government consideration of the report of the Commission on Health Funding. I asked whether regulations or legislation would be introduced. I want to make the point that on 6 February last the Minister stated that both will produce results within this Dáil session, allowing him to bring more detailed and specific plans to Government before the Summer Recess.
To what legislation is the Deputy advertising?
Regulations or legislation?
Regulations are not in order, Deputy.
It arises from the report of the Commission on Health Funding.
I am sorry, the Deputy may not pursue that matter now.
On Thursday last, Sir, you were gracious enough to allow me raise a matter on the Adjournment in relation to an industrial dispute in the planning department of Dublin Corporation. Since that dispute has now escalated, would I be in order in asking whether the Minister for Labour or the Minister for the Environment intend intervening to ensure that the matter is resolved?
Not now, Deputy Quinn.
A Cheann Comhairle, with your permission I wish to raise on the Adjournment the proposed takeover of Halls by AIAWS and in danger of their creating a monopoly within the feed compound industry.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
With your permission, I wish to riase on the Adjournment the confusion pertaining to the "back-to-school" payments for families with children? Can the Minister outline in the House what arrangements have been put in place in each health board area, saying whether he has resolved his difficulties with the Eastern Health Board community welfare staff?
I will communicate with the Deputy.
A Cheann Comhairle, with your permission, may I seek to raise on the Adjournment with the Minister for Education the unacceptable delay in announcing grants for the various national youth organisations for disadvantaged youth projects and youth information centres.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
With your permission, I wish to raise on the Adjournment this evening with the Minister for Agriculture and Food the obvious adverse direction the world trade talks with the G7 Leaders are taking and their implications for Irish agriculture.
I will be in touch with the Deputy.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of my Question No. 66 on today's Order Paper concerning the same subject in respect of which I was refused information yesterday on the Order of Business.
I will be in touch with the Deputy.
Can the Tánaiste say whether there is any additional information available on a matter in respect of which the Minister for Foreign Affairs told us, in the course of Question Time in May last, he was having discussions with like-minded countries about the seating of Cambodia at the United Nations. I will not be able to raise this before the matter comes up in the UN because the Dáil will not be sitting.
I am sorry, Deputy Owen, that is not in order now. The Deputy can make inquiries through many other channels to ascertain that information.
In view of the declining punt vis-à-vis the pound sterling, would the Minister undertake a strict monitoring of retail outlets in the weeks ahead, because I fear an avalanche of price increases and profiteering as a result of this situation. I would ask the Minister to make available to each Member of the House the detailed study by the Fair Trade Commission into restrictive practices in the legal profession. There are only a limited number of reports in the Library. It is a fairly detailed report. Could we have a copy of it?
The Deputy has made his point.
I seek, with your permission, to raise on the Adjournment the proposed stripping by the Land Commission of a mountain pasture at Mulraney, County Mayo against the wishes of those who have grazing rights there.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I would like to raise on the Adjournment the present status of the new secondary school in Newcastle West.
I will be in touch with the Deputy.
A Cheann Comhairle, with your permission, I would like to raise on the Adjournment the serious situation of farmers in receipt of smallholders' assistance being reassessed on terms that are completely outrageous.
I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning the matter. He may not elaborate now.
I want to raise this matter because thousands of farmers are affected.
In view of the Tánaiste's refusal to consider Deputy Barrett's suggestion, and since we do not have a foreign affairs committee which would be the most appropriate forum in which to discuss the GATT talks——
I have ruled on that matter, Deputy Flaherty. It may not be raised now.
Perhaps the Minister for Agriculture and Food would, in his Estimate speech, brief us fully on the implications of the latest discussions in America in relation to this.
That should be sufficient, Deputy Flaherty.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the implications of the expected referral of the Maguire case to the court of appeal.
I will communicate with the Deputy.