It is proposed to take Nos. 1, 2 and 3. It is also proposed that Nos. 1 and 2 shall be taken without debate. I also wish to add for the information of the House that I am writing to you, a Cheann Comhairle, to request a special meeting of the Dáil tomorrow for the purpose of discussing the Middle East situation.
Order of Business.
Is it agreed that Nos. 1 and 2 be taken without debate? Agreed. Sorry, I hear a dissent from Deputy Dick Spring.
In relation to the serious situation facing this House, indeed facing industries outside this House, it might be more appropriate at this stage to leave the debate for today open-ended. The Taoiseach might consider at some stage, because there will be many amendments down to the Bill before the House, providing for a meeting of the Whips to see if we can conclude the business as suggested at 10 o'clock or, if necessary, if we could have an open-ended debate and some hours could be added on to today's debate. In relation to today's Order of Business, the Dáil is convened under Article 24 of the Constitution, could I ask the Taoiseach if all the appropriate notices have been issued? Perhaps the procedures have been complied with. Does he consider it necessary that the President should in fact have consulted the Council of State or should do so before tomorrow's meeting of the Seanad if they are to consider the abridged legislation?
I met all the party leaders yesterday and the Order of Business for today was unanimously agreed between us. I accepted suggestions from the Leaders of the Opposition parties as to the Order of Business for today. I believe we should adhere to that agreement. Secondly I am advised that all the necessary procedures with regard to the sittings of the Dáil and Seanad today and tomorrow have been adhered to.
As the Taoiseach said, what has been announced was agreed by us yesterday and I have no problem with that, except in so far as I understand the agreement to have a sitting tomorrow would be included in the Order for today. Am I to take it from what the Taoiseach said to the Ceann Comhairle that he will be issuing a request to him to convene again tomorrow, in the same way as a request has been issued under, I think, Standing Order 19? Could I ask, therefore, if any other business can be carried on today? Are we confined exclusively to the business referred to in the Order reconvening the Dáil? There are other matters which I am sure Deputies will want to raise. In my own area the Gateaux factory is one which requires urgent attention. Will it be possible to raise matters such as that on the Adjournment today or indeed by Private Notice Question?
As far as it applies within my area of responsibility, the party leaders also agreed yesterday that the Dáil would sit tomorrow from 10.30 a.m. to 4 o'clock to discuss the Middle East crisis. I propose to follow through on that agreement. We will also discuss whether it will be possible to have an agreed motion to put before the Dáil. I suggest that the Minister for Foreign Affairs should meet with his counterparts in Fine Gael, the Labour Party and The Workers' Party to see if we can have an agreed motion before the Dáil tomorrow. I propose to ask the permission of the Ceann Comhairle to call the Dáil tomorrow in accordance with what we agreed yesterday.
On the order in which you called speakers, might I remark that I have not heard dissent from what was agreed yesterday? I have heard a number of observations that seemed to me to be something other than dissent. I also remark that I am glad that the House is sitting today and intends to sit tomorrow. It has always been my view that this House should resume its business much earlier than the Government proposed last month and that we should in fact not be meeting today and tomorrow in a special session, we should be meeting in the normal course of our business. Could I ask the Taoiseach on the Order of Business if he intends, like me, to meet today with representatives of relatives of people who are now unlawfully prevented from leaving Iraq? Will he be in a position to give them any assurance either that further more detailed information will be made available to them as to the situation of their sons and daughters in Iraq or if he will be in a position to give them any statement or assurance about the kind of action the Government here will take to secure freedom of exit for those people?
I should like to assure the Deputy that the Government, myself, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Department of Foreign Affairs and our diplomatic service have been making every possible effort, on the one hand to keep in contact with our citizens in Kuwait and Iraq and on the other hand to provide the maximum possible amount of information for relatives here. A meeting was held in the Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday. Arising out of that meeting it has been arranged that I will receive a delegation from the relatives of our citizens in Kuwait and Iraq as soon as possible.
Is any action being taken?
Consistent action is being taken.
I want to dissuade Members. This is not Question Time; we are dealing with the Order of Business now and nothing more.
Some of the criticism which has been made, and which is, perhaps, understandable, is very unfair to members of the Department of Foreign Affairs in the Diplomatic Corps who have been working day in, day out, 24 hours a day, seven days a week to be of help and assistance in this matter.
What action have the Government taken to secure their release?
Order, I will hear Deputy De Rossa again and the two Deputies who have risen in their places if they will be relevant and brief.
In relation to my earlier question the Taoiseach responded adequately to the matter of the sitting tomorrow and I assume you will agree to his request that we sit tomorrow to deal with the question of Iraq.
I shall deal with the matter when it comes before me, Deputy.
My other question was whether other matters can be dealt with today. As I said, I am anxious to raise the issue of the closure of Gateaux in Finglas which has affected the jobs of 500 people.
These are matters which may be discussed by the Whips in conjunction with tomorrow's business.
What I am asking is that——
The Deputy is straying now from the subject matter of today's business. I have given Deputy De Rossa quite considerable latitude and this is the second time he has made a speech.
I am not making a speech but rather asking a question. I am asking the Chair if I may raise these matters today by way of Private Notice Question or on the Adjournment?
Pretty clearly not; this is a special sitting of the House.
Given the circumstances in which the House finds itself, and having regard to the co-operation given by the Opposition to the Government in this respect, I suggest the Taoiseach should consider asking the Minister for Labour to make a statement either today or tomorrow on the Gateaux factory dispute——
Deputy Quinn, please desist.
——and outline the action he proposes to take.
Deputy Shatter, a relevant question.
With regard to today's Order of Business, and the Taoiseach's indication that the House will sit tomorrow, may I ask the Taoiseach if it could be agreed between the Whips, either on the Order of Business today or, alternatively, tomorrow, that there is now a need for this House to have a foreign affairs committee and to agree——
There are other ways of raising that matter.
——that a motion be tabled to establish such a committee?
I am now putting the question.
(Interruptions.)
Deputy Shatter, please resume your seat.
Would you allow me to outline my reasons for raising this matter?
Deputy Shatter, for the second time, resume your seat.
(Interruptions.)
If the Deputy does not resume his seat forthwith I shall have to ask him to leave the House.
A foreign affairs committee is the right mechanism. We should have a foreign affairs committee. It is outrageous that we do not have one.
(Interruptions.)
Question: "That items Nos. 1 and 2 be taken without debate", put and agreed to.