It is proposed to take Nos. 11, 3 and 12. It is also proposed that all Stages of No. 11, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 5 p.m. by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only amendments set down by the Minister for Finance.
Order of Business.
Is the proposal for dealing with No. 11 satisfactory? Agreed.
In respect of reports which have appeared today about the well known problems encountered by teachers in maintaining discipline in schools and in view of the fact that there is no statutory basis for disciplinary guidelines in operation in primary schools, will the Taoiseach endeavour to speed up the rather relaxed time-table for the promised Education Bill which the Minister for Education has indicated the intention of introducing eventually? In view of the problems faced by teachers, will the Taoiseach speed it up?
Is legislation promised in this area?
In a general way, yes. There is a general indication that a new Education Bill will be brought forward but it is a considerable way down the road.
In view of that, would the Taoiseach answer my question? Will he agree to speed up this legislation in view of persistent reports of disciplinary problems facing teachers in schools? Could we have an answer?
The Chair is not in a position, and never was, to compel any Member to speak if he or she does not wish to do so.
This question is entirely in order.
Deputy Bruton has been allowed to put his question and the Chair did not hinder him in the matter.
There is no answer from the Taoiseach.
I agree with you, a Cheann Comhairle, that this is totally disorderly. There is an undertaking to bring forward an Education Bill but it is something contemplated over the next couple of years.
That is no use.
In view of the very welcome statement yesterday by the Loyalist paramilitaries signalling their intention to have a cease fire in the North, will the Taoiseach make a statement on behalf of parties here urging the Provisional IRA likewise to declare a cease fire to be of assistance to the talks which are starting in Northern Ireland at the end of this month?
It is a matter which ought not to arise on the Order of Business. There are doubtless other ways and means of adverting to the matter.
I will use other ways and means.
My office will be glad to assist you in the matter.
Will the Taoiseach confirm that the Finance Bill will be circulated today and say why it has taken three months to produce the Bill, giving us only two or three days to study it before addressing ourselves to it next Tuesday?
The Finance Bill will be produced this afternoon as promised and indicated.
Why has it taken such a long time to produce it? We have to debate it in the Dáil next Tuesday.
The question has been asked and replied to. It may not be debated.
Will the Taoiseach take account of the views of the Commission on the Status of Women before preparing family planning legislation?
The Deputy must pursue that in the normal way.
When does the Taoiseach think the Environmental Protection Agency Bill at present in the Seanad will be introduced in the Dáil and will he give an assurance that it will be enacted before the summer recess?
The pace at which the legislation will proceed through the Seanad is really a matter for the Sean-adóirí. If the Deputy wishes, I will have a whisper in their ear to get it here as quickly as possible.
Is it still the Taoiseach's intention to proceed, as promised, with the Road Transport Bill in this session to enable competition for bus passenger services?
That legislation is unlikely to be taken this session.
The Housing Bill which has been promised is not on the list of legislation to be dealt with and I understood from the Taoiseach yesterday that he is not optimistic that it will be taken this session. As it is now over two months since the Government announced their policies on housing, which would require a Housing Bill, would the Taoiseach consider making some time available for a debate on housing policy in view of the housing crisis and the confusion which exists?
That matter could be raised in the normal way.
It is an issue which will require a bit more time than the four or five minutes which a Parliamentary Question will allow or the ten minutes which an Adjournment Debate will allow. There are complicated matters involved.
I feel certain the Deputy will find a suitable way of raising that matter.
Is it intended in this session to publish the legislation promised in respect of the conclusions of the Martin Commission on safeguard of persons in custody and of the higher Court of Appeal or inquiry as recommended in that report?
As the Deputy will understand, we have a very heavy schedule of legislation for this session and it is unlikely that will be taken or published this session.
I raised the matter of the heavy schedule yesterday. Will the Taoiseach tell us at some stage what legislation makes up this very heavy schedule?
We must not generalise now, Deputy.
My specific question is whether the legislation is to be published, not necessarily taken, this session?
Not taken or is it likely to be published.
Will the Bill to amalgamate Thomond College of Education with the new University of Limerick be introduced this term?
We will have good news.
I notice that agreement on the Shannon Estuarial Authority Bill seems to have eluded the Government yet again. Do the Government intend pursuing a Bill on the establishment of the Shannon Estuarial Authority, which has been promised for a number of years? There seems to be some difference between the Progressive Democrats and the Fianna Fáil Party on this issue.
No, the legislation is not being held up because of any political difficulties.
May I return to the issue of promised legislation on the report of the Martin Committee and remind the Taoiseach that on 30 May last year, the Minister for Justice, Deputy Burke, advised the House that it was being examined as a matter of urgency? Will the Taoiseach advise us of the difficulty in bringing forward legislation in response to this very succinct and straightforward report?
The legislative machine is going full out on a number of major legislative measures and different pieces of legislation have to take their place in the queue. It is as simple as that. The Deputy asked a question on this matter a few weeks ago and he is being boringly repetitive about it.
A Cheann Comhairle, is there any procedure available to me by which I could raise the abandonment of the plan to build the Tallaght Hospital which is causing so much needless hardship in my constituency?
The Deputy might communicate with my office on the matter.
I see the Minister of State, Deputy Flood, has gone a funny shade of red. The Deputy should not blush.
I now call on the Minister for Finance to move item No. 11, Presidential Establishment (Amendment) Bill, 1990.
Where is the Minister for Finance who is supposed to be here?