It is proposed to take Nos. 8 and 9. It is also proposed that the proceedings on the Second Stage of No. 8 shall be brought to a conclusion at 4.45 p.m. today and the Minister for Finance shall be called on not later than 4.15 p.m. to conclude the debate.
Order of Business.
May I ask if the proposals for dealing with No. 8 are agreed? Agreed.
May I ask the Taoiseach, in respect of the business transacted by the House, if he will arrange for the Minister for Labour to convey in person both to the management of the ESB and to the representatives of the ESB workers now on strike, the united will of the House as expressed here last night? Will the Taoiseach agree that under the Constitution it is the responsibility of the Government elected by the Dáil to convey on the Dáil's behalf that expression of opinion face to face, to those involved so they will realise how serious is the common intent of all of us here in the Dáil that this extremely damaging dispute be brought to an immediate end?
It is not particularly in order but, having regard to the national emergency we have to contend with, I hesitate to rule it out.
That has already been done.
Have the Government conveyed this face to face, across a table to those involved?
I do not think we are in a Star Chamber situation. The message has been conveyed.
I would like to reinforce what has been said, and to request the Minister for Labour to take a personal interest. Over the last number of years the Minister has adopted a high profile, intervening, quite ably, in industrial difficulties. This is probably the biggest challenge to the country, and I urge the Taoiseach to encourage the Minister for Labour to intervene personally. It would appear that with the present deadlock that is absolutely necessary. Certainly the sounds coming out this morning show no progress has been made and I believe it is the duty of the Minister for Labour to personally meet both sides at this stage to try to bring them together.
I have allowed this important matter to be adverted to, but I must dissuade my colleagues from attempting to debate the issue.
We do not intend to debate the issue. It is not something we can debate, but I think it is correct that we should all express our disappointment at the lack of progress and recognise the seriousness of the situation. It is evident that the pressures of the strike are affecting the negotiations and for that reason I would like to repeat the request to the unions to suspend the strike action and call off the pickets during the negotiations, without prejudice, if no result comes from the negotiations. I recognise that the Minister for Labour does not want to intervene until all the procedures have been gone through, but I hope he is taking a minute by minute interest in the proceedings and trying to hurry them along.
I respect your ruling, Sir, and I will be very brief by way of reply. First, I would like to recall that this House, speaking on behalf of all the people through their elected representatives here, yesterday evening called on the workers to resume normal working to enable the dispute to be resolved. We are all very conscious of the hardship, loss and inconveniences and, indeed, the danger that prevails right through the country affecting all sections of our people and I think we are all convinced that nothing that is at issue in the strike justifies the enormity of what is happening economically, socially and in a humanitarian way throughout the country. I want to assure the House that the Government are in touch with the situation minute by minute. The Minister for Labour in particular, his staff and people in different agencies are all experienced in this area, and all that experience is being brought to bear on this situation and that will continue to be done. The Government, if necessary, are prepared to consider further measures. The strike has been on for the three days now and I hope that some time during the day the message which has been conveyed to all the parties by this House will finally have effect.
Another matter perhaps, Deputy Bruton:
In view of what the Taoiseach has just said and this is a personal intervention in this matter which is something new—I agree with everything he said in regard to the responsibility on all concerned, in particular those who have decided to go on strike, to bring that strike to an end. However that agreement in no way mitigates the blame that lies on the Government for their negligence for allowing themselves and the statutory bodies responsible to them to be caught unawares by this development. However, that is something to be discussed another day and should not in any sense take from the unanimity of this House in calling for a resumption of normal working.
I reject any suggestion of negligence on the part of the Government. I deplore that in spite of the co-operative all-party attitude which prevails in this House Deputy Bruton saw fit to make that remark.
(Interruptions.)
I would hope to end this brief discussion without acrimony.
On promised legislation, will the Taoiseach indicate when the National Roads Authority Bill will be circulated? This legislation has been promised in three sessions. Will the Taoiseach indicate if there are difficulties in this matter?
I am not quite sure when the legislation will be published but it is in its final stages.
Will it be published this session?
Certainly.
I raise a very simple matter in these serious times. When can we expect the family planning legislation before the House?
Certainly this session; within a matter of weeks.
Will the Minister for the Environment intervene with Cork Corporation in view of the fact that a second householder has now been jailed over the water rates issue?
I thought the Deputy had something relevant to raise at this juncture.
It is very relevant. Legislation has been promised since 1985.
Deputy Gilmore will desist and resume his seat.
I am rising on promised legislation.
If Deputy Gilmore does not resume his seat he will leave the House.
I am asking about promised legislation.
No. The Deputy has been engaged in a disorderly manner with the Chair and will resume his seat.
I am asking about promised legislation.
No, Deputy. You raised another matter.
I am asking about promised legislation to repeal the Local Government (Financial Provisions) Act.
Deputy Gilmore, if you persist in this disorderly fashion I will have to insist on your leaving the House.
I am asking about promised legislation.
If the Deputy does not desist forthwith he will leave the House without hesitation.
Will the Taoiseach indicate when it is proposed to introduce legislation to establish the Temple Bar Property Company?
I mentioned that yesterday. It will be introduced fairly shortly.
In this session?
Probably in this session.
In view of reports in this morning's papers that the Exchequer is losing approximately £8 million each year because of our failure to introduce legislation to ratify the European Patents Convention, will the Taoiseach indicate when this long promised legislation will be introduced?
It will not be this session.
Would the Taoiseach accept the figures quoted as to the losses to the economy resulting from the failure to introduce this legislation?
Long and patient years of experience have taught me not to believe everything I read in the newspapers.
The Minister for Health was present when it was said and did not contradict it.
In regard to promised legislation, I want the Chair's advice whether legislation promised at elections is promised legislation?
It must be promised in the House.
Legislation to withdraw the water rates was promised by the Fianna Fáil Party at the last local government election.
The Deputy will find another way of raising that matter.
People are being put in jail.
When is the Minister for Health likely to bring a proposal before the House, at the request of the Commission, in connection with a decision by the Community Ministers for Health to adopt a plan of action in the framework of 1991-93, the Europe Against AIDS Programme? There is a request from the EC and I wonder when the Minister intends to bring it before the House.
It is not legislation promised. I am sure the Deputy will pursue it in another way.
On promised legislation, the Minister for the Environment announced last week the provision of £120 million to fill potholes. Will the Taoiseach tell us if we can take this as something we can read in the papers and believe?
(Interruptions.)
Sometimes looking over there I long for one great big pot hole into which you would all fall.
(Interruptions.)
The Taoiseach did it with some of the people on his own side. That would not stop him doing it to others as well.
When will the promised Bill on local government be circulated? Will it contain any measures to give effect to the promise made in 1985 by Fianna Fáil to legislate to abolish water charges? Householders would not then be put in jail.
The Deputy is seeking to circumvent the ruling of the Chair.
I asked a perfectly orderly question.
Deputy Gilmore is becoming difficult this morning. I must ask him now to restrain himself.
I asked an orderly question about the local government Bill.
Deputy Gilmore is showing disrespect and disregard for the Chair. He will resume his seat or leave the House.
A Cheann Comhairle, I asked——
Leave the House, Deputy Gilmore. You will not get away with that trick a second time.
Deputy Gilmore resumed his seat.
Deputy Gilmore has been guilty of disorderly behaviour for some considerable time.
(Carlow-Kilkenny): At a time when the lights are going out all over Ireland, will the Minister for the Environment do something about lunatics driving unlit cars in fog?
Deputy Browne will raise that matter elsewhere.
As we are not to have any reply from the Taoiseach with regard to promised legislation on local government reform as raised by Deputy Gilmore——
I have dealt with it several times.
Have the Taoiseach or the Minister for the Environment made arrangements for the fine for Mr. Tynan to be paid so that he can be released from prison in Cork?
Does the Minister for Justice not consider it a disgrace when this city and other urban areas are afflicted by crime that law abiding house-holders are lodged in jail for non-payment of water charges when this Government promised to abolish such charges?
This matter is clearly not in order, as Deputy Rabbitte knows. It is audacious of the Deputy to raise that matter now.
This Government promised that they would abolish water charges and campaigned on that basis. The major party in Government made that promise, yet in Cork law-abiding citizens are being put in jail because they observe what this Government promised.
Deputy Rabbitte, please resume your seat.
Will the Taoiseach say when it is hoped to introduce the Bill dealing with the Dublin technological colleges?
It is hoped to introduce it this session.
I am now moving to the next business, item No. 8.
On a point of order—
Sorry, Deputy. I am proceeding to other business now. I will hear the Deputy later, perhaps, if he has a point of order.