The Taoiseach has indicated that proceedings are at an advanced stage in regard to a foreign affairs committee and he has also announced proposals in regard to an employment committee. May I ask the Taoiseach if he has in mind the introduction of a Supplementary Estimate to provide resources for this House to service these new committees in view of the fact that the existing committees find that the resources available to them are inadequate? Additional committees certainly could not be serviced within the existing Vote for the Houses of the Oireachtas.
Order of Business (Resumed).
The introduction of new matter of that kind should be dealt with in another way.
May I ask the Taoiseach if it is his intention to introduce a Supplementary Estimate to cover the Houses of the Oireachtas?
The Minister for Finance is considering that question.
Since the Government published the Programme for Social Housing local authorities have advertised for sale thousands of flats and maisonettes, but unfortunately the sale of these cannot go ahead until such time as the appropriate legislation is prepared. Will the Taoiseach tell us when it is proposed to publish a housing Bill?
Is legislation promised in this area?
It will be published very shortly.
May I remind the Taoiseach of his agreement to circulate information with regard to the law reform proposals in the Programme for Government and ask him when the 12 or 13 Bills promised last year in that programme will see the light of day?
I am glad we have made progress since last week when we were talking about 16 Bills. I will communicate with the Deputy in relation to that matter.
I stand corrected.
In view of the Taoiseach's comments on the terms of reference of the proposed foreign affairs committee may I ask him whether his attention has been drawn to the serious problem in relation to the select Committee on Crime which was established by this House last year in a blaze of publicity? In view of the fact that the terms of reference of this committee are totally inadequate, today's meeting was abandoned due to lack of interest. Is the Taoiseach aware of a letter circulated to his party, and other parties, on 28 November by the Chairperson of that committee in which she expressed her grave dissatisfaction with the terms of reference of the committee. Will the Taoiseach take any action in the matter?
If in doubt, leave them out.
Deputy Flanagan will appreciate that that is not a matter for discussion now.
It is a matter for discussion in that we are living in times when consensus and committees are the political buzz words of the day.
Albert's buzz words.
I would draw to the attention of the House serious deficiencies in committees already set up by this House.
Buzz words of the day do not change Standing Orders. The Chair must administer Standing Orders as they exist.
The Select Committee on Crime is being allowed to die due to the inactivity of the Taoiseach.
Arising from the remarks by Deputy Flanagan, is the Taoiseach aware that at the time this House adopted a resolution to allow the televising of the proceedings of this House it directed the Government to produce legislation to provide privilege for witnesses appearing before committees, and until such legislation is introduced committees may not be broadcast and cannot compel witnesses to appear before them? May I ask the Taoiseach when the Government intend to fulfil the direction of this House to the Government to introduce such legislation?
Is legislation promised in this area?
It is being considered in the whole context of Dáil reform and we hope to be in a position to say more about it very shortly.
I hope that when the Bill comes before the House it will be passed as expeditiously as was the Limerick Markets Bill. Since the Comptroller and Auditor General is largely dependent on legislation passed in 1866, may I ask the Taoiseach, who has promised me that this legislation is imminent, how soon we are likely to see the legislation? I have been asking this question for some considerable time.
The Deputy certainly has asked the question very often and I have answered it. Our best expectation is that the legislation will be before the House by the end of March.
May I ask the Taoiseach when the extra £6 million announced by the Minister for the Environment at the weekend for county roads will be notified to the local authorities?
I expect it will be on its way very shortly.
Is it being delivered by bicycle? The Taoiseach gave the same reply three weeks ago.
I am sure the local authorities will be glad to get that information.
It was promised by his predecessor.
Apropos, the earlier remarks on the Select Committee on Crime may I ask the Taoiseach if it is intended, as was requested of the Government some time ago, that the terms of reference of that committee be altered so that the proceedings can be held in public? Will the Taoiseach accept that one of the reasons that no member of the Fianna Fáil Party and only one from Fine Gael attended this committee's meeting today is that this question has not been resolved?
Deputy McCartan will appreciate that this is not the time to reveal the details of any committee of the House in that fashion.
Did any member of The Workers' Party attend?
One month ago I raised with the Taoiseach the matter of the Altamont (Amendment of Deed of Trust) Bill, 1990, and he indicated it was a matter for discussion by the Whips. Has that matter been discussed and will the committee referred to be set up soon?
Yes, the matter has been discussed by the Whips and it is expected that the Bill will be introduced shortly.
May I ask the Taoiseach when the improved legislation on employment equality will be introduced? Work has been proceeding on this legislation for the past two years in the Department of Labour.
I understand that the legislation is in the early stages of preparation. I will contact the Minister for Labour on this matter and if there is any further information I will communicate it to the Deputy.