It is proposed to take No. 10. Private Members' Business shall be No. 34.
Order of Business.
Before I put a question to the Taoiseach on the Order of Business I wish to raise a point of order with you, Sir. I would like to convey to you the deep concern of my party at the fact that one of our members was not allowed to raise a point of order here today even when you had resumed your seat. I hope that this will not be a precedent in regard to points of order from this side of the House.
As the House is aware, the Chair is always very concerned to utilise the precious time available for priority questions to the best of his ability. He always admonishes Members about the limited time involved. In accordance with Standing Orders of this House, I indicated coming to the close of Taoiseach's questions today that I would be proceeding to deal with priority questions at 3.30 p.m. When I proceeded to do so, when on my feet doing so and when the Chair was addressing the House the Chair was challenged on points of order. I want to tell this House that when the Chair is addressing the House or dealing with disorder under no circumstances will he entertain points of order. The Chair is obliged to implement Standing Orders and was doing nothing more than that here today. I am concerned that I did not receive the support of important Members of the House in seeking to deal with priority questions as the House would desire.
I would like to say to you, Sir, that the right of Members to raise legitimate points of order and to have them heard before they are ruled out of order — this point of order was not heard — is also precious and is one of the liberties that this House enjoys and upon which this House was founded.
The Chair is very conscious of the liberty of the Members of this House and he will always protect them but the Chair needs the support of the House also in implementing Standing Orders.
May I ask the Taoiseach if he would clarify the Government's intentions in regard to the constitutional amendment Bill to ratify the Maastricht Treaty and to indicate when this legislation will be published? May I ask him further, in regard to paragraph 1.38 of the White Paper which referred to the fact that this constitutional amendment would also deal with the Community's patents agreement and the Rome convention on contractual obligations, when the information of those two other documents will be published and if it will be published in advance of the legislation governing the constitutional amendment on the Maastricht Treaty, as that information has not yet been made available to the House?
I dare say that all this is related to impending legislation.
To the White Paper.
The legislation which will provide for the holding of a referendum on the Maastricht Treaty will be published in the next day or so and debate on it will start in the House next Tuesday. It will incorporate the question of the patents convention, as mentioned by Deputy Bruton. It will not incorporate the question in relation to that convention as it was decided not to put that question in this referendum.
If it is possible for the Government to deal with the patents convention, which has never been discussed in the House, why is it not possible to deal with travel and information, which have been discussed?
We had this matter earlier at Question Time.
This matter has been dealt with so often. I have answered the question extensively today. I am sure Deputy Bruton agrees it is desirable to have two referenda, not three.
Surely if it is possible to deal with the patents convention next week, an extremely complex matter of which the House does not have notice, it should also be possible to deal with the issue of travel and information?
I want to facilitate Deputies in raising these matters but this is not the appropriate time. I am calling Deputy Spring.
In relation to the legislation which the Taoiseach said will be brought before this House next week, is it the Government's intention not to publish legislation prior to the referendum on 18 June in relation to travel and information? Do the Government intend to publish their legislation prior to the referendum?
I made it abundantly clear that the Maastricht referendum will take place on 18 June. The Government will continue their consideration of all the other aspects arising from the Supreme Court decision in relation to the X case and, if those deliberations are finalised before 18 June, the general public will be informed of the precise position. However, there is now an appreciation as far as reasonable people are concerned, that time is needed to get this complex issue right on this occasion, which is precisely what the Government intend to do.
Is the Taoiseach suggesting that the Attorney General is not capable of bringing forward legislation to the Government to deal with travel and information before 18 June?
That is exactly what the Taoiseach is saying.
I am not suggesting any such thing. I said that the issues arising from the Supreme Court decision will be dealt with as a package and will be announced when the Government's deliberations in that area are finalised.
The Family Planning (Amendment) Bill was published nine months ago. Will the Taoiseach indicate if it will be withdrawn and replaced by a new Bill? When will the Bill — or a newer version of it be debated in this House? At what stage does the Taoiseach intend to present the Government's proposals on Dáil reform to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges?
The proposals on Dáil reform will be sent to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges this week. The Minister for Health will bring his proposals in relation to the Family Planning (Amendment) Bill before the Government in due course.
When will the Government publish the proposals they have tabled for the Rio de Janeiro Conference in June on the global environment, which they promised would be debated in this House in advance of the Taoiseach's attendance at the conference?
I will look into the matter and communicate with the Deputy.
Is it still the Taoiseach's intention to go to Brazil in June?
That is where they have nuts.
I am looking forward to my visit.
Will it be before or after 18 June?
The country will be in safe hands no matter when I go.
The Taoiseach indicated that measures on Dáil reform will be sent to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges this week. Will they contain detailed proposals for the establishment of a foreign affairs committee which has been promised?
It is my understanding that the proposals in relation to the foreign affairs committee are already with the Whips for their consideration. We are awaiting a response.
When will they be finalised?
It is a matter for the Whips.
The Taoiseach indicated that there would be a package of legislation in the autumn in the context of a November referendum. Will that legislation deal with the substance of the issue? Is it intended to bring forward an amendment which will water down the protection for women so that where there is a real and substantial risk to the life of the mother it will no longer be possible to terminate a pregnancy?
I made it abundantly clear, again and again, that all the issues arising from the Supreme Court decision in relation to Article 40.3.3. are being considered by the Government and that the results of those deliberations will be announced to the public as soon as they are available.
The Taoiseach intends to water down the proposals.
Whether it is legislation or a referendum — or a combination of both — we will do what is necessary. It is typical of Deputy Shatter to try to misinterpret mischievously what I said. It would be helpful if Fine Gael indicated if they have any views on the substantive issues. Are they solely concerned with the right to travel?
(Interruptions.)
Are we all satisfied now that we have released unwelcome emotions? Could we proceed with the business of the House?
The Taoiseach was mischievous.
Indulging in this kind of behaviour, Deputy Bruton, is not representative.
We thought the Taoiseach was reasonably well behaved.
If conscience makes cowards of us, that is all right by me as long as it does not apply to the Chair.
Suspicion haunts the guilty mind.
Will the Taoiseach assure the House, in the midst of all his other troubles, that he will find time to keep in touch with events in Dublin Castle, whatever about Rio de Janeiro? Has he any intention of visiting the Park during June?
No intentions whatsoever. I am sorry I do not have as much time available to me as Deputy Rabbitte and other Ministers, people who are able to frequent that establishment every day of the week.
Are newspaper reports correct in indicating that the Government will not now produce the promised White Paper on marital breakdown this summer?
We have established that we do not respond to or test the veracity of newspapers or indeed any other organ of the media on the Order of Business.
(Interruptions.)
I am sure that any Deputy who might be in fear of the media would take the same line.
While it is still relevant and appropriate, I ask the Taoiseach in all sincerity to allay the very real fears and anxieties in relation to the wording and parameters of the November amendment. They should be made public to the voters before 18 June. The Taoiseach — and the majority of Members of the House — want a strong pro-Maastricht Treaty vote but the groundswell of opinion, confusion and fear outside this House is immeasurable and will remain so until a commitment is made.
Deputy Barnes has been so courteous that the Chair did not want to interrupt to tell her that she was out of order. The Deputy will appreciate that this is not the time for probing beyond the announcement which has been made.
We cannot allay fears——
This is not a matter for the Order of Business.
It is promised legislation.
The Taoiseach has indicated that it is promised but he does not have to indicate at this stage what will be in it. The Deputy may table a question which, I am sure, would elicit the information she is anxious to get.
I should like to ask the Taoiseach when the educational kite-flying will stop and when we will actually see the long promised and eagerly awaited Green Paper on Education.
I am sorry the debate started when the Deputy found himself in faraway places. Now that the Deputy is back, I am sure the Minister for Education will get on with the debate.
When?
Very shortly.