It is perfectly in order on the Order of Business for a matter of legislation to be raised.
Order of Business (Resumed).
I have gone on to the business as ordered but I will hear the Deputy if he is brief.
May I ask the Taoiseach about the promise to establish the national milk agency in the Programme, for a Partnership Government? The Bill was dealt with in the Seanad in the last session but the list circulated by the Government Whip last week contained no legislation from the Department of Agriculture. Will the Taoiseach clarify whether it is the Government's intention to go ahead with this legislation and, if so, agree to take it in this session, as the Bill is already published?
The Department of Agriculture is having further discussions with those involved before reintroducing the Bill.
I ask the Taoiseach to indicate when the Committee on Procedure and Privileges will be established. Under Standing Orders we are supposed to establish it as soon as possible when the Dáil has reassembled after a general election.
I also ask him if he will instruct the Department of Social Welfare to allow the issue of Circulars 14/92 and 18/92 to Members of this House.
In relation to the membership of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, if those Deputies who have not sent in their nominations would do so the Committee would be established within a week.
I raised a second matter. The matter related to the Department of Social Welfare, which is refusing to allow Deputies have copies of Circulars 14/92 and 18/92 issued to community welfare officers in July and October of 1992.
I would prefer if the Deputy pursued that matter in the normal way.
I tried that last week and I was put out of the House for it.
Would the Taoiseach consider making a copy of the Minister for Finance's Budget Statement available to all Members of the House tomorrow? It has been the practice that Ministers and former Ministers receive the speech and I wonder if all Members could be treated in the same fashion tomorrow.
The usual procedure will be followed in that the Budget Statement will be given to Ministers and former Ministers, and Deputies will receive it immediately after the Minister finishes his delivery.
I have raised this matter year in year out. For the record there was a breach of that precedent before when all Members received a copy. It is time that what Deputy Power suggests is done. To do so would not cause any problem.
I am proceeding now to deal with Item No.1.