Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 24 Jun 1993

Vol. 432 No. 8

Order of Business (Resumed).

On the Order of Business last week the Taoiseach stated that the Government will be making a decision soon on the Aer Lingus plan. I would like to know if the Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Health was stating Government policy in aviation this morning or just trying, like Labour Party Ministers, to be both in Opposition and in Government at the time while still drawing the money?

Was Deputy Callely speaking for the Government?

That matter does not arise now.

I understand that during the next two weeks we are expected to take various Stages of ten Bills, all Stages in some cases and up to Committee Stage in others. Seven of those Bills have not yet been published. Will the Taoiseach indicate when the Bills concerned will be circulated to Deputies, particularly those with which we will be dealing next week?

To what Bills is the Deputy referring?

The amnesty for tax cheats Bill, the Extradition Bill, the matrimonial home Bill, the Irish Aviation Authority Bill, the Criminal Justice (Loitering) Bill, the Road Traffic Bill——

That is sufficient.

The Bills which are to be dealt with, some of which the Deputy referred to, will be published as soon as possible. I would remind him that the Finance Bill dealing with the amnesty matter will not be taken next week; it will be taken the following week.

Could I have greater clarification in relation to the Extradition Bill, which is to be taken the week after next? I have an interest in this Bill, having published a Bill on extradition. Having regard to the loopholes which have existed for three years, when will we have a Bill to which we can give proper consideration? I presume it is intended to put this Bill through the House the week after next.

That Bill is almost ready for publication.

When will that be?

Could I ask the Taoiseach if unknown to most of us, including the Labour Party, RTE has been privatised? Senator Donie Cassidy seems to have a major involvement.

(Interruptions.)

From now on questions must be relevant and brief.

The Taoiseach should give some explanation to the House about the log-jam in producing a glut of Bills at the end of term having regard to what he told the House earlier about the efficacy of the Parliamentary Draftsman's Office.

There are other ways of dealing with that matter, I am calling Deputy Doyle.

The Taoiseach is offering.

It is to the Government's credit that so many Bills have been produced already and that more will be produced. As I am sure all Deputies, especially experienced ones, realise, the Government was formed at the end of January and the normal——

The Taoiseach has been in Government for the last six years.

We listened to Deputy Bruton.

The long playing record should be switched off.

This shouting game should cease.

Hear, hear.

Let us have regard to order and decorum in this House.

The reason the Fine Gael Party is low in the polls is that its Members are not prepared to listen to anybody but themselves and they are giving themselves the wrong message.

The Taoiseach should stop looking at the Press Gallery.

The interruption of the normal cycle in the production of Bills, which takes place during any election until a Government is formed, creates a certain vacuum in the cycle. That vacuum no longer exists and many Bills have been produced. Members opposite were complaining a few weeks ago about not having enough Bills and when they are given a supply of Bills they complain about being given too many.

The Taoiseach wants us to rubber stamp them in a couple of days.

This House should be treated with respect and as a Parliament.

We are merely asking for time to discuss the Bills.

We only want adequate time to debate those Bills. Is the Taoiseach concerned at the proposal to pass a number of motions in the next two weeks without debate? The order in relation to the Conservation of Bats in Europe should be debated in this House.

It must be having an effect.

They are flying around blind over there.

Could I ask the Taoiseach the position in relation to introducing the remaining habitat and species conservation measures that should be introduced under the EC Habitats Directive? When will those measures be brought to the attention of this House? Finally, we have been promised legislation to amend the Wildlife Act, 1976, and there are reasons for concern, both inside and outside this House, about the delay in introducing that Bill. When will we have a substantive debate on the Wildlife Act in this House?

Some time in the next session.

In view of the fact that we are to have an avalanche of new legislation in the next two weeks and no opportunity to debate the legislation fully, can I ask you, Sir, or the Taoiseach to ensure that if State boards are set up as a result of such legislation, the commitment made by the Government to a 40 per cent representation of women on those boards will be complied with?

The Deputy has many ways of raising that matter. It is not in order now.

I have raised the matter on many occasion, but the Government is ignoring its policy in relation to the 40 per cent representation.

In relation to legislation, five of the Bills listed for next week have not yet been published. The Taoiseach's reply that they will be published as soon as possible is not acceptable. Not only are we not given time to debate such Bills, but we are not given time to read them.

Barr
Roinn