It is proposed to take Nos. 8, 9, 14, 15 and 16. It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that Nos. 8 and 9 shall be decided without debate. Private Members' Business shall be No. 20.
Order of Business.
Are the proposals for dealing with Nos. 8 and 9 agreed? Agreed.
In view of the programme last night concerning compensation claims, does the Government propose to introduce legislation in regard to insurance? I know Minister of State Brennan has been working on this issue for some time.
Has legislation been promised in this area?
Not specifically.
I understood Minister Brennan was working on proposals to cap insurance claims. Is that not the case?
The Minister of State, Deputy Brennan, is looking at the whole area of insurance but there is no promise of specific legislation yet.
When does the Government propose to ratify the European Union Convention on Minority Languages which would enable this country to draw on European support for the development of the Irish language?
Has legislation been promised?
It has been promised.
It is being considered at the moment but there is no legislation promised.
The Government promised ratification of this convention and I want to know when it is going to do so.
Does the ratification require legislation?
(Interruptions.)
With some trepidation I wish to raise an issue very carefully with the Taoiseach. Before the Adjournment of the Dáil for the Christmas recess I asked him about the necessary amendment to the Citizenship and Nationalities Act, 1986, to allow Irish passports to be given to people who apply. An amendment has been promised and I would like to know when it will be presented to the House.
I expect that matter to come before the Government for final clearance within the next two weeks.
On Monday in Brussels the Minister for Finance is reported as saying that those campaigning against the property tax were well-heeled whingers.
I have to advise that demonstrations of that kind are out of order.
Is this true? If the reports are accurate, it is very unfair to the Labour Party to characterise them as such.
(Interruptions.)
Will the Taoiseach confirm that when Mr. Joe Barry of RTE was summoned last week it was not for the purpose of spiking the Mervyn Taylor section of last night's——
Let us not refer to personalities outside this House——
I will leave out the personalities.
——either by way of praise or blame.
Will you permit me, Sir, to put my question to the Taoiseach?
Deputy Rabbitte knows quite well what is in order at this time and referring to an outside personality is not in order.
It is also a disgrace that a programme like this should be blocked when the events involved make the fees for the beef tribunal look like an SES scheme.
The Deputy will get no reward for such remarks; he never has in the past.
Somebody needs a new personal statement on it. If Charlie Haughey did it there would be a public inquiry.
The tourist season is fast approaching and, if we are to believe the Government, thousands of visitors are expected. When will the Government amend the law relating to land owners' liability in order to make our country side accessible to tourists? Legislation has been promised for some time.
I answered a similar question a couple of weeks ago. When we get a message back from the Law Reform Commission on the points raised we will proceed with that legislation.
Will it be in this session?
It is hoped that it will be.
At what stage have the proposed amendments to the Companies Act and Competition Act reached? I suggest to the Taoiseach that as two crucial Bills in relation to apprenticeships and consumer credit from the Department of Enterprise and Employment omitted key elements when circulated in the House, he agree to circulate the heads of the Bills to the Select Committee on Enterprise and Economic Strategy so that Members can tease them out? I refer in particular to fairness in apprenticeships and the control of bank charges, which were promised but were omitted from the Bills when published. We have to wait until Committee and Report Stages to see the colour of the Government's intentions.
I must dissuade the Deputy from making a speech at this time.
I always believed that the Committee Stage of a Bill is for tabling amendments and making changes relating, say, to the matters referred to by Deputy Bruton. The competition Bill is with the parliamentary draftsman and the question of amendments to the companies Act is being considered.
During the last session we were promised that legislation to establish An Bord Bia would be published before Christmas. Will the Taoiseach indicate precisely when that Bill will be published?
We should be in a position to publish it shortly.
Will An Bord Bia be located in Cork? I hope the Taoiseach will not let us down.
Does the Taoiseach mean in the next couple of weeks, in this session or some time this year?
The word "shortly" can mean as soon as possible, and that is what I mean.
Will the Taoiseach indicate when the new ports and harbours Bill will be introduced?
It will probably be published in this session.