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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 8 Mar 1994

Vol. 440 No. 1

Order of Business.

It is proposed to take Nos. 10, 2 and 3. Private Members' Business shall be No. 20, motion No. 13.

When will the Government bring forward the revisions to the national plan, in view of the fact that the 8.5 per cent across the board cuts are plainly unacceptable?

The Deputy will know that this is not in order.

We are on the Order of Business and the business of this House is to ensure that the plan that has been adopted, which plainly is not sustainable, should be revised and that should be debated again in this House. When will the revised plan be debated in this House?

We will have a debate on this subject later today.

That is being initiated by the Opposition but has the Government any proposals on the matter?

Does the Government intend to introduce a Supplementary Estimate for the Department of Social Welfare to pay equality claims that are due to 1,800 women? Is it true that the Department has refused to pay these legitimate claims and is insisting that the women must go to court to pursue their claims?

That is not appropriate.

There are tens of thousands of women who would be entitled to this payment but the Government is denying them it.

The weekend newspapers published details of last Tuesday's Cabinet meeting and I would like to know if there will be a repeat this week. Has the Government been able to reach agreement on the revisions of the national plan?

This is not the appropriate time to raise this matter.

Will the new feature be that instead of weekly briefings for the media there will be weekly incontinent leaks from the Cabinet?

The Deputy should not believe what he reads.

The Taoiseach certainly does not.

The bulldog who led the revolt is not here today.

Is the Taoiseach aware that today is International Women's Day? Is it true that the Government is celebrating it by the Attorney General instructing senior counsel not to settle the case to which Deputy De Rossa referred which ultimately will affect almost 10,000 women and 1,800 immediately?

That is out of order.

The Taoiseach is out of order.

In view of weekend reports on the divorce referendum will the Taoiseach initiate discussions with all party leaders on the Government's proposals for the referendum?

The promised legislation is proceeding and I understand the Minister for Equality and Law Reform has had discussions with the Opposition parties. As soon as he deems it appropriate he will have further discussions with them.

Will the Taoiseach, as leader of his party and Taoiseach, have discussions with other party leaders because there is a great deal of concern about the matter? I met the Minister for Equality and Law Reform but I am requesting a meeting with the Taoiseach. Will the Taoiseach respond?

The Taoiseach will recollect that the House, by resolution commissioned the Joint Services Committee to prepare a report on the research services available in the Library to backbench Government Deputies and to the Opposition and I understand an excellent report has been prepared. Will the Taoiseach, through the Whips, arrange for time for a full debate on this report?

Will Le Monde be available?

Sir, how can we find out how much this Government intends to expend on fighting the 1,800 women who have applied for equality payments to which they are entitled and which the Government is seeking to deny them? The Government will expend money fighting the case which it will lose. Why is it wasting this money?

What is the present status of the dental Bill?

It is well advanced and I will communicate with the Deputy when I have more definite information.

When is it intended to amend the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, to enable a limited scheme to be carried out on the Oranmore and Arrow Rivers in my constituency?

Is that promised legislation?

The Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach promised this four weeks ago.

I will find out and communicate in more detail with the Deputy.

Last week the Taoiseach, perhaps unwittingly, misled the House on the freedom of information legislation.

I must caution the Deputy on his use of language.

I said "unwittingly". Last week the Taoiseach said no legislation was promised but on 2 February the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Fitzgerald, promised total disclosure and, in fact, promised the information during the debate on equality payment to women. The Dáil Official Report will show that. When will this Bill be introduced?

I said clearly that it was stated in the Programme for Government that it was expected it would be examined.

May I refer the Taoiseach to the Dáil Official Report of 3 February in which the Minister of State, Deputy Fitzgerald, when responding to questions on equality payments, said the legislation would be introduced?

When is it proposed to amend the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1986, as more than a fortnight ago the Taoiseach said it would be discussed at Cabinet?

I expect that it will be published this week.

The Programme for Government promised that this partnership Government would provide equality for all citizens. When will the women who have been denied social welfare equality payments be paid?

The Deputy will have to find another way to raise this matter.

This concerns legislation and the Government is refusing to answer questions on it.

What is the status of the Bill proposing to cap insurance awards for pain and suffering which is part of the Government's programme?

There are consultations on that matter.

During the past few weeks we concluded the debate on the National Bureau of Crime Statistics Bill, the Criminal Justice (No. 3) Bill and the Public Order Bill. Tomorrow we will commence the debate on the Solicitors' Bill. Will the Taoiseach indicate when the Juvenile Justice Bill will be published and, as it consists of approximately 240 sections, if we will have ample time to consider it? Will he make arrangements for Opposition spokespersons to be briefed in advance? On the question of the way in which Bills are handled in general, will the Taoiseach provide resources for Opposition spokespersons to allow them to give legislation due consideration before it passes through the House?

Work is continuing on the Bill. The Minister for Justice has already offered to make arrangements for Opposition spokespersons to be briefed and Members will have ample time to discuss the Bill.

When is it intended to introduce the Equal Status Bill?

It is in the early stages of preparation.

When will the local government electoral Bill be presented in the House?

I hope it will be presented before Easter.

Is it intended that the local elections due to be held on 9 June will be based on the changes in that Bill and does the Taoiseach consider it important it is passed in good time?

Let us move on——

Will the Taoiseach answer the question?

It is expected that will be the case; the elections will take place on 9 June.

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