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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 30 Jun 1994

Vol. 444 No. 7

Order of Business.

It is proposed to take Nos. 9, 1, 10, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and, subject to the agreement of Nos. 3, 4, 5 and 6, Nos. 11 and 12 shall be taken and then Nos. 17 and 13. No 13 shall be taken at 12 p.m.

It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that (1) Nos. 9, 1, 10, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 11 and 12 shall be decided without debate by one question in each case; (2) the proceedings on the Report and Final Stages of No. 17, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 12.15 p.m. by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Justice; (3) The Dáil shall sit tomorrow at 10.30 a.m. and adjourn not later than 4 p.m.; (4) the following arrangements shall apply in relation to the debate on No. 13, Votes 1-25, inclusive, Votes 30-45, inclusive, and Supplementary Estimate to Vote 30:

(i) the Estimates shall be moved and debated together and decided by one question which shall be put from the Chair not later than 4 p.m. tomorrow and if a division is demanded it shall be taken forthwith;

(ii) a general debate may arise thereon;

(iii) the opening speech of the Taoiseach, of the main spokesperson for the Fine Gael Party, the Progressive Democrats Party and the Technical Group shall not exceed 30 minutes in each case;

(iv) the speech of each other Member called upon shall not exceed 20 minutes in each case; and

(v) a Minister shall be called upon not later than 3.40 p.m. tomorrow to make a speech in reply.

Is the proposal for dealing with No. 1, that Nos. 9, 1, 10, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 11 and 12 shall be decided without debate, agreed?

The matter dealt with under No. 9 was approved by Cabinet only yesterday. A significant number of parents and families are interested in adoption, with particular reference to Romania. We have no objection to having this matter approved without debate but, in the event of any difficulties or queries arising, will the Taoiseach allow an opportunity to discuss the matter either in committee or in a general debate in the House when it resumes after the summer recess?

That is a reasonable request from the Deputy and the Government will have no hesitation in allowing time for a debate at a future date if difficulties arise or questions need to be answered in this regard.

The matter dealt with under No. 10 allows the Governor of the Central Bank to appear before the Select Committee on Finance and General Affairs to discuss the Central Banks annual report. Does the Taoiseach agree that all witnesses appearing before committees of the House should be covered by comprehensive legislation dealing with the privilege and compellability of witnesses? Legislation in this area has been promised for approximately ten years but not introduced by any Government. When will it be introduced?

As soon as drafting is completed. Work on that legislation started some time ago, but if it started ten years ago it would have been introduced before now.

The Taoiseach is seven years behind.

I take it the proposals to deal with No. 1 are agreed. Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 17 satisfactory and agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal that the Dáil shall sit tomorrow and adjourn at 4 p.m. satisfactory?

I wish to propose an amendment, to delete "4 p.m." and substitute "6 p.m.", giving two hours for a debate on the position in Irish Steel before the Dáil goes into recess.

That is a reasonable request.

A voice from the wilderness.

To avoid the time consuming procedure of a division on this matter, will the Government give an assurance that either the Dáil will be recalled to discuss the position in Irish Steel if it deteriorates or that a specific debate on the matter will be allowed either today or tomorrow? We owe it to those whose livelihoods depend on Irish Steel to show sufficient interest to discuss the matter here.

No such request was made to the Whips. Deputy Bruton is well aware of how this House functions. If he had such a request to make yesterday evening why did he not make it to the Whips when the business for today was being agreed? The Order of Business is being turned into Question Time on a regular basis.

It is a pity we do not have answer time.

Ideas which come to the minds of those in Opposition late in the day are put forward on the Order of Business. Two days have been allowed for an Adjournment Debate during which time questions can be raised in respect of any matter including Irish Steel.

The Taoiseach drops in here only occasionally.

I sought a debate on Irish Steel under Standing Order 30 but the Ceann Comhairle ruled it out, something which I could not have anticipated. I now seek from the Government, who order the business in this House, an assurance that there will be a debate on this grave matter.

Question put: "That the words proposed to be deleted stand".
The Dáil divided: Tá, 63; Níl, 40.

  • Ahern, Bertie.
  • Ahern, Michael.
  • Ahern, Noel.
  • Andrews, David.
  • Bhreathnach, Niamh.
  • Bree, Declan.
  • Brennan, Séamus.
  • Briscoe, Ben.
  • Broughan, Tommy.
  • Browne, John (Wexford).
  • Byrne, Hugh.
  • Costello, Joe.
  • Coughlan, Mary.
  • Cowen, Brian.
  • Dempsey, Noel.
  • de Valera, Síle.
  • Doherty, Seán.
  • Ellis, John.
  • Fitzgerald, Brian.
  • Fitzgerald, Eithne.
  • Fitzgerald, Liam.
  • Flood, Chris.
  • O'Dea, Willie.
  • O'Donoghue, John.
  • O'Hanlon, Rory.
  • O'Keeffe, Batt.
  • O'Leary, John.
  • O'Rourke, Mary.
  • O'Shea, Brian.
  • Penrose, William.
  • Quinn, Ruairí.
  • Foley, Denis.
  • Geoghegan-Quinn, Máire.
  • Haughey, Seán.
  • Higgins, Michael D.
  • Howlin, Brendan.
  • Jacob, Joe.
  • Kavanagh, Liam.
  • Kemmy, Jim.
  • Kenneally, Brendan.
  • Kenny, Seán.
  • Killeen, Tony.
  • Kirk, Séamus.
  • Leonard, Jimmy.
  • Martin, Micheál.
  • McDaid, James.
  • McDowell, Derek.
  • Moffatt, Tom.
  • Morley, P.J.
  • Moynihan, Donal.
  • Moynihan-Cronin, Breeda.
  • Nolan, M.J.
  • Ó Cuív, Éamon.
  • Reynolds, Albert.
  • Ryan, Eoin.
  • Ryan, John.
  • Ryan, Seán.
  • Smith, Brendan.
  • Smith, Michael.
  • Spring, Dick.
  • Taylor, Mervyn.
  • Treacy, Noel.
  • Wallace, Dan.

CLASS="CP">Níl

  • Allen, Bernard.
  • Barrett, Seán.
  • Barry, Peter.
  • Boylan, Andrew.
  • Bradford, Paul.
  • Browne, John (Carlow-Kilkenny).
  • Bruton, John.
  • Bruton, Richard.
  • Byrne, Eric.
  • Carey, Donal.
  • Connaughton, Paul.
  • Connor, John.
  • Crawford, Seymour.
  • Crowley, Frank.
  • Currie, Austin.
  • Deasy, Austin.
  • Deenihan, Jimmy.
  • De Rossa, Proinsias.
  • Doyle, Avril.
  • Durkan, Bernard J.
  • Finucane, Michael.
  • Fitzgerald, Frances.
  • Foxe, Tom.
  • Gilmore, Eamon.
  • Harney, Mary.
  • Higgins, Jim.
  • Kenny, Enda.
  • Keogh, Helen.
  • McCormack, Pádraic.
  • McGinley, Dinny.
  • McGrath, Paul.
  • Mitchell, Gay.
  • Noonan, Michael.
  • (Limerick East)
  • O'Donnell, Liz.
  • O'Malley, Desmond J.
  • Owen, Nora.
  • Quill, Máirín.
  • Rabbitte, Pat.
  • Shatter, Alan.
  • Yates, Ivan.
CLASS="CP">Tellers: Tá, Deputies Dempsey and B. Fitzgerald; Níl, Deputies E. Kenny and Boylan.
Question declared carried.
Barr
Roinn