It is proposed to take Nos. 6, 7, 8, 9, 1, 10 and, subject to the agreement of No. 8, the Supplementary Estimate for the Department of Enterprise and Employment, and No. 2. It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that, (1) Nos. 6, 7, 8 and 9 shall be decided without debate and any division demanded on No. 8 shall be taken forthwith; (2) the proceedings on the Second and remaining Stages of No. 1, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 12 noon 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 Taoiseach; (3) in the case of No. 10 and, subject to No. 8 being agreed, the following arrangements shall apply: (i) the Estimates, including a Supplementary Estimate for the Department of Enterprise and Employment, shall be moved together and decided by one question which shall be put from the Chair not later than 3 p.m. today, and if a division is demanded on such question it shall be taken forthwith; (ii) a general debate may arise thereon; (iii) the opening speech of the Minister for Finance, of the main spokespersons for the Fianna Fáil Party, the Progressive Democrat Party and of each other Member called upon shall not exceed 20 minutes in each case; (iv) Members may share time; and (v) the Minister for Finance shall be called upon not later than 2.45 p.m. to make a speech in reply; (4) the proceedings on the Second Stage of No. 2, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 5 p.m.
Order of Business.
Is the proposal that Nos. 6, 7, 8 and 9 be decided without debate agreed?
No, not in respect of No. 9.
We have tabled an amendment to it.
I appreciate that an amendment has been tabled, but it is not to the Order of Business.
Will we have an opportunity to move our amendments?
Yes.
Is the proposal for dealing with No. 1 agreed? Agreed. Are the proposals for dealing with the Estimates in respect of Estimates for the Department of Enterprise and Employment agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 2 agreed? Agreed.
I am delighted to see No. 4 is included on the Order Paper. I have been requesting for some time that we deal with the Fisheries (Amendment) Bill, 1995. I am dismayed that all Stages will not be taken before the recess. Members may not realise that there are allegations of serious breaches of discipline, such as bribery and corruption in the fisheries boards.
The Deputy has raised a legitimate matter on the Order of Business but he may not make a speech.
The Deputy should contact his Whip.
Allegations have been made and the matter cannot be dealt with unless the law is changed.
The Deputy has raised a legitimate matter concerning the Bill to which he referred and the Taoiseach may wish to respond.
I thank Deputy Deasy for raising this matter as it allows me to clarify the position. The Bill, which is being treated with the requisite urgency, will be taken in the House on 26 July.
Thank you, Taoiseach.
When will the legislation to amend the 1983 Postal and Telecommunications Act be introduced? This will result in the staff of Telecom Éireann losing the State guarantees given to them at the time of the establishment of the company. Will the Taoiseach confirm to the House that a memo has been circulated to all Government Departments proposing the cash sale of 35 per cent of Telecom Éireann to overseas interests?
The Deputy is forcing himself out of order on that subject. I call Deputy Martin.
I have asked the Taoiseach when the legislation——
The Deputy asked much more than that.
I asked him when a Bill would be introduced.
There is no legislation promised in the sense required for questions to be in order.
I congratulate the Taoiseach and the Minister for Education on the egalitarian way in which they appointed 12 ordinary members to the Higher Education Authority. The appointment of Fine Gael, Labour and Democratic Left members to the authority is political patronage.
The Deputy's party appointed 200 members the week before the last general election.
None of these people will have to be removed from office.
The Minister would not say that outside the Chamber.
I call Deputy Michael Ahern.
Universal Foods in Midleton, one of the most important food companies in Cork, experienced difficulties last winter. It has been involved in discussions on its own behalf and on behalf of the hundreds of farmers is east Cork——
This is not relevant to the Order of Business.
——in an effort to secure grant aid from the Government which has been able to appoint——
Sorry, Deputy, you are completely out of order. I call Deputy Mary Coughlan.
Industries in Wexford and many other areas would have been totally ignored——
The Deputy may not show such total disregard for the procedures of the House and he must now resume his seat.
I am——
The Deputy must resume his seat or leave the House.
I congratulate the——
Deputy Ahern you will now leave the House.
I will leave the House but I am——
Leave the House forthwith, Deputy. I call Deputy Mary Coughlan.
The disregard shown to this industry, the small farmers in west Cork and the food growers in east Cork——
I will be forced to name the Deputy if he does not leave the House immediately.
You would not do that on the last day of the session, a Cheann Comhairle.
Deputy M. Ahern withdrew from the Chamber.
Will the Taoiseach clarify whether it was a Government decision to fire the entire board of Arramara Teoranta yesterday evening? The board has turned the company into a profit making——
This matter is clearly not in order now.
More heads on plates.
I wish to raise with the Taoiseach the plight of the Irish Press journalists who have not received any payment since 28 May. Will the Minister for Social Welfare——
I admire the Deputy's consistency in this matter but I would prefer if he dealt with it at an appropriate time.
The Minister should deal with it.
If the Minister for Social Welfare has no interest in the matter——
I call Deputy Ray Burke.
We have not been honoured for even one moment this week with the Tánaister's presence in the House. Will the Taoiseach say when the White Paper on Foreign Affairs will be published? It was promised in the Dáil and was to be published by the end of June. It may need legislation if the Government cannot get its act together on the question of neutrality. It is a disgrace that it is to be published during the summer when the Dáil is not in session and we will not be able to have a full debate on it here.
The House will be aware that there is a distinction between White Papers and promised legislation.
A White Paper will inevitably lead to legislation. The Taoiseach is still licking his wounds after the Wicklow by-election.
The House is entitled to an explanation for the decision taken yesterday evening by the Government to abolish the board of Arramara Teoranta.
The company is a subsidiary of Údarás na Gaeltachta——
It is a semi-State company.
It is a separate company.
——and any decision of the kind referred to by the Deputy would have to be taken by that company.
That is misleading, as it is a separate company.
On a less acrimonious note, I wish to congratulate the gallant Oireachtas golfing team who beat everybody before them in Mount Juliet.
Were there any women on the team?
When is it intended to publish the referendum and divorce Bills?
After the summer recess.
I am sure the Taoiseach inadvertently misled the House. As he and the Government should know, Arramara Teoranta is not a subsidiary of any company, it is a semi-State company in its own right under the Department of the Marine.
I am not aware of any Government decision of the kind mentioned and I will inquire into the matter.
It was a decision taken by the Minister.
The information supplied to me was to the effect that the company was a subsidiary of Údarás na Gaeltachta. The matter will be dealt with in due course.
Given the concern among the farming community regarding the dispute between the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry and the Irish Veterinary Union and the suspension of grants——
This is not relevant now, Deputy.
Will the Taoiseach intervene with the Minister in this dispute?