It is proposed to take Nos. 1 and 3. It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that No. 1 shall be decided without debate.
Order of Business.
Is the House satisfied that No. 1 shall be decided without debate? Agreed.
The Taoiseach should resolve quickly the manifest contradictions between Minister Lowry's account of transactions relating to CIE and the individuals concerned.
I am sorry, ——
We need to know beyond a shadow of doubt whether the Minister told the truth or misled the House.
——Deputy Ahern has heard the Chair pronounce on this matter just now. That is the position. This House will have adequate scope to deal with it.
There will be Question Time today but last Tuesday's debate was not the same as Question Time today. The main question is one the Taoiseach can answer. Was the House misled last Tuesday? The Taoiseach should clear up the matter.
If Members feel aggrieved about this matter they have their own remedy, they can table a motion.
There is a simple way of resolving the matter. Will the Taoiseach give the Government's view on whether the House was misled?
Is there any other matter appropriate to the Order of Business?
Is the Taoiseach standing over the Minister's remarks?
Deputy Ahern knows how to proceed on this matter.
I know the procedures, but this is a very serious matter. There is a raging battle outside the House and the Taoiseach can resolve it.
It cannot be dealt with on the Order of Business.
I am abiding by the Chair.
The Taoiseach is hiding behind the Ceann Comhairle.
I will hear no more on this matter. There are questions tabled for today and within hours this matter will come before the House again. If Members are not satisfied with that, they should put down a substantive motion.
I wish to ask the Taoiseach about promised legislation. This saga involving the Minister should never have happened and I hope it will be put to rest today. Will the Taoiseach indicate why the matter of a third banking force is not included on the list of promised legislation circulated by the Government last week?
That matter is under consideration. The necessary legislative provisions have not been decided until the form of the third banking force is agreed.
Will the Taoiseach agree that if there is to be a third banking force we will need legislation and it should have been included on the list of promised legislation given that it is included in the Programme for Government?
It is possible that that is the case but the procedures are that matters only appear on the Government's legislative programme when the precise form and purpose of the legislation is decided. When that is done, if legislation is required the Deputy may well be right in that it may appear on the legislative programme.
On promised legislation, is the Taoiseach aware that the energy sector is anxious that it will cease to be competitive if the terms of the electricity Bill go through as proposed? Has there been a delay in its introduction on account of this? When will it be introduced, to give reassurance to the semi-State sector?
The preparation of the Bill is proceeding in the normal way. I expect it will be ready for presentation in the House in February.
I understand that the Courts and Court Officers Bill was withdrawn earlier in the year so that drafting amendments could be made to it. What is the present position with regard to this Bill?
The revised legislation is at an advanced stage of preparation. I expect it will be available to the House either this month or next.
When can we expect legislation on charities, which has been repeatedly promised? Does the Government have any proposals to change the criminal law on child sexual abuse?
With regard to child sexual abuse, the recent legislative provisions cover the matter. There may be difficulties in enforcement or in the reporting of such offences. The enforcement authorities rely significantly on members of the public to inform them of information of this kind. However, legislation cannot provide for this. All legislation requires co-operation from the public if it is to be effectively enforced.
Legislation on charities will not be ready until next year. I am sorry I cannot give an earlier date. Work on this is at a preliminary stage and I cannot tell the Deputy at what point in 1996 it will be ready.
What is the reason for the delay in introducing the Health (Amendment) Bill and when is it likely to be introduced?
I expect that the legislation will be ready in the latter half of this year. I remind the Deputy, as I have reminded the Opposition previously, that the first Minister for Health to promise this legislation was Deputy O'Hanlon. The Government will introduce this legislation and I hope it will be passed with the support of the party which promised it so often in the past.
The Taoiseach is referring to another Bill. He is talking about the restructuring of the health boards.
The Health (Amendment) Bill will set out the roles, responsibilities and accountability of health boards and their chief executive officers. This legislation was promised by Deputy O'Hanlon when he was Minister for Health. It will be introduced by the current Minister and passed with the support, I hope, of Deputy O'Hanlon and his party.
When can we expect the equal status Bill?
It is currently at drafting stage. I cannot give a precise indication as to when it will be published except to say that it will be some time in 1996.
Do the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Minister for Social Welfare, Deputy De Rossa still have full confidence in the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications, Deputy Lowry?
I am not worried about things like that.
The Labour Party are getting worried.
A Deputy
Does Fianna Fáil have confidence in Deputy Cullen?
A Deputy
Deputy Cullen did not get the nomination yet.
(Interruptions.)
On a point of order, the question I asked about promised legislation relates to item 13 on the Government's published list of such legislation. The Taoiseach's response related to item 36. The Taoiseach is confused and wrong and I would appreciate if he would correct the statement he made.
I answered the question put by the Deputy. The fact that he did not make the adequate reference is his problem.
Deputy Callely, I allowed you to raise this matter as a point of order but I will not allow you to argue or debate the matter. If you wish to proceed further you will have to find some other way.
So much for Dáil reform.