Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 26 Mar 1996

Vol. 463 No. 3

Order of Business

The Taoiseach

It is proposed to take No. 14 — Estimates for the Public Service [1996], Vote 5 (Central Statistics Office) (Revised Estimate); No. 5 — Motion re International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994; No. 6 — Motion re Bovine Diseases (Levies) Regulations, 1996; No. 7 — Motion re An Bord Bia Act, 1994 (Levy on Slaughtered or Exported Livestock) Order, 1996; No. 14A on a Supplementary Order Paper — statements on developments in relation to BSE and the consequences for the beef industry; No. 2 — Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 1996: Order for Second Stage and Second Stage.

It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that: (1) No. 14, [Vote 5 — Central Statistics Office] and Nos. 5, 6 and 7 shall be decided without debate, and any division demanded on No. 14 shall be taken forthwith; (2) the Statements if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 7 p.m. today and the following arrangements shall apply: (i) the opening statement of a Minister or Minister of State and of the main spokespersons for the Fianna Fáil Party and the Progressive Democrats Party shall not exceed 30 minutes in each case; (ii) the statement of each other Member called upon shall not exceed 15 minutes in case case; (iii) spokespersons and Members may share time and (iv) a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon not later than 6.30 p.m. for the purpose of a question and answer session which shall not exceed 30 minutes.

Private Members' Business shall be No. 31 — Criminal Procedure Bill, 1995: Second Stage.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Are the proposals for dealing with item No. 14 — Vote 5, and Nos. 5, 6 and 7 agreed to? Agreed. Are the arrangements for statements, item 14A, agreed to? Agreed.

Mr. B. Ahern

I wish to raise two matters on the Order of Business. I acknowledge the Taoiseach's decision to consult with and to allow for clarification on the communiqué or broader issues for parties in the North who wish it. This is something I have urged in the House during the last three or four weeks. I hope the parties take up the opportunity.

The light rail transport Bill to be published before the summer recess will provide a framework for the construction, development and operation of a light rail system. However, the Dublin Chamber of Commerce and individual business people on the proposed route of the light rail system have many objections and have prepared a costly report. When will the Bill be prepared, and rather than getting involved in unnecessary conflict, will the Minister consult the Chamber of Commerce and the people who have spent this money prior to the Bill coming before the House?

The Taoiseach

I expect the Bill to be available within the next three months — either April or May. I have taken note of what the Deputy said about consultation and will certainly convey it to the Minister.

Miss Harney

On 31 January I asked the Taoiseach whether the Government intended to hold a referendum on the issue of bail and he told me it would make a decision in about six weeks. That was eight weeks ago. Has the Government finalised its proposals?

The Taoiseach

I expect we will be discussing options presented by the Minister in the reasonably near future, but the matter has not yet been finalised.

Mr. R. Burke

Any Member who has been in Dublin west in the last few weeks will realise the urgent need for the long-promised legislation on the control of wandering horses which, I understand, was prepared by the previous administration.

Mr. Deasy

What about trees?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Let us hear the Deputy in possession.

Mr. R. Burke

Will the Taoiseach inform the House when this legislation will be brought forward?

The Taoiseach

The legislation will be available during the month of May.

Mr. Lawlor

Will there be protection from wandering politicians?

Mr. O'Donoghue

Is it intended to amend the firearms legislation to provide that applicants for certificates or licences be psychologically tested?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Is legislation promised on this matter?

The Taoiseach

I think what the Deputy might be suggesting is psychiatric testing.

Mr. O'Donoghue

No.

The Taoiseach

This is not among the items of promised legislation but matters of this nature are taken into consideration by the Minister for Justice in the light of events in another jurisdiction.

Mr. O'Donoghue

Why was the Minister for Justice unable to fulfil her promise to produce within six weeks proposals to Government to amend the bail laws?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

We cannot pursue that at this stage.

Mr. McCreevy

On promised legislation on the third banking force, may I take it that the idea has been scrapped given that the Government today appointed a new chairman and other members to the ICC board whose views on partial privatisation of ICC are known to be in the negative?

Mr. E. O'Keeffe

They were dancing to DL's tune — Democratic Left runs the country.

Mrs. Owen

"Babe" did not make it.

The Taoiseach

This matter has been the subject of replies on various occasions in the past. It is not among the items listed for promised legislation.

Mr. M. McDowell

Bearing in mind that it is over a year since I first raised the issue with him, what does the Taoiseach propose to do about the right of intervention and interruption in this House?

The Taoiseach

That is among the proposals put before the Committee on Procedure and Privileges by the Minister of State.

Dr. Woods

When will the Government's long promised adoption Bill come before the House? It was promised a fortnight ago that it would be available in two weeks. The two weeks are up. Will the Taoiseach say when it will come before the House?

The Taoiseach

I am sure the Deputy is aware of the distinction between the heads of a Bill and the final draft of the Bill. The heads of the Bill were cleared at Cabinet today and obviously we will be producing the legislation as soon as possible. I expect it will be available in July.

Dr. Woods

Is the Taoiseach aware that in the meantime a number of families have had to go to the High Court to take proceedings against the Government simply to adopt children in this country? Is he not ashamed of this?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

We should not debate that in detail now.

Dr. Woods

It is very important that these people be allowed to adopt.

Mr. D. Ahern

We had a Bill before the House the other night.

Dr. Woods

The Government Bill was promised for this week.

Miss de Valera

Will the Taoiseach join with me in congratulating all the Irish people who took part in the film "Braveheart" which won five Oscars last night? I am sure all Members will be very interested to know if the Taoiseach has made representations to the Academy to ensure that the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Michael Higgins, is awarded a special Oscar for the supporting role he played while Mel Gibson was in Ireland?

Were the members of the FCA who took part in the film badly treated as alleged on a radio programme this morning? Were many of the FCA members injured during the battle scenes? Will the Minister be prepared to reassess the proposed changes to section 35 of the Finance Act considering that these changes would undermine the prospects of major blockbusters such as "Braveheart" coming to Ireland?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

It is scarcely relevant but the Taoiseach may wish to comment.

Mr. Davern

In view of the crisis in the beef industry, has the Taoiseach proposals to ensure that certification of meat leaving this country is authenticated by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry? Has the Taoiseach made telephone calls regarding the cattle shipments which are held up in Egypt and may be held up in Jordan?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Debate on this matter will follow.

Mr. J. Mitchell

Following from Deputy de Valera's question, I note that a lot of stray horses from the Oscar-winning film "Braveheart" are around the Dublin west constituency. When is it proposed to introduce the Control of Horses Bill?

Mr. R. Burke

It is expected in May.

(Interruptions.)

The Taoiseach

I told the Opposition that this legislation would be available in May but in view of Deputy Jim Mitchell's intervention today I will be endeavouring to have it ready before the end of April. I wish to thank him for his very effective intervention in this as in all other matters.

Mr. R. Burke

Is it not a tragedy that he was not remembered when the jobs were being given out?

Mr. T. Kitt

The Minister for Justice has promised legislation to deal with the dispute over the Garda Representative Association. Will the Government introduce legislation on a representative body for the Garda?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Is this a matter of promised legislation?

The Taoiseach

That matter is currently being examined by the Attorney General and the Minister has prepared the heads of a Bill which has been approved and is being drafted.