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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 27 Mar 1996

Vol. 463 No. 4

Order of Business.

It is proposed to take No. 6, Motion re. Sitting Arrangements; No. 14, Social Welfare Bill, 1996, Order for Report Stage and, subject to the Order being made, the Report and Final Stages of the Social Welfare Bill, 1996; No. 15, Pensions (Amendment) Bill, 1995, Second Stage (Resumed); and 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. 6 shall be decided without debate; (2) Subject to the Order being made on No. 14, the proceedings on the Report and Final Stages of the Social Welfare Bill, 1996, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 6.45 p.m. today 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 Social Welfare; and (3) Private Members' Business shall be No. 27, Criminal Procedure Bill, 1995, Second Stage (Resumed), and the proceedings on the Second Stage thereof shall be brought to a conclusion by 8.30 p.m. tonight.

Is the proposal that No. 6, Motion re. Sitting Arrangements, be decided without debate agreed? Agreed. Are the proposals for dealing with No. 14, the Social Welfare Bill, 1996, agreed? Agreed. Are the proposals for dealing with Private Members' Business agreed? Agreed.

Has the Taoiseach contacted the President of Egypt, Mr. Mubarak, and King Hussein of Jordan regarding clearance for the shipments of Irish beef to Arab countries? Will he clarify if it is the Government's intention to reinstate the ministry of food as the responsibility of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry? I understand it is at present incorporated in the Department of Health and administered by the Minister of State, Deputy O'Shea. However, the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise and Employment, Deputy Rabbitte, this morning indicated that it was to be moved to the Department of Enterprise and Employment. Will the Taoiseach clarify those important issues?

We had an extensive debate on these matters last evening.

The Taoiseach will hardly put Deputy Rabbitte in charge of Agriculture.

I expect to talk to President Mubarak later today. I listened to the interview and questions. The Minister did not say what the Deputy said he said.

Will the Taoiseach explain to the House why at almost midday on Wednesday he has not yet made a telephone call when, at about midday on Monday, he said he would contact President Mubarak?

It is important that people should understand——

With respect, this is not Question Time.

The Chair allowed the leader of Fianna Fáil to make the point so I think it is appropriate for me to reply. Any international démarche of this kind needs to be properly prepared. That has been done by laying the diplomatic and technical groundwork so that the call will have the best possible prospects of success. The situation is obviously extremely difficult. This decision, taken by President Mubarak early on Monday, has serious consequences and I take it seriously. Therefore, I want to prepare, and have prepared, any démarche I make in the best possible way. That is precisely why the call is taking place this afternoon.

Cattle are dying in the meantime.

Will the Taoiseach give consideration to sending one of his Ministers to Egypt?

All possible options will be considered that would be useful in this matter. We are well aware of the seriousness of the matter and of the situation of the animals concerned. We are aware also of the implications of decisions of this kind for our beef industry. Furthermore, we are aware that these decisions are profoundly unfair and have no scientific basis because of the record of safety precautions in this country.

Why not fly to Cairo?

As there is still no evidence that mad cow disease is transmissible to humans, could the Taoiseach tell us, in the interest of a beef industry in crisis, whether the Government will undertake any political initiative? Will the Minister for Agriculture be asked to safeguard these markets?

I cannot allow a debate to ensue on this matter.

Must we listen to the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, the so-called defender of agribusiness, when his irresponsible approach over the years undermined confidence in it at all times?

If Members wish to pursue this matter they must do so in accordance with the procedures of the House.

Deputy Rabbitte is a disgrace. He has some neck to come into this House to defend it.

(Interruptions.)

You are one of Albert's pups.

And what are you but a rogue pig, like a few more?

The Cheshire cat has lost his voice and is sitting on the fence. Has he purified himself yet?

The Deputy should be careful not to fall off.

Could I appeal for less bull?

When is the Government likely to bring legislation before the House on Telecom Éireann? Is it still the Government's intention to move ahead and negotiate a final bid with the one consortium that made a bid in the last few days?

We expect to present legislation on a strategic alliance before the end of this year. Telecommunications legislation will also be introduced in the first half of the year dealing with the independent regulation of the sector and other consequential matters.

Now that the Taoiseach announced he is proceeding with this legislation, can we take it that the Government is negotiating with and will take a final bid from the consortium led by Tele Denmark?

It is important in a matter of this kind that the Deputy should table questions in an orderly way. I am obliged on the Order of Business to answer questions about the presentation of legislation, not about other matters that the Deputy may think of on the spur of the moment. I have answered questions he posed, that are in order, accurately and fully. If he wishes to ask any other questions about the strategic alliance he can, to get the most up-to-date information, properly and with due notice put them to the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications. I would advise him to do that himself if he does not have confidence in his spokesperson to do it on his behalf.

I want to ask about proposed legislation on criminal justice. Before I do, let me ask the Government to ensure that gender balance will be brought to bear in making judicial appointments in the future. When will we see the legislation, announced last night by the Minister for Justice, which will allow the Garda Síochána to arrest without warrant?

I expect it to be published in mid-summer.

Regarding legislation about which I asked, it is only fitting that the Government should give a clear answer on whether that legislation is going forward. The final date has now been passed and Tele Denmark is the only bidder. The Taoiseach should tell us whether the Government will negotiate with that consortium on the basis of the legislation. International financial papers seem to indicate that the Government will negotiate.

This should be pursued in the ordinary way, as Members of the House know well.

I would like to raise a matter on the Order Paper, No. 26, a motion in my name to allow for the laying before the House of the report of the investigation into the death of Kelly Fitzgerald and a debate on the matter. What are the Government's intentions in this matter? Will it be providing for the laying before the Oireachtas of this report, and will we have a full debate on it under privilege? The Tánaiste has indicated that he is considering the legality of that proposition to allow for a debate on the matter.

It is Private Members' Business. I suggest that the Deputy seek Private Members' time for it.

The Taoiseach is maintaining that the death of Kelly Fitzgerald and its handling by the health board is a matter for Private Members' Business. The reason I put it on the Order Paper was to allow me to raise it every day on the Order of Business.

I am sorry, Deputy. That may be your idea, but the Chair will facilitate the Deputy in bringing forward her motion in the matter.

The Tánaiste indicated to the House that he is seeking the advice of the Attorney General as to the possibility of having a debate. What are the Taoiseach's intentions in this matter? It is not acceptable to leave this matter on the long finger to be overtaken by other matters which appear to be more important to the Taoiseach. This is a very important matter of public administration.

The matter is on the Order Paper. Let us bring it forward in the ordinary way.

The Deputy is asking about a Private Members' motion in her own party's name. If her party wishes to give it priority it can do that. The report on the Kelly Fitzgerald case is a separate matter, and the Government has been considering it quite separately from any motion the Deputy is making inquiries about. It is our intention to present a report on that matter to the Joint Committee on the Family, and we hope that committee will be able to consider the matter fully in a mature and balanced way. I am sure there will be constructive value for the future in ensuring that horrible tragedies of the kind that occurred in this case do not recur.

I had the fourth and final slot on last night's Adjournment but the previous items ended slightly earlier than I had predicted and I apologise to you, Sir, for not being in the House at the time it was called. In my enthusiasm in canvassing for my colleague, Brian Lenihan, I was late leaving my Dublin West constituency.

I was the one who had to sit here and that will not happen again.

The last time I questioned the Taoiseach on the fund-raising for charitable purposes Bill, based on the Costello report, he told me the legislation was advanced. Has it reached the stage of being very advanced or is it imminent? When will we see it?

The legislation in question will be available in the second half of this year.

I want to come to the business proper quite quickly.

In view of the damage done to our national herd, will the Taoiseach in the national interest seek a derogation from the European Union on the importation of livestock?

It is a good question, but please table it in the ordinary way.

I take the opportunity to welcome back to the House the Minister for Education. I was in Dún Laoghaire recently and I saw a bill board advertisement which indicated that the Minister personally was paying for the regional technical college. I pay tribute to her generosity. We have not seen such an act of public benevolence in a long time.

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