It is proposed to take No. 16. — Metrology Bill, 1996, Report and Final Stages and No. 17 — Statements on the Management Plan for the Burren National Park. It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that (1) the proceedings on the Report and Final Stages of No. 16, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 12 noon 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 Enterprise and Employment and (2) the following arrangements shall apply in relation to No. 17; (i) the opening statement of a Minister or Minister of State or of the main spokesperson 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 20 minutes in each case; (iii) Members may share time; and (iv) a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 15 minutes.
Order of Business.
There are two matters to put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 16 satisfactory and agreed? Agreed. Are the proposals for dealing with No. 17 satisfactory and agreed? Agreed.
I wish to raise two matters. I wish the Taoiseach well at this weekend's Florence Summit when the EU Presidency will be handed over to Ireland. I hope he will manage to discuss something other than BSE and if he does not it will not be his fault.
Will the Taoiseach use the opportunity of his scheduled meeting with the British Prime Minister on the margins of the summit to raise the disgraceful situation where, after two weeks of multi-party talks, Senator George Mitchell is still not in a position to do what he was asked to do by the two Governments and what he kindly offered to do? I doubt if there is another man or woman who would take on that task. Will the Taoiseach try to resolve this situation and stop those people who are frustrating the efforts of Senator Mitchell to deal in a substantial way with what is an important agenda?
I am sure the Deputy's good wishes are reciprocated by the Taoiseach. The other matters are ones for the Taoiseach to determine.
I too wish the Taoiseach well at the weekend in Florence. It is a pleasant place and I hope he gets the time to enjoy it.
It is not as pleasant as Dublin.
I also wish him well on the taking over of the EU Presidency from 1 July. I share Deputy Bertie Ahern's concern about the way in which Senator George Mitchell is being treated. The bickering that is continuing in Northern Ireland is playing into the hands of the paramilitaries. If constitutional politicians cannot begin to negotiate a settlement for Northern Ireland the initiative will be handed back to the men of violence. I appeal to the politicians there to accept George Mitchell. We are fortunate that he has made himself available to chair the allparty talks. I cannot think of anybody more suitable for the task. I am sure he must be becoming increasingly frustrated at the way he is being treated.
The only statement we wish to hear from the IRA is that it has unequivocally restored its ceasefire. There must be no ambivalence about it. The only way it can enhance the democratic political process is by restoring a full and unequivocal ceasefire, not by having a tactical ceasefire.
We cannot have matters pertaining to Northern Ireland raised on the Order of Business every day. The Chair has shown considerable latitude in these matters. I ask you not to raise them every day.
There must be a way of raising these matters.
Indeed. There should be some ways and means of dealing with them rather than at an inappropriate time.
I appreciate the words spoken with regard to the prospect of success at the summit in Florence. We hope that there will be progress on a number of issues. I share with Members an appreciation of the willingness of Senator George Mitchell and also General de Chastelain and Mr. Harry Hokkeri to make themselves available to assist in performing the role of independent chairmen in various aspects of the discussions. We in this island and the neighbouring island are fortunate that people of this distinction are willing to serve.
This conflict has endured in one form or another for up to 300 years. The talks started only a little over a week ago. It was inevitable that there would be difficulties and differences regarding procedure early in this phase. The resolution of these difficulties is not assisted by partial comments from outside. It is best that the participants be allowed the space to work through the difficulties. The skill, tact and diplomacy of Senator Mitchell especially should be allowed to do its work in the way in which he is so eminently capable. This is probably the best approach we should adopt in the House with regard to the matter, notwithstanding our strong admiration for Senator Mitchell and our perfectly proper anxiety that he be treated with the courtesy and appreciation his role so eminently deserves.
Will the Taoiseach order an immediate investigation into the manipulative and malicious leaking of the Price Waterhouse report from Bord na Móna, especially the role of the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications in the matter?
This does not arise on the Order of Business.
In view of the comments of Deputy Eric Byrne this morning, will the Taoiseach advise when the legislation to curb stalking will be published?
I understand that questions were put yesterday by Deputy Eric Byrne on that matter to the Minister of State at the Department of Justice. The Minister of State told the Deputy that legislation on offences against the person is being drafted on this topic. The legislation will take into account the Law Reform Commission recommendations on the matter of stalking. It is hoped that the legislation will be published soon.
November 1997.
Will the Taoiseach confirm that the Government is now preparing to rush through legislation to protect gullible male Deputies from stalkers while it continues to fail to introduce the Juvenile Justice Bill, which is aimed to give protection——
That is adequate Deputy.
Your turn is coming.
The experience of the Deputy's party in Dublin South-Central would not lead it to the conclusion that the victor of the by-election on that occasion is in any way a gullible person. On the contrary, he has shown his ability to win the confidence of the electorate in a way that perhaps the Deputy's party was unable to win it.
The electorate is gullible.
Can the Deputy remember her candidate's name?
The Juvenile Justice Bill consists of 227 sections. It is a lengthy Bill and is at an advanced stage of drafting. I hope it will be published soon.
Define "soon".
Will the Taoiseach tell the House whether the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications was directly responsible for leaking the Price Waterhouse report?
Please desist, Deputy.
It is a matter of public importance.
If the Deputy wishes to pursue the matter he may do so by other means. The Deputy will resume his seat forthwith.
I wish to raise this matter——
I will not ask a third time.
I see.
Will the Taoiseach ask the Minister for Education to make a report available to the House today on the errors contained in the leaving certificate music and musicianship examination which are well documented in The Irish Times today?
The incident occurred last May.
This is not the time to ask for reports as such.
It is regrettable——
It is not relevant to the Order of Business.
The Minister should be more transparent about it.
Deputy Martin, do not continue to ignore the Chair.
Is the Taoiseach embarrassed by the leaking of the Price Waterhouse report?
I have ruled that matter out of order. It is most audacious of you to raise it again. Resume your seat, please.
Will the Taoiseach——
If the Deputy does not resume his seat he will leave the House.
On a number of occasions I raised with the Taoiseach the matter of the Government acting in an illegal manner in allowing the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht to issue firearms licences to tourists coming into this country. The Taoiseach kindly sent a reply to me yesterday or the day before to the effect that the matter is sub judice.
The Deputy should come to the legislation involved.
It is the Firearms Act. Is the Taoiseach not aware that the sub justice rule was lifted in this House some time ago? Will he confirm that the Government will act on the legal advice it has and amend the Firearms Act before the State is involved in a costly legal action?
The Deputy is embarking on quite a speech.
Given that a particular matter of interpretation is before the courts it would be quite imprudent of the Government to proceed until the court has clarified the position.
It is not contained in the Act. Nobody has the power apart from the Minister for Justice.
How soon does the Government intend to transpose the habitats directive into national legislation?
Quite shortly.
In the interests of consistency — I know how seriously the Taoiseach views this matter — could the Taoiseach confirm that those responsible for the confidential leaking of documents from a semi-State company will be subjected to the same sanction as was meted out to junior Minister, Deputy Phil Hogan, in the same circumstances——
Deputy Cowen is showing a flagrant disregard for the ruling of the Chair in this matter.
——and that resignation will be inevitable for the board member who was responsible for the leaking of that document——
Deputy Cowen may not show defiance to the Chair in this fashion.
——which is seriously compromising the future of the company.
Deputy Cowen will resume his seat or leave the House.
Will the Taoiseach confirm that he views this as a matter of the utmost seriousness that will get the same sanction as was meted out at the insistence of the Minister for Finance on a previous occasion? Will the Taoiseach confirm that will be the position, or is Bord na Móna, a company that has done so much to revolutionise work practices in the semi-State sector, to continue to be treated with contempt by this Government?
There are rules governing this House and the Deputy is not immune from them.
Is that the way this Government is to treat that company and its thousands of employees? We need some standards. In the interests of consistency I demand that those responsible for that leaking be meted out the same sanctions as were meted out to the Taoiseach's colleague, Deputy Phil Hogan, for the same offence. I demand it in the interests of consistency.
If the Deputy persists one iota more I will insist on his leaving the House promptly.
I am waiting for a reply from the man of high standards in the Government of high standards.
Could the Taoiseach be more specific on the Juvenile Justice Bill? There are reports that there are divisions within Cabinet over proposals to make parents responsible for the crimes of their children. Is that Bill due to be published this session? When will we see it published?
I understand that the legislation in question will be published quite soon.
I would like to raise with the Taoiseach the matter of the penalties for clerical errors in the completion of application forms for suckler cow and beef cattle premia.
This is not in order now.
The silence of this Government is appalling.
There is a hidden agenda.
On promised legislation, I asked the Taoiseach last week about the telecommunications Bill. Will the Taoiseach indicate what progress has been made on the Bill? I would also like to know whether it is the intention of the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications to come into the House to make a statement about the situation in Bord na Móna.
I call the Taoiseach in respect of the first matter.
Is he going to come into this House to explain?
There are two items of legislation concerning telecommunications in the course of preparation. One is the legislation concerning independent regulation. That will be available within the next month or so. I take it that is the one to which the Deputy refers.
I am referring to the strategic alliance.
The workers will not forget you.
That legislation is not likely to come before the House until some time next year.
Does the Taoiseach intend to provide Government time to discuss the débácle in Bord na Móna from which the Scarlet Pimpernel in the Department of Transport, Energy and Communications seems to be running away?
Does the non-intervention of the Taoiseach in this matter confirm that he is not prepared to defend the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications?
When are we going to have some action?
When is the Labour Party going to stand up and be counted?
Mr. E. O'Keeffe rose.
I have proceeded to the business of the House.
It is relevant.
The relevant matter now is item No. 16.
The silence is outrageous. To allow this circus to go on is outrageous.