It is proposed to take No. 4, motion on the report of the Tribunal of Inquiry (Dunnes Payments) and No. 5, the establishment of a tribunal of inquiry.
Order of Business.
Before agreeing to the Order of Business, there is something the House might like to do. The President of Ireland leaves office tomorrow. She is the first President to have addressed this House and, as the House will not be sitting tomorrow, it is appropriate that we should pay tribute to the seven years of service which President Mary Robinson has given to this country. She has used that high office to make people who might not otherwise have felt part of the Irish political system fully part of it for the first time.
While I understand the Deputy, it is not appropriate to do so at this stage.
When the business is ordered it will not be possible to pay tribute to the President.
The House might find a more appropriate way to show its appreciation for President Robinson than on the Order of Business.
The Government has not made any proposal in that regard and I wish to ensure that it is done. I am proceeding now, if I may, to say what I must say in tribute to the President. I hope that the Taoiseach, as the Leader of the House, will agree with me now and also pay tribute to the President before we commence the business of the House. It would be inappropriate to interrupt what will otherwise be potentially contentious business to have these well deserved tributes to the President. We ought to do it now before we enter into these contentious matters.
Does the House feel that this is the most appropriate way to do it? I do not think the Order of Business is the most appropriate way. Certainly a more appropriate way could be found. Does the Taoiseach want to——
The President will have left office the next time the House sits.
There is no precedent for discussing the President in the Chamber. We are completely departing from precedent if we discuss the role or performance of the President in the House. I wish to draw that to the attention of the House.
I know this matter was mentioned a week ago. The view then was that the President has never been the source of debate in the House and it was more appropriate that the tribute to the President should take place when the Dáil resumes. Having said that, the President will then have taken up another office outside the country.
We, as party leaders, will have an opportunity tomorrow. If we were paying a tribute, I would like to think all Members would be here to hear it. On that basis, I would like to do it at the end of the business today.
I agree with the Leader of the Opposition that tributes to the President in the middle of a debate would not be ideal, but I would be very glad to make arrangements with the Whips to do it at the end of the business this evening, which will be some hours before the President leaves office. A Cheann Comhairle, if you would consider that during the course of the day, we will certainly make arrangements with the Whips.
The matter should be discussed by the Whips. Perhaps they will consult with the Chair.
We do not need any great time to prepare our remarks. We all know the President has served us well and we can find it appropriate to say what needs to be said here and now. I do not wish to be contentious on this matter and if the Taoiseach insists that we should not pay the tribute now but pay it after the votes this evening, I will go along with that. It is not the ideal way of doing it. We should start the business with a tribute to the President.
Is it agreed that the matter be discussed between the Whips and that they will consult with the Chair during the day?
I understand what the Taoiseach has proposed but I think that, with the atmosphere now and the position of everybody involved, it is preferable for it to be done now rather than after a vote when Deputies will be travelling in different directions.
Is it agreed? Is the Taoiseach agreeable?
The Taoiseach is agreeable.
I am very happy to lead on to it.
(Dublin West): Before the Order of Business passes, may I ask the Taoiseach——
If it is on the Order of Business, we will return to it.
We will complete the Order of Business and then have the tribute.
A Cheann Comhairle, I am looking for your guidance on No. 5 on the Order Paper. There are some 29 amendments to this motion on the establishment of the tribunal of inquiry. I am certainly not clear as to how it is proposed that we take those amendments. The Taoiseach indicated that, following reflection on Members' contributions, he may be amenable to taking some of the amendments on board. I believe the House is probably agreed that those which deal with the narrow focus on the Ansbacher accounts ought to be reconsidered. For example, one of the amendments suggests the inclusion at the preliminary stage of the tribunal, namely, the sifting process, of the matters that were the subject of yesterday's statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
How will the amendments be processed? Will Members have an opportunity to make a brief case in respect of each of the amendments, some of which are quite complicated? What arrangements will be made to permit Members to contribute on the more important amendments?
As the Deputy is aware, the order of the House stipulates that the debate must end at 4.30 p.m., at which time the amendments will be taken. The majority of the 29 amendments, with the exception of two, could be the subject of separate decisions, if required. This is a very complicated area but it will become clear when we come to deal with the amendments. If Members wish to group some of the amendments for the purpose of decision, it will have to be done by an order of the House. That would be a matter for the Whips in the first instance to see if it could be achieved and an order would then have to be made.
Members would be obliged to contribute on the amendments during the course of the debate and each would have to be voted on individually after 4.30 p.m.
Yes, the debate must conclude at 4.30 p.m. and the amendments will then be put to the House.
Will it be necessary to move each amendment separately following the conclusion of the debate?
Yes.
Will votes be taken separately on each occasion the House is asked to divide?
Yes, that is correct. Separate decisions can be made on each amendment.
Do I understand that there will be a type of hybrid Second Stage/Committee Stage debate during which Members will be permitted to speak on amendments which interest them and that there will be no response from the Government in respect of any questions raised regarding proposed amendments, some of which are of a precise nature? At the end of what will, in effect, be a Second Stage debate, is it correct that each amendment in turn will be put to the House and voted on?
That is the position. The debate will cease, by order of the House, at 4.30 p.m.
That will happen if the Order of Business is agreed to?
The matter was agreed yesterday. There is no question of making a decision on it today.
Will the Taoiseach consider asking the Whips to meet in order that time be made available before 4.30 p.m. for a debate to enable us to discuss the amendments? I accept that the Ceann Comhairle is obliged to obey the rules of the House but the proposed arrangements are unsatisfactory because there is no facility for a Government spokesperson to reply to each amendment following contributions on them by individual Deputies. I suggest that the Whips might meet to consider a way in which a discussion of the amendments could be structured within the agreed Order of Business, given that the debate must conclude at 4.30 p.m., and introduce an order of the House to modify the business of the House, if necessary, during the course of the day.
That is the way it will have to be done if the Deputy's suggestion is to be taken on board.
(Dublin West): Will the Taoiseach indicate whether the Government intends to accept any of the amendments, given that it had time to consider them overnight? If so, which amendments does the Government intend to accept?
That matter is proper to the debate. It cannot be dealt with on the Order of Business.
Do I understand that the House will rise at 4.45 p.m.? What will happen if we have dealt with only half of the amendments?
The House must dispose of the amendments when the debate concludes.
Therefore, the House may sit until quite late this evening?
Yes, the House must sit until it has dealt with the amendments. Does that conclude the Order of Business?
Is the Taoiseach or the Minister for Foreign Affairs in a position to comment on a story on this morning's 9 a.m. news regarding an interview given to An Phoblacht on behalf of a spokesperson for the IRA in which it was indicated that that organisation had reservations about the Mitchell principles?
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
I appreciate that. I support what Deputy Quinn has said. Given that the IRA and Sinn Féin are one and the same organisation, in terms of its political direction the interview in An Phoblacht is extremely disquieting and casts doubt on Sinn Féin's commitment to the Mitchell principles. If that is the attitude of the IRA, we may be dealing with just an empty formula from Sinn Féin. It is very important that this matter be clarified by Sinn Féin. Deputy Quinn is to be complimented for bringing it up.
Given that we were expected to be on the verge of a breakthrough next week in the talks in Northern Ireland, it is of the utmost importance for the Government to clarify who speaks for the republican movement. Is it Mr. Gerry Adams MP or an unnamed person who gave an interview to An Phoblacht? That interview seems to be an attempt to scupper the talks next week.
I thank Deputy Quinn for raising the issue. I have just heard the preliminary reports and seen some of the news lines but it is a matter of major concern. On Tuesday last Sinn Féin signed up to the Mitchell principles and I expect them to be honoured by the entire republican movement. That includes the way forward, which is that matters are dealt with by democratic and peaceful means and that the issue of disarmament will now be dealt with by the commission. I expect the entire republican movement to honour that position.
I welcome the Taoiseach's clarification of the Government's understanding of the obligations and responsibilities of Sinn Féin. The Labour Party shares the interpretation of the Government's understanding of to what Sinn Féin has committed itself on behalf of what it calls the entire republican movement.
Was the Taoiseach aware of the article in An Phoblacht when he spoke on the decommissioning motion yesterday?
I was not aware.
What steps will the Government, in particular the Minister for Agriculture and Food, take to reopen the live export trade and to ensure the prompt payment of £70 million compensation to farmers for winter fatteners?
That question does not arise on the Order of Business.
I have no other way of raising this matter because parliamentary questions and Adjournment matters are not scheduled. Will the Taoiseach arrange with the Whips for an early debate on the income crisis faced by grain farmers?
The Deputy's party did not hold a debate.
I know Deputy O'Keeffe is mad for action but there is inertia in other quarters.
This does not arise on the Order of Business.
Will flags fly at half mast over Government Buildings next Saturday to mark Mother Teresa's funeral?
They will.
Yesterday Deputy Coveney asked the Taoiseach if Government time would be made available to discuss the deterioration of farmers' incomes this year. I understood this important matter would be discussed today. Will the Minister for Agriculture and Food travel to Egypt? Before 6 June it seemed he could not get on the plane quickly enough and we have not heard a word from him since.
That matter does not arise on the Order of Business.
Get in touch with the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Provide a passport for the Minister for Agriculture and Food.
This is very serious and we want some indication. Yesterday there was silence from the Government benches when we asked for Government time. Can I take it this matter will be discussed either this evening or at the next available opportunity?
That matter does not arise on the Order of Business. I call on Deputy De Rossa.
Obviously, from the Government's point of view there is no crisis in farming. I see the Minister for Agriculture and Food smirking at the idea.
On 10 July the Taoiseach indicated to me on the Order of Business that he was expecting proposals from the Minister for the Environment on amendments to the Electoral Act, 1977. Have such proposals come before the Government? In view of the findings of the McCracken report will he accept it would be extraordinarily foolish to interfere with the Electoral Act, 1997?
That matter is under consideration by the Government. The Minister for the Environment is looking at the amendments but we have not made any decision on the matter.
Will the Government consider extending the scheme of compensation for flood victims, which was available to residents in the Clonmel area, to residents in my constituency and throughout Cork county who have been victims of the recent serious flooding and who have no private insurance cover?
The matter does not arise on the Order of Business.
Will the Taoiseach consider the matter and communicate with me at a later stage?
Will the Taoiseach confirm if it is the Government's intention to present the budget on 3 December or will it be in November? When is it intended to publish the Book of Estimates?
The budget will be presented on 3 December. No date has yet been fixed for publishing the Book of Estimates.
It must be seven days before the budget.
It could be earlier.
Is it the Government's intention to implement the Local Government (Financial Provisions) Act and release funds from road tax to local authorities or is it intended to repeal that Act?
The Minister for the Environment is preparing a new local government funding Bill.
As Dublin is quickly becoming a multi-race city and some racist comments have been made recently in certain quarters, will the Taoiseach confirm if it is his intention that the Refugee Act will be implemented in full and that a refugee commissioner will be appointed during the forthcoming Dáil session?
I dealt with that matter yesterday.
Will the Taoiseach clarify if he approves of the attempts by the Minister for Education, Deputy Martin, to further erode the powers of local authorities in the role of the Higher Education Authority?
That matter does not arise on the Order of Business.
To help us in our preparation for the new session when will the Government publish its legislative programme?
It will be published on 25 September.
The Taoiseach did not state yesterday when the refugee commissioner will be appointed. Since this matter is becoming urgent will he confirm that it will be dealt with early in the new Dáil session?
This urgent matter, which was neglected for many months, has created a real problem. The Minister for Justice will make the position clear on the resumption of the Dáil. I assure Deputy Mitchell that this matter will be dealt with urgently and the Government is giving it attention.
Is it proposed to circulate the amended wildlife Bill in 1997?
As the legislative programme for the next session and next year will be published on 25 September perhaps the Deputy will wait until then.
That completes the Order of Business for today.