It is also proposed to take No. 13, motion re. Standing Order 21, No, 14 — motion re. Committee on Members' Interests of Dáil Éireann, No. 1, the Local Government (Planning and Development) Bill, 1997, Order for Second Stage and Second Stage. It is further proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that Nos. 13 and 14 shall be decided without debate; and Private Members' Business shall take place tonight and tomorrow. Private Members' Business shall be No. 38, motion re. Ansbacher Accounts.
Order of Business (Resumed)
Is the proposal to deal with items Nos. 13 and 14 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal to deal with Private Members' Business agreed? Agreed.
When will the promised legislation to amend the Refugee Act be introduced? Has the Taoiseach reached a decision on whether an amnesty would be an appropriate way to deal with this problem?
I remind the Deputy that I have allowed Deputy Gay Mitchell to raise this matter on the Adjournment of the House today.
It relates to promised legislation.
Perhaps the Taoiseach may wish to make a brief comment.
In the week before the Christmas recess the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform gave a full statement on the Adjournment debate. He indicated that legislation may arise. A proposal with regard to an amnesty has not been decided upon.
When will a decision be taken on the legislation?
As the Minister stated, a process will be followed and when it is over we will make a statement on it.
Is the Taoiseach awaiting the result of the court case? The Government knows what needs to be done and it should get on with it.
The Minister outlined the procedure he is following and as soon as that has been completed we will make a statement on the matter.
In view of the blatantly sectarian murders which have taken place in recent weeks in Belfast and the departure of the UDP from the talks at Lancaster House earlier this week, does the Taoiseach intend to make a statement to the House today or will he arrange for a debate or statements as a matter or urgency?
There are about 40 questions on the Order Paper dealing with these issues and I propose to cover all aspects of them as soon as I have the opportunity.
In view of the fact that the House will not hear Taoiseach's questions tomorrow and given the widespread fear in parts of the community in Northern Ireland and the concern in the South about the progress of the talks which are due to conclude in May, will the Taoiseach consider making time available for statements on the issues involved? We have not had a chance to debate these issues or to hear from the Taoiseach on them since before Christmas.
We could have reached the questions today but we did not. The questions will be taken next Tuesday and Wednesday and the volume of questions will fill both days. There is nothing particularly urgent other than to continue what we have being doing outside the House. I restate our total and absolute condemnation of the nine brutal murders which took place in the last four weeks. The focus of the Governments, the parties in the talks and, hopefully, people outside the talks will be to try to build around the propositions document and the various documents that the parties have put to the talks. There were useful discussions yesterday and today on strands two and three. Next week we will move back to strand one and the talks will come to Dublin Castle the following week.
I am well aware of the fears of the community leaders from Northern Ireland who are present today. I had the opportunity to meet them, to convey the Government's anxiety about what has happened and to discuss the issues they raised. I know that the other party leaders have met them or will meet them today. I assure them and all the people of Northern Ireland that we want to see an end to the killing; we want to see political progress through dialogue and compromise and we in this House will do all we can to assist that process.
I acknowledge that there are more than 40 questions on Northern Ireland on the Order Paper but they have accumulated since before Christmas. There is a need for an opportunity for the Opposition parties to express their support for the joint efforts of the Governments in this difficult period. It would do the process good if the Taoiseach provided time tomorrow to enable the parties to express their views.
I am ready to discuss Northern Ireland at any time if that is the wish of the party leaders. If a debate can be arranged for tomorrow or next week that would be suitable. I was ready to discuss the matter today.
I suggest that the Whips might discuss the matter. There are arguments about the best time to have statements. The Taoiseach will be answering questions on Tuesday and when we have heard from the Taoiseach a debate on the issues might be better prepared. There are other views on the matter and perhaps it would be best if the Whips discussed the arrangements. A debate on this matter needs to be well prepared; we need time to deliberate on what we intend to say so that what we say is meaningful and not simply a routine recitation of often repeated clichés.
It is the intention of Fine Gael to give every support to moving the negotiations forward to deal with the detailed issues which need to be settled. No one should underestimate the extent of the detailed work and negotiations necessary to get a settlement within the deadline. The meat of the negotiations has not been approached yet and it needs to be approached as the Governments have set out in their document.
I urge the Taoiseach to recognise the urgency of dealing with the issue of policing in Northern Ireland. It cannot be postponed to be dealt with at the end of the negotiations. People need protection by a duly constituted police force now. They do not need actions from informal and unauthorised groups attempting to impose their will by illegal means. Will the Taoiseach prioritise the policing issue in his discussions with the British Government and the participants in the talks?
With regard to how the parties in the Oireachtas express their support for the Government's actions, I agree with Deputy De Rossa. It would be appropriate to provide an hour tomorrow morning to exchange views so that before the end of January the parties will have spoken in the House, rather than the leaders of the various parties offering their support through the media. The Dáil must send a loud and clear message of its position on these issues. The Whips should meet to make an arrangement for tomorrow. I understand that tomorrow's business will be the continuation of today's business. With respect to the participants in those debates, an hour or more could be found in the morning to facilitate Members in expressing their views and in offering support and encouragement to the democratic parties engaged in the talks.
There would appear to be agreement that the Whips should meet.
When does the Government intend to publish the local government funding legislation? Does the Government intend to provide for the two 3 per cent increases in motor tax in less than a year in that Bill or will there be separate legislation for that measure?
Who is going to fill the potholes?
It is hoped to publish that Bill in about 10 days.
Will there be further legislation for the first of the 3 per cent increases?
The Deputy should await the Bill.
The Minister indicated that there would be legislation. Can the Taoiseach confirm that? Did the Minister not talk to the Taoiseach about it?
Let us await the Bill.
With regard to the published wording of the referendum on the Amsterdam Treaty, does the Taoiseach agree that the proposal to put two questions in the form of one question in the referendum is a serious mistake which will lead to confusion among the voters? Does he not agree that there should be two questions? Will he indicate when he proposes to bring that legislation before the House?
The Deputy's last question is in order but the other matters will be appropriate to the debate on the Bill.
It would be worth the Taoiseach's considering them before he brought the Bill before the House.
The Deputy has made his point. We cannot discuss the contents of a Bill on the Order of Business, only its timing.
With the agreement of the Whips, the Bill will be before the House next week.
On more than one occasion during the last session the Taoiseach promised the Broadcasting Bill for early February 1998. On another occasion he said that the Bill would include proposals for discussion on digitalisation. I note that it is now on the "also ran" list of legislation. The Wildlife (Amendment) Bill has had a similar fate, despite the fact that we are in breach of European law because a number of EU directives depend on the support of the Bill. It was promised for not later than the 1 March 1998. In addition, a small raft of Bills, including Bille na Gaeilge and legislation on architectural heritage, national parks and television coverage of major sporting events, is also joining the "also ran" list.
The Deputy would not make it on that list.
Deputy Callely is trying to offer an informed comment.
(Interruptions.)
It was Deputy Lawlor.
I apologise to Deputy Callely. Much depends on the fate of the Broadcasting Bill because it will provide for discussion on matters such as digitalisation. When I left office heads of legislation were ready for the Bill. In addition, the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill was ready and it was suggested to me that the other legislation I mentioned could be prepared in the same length of time it takes to make a wet day's journey from County Clare. However, none of them is promised this side of Easter. When will the Broadcasting Bill be published so that we may discuss digitalisation and when will the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill, which will legalise EU directives, be introduced?
The Deputy is correct to say I indicated that the Broadcasting Bill would be ready this spring. However, that is no longer the case because much more detailed work is required on the Bill. While I do not want to argue with the Deputy on how much work was done when he left Government, the advancements in technology with which he would have been familiar have meant that what was stated a year ago is different from what is being stated now.
Recently, I have been briefed on this area. Given the extent of digitalisation and the pace of technological advancement, it is better that the Bill is drafted correctly for the 21st century rather than rushing it through. The Minister and her officials are engaged in far more elaborate discussions to ensure that the legislation will be in order. In view of this, it will not be introduced until later this year.
I am grateful to the Taoiseach for his information. Will the legislative proposals on digitalisation be within the Broadcasting Bill and not within other legislation that may be introduced in the meantime? I understand that there is pressure from the EU Commission regarding the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill. What is the position on this legislation?
The issue of digitalisation and other advancements are delaying the Bill. Perhaps the Deputy would table a question to the Minister for Public Enterprise regarding the handling of digitalisation. The heads are agreed for the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill.
Has the Minister for Health reached a conclusion regarding the allocation of a much needed cardiac surgical unit for University College Hospital, Galway?
That is not relevant to the Order of Business.
It has been promised several times.
It is not promised legislation.
It is a very important matter for the 1,600 people on the waiting list.
The Traveller Accommodation Bill was to have been introduced before Christmas. At that time, the Taoiseach indicated that some difficulty had arisen regarding the Bill. Has it been resolved and when will the Bill be published?
The outstanding matters have been resolved and the Bill will be published in February.
The Government promised the House on a number of occasions to provide time to debate Partnership for Peace. Will the Taoiseach ensure that a debate takes place in the near future and in advance of a referendum on the Amsterdam Treaty?
That is not a matter for the Order of Business.
I have previously raised the matter on the Order of Business and was promised a debate on two occasions. I ask the Taoiseach to ensure that a debate takes place in the near future.
Will the Government provide time to discuss the disturbing revelations that the fourth largest bank in the State may have been involved in selling a product, at least one of the purposes of which seems to be——
That is not a matter for the Order of Business; it is not promised legislation.
It is a very important matter.
Does anybody know anything about it?
It will arise on the Adjournment.
A five minute discussion on the Adjournment does not make up for a full debate.
The Deputy cannot preempt the discussion on the Adjournment.
The matter has been in the public arena for five days——
The Order of Business is not the appropriate place to discuss the matter.
While this is not a question on legislation, I wish to inform the Deputy that both the Central Bank and the Revenue Commissioners are now involved in examining this matter.
(Dublin West): Has the Taoiseach any promised legislation to address the disgusting situation which arose before Christmas whereby building workers are now routinely sacked and expelled from building sites——
That matter is not appropriate to the Order of Business.
(Dublin West): It is extremely cowardly——
The Deputy should raise the matter in an orderly, not a disorderly, way. In any event, the question is on the Order Paper.
Will the Telecommunications Bill deal with the problem of telecommunications masts?
Questions on the content of legislation are not in order on the Order of Business.
The Taoiseach indicated before Christmas that the problem would be dealt with in this way. Will he confirm the position?
The content of a Bill is not a matter for discussion or question on the Order of Business.
Will the Taoiseach talk to his colleague, the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, about the effect of herring prices on the finances of fishermen, which have been further compounded by a spell of bad weather? Will he respond with more than a fig leaf of a herring task force which is a monument to inactivity? Will he do something about the matter?
That question is not in order on the Order of Business. The Deputy should table a parliamentary question.
With regard to the Referendum Bill, is the proposed sum of £2.5 million for a public information campaign on the Amsterdam Treaty to be made available from already voted money or will a Supplementary Estimate be necessary? Is it expected that the full amount will be expended by the commission to be established or is that an indicative figure?
The sum of £2.5 million is additional money. I am sure the Minister of Finance hopes that it will not all be expended. It will not be compulsory to spend all of it.
The Green Party welcomes the provision of time for an early debate on Northern Ireland, especially in view of the operation of prisons there. I am concerned at the delay in bringing forward the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill, the Youth Work (Amendment) Bill and the Mental Health Bill. When will those Bills will be published?
The Youth Work Bill is to be ready in mid-year; that is the latest position from the draftsman. The Mental Health Bill is expected to be ready in mid-year also.