Haughey, Charles J.Tuesday, 19 February 1991 |
Dáil Éireann Debate
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Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Use of Government Buildings.
Was asked: if he will make a statement on (a) the holding of dinner functions for party political purposes in Government Buildings and (b) the funding of such events.
The rules and practice for the use of Government Buildings are based on those applying to Government property generally: official visits or hospitality involving Government business are paid for by th...
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - National Honours Recognition.
Was asked: if, having regard to his replies to parliamentary questions on 2 February 1988, 12 April 1989 and 14 November 1989 in relation to an honours list-order of merit system, he will agree that the time is ...
As I indicated to the House on 1 May last in response to questions, I would favour the introduction of an honours system and I would be prepared to talk to the parties in the House about the idea if t...
It is, in effect, an invitation but I would hope that there would be some general agreement that we could make progress.
If I went to Deputy Bruton with specific proposals he would say I was pre-empting the whole thing and not having all party agreement. I think it would be much wiser for us to meet to have a discussio...
Thank you.
We will do it as soon as possible, but I would not like to undertake any major initiative of that kind until after the Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - St. Patrick's Day Visits Abroad.
Was asked: the guidelines which have been adopted with regard to Ministers of the Government travelling overseas to participate in St. Patrick's Day activities, particularly in relation to payment of their trave...
Was asked: if he has any plans to visit the United States for St. Patrick's Day.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 4 together. I will be celebrating St. Patrick's Day in this country and while it is too early to give precise details, I expect that the majority of Ministers an...
The plans are not finalised at this stage but, as I said, the majority will be at home. The savage loves his native shore.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - State-sponsored Bodies Appointments.
Was asked: the number of persons appointed by him to boards, committees and State companies since 1987; the breakdown as between female and male; the number of persons whose CVs are currently retained in his Dep...
I propose to circulate in the Official Report the numerical details requested by the Deputy.
There are no particular criteria. First, we have a general wish to secure more suitable women for appointment and, second, each appointment is considered on its merits having regard to the nature of ...
I agree fully and I hope the Deputy will give some credit for the fact that the Government, and their predecessor, retained a number of good people on boards who had been appointed by our predecessors...
Yes. There are a number of aspects of it of course. First, it is not desirable to leave people on boards for too long, no matter which Government appoint them. People are inclined to become institu...
Most of these appointments, practically all of them, are made by the Minister in consultation with the Government and there is a standing incentive by the Government to find suitable women for appoint...
I certainly will but I could not possibly go against overwhelming public views. (Interruptions.)
It would be a revolutionary departure.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Common Agricultural Policy.
Was asked: if he will ask the National Economic and Social Council to conduct a study into the effect on the total Irish economy of the proposals by Commissioner Ray MacSharry to reform the Common Agricultural P...
I do not consider that this would be an appropriate study to ask the National Economic and Social Council to carry out in view of the time-scale involved in the discussion of the agricultural reform p...
I do not disagree with the Deputy totally, but we must not assume anything about the outcome at this stage. It will be a matter for determined and skilful negotiation by the Government to make sure t...
I must repeat that the proposals are still at the initial stages and we cannot really judge any effects or implications they may have until we know precisely their extent and what compensatory measure...
These are all known and we need no further studies in regard to them. However, if any additional information is needed as to their implication, the Deputy can be assured we will take all necessary st...
Two different things are involved here. One is the GATT negotiations and the reform of the CAP in that context, and there is the more long term restructuring of the CAP. It is in that context that w...
No more than has that of the Deputy's party.
Every party in this House, every party in Europe, every Government in Europe, have had to agree to make major changes in the Common Agricultural Policy to deal with the distortions and mountains that ...
I cannot understand why the Deputy should ask me if I do not realise how disproportionate the effects will be for Ireland when I have constantly stated — along with other Members of this House — how ...
I said it as recently as in my contribution to the budget debate here. There is no question about that. It is common knowledge.
The Deputy arrived into the House just a moment ago and is attempting to disrupt what is a serious exchange of views between myself and his party leader. Will he please be quiet?
It is an acknowledged fact, not just in Ireland but in the Commission and indeed in European Councils that the welfare of agriculture is of infinitely greater importance to the Irish economy than to a...
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Government-NESC Meetings.
Was asked: if he will outline (a) the number (b) date (c) method of initiation and (d) purpose of each meeting between members of the Government and the NESC in accordance with paragraph 3 of the body's constitu...
Was asked: his views on whether members of the Government should meet regularly with the NESC as envisaged in the terms of reference of that body.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 8 together. Two formal meetings have taken place between the National Economic and Social Council and members of the Government in the last five years and two oc...
Certainly there has been no request from the NESC for any Minister to come before them or discuss any particular issue with them. As far as the Government are concerned, we are quite satisfied with t...
I do not think the Deputy need try to create some confrontation where none exists: the relationship between the NESC and the Government is absolutely satisfactory. As the Deputy may recall, in order t...
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - National Gallery of Modern Art.
Was asked: the present position in relation to the proposal to establish a National Gallery of Modern Art in accordance with paragraph 9.12 of the White Paper Access and Opportunity.
I announced on 17 November, 1989 the establishment by the Government of the Irish Museum of Modern Art at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham.
The Deputy mystifies me.
It must be a great success when the Deputy is trying pathetically to claim some credit for it.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Film Institute Archive.
Was asked: the present position in relation to the establishment of an Irish National Film Archive.
The Irish Film Institute, an organisation funded by the Arts Council, have for some years past been engaged in locating, acquiring, preserving and cataloguing Irish-made films and films with Irish the...
I could not say that but I think the Irish Film Institute are very happy at the extent of the archive they have been able to compile.
I will, but I do not think it would be a very meaningful statistic.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Annual Presidential Evening.
Was asked: his views on the proposal in paragraph 953 of the White Paper on the arts Access and Opportunity that there be an annual President's evening at the National Concert Hall, to be televised by RTE, featu...
The initiation of any such proposal would be a matter for the board of the National Concert Hall and the RTE Authority.
It is a well established tradition of this House that matters of that kind involving the President and Office of the President are not discussed. If the Deputy would like to make some private suggest...
Yes, but I think the Deputy would agree that it is not desirable and the Ceann Comhairle might chastise us were we to discuss matters involving the President's programme of activities.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Arts Council.
Was asked: if he has any plans to extend the membership or change the terms of reference of the Arts Council in 1991.
This would require legislation and I have no plans to amend the existing legislation.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Elections.
Was asked: if he will issue any necessary advice to Ministers and Ministers of State as to whether they should be candidates in the forthcoming local elections.
Ministers and Ministers of State have already been informed and are well aware of the general principle which applies regarding membership of local authorities. In the circumstances, I do not propos...
I have a very strong view that none of them will.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Procedure for Circulating Documents.
Was asked: if he will establish a clear procedure for the circulation of official documents to Members of the House with a view to ensuring that, where a general circulation is taking place of documents printed ...
I do not see any reason to change the long-established practice for the circulation of documents of this nature.
Yes.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Stardust Memorial.
Was asked: if he will outline his proposals for the construction of a memorial park on Glin Road, Coolock, Dublin 5 in memory of the victims of the Stardust disaster.
Was asked: if he will outline the Government's attitude to the project being sponsored by the Stardust Relations Committee for the creation of a memorial park and complex in memory of the young people who lost t...
I propose to take Question No. 15 and written Question No. 116 together. I have always supported the idea of a suitable memorial to the Stardust victims and a courtyard in Beaumont Hospital has been d...
It would be most inappropriate for the Deputy to start meddling in this way or to attempt to create any form of “aggro” about this matter. I have the best possible relations with the Stardust committ...
It is not a big change. I always said it.
I really wish the Deputy would not start playing politics with this matter.
The Stardust has been a big enough searing tragedy for everybody in that area and the people involved are just beginning to recover their equilibrium and emotional stability. Perhaps the Deputy would...
I cannot give the Deputy too much information about those various matters. The Deputy will know from his experience of the situation that Dublin Corporation are likely to be involved. Perhaps I can ...
I did not say that the committee were extravagant. I did not intend to imply anything of the sort. I just said that the proposals put forward originally, and as they still exist, are of a nature tha...
I am not sure what the gist of it is.
The corporation will have an input into it. If the corporation are prepared to put up the funds there is no problem.
I know.
Everybody knows who it was. It was Attorney General Rogers.
It is not required here this afternoon.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Establishment of New Committees.
Was asked: if the Government intend to propose the establishment of any new committees of the Houses of the Oireachtas.
The appointment of committees is of course a matter for the House. Government proposals in this regard will be brought forward in the normal way.
The Deputy knows exactly the position in regard to the committee on crime. All the arrangements had been made to establish it but at the last minute the Opposition rejected the Government's proposals...
I am afraid so, yes.
The only outstanding matter in that regard is a conversation between the Deputy and myself.
I shall place myself at the Deputy's disposal.
No. Do not draw me out.
Yes, I have received that letter from the Deputy which I am considering and to which I hope to reply. It is, as one would expect, a long letter which deals with a number of matters.
We may disagree about the conciseness of it but I certainly will consider what the Deputy has put forward in that letter. It does not change the basic position in regard to the committee on crime.
I do not wish to dabble or meddle in the internal affairs of the Fine Gael Party, but we all know what happened. In this particular regard fortunately there is a new leader of Fine Gael and we may be...
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Consultancy Services.
Was asked: if he will give a breakdown of the amount of money his Department intend to spend on consultancy services in 1991; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
A sum of £20,000 has been provided in the Estimates for my Department in respect of consultancy services in 1991.
That is only for the National Museum.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Seirbhís Teilifíse trí Ghaeilge.
Was asked: ar caitheadh fós an £500,000 a cuireadh ar fáil ón gcrannchur náisiúnta do Roinn na Gaeltachta i 1987 ar mhaithe le seirbhís teilifíse trí Ghaeilge; murar caitheadh, an bhfuil sé i gceist é a chaithea...
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Car Registrations.
Was asked: the level of new car registrations to date in 1991; and if he will outline the extent to which this represents an increase or decrease on the level of new car registrations in the equivalent period in...
Order of Business.
It is proposed to take No. 8. It is also proposed, subject to the agreement of the House, that the following arrangements shall apply in the case of No. 8: (1) the speech of the Taoiseach shall not e...
I do not wish to get into a wrangle about this. My recollection is that I, as Leader of the Opposition, was subject to time limits the same as everybody else. My speech today is subject to a time li...
I would not accept that for one moment. The simple matter is that there is only one person on this side as party leader while there are three on that side.
The Government recognise that this is very important legislation — it is a major piece of legislation. There is an urgency about it and we are endeavouring to get it before the House as quickly as pos...
If you will allow me to be disorderly, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I understand Deputy Mitchell's anxiety in regard to this matter and he has raised it a number of times. I will make another approach to...
If it is a borderline case — I am not suggesting that it is — and while we should agree to the House consistently accepting your rulings with regard to promised legislation, nevertheless there is some...
May I endeavour to be helpful here? It is my understanding that “promised legislation” has been defined as legislation promised by a Minister in this House during the tenure of this Government.
The Chief Whip publishes a list in an attempt to be helpful to the Opposition parties.
With regard to this contretemps which has arisen over the Minister, Deputy Flynn's statement in reply to 40 questions, I shall endeavour to ensure that whatever legislation is promised in that way is ...
The people know exactly where they stand under this good Government and they are very happy about the steady and consistent programme of law reform being followed by the Government and the very consid...
It will be taken this session.
Certainly.
May I offer another helpful suggestion? The debate we are now about to embark upon on the Programme for Economic and Social Progress offers an opportunity to any Deputy to discuss this matter.
Programme for Economic and Social Progress: Motion.
I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the Programme for Economic and Social Progress. The Dáil debate on the new Programme for Economic and Social Progress provides all parties in the House with the oppo...
Written Answers. - Death of Swans.
Was asked: if he will give details of the press briefing facilities installed in the new Government Buildings such as design, capacity and communication facilities.
The Government Press Centre, which has seating accommodation for 80 people, have the usual facilities provided in such centres. The press work area which is adjacent to the Press Centre will provide s...
Written Answers. - Postal and Courier Services.
Was asked: if his Department use private couriers to deliver departmental correspondence; the courier firms which are currently engaged; and the total amount paid to private courier firms for each year since
The following are the details requested by the Deputy in respect of my Department: Courier Company
Was asked: if he will outline in respect of each year since 1984 the total amount paid by his Department to An Post for all services provided by An Post.
The following lists set out the information requested by the Deputy in respect of moneys paid to An Post by my Departments since 1984.
Written Answers. - Emigrants' Remittances.
Was asked: if there is a figure available for the remittances sent home by emigrants in each of the past ten years.
Emigrants' remittances are by their nature difficult to identify. Estimates are included as part of the international transfers item in the balance of payments statement. A data collection system inv...
Written Answers. - Percentage of Gross National Products.
Was asked: the percentage of the country's gross national products which is represented by agricultural produce originating in this country, and products manufactured from this produce.
The information requested has been approximated using the value added of the agriculture sector together with that of the food, drink and leather sectors of Irish industry which depend mainly on agric...
Written Answers. - Total Workforce.
Was asked: the total workforce in the country; and the percentage of this represented by those engaged in agricultural and allied industries.
An estimated 1,120,000 persons were at work at mid-April 1990 according to provisional estimates from the sample labour force survey carried out in April-May 1990.
Written Answers. - Use of Agricultural Produce.
Was asked: the number of people in this country employed in the manufacturing industry where the raw material is agricultural produce originating in Ireland.
Information from the 1988 Census of Industrial Production shows that 88 per cent of materials used in the food, drink and leather sectors were produced in Ireland. Provisional employment in establish...
Written Answers. - Numbers Employed in Agriculture.
Was asked: the present number of people engaged in agriculture in Ireland on (a) a full-time basis and (b) a part-time basis.
According to the 1987 farm structure sample survey, an estimated 399,700 persons undertook some farmwork in the year ending 31 May 1987. In the following table they are classified according to the ext...
Written Answers. - Imports of Pork and Bacon.
Was asked: the estimated quantities of bacon and pork imported into the country in (i) 1989 and (ii) 1990 from (a) Holland, (b) Denmark and (c) Sweden.
The information requested by the Deputy is as follows. The latest period for which data is available is January to November 1990. Imports of Bacon and Pork (Pigmeat) in 1989 and 1990.
Written Answers. - Milk Production Statistics.
Was asked: the quantities of milk produced in (i) New Zealand, (ii) United States and (iii) the EC, in each year since 1983.
The information is set out in the following table. Milk Production 1983-1989
Written Answers. - Beef/Live Cattle Exports.
Was asked: the value of beef and/or live cattle exports to (i) Iran, (ii) Egypt and (iii) Libya in each year since 1982.
The information requested by the Deputy is given in the following tables. The latest date for which such data is available for 1990 is for the period January to October. Exports of Beef in each year ...
Written Answers. - Imports of Vegetables.
Was asked: the total figure for the import of vegetables in 1990.
Imports of vegetables were valued at £68.2 million in the period January to October 1990, the latest date for which such information is available.
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