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Dáil Éireann - Volume 351 - 19 June, 1984 Order of Business. The Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald The Taoiseach: It is proposed to take Nos. 7, 8 and 9. By agreement, the Dáil shall sit later than 9 p.m. today and not later than 12.30 a.m. The hour at which business shall be interrupted shall be 12 midnight. By agreement also business shall be interrupted at 8.30 p.m. to take No. 9 if it has not been reached earlier. Private Members' Business will be No. 60. Mr. Leyden Mr. Leyden Mr. Leyden: Can the Taoiseach tell us what is the position regarding the Local Radio Bill which he promised on 22 March last to bring to the House before the Summer Recess? The Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald The Taoiseach: The Local Radio Bill is almost ready. It is one of two Bills dealing with broadcasting. The other is the Broadcasting (Wireless and Telegraphy) Bill. It is intended to introduce both Bills together. The latter Bill will deal with illegal broadcasting. Mr. Leyden Mr. Leyden Mr. Leyden: Will the Bill be introduced before the Summer Recess as was promised in the House by the Taoiseach on 22 March last and as reported in the Official Report for that day? The Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald The Taoiseach: That will depend on arrangements between the Whips. Mr. G. Collins Mr. G. Collins Mr. G. Collins: Permission is not needed to introduce Bills. Mr. Leyden Mr. Leyden Mr. Leyden: Is this not a matter about which the Tánaiste and the Minister for Communications are in communication? Is there not a major dispute in the Cabinet regarding the content of the Bill? The Government are afraid to bring it in. They are afraid that to do so will result in the breaking up of the Coalition. The Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald 1091 [1091] The Taoiseach: There is no major dispute in the Cabinet. We do not have the kind of problems the Opposition have in trying to throw people out. (Interruptions.) The Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald The Taoiseach: We sort matters out together amicably. An Ceann Comhairle Thomas J. (Cavan) Fitzpatrick An Ceann Comhairle: I am calling Deputy Farrelly. Mr. Leyden Mr. Leyden Mr. Leyden: The reply is totally inadequate. The Taoiseach misled the House on 22 March or, in other words, he lied to the House. An Ceann Comhairle Thomas J. (Cavan) Fitzpatrick An Ceann Comhairle: Deputy Leyden will withdraw that remark without reservation. Mr. Leyden Mr. Leyden Mr. Leyden: I shall refer to the statement. An Ceann Comhairle Thomas J. (Cavan) Fitzpatrick An Ceann Comhairle: I am asking the Deputy to withdraw without reservation the statement that the Taoiseach lied to the House. Mr. Leyden Mr. Leyden Mr. Leyden: On 22 March last the Taoiseach stated in reply to a question here that the Bill was with the draftsman and would be before the House prior to the Summer Recess. If he can honour that promise he was not lying but if he cannot honour it, he was lying. An Ceann Comhairle Thomas J. (Cavan) Fitzpatrick An Ceann Comhairle: Again, I am asking the Deputy to withdraw the statement that the Taoiseach lied to the House. I am asking the Deputy to resume his seat. I will not have any argument on this matter. If he does not withdraw the remark I shall ask him to leave the House. Mr. Leyden Mr. Leyden Mr. Leyden: The Taoiseach has in his power—— An Ceann Comhairle Thomas J. (Cavan) Fitzpatrick An Ceann Comhairle: I will not have argument from the Deputy. I am asking him either to withdraw the statement or to leave the House. Mr. Leyden Mr. Leyden 1092 [1092] Mr. Leyden: I withdraw the remark on the basis of the statement made by the Taoiseach now. An Ceann Comhairle Thomas J. (Cavan) Fitzpatrick An Ceann Comhairle: I am asking the Deputy to resume his seat and to withdraw the statement that the Taoiseach lied to the House. Mr. G. Collins Mr. G. Collins Mr. G. Collins: He has withdrawn it. An Ceann Comhairle Thomas J. (Cavan) Fitzpatrick An Ceann Comhairle: If he does not withdraw the statement now, he must leave the House. I am asking him to withdraw the statement without qualification. This is a serious matter. Mr. R. Burke Mr. R. Burke Mr. R. Burke: He has withdrawn the statement. Mr. G. Collins Mr. G. Collins Mr. G. Collins: But the Chair is not prepared to listen. Mr. Molloy Mr. Molloy Mr. Molloy: Perhaps the Taoiseach would tell us what he meant. An Ceann Comhairle Thomas J. (Cavan) Fitzpatrick An Ceann Comhairle: The Chair did not hear Deputy Leyden withdraw the statement. Perhaps that was due to the interruptions. Therefore, I am asking him now to confirm that he has withdrawn the remark. Otherwise, he must leave the House. Mr. Leyden Mr. Leyden Mr. Leyden: I confirm that I have withdrawn the remark. Mr. Haughey Mr. Haughey Mr. Haughey: Perhaps the Chair would advise us on what parliamentary term would be appropriate for a situation in which the Taoiseach, having given a solemn assurance to the House in March, is not fulfilling that assurance. An Ceann Comhairle Thomas J. (Cavan) Fitzpatrick An Ceann Comhairle: The Deputy will be aware from his last experience in the House that the Chair does not offer advice of that sort. Mr. Haughey Mr. Haughey Mr. Haughey: Would the term, “misled the House” be parliamentary? Mr. Dukes Mr. Dukes Mr. Dukes: Jumping the gun might be a better phrase to use. An Ceann Comhairle Thomas J. (Cavan) Fitzpatrick 1093 [1093] An Ceann Comhairle: The Chair is not prepared to enter into any sort of option or any sort of bargain with Deputy Haughey. Mr. Haughey Mr. Haughey Mr. Haughey: But would the term, “misled the House” be appropriate? An Ceann Comhairle Thomas J. (Cavan) Fitzpatrick An Ceann Comhairle: The Chair does not propose to give any such advice. Mr. Haughey Mr. Haughey Mr. Haughey: If I used that phrase, would you ask me to leave? I am accusing the Taoiseach of misleading the House. The Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald The Taoiseach: Is the Deputy's remark in order? An Ceann Comhairle Thomas J. (Cavan) Fitzpatrick An Ceann Comhairle: I have not ruled it out of order. The Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald The Taoiseach: I have told the House that the Bill is almost ready. It is a matter for the Whips to discuss the possibility of introducing it in this session. Mr. Lenihan Mr. Lenihan Mr. Lenihan: This has nothing to do with the Whips. It is a question of the introduction of a Bill by the Government. The Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald The Taoiseach: It is a matter for the Whips. Mr. Farrelly Mr. Farrelly Mr. Farrelly: I should like to raise on the Adjournment the question of the continuous dumping on the Irish market of Spanish plasterboard since this could have serious effects on the jobs at Gypsum Industries Limited. An Ceann Comhairle Thomas J. (Cavan) Fitzpatrick An Ceann Comhairle: The Chair will communicate with the Deputy. Mr. Manning Mr. Manning Mr. Manning: When is it proposed to take motion No. 6 which deals with postal voting and the referral of the Bill to the Joint Committee on Legislation? The Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald The Taoiseach: It is proposed to introduce the motion before the recess, subject to agreement between the Whips. Mr. Taylor Mr. Taylor 1094 Mr. Taylor: I should like to raise on the Adjournment the matter of the crisis [1094] that has arisen in relation to itinerant resettlement in Tallaght. An Ceann Comhairle Thomas J. (Cavan) Fitzpatrick An Ceann Comhairle: The Chair will communicate with the Deputy. Dáil Éireann 351 Order of Business. General Debate 19840619
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