It is proposed to take business in the following order: No. 24 and in No. 24, Votes 27, 48 and 48. Questions will be taken at 2.30 p.m. until they conclude or, if they do not conclude, until 5 p.m.

On the Order of Business, could I ask the Taoiseach if he intends to make any statement on the action of the British Parliament yesterday in attempting to legalise the illegal activities of the British Army in the Six Counties over the past six months?

I do not intend to make a statement now. I am asking the Attorney General to let me have his observations on the implications of that legislation.

The Taoiseach will agree that it is a serious development when retrospective legislation of this nature is introduced. One would expect it from Stormont but the seriousness of it is that this undemocratic behaviour has now shifted to what is allegedly called the "Mother of Parliaments". Would the Taoiseach agree with that?

The retrospective nature of the legislation is naturally a cause of some concern. The fact that it now appears that many of the activities of the British Army in the North in the past two years have been illegal will be an important factor, I believe, in the presentation of the case we are bringing before the Commission on Human Rights.

I propose to raise a subject which I believe to be a matter of life and death. It concerns a detainee in Mountjoy jail, Alphonsus Ryan from Waterford. Is the House and the Taoiseach aware that this man is on hunger strike?

The matter cannot be discussed now. The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.