Postal and Telecommunications Services Bill
The Minister said the Bill would return to Committee Stage in the next few weeks with amendments addressing points raised by staff associations and unions, and anticipated agreement in the House. Wilson sought clarity on acceptable amendments; Leyden challenged the Minister over party differences and staff civil-service status, prompting procedural interventions from the Chair and a brief retort from the Minister.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when the Postal and Telecommunications Services Bill will be restored; and when the Committee Stage will be taken.
Comment on this
: It is intended that the Bill will be reintroduced on Committee Stage in the near future.
Comment on this
: How does the Minister interpret "near future"? Does he envisage any substantive amendments other than those mentioned by me at the end of the Second Stage as being acceptable?
Comment on this
: The "near future" I hope will be in the next few weeks. It is intended to introduce a number of amendments to improve the Bill and to meet some of the points raised by staff associations and trade unions.
Comment on this
: Do I take it from what the Minister said that he is accepting the amendments I said were acceptable to me at the end of the Second Stage debate?
Comment on this
: The Deputy should not anticipate a Committee Stage debate, but I can assure him that there will be a great deal of agreement on both sides of this House.
Comment on this
: Is the Minister having any difficulty reconciling the differences between the Fine Gael and Labour Parties in relation to this Bill?
Comment on this
: Is he having difficulty honouring a commitment given by Mr. Peter Prendergast, a well known Fine Gael operator——
Comment on this
: On a point of order: are you deciding whether the Minister will reply to my question?
Comment on this
: I decided that the first two points made by the Deputy were arguments rather than questions.
Comment on this
: I disagree with that. I am asking the Minister whether he can reconcile the differences——
Comment on this
: ——between the Fine Gael and Labour Parties because the Labour Party opposed the Second Stage of this Bill.
Comment on this
: I can assure the Deputy that we will have much less difficulty reconciling the positions of different Members on this side than Fianna Fail——