It is proposed to take Nos. 6 and 3. By agreement, the proceedings will be interrupted at 3.30 p.m. to take No. 3.

In view of the reported negative outcome of the meeting between the Government and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions regarding the future of Clondalkin Paper Mills and because of the continuing hunger strike and the risk to life obviously developing there, would the Taoiseach not now make a commitment to the House regarding the future of the plant and the jobs at it?

I have thought about this and similar matters. There are other avenues through which the Deputy can raise this matter, but an appropriate avenue is not attempting to raise it in the House on the Order of Business by way of an impromptu question.

While there may be other avenues, does the Ceann Comhairle not appreciate the urgency of the situation in view of the fact that we will not, as a Dáil be meeting again until next Tuesday, when four or perhaps five more days will have elapsed? Obviously, that is a very serious situation while people are on hunger strike.

There are avenues which the Deputy can explore, through which he can seek to raise the matter during the day.

Do I take it from that that I shall be allowed a Private Notice Question?

The Chair has not said so. The Chair has said that there are avenues that the Deputy can explore.

I take it that the Chair will give it sympathetic consideration?

The Chair will seriously consider any matter which is put before him in an orderly way.

(Clare): I ask the Taoiseach, even at this late hour, to change the decision regarding the participation of the Defence Forces on next Sunday at the Remembrance Day——

Deputy Barrett, please.

(Clare): At least, would he consider the position of leading ex-generals and chief of staff who have to be considered?

Please, Deputy. That is certainly not in order.

Is the Deputy calling for the resignation of the Minister for Justice?

Is there any information that the Minister for Justice would like to give to the House in relation to the grave situation in Mountjoy Prison?

Would the Deputy like him to resign?

The answer which I gave to your colleague, Deputy Gene Fitzgerald, equally applies to that request.

The Chair does agree that it is a very serious security situation and I am only asking that the Minister be given an opportunity——

I know that it is so serious that it certainly is inappropriate to try to raise it by way of an impromptu question here. Deputy De Rossa.

May I ask the Taoiseach when the Estimates will be available to the House?

I cannot be precise, but it will be in some weeks' time.

A long way from September.

The Taoiseach answers what suits him and will not answer the other questions.

I have never refused to answer a question which is in order.

Why did the Taoiseach answer that question? Was that in order?

It was in order.

Of course, it is in order. The Chair will decide what is in order and what is not in order.

The Estimates are on the Order of Business.

Order, please. Deputy Gene Fitzgerald.

Thank you, a Cheann Comhairle. Might I ask the Taoiseach when the promised legislation amending the Unfair Dismissals Act and the Employment Appeals Tribunal will be before the House?

Next session.

Is the Taoiseach now aware that there is a national call for a debate on the super-levy?

Please, Deputy Byrne.

No, no, a Cheann Comhairle. Please.

Do not "please" the Chair.

This is a very serious issue and we have been asking for this for days on end.

Deputy Byrne will resume his seat.

Everyone in the nation has now joined the call.

When the Chair stands, the Deputy should resume his seat. This matter was raised yesterday at some length and with some consequences. There are various ways of raising it in an orderly and effective way. I invite Deputy Byrne to consider them. Item No. 6.

Tell us about your plans for the development of the European Community.

It is my intention to be very orderly, indeed. However, because of the seriousness of the situation I ask the Taoiseach at this stage to give Government time for us to debate the matter.

Deputy Byrne can approach that in another way.

I am asking for Government time. That is all.

I am asking a serious question. Is it not in order on the Order of Business to ask the Taoiseach will he allocate Government time for any particular proposal?

And to allow him to answer it.

Deputy Haughey knows, and nobody knows better, that this form of asking for Government time is being used to make speeches. If I allow a Member of the House to make a speech in asking a question, I cannot in all reasonableness refuse to allow the appropriate Minister to reply and then we will have a debate.

I accept that, a Cheann Comhairle. However, if Deputy H. Byrne were just to confine himself to asking the Taoiseach, in view of——

That is precisely what I did.

——the urgency of the situation, would that be in order?

Invariably, Deputy Haughey, there is a long preamble to these questions.

Oh, well.

I am simply asking if the Taoiseach will allow the Government time for a debate on the super-levy because of its seriousness.

The matter can be discussed through the Whips. As far as I am aware, despite the many public attempts in the House, the matter has not been raised with the Whips.

I would like to ask the Government when they intend to restore the farm modernisation scheme.

The Deputy should not try to raise this on the Order of Business.

That question is surely in order.

On a point of order, I would like to inform the House that the Whips are at present discussing the possibility of time on the super-levy.

The Taoiseach was not correct when he said——

Then it was unnecessary to raise the matter here this morning.