Death of Former Member. - Order of Business.
In relation to the resumption of the budget debate, I should like to ask the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance if the House will have the benefit of the revised Estimate for current expenditure which always precedes the budget debate. I should like to underline the fact that the budget debate follows, in the normal sequence, the presentation of Estimates by the Government to the House. The budget debate is informed by the Estimates presented to the House in the various areas. We now find ourselves in the position of having a debate on the budget——
Comment on this
I am raising a point of order. We now find ourselves having a debate on the budget without having any knowledge as to the extent of the cuts in current expenditure to which the Minister made a passing reference in his Budget Statement. That cannot be in accordance with proper parliamentary procedure and it does not allow the House to debate the issue.
Comment on this
As the House will be aware, some significant changes were made in the Estimates in the course of the budget. Full details of these were given in the associated documentation; and we went to considerable trouble to ensure that this was as full as possible so that the House would be in a position to address itself not merely to the original Estimates put forward but to the changes which we had introduced on both the capital and current side. The revised Book of Estimates in its final form will be published, but I cannot give the Deputy a date for it. I am satisfied that the House has before it the necessary information to be able to take a view both of the original Estimates and of the changes made in the budget.
Comment on this
I should like to ask a question arising out of what the Taoiseach said. The Taoiseach has based his case on the fact that full details of the reductions have been given to the House. If that was so we would not have any complaint, but the fact is we have not full details.
Comment on this
The Chair feels that the Deputy could make that point, or get somebody to make it for him, in the budget debate.
Comment on this
I do not think this could be looked upon as a Committee Stage debate. I wish to draw the Chair's attention to the fact that the normal sequence of debate on these issues is the presentation of the Book of Estimates, followed by the budget debate and later by the Finance Bill. We are being asked to debate the budget without having details of the Estimates.
Comment on this
That is a valid point to make in the course of the budget debate and I am not going to allow the Deputy proceed on those lines now. The Deputy has all afternoon to have the matter raised.
Comment on this
The Deputy has made his point and he has been answered by the Taoiseach. The Deputy may not be satisfied with the answer he got and he can elaborate the point during the debate.
Comment on this
If the Taoiseach regards a one page summary as details of Estimates, it is a disgrace.
Comment on this
The Chair will remember that the Government were to bring in the Estimates in September. We were told they were to be published in September.
Comment on this
In view of the fact that the Chair decided not to allow my Private Notice Question on the Cobalt Unit having been dismantled, and the urgency to sanction accommodation for new equipment at the hospital——
Comment on this
There is no question of abusing the procedure of the House. I am asking permission to raise the subject matter of the Private Notice Question on the Adjournment.
Comment on this
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the matter of the failure of millers and merchants to allow farmers the full value of the vouchers issued by the Minister. In some cases only one-third of the value is being allowed.
Comment on this
Again, I am requesting permission to raise on the Adjournment the matter of the recent leakage from Sellafield.
Comment on this
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the proposed withdrawal of the dialysis service from Letterkenny and Sligo General Hospitals.
Comment on this
I wish to ask the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism if he is aware of the serious position in Bailieboro Creamery and if he will make a statement on the steps he intends taking——
Comment on this
In the knowledge that the Government have the responsibility for ordering business in the House, can the Taoiseach say when the remaining Stages of the Free Ports Bill will be taken in order to allow for the making of regulations for this port facility which was promised almost two years ago?
Comment on this
What is the explanation for what appears to be an unreasonable delay in proceeding with this legislation?