It is proposed to take Nos. 12, 16 and 17.

It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that:

1. No. 12 shall be decided without debate.

2. The Dáil shall meet tomorrow at 10.30 a.m. and shall adjourn not later than 4 p.m.

3. Subject to No. 12 being agreed, the Supplementary Estimates to which No. 12 refers shall be taken tomorrow and the following arrangements shall apply:

(a) The Question necessary to bring the proceedings on Vote 21 to a conclusion shall be put not later than 1.30 p.m.

(b) Votes 28 and 29, shall be moved together and shall be brought to a conclusion not later than 4 p.m. by one Question.

(c) Notwithstanding Standing Order 44 a Minister of State may be called on a second time to reply to the debate on Votes 28 and 29.

(d) In each case, the speech of each Member called on shall not exceed 20 minutes and the speech of the Minister or Minister of State replying to the debate shall not exceed ten minutes and

(e) Any division demanded tomorrow shall be postponed until 6.45 p.m. on Wednesday next.

Is the proposal that No. 12 be decided without debate satisfactory? Agreed. Is the proposal for tomorrow's sitting satisfactory? Agreed. Are the proposals for dealing with No. 12 in respect of Votes 21, 28 and 29 agreed? Agreed.

I welcome the Taoiseach back from the Summit and express the hope that he did not find it a bore meeting a Prime Minister whose agenda is obviously so short and whose timescale is so limited. Will he tell the House when the Christmas recess will begin and when we will resume?

I am not sure if this is appropriate now.

These announcements will be made in the normal way in due course.

Does the Taoiseach propose to give specific time to the House next week to report on the meeting with Prime Minister Major?

I have dealt already with that. It is not customary to report on meetings of that kind.

I know that it is not customary, but in view of the outcome of the meeting I was wondering if the Taoiseach was prepared to break with custom. He has not been so constrained in the past. I take it the Taoiseach does not propose to make a specific report.

I would draw the Taoiseach's attention to the fact that statements were made to the House in December 1980 following the last meeting here with a British Prime Minister. Would he not follow that precedent?

We have had an answer to that question.

No teapots were presented this time.

Two tightrope walkers.

Will the Taoiseach confirm that all Stages of the ministerial pensions Bill will be taken before the recess? It has not been printed and is not listed for next week.

I understand that has been agreed by the Whips.

When will it be published and when will it be taken?

I am not sure. It will be published as soon as possible. I understand the taking of it has been agreed by the Whips.

Do the Taoiseach and the Minister for Labour intend to take any steps to resolve the dispute at Dublin port which is leading to chaos?

I am sorry, Deputy. I thought you had something relevant to raise. That matter can be raised at a more appropriate time.

There is chaos in the port of Dublin.

That may be so.

When a Corkman is concerned about Dublin, that is really serious.

Would the Taoiseach clarify the position in relation to No. 8 on today's Order Paper, the B & I Line Bill, copies of which were received by Deputies this morning? The revised management buy-out proposal was received by the Government only yesterday, at 3.30 p.m. Will the Taoiseach confirm that the Government made a decision last night on the sale and that basically the unions have been wasting their time in putting together a deal?

Deputy Yates knows full well the procedure at this time. He may not proceed.

What I am asking——

Please do not show defiance to the Chair.

May I ask——

No, Deputy. You may ask at an appropriate time.

——if the Minister will make a statement to the House today as to who is to buy B & I?

The Deputy is being most disorderly.

Is it to be sold to the Irish Continental Group? Will a full statement be made?

Resume your seat and desist, Deputy, or leave the House.

Will a statement be made? The unions were totally set up.

I call Deputy Howlin.

The Ceann Comhairle has protected the Government again.

That is a disgrace.

Deputy Shatter, you have insulted the Chair many times. You are not getting away with it now. You will withdraw unreservedly that foul imputation or leave the House.

If you allowed Members on this side of the House to raise——

Deputy Shatter, withdraw that remark or leave the House.

Any remark I made which caused you any——

This is disgraceful.

I happily withdraw the remark.

Unreservedly.

I have withdraw the remark, Sir.

On a point of order, is it not in order——

I am not having any point of order——

——for Members on this side of the House——

I am not entertaining a point of order in respect of disorder. I am calling Deputy Howlin.

Is the Taoiseach aware of the commitment given in the House yesterday by the Tánaiste that the local elections for the sub-county tier would go ahead next June?

I said next year.

Nineteen ninety-two.

Will they not take place in June?

I did not say next June; I said next year.

Another load of rubbish.

Can the Minister confirm that the legislative framework to allow them to go ahead next year will be in place?

It is doubtful.

I dealt with that on a number of occasions.

I have indicated that it is the Government's intention to introduce the necessary legislation.

Finally, by way of clarification may I ask the Taoiseach — the Minister for the Environment said that the elections would be held in June — if he can confirm the months next year when the local elections for the sub-county tier will be held.

That is a different question.

We should ask the former Minister for the Environment on the back seat.

Thank you, Alan.

Members should restrain themselves. Deputy Farrelly.

I miss you.

Do not leave the House under any circumstances.

We had a great relationship.

In reply to a parliamentary question from me the Minister for Agriculture and Food informed me that new draft regulations in relation to the 1988 Abattoirs Act would be introduced. May I ask the Taoiseach when those regulations will be introduced?

The Deputy should put down a question on the matter.

I did but I did not get a satisfactory response.

This is not the appropriate time to raise it, Deputy.

Legislation is promised.

Deputy Pádraic McCormack.

Legislation is promised.

If legislation has been promised it can be replied to.

It has been promised.

Will the new Minister step forward?

Deputy Pádraic McCormack.

Can the Deputy have an answer to his question?

That is not the responsibility of the Ceann Comhairle.

It is promised legislation.

It is promised legislation and we are entitled to a response.

If Deputy McCormack does not respond immediately I shall call another Deputy.

I seek you guidance, a Cheann Comhairle, in regard to my Parliamentary Question No. 107 to the Minister for Education yesterday who informed me——

I am sorry, Deputy McCormack, but you may not raise this issue now.

This is a very important matter.

My office will help the Deputy.

This is a very important matter in view of the fact that the Minister of State at the Department of Education——

My office will help you to clarify matters. Deputy Richard Bruton.

——in an article in the Connacht Tribune gave an answer to this question in advance of a reply being given to me in this House. This is happening on a regular basis——

Resume your seat, Deputy.

If I put down a question it is answered in advance in the Connacht Tribune by the Minister of State——

Please, Deputy, resume your seat.

Two different answers are given——

I call Deputy Richard Bruton. Please, Deputy, resume your seat.

I will not tolerate this. The Minister of State said that £2 million would be provided while the Minister said that there can be no funding. They are giving different information. Who is telling the truth?

That is enough of your disorderly conduct, Deputy McCormack. Resume your seat forthwith.

I am satisfied——

For the second time, resume your seat.

I am satisfied that I have exposed this evil plan and I will expose it in the Connacht Tribune this week. There cannot be two answers to the one question.

One is a set-aside answer.

Deputy Richard Bruton.

May I ask the Taoiseach the timescale for the proposed legislation in the mental illness area? The Minister for Health indicated in the House that new legislation is forthcoming. Can the Taoiseach give us an indication as to when we are likely to see that legislation?

Not at this stage.

May I ask the Taoiseach if he will confirm that the Estimates are now being finalised and that it is the Government's intention to publish them mid-week next week?

As I have already undertaken several times in this House, the intention is that the Estimates will be published in order that they may be discussed before the end of this session.

Thank you.