It is proposed to take Nos. 1 and 11. It is also proposed that business shall be interrupted at 10.30 p.m. It is further proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Minister for Finance shall be called on not later than 6.45 p.m. to reply to the debate on the Second Stage of No. 1 and the proceedings thereon shall be brought to a conclusion not later than 7 p.m. Private Members' Business shall be No. 33, motion No. 34.

It is very difficult to hear the Taoiseach.

Is the proposal that business be interrupted at 10.30 tonight agreed?

It is not agreed. Let me suggest that the House sit until midnight and that the extra time available be given over to discussing this dispute which has the country in chaos. I therefore propose an amendment to the Order of Business.

Would the Taoiseach like to respond?

The Ceann Comhairle has already announced that he is taking it as an Adjournment item tonight.

That is only five minutes.

It warrants something longer than the Adjournment debate. They have to face up to their responsibilities.

In seconding Deputy Spring's proposal——

There is no need for a seconder.

——as one who was successful in getting the Adjournment debate on it, I put it to you, a Cheann Comhairle, that a five minute debate during which we will not have an opportunity to question the Minister is not adequate to deal with this problem.

The Taoiseach should at least consider the proposal.

I also support the request as one who attempted to put a question on this matter which demands urgent attention from the Government to deal with this crisis.

It will be dealt with tonight on the Adjournment.

It will not be dealt with. The Adjournment debate is not the way to do it. The Government should respond.

In a situation where the President of the Cork Chamber of Commerce is asking for the Army to intervene, is it now high time for the Taoiseach to do something? Is the next step to be martial law and curfew?

Are the proposals for dealing with item No. 1, Financial Transactions of Certain Companies and Other Bodies Bill, 1992, agreed? Agreed.

Last October the Government promised to introduce during that session — in other words, before Christmas — legislation to provide for the confiscation of the proceeds of crime and to give effect to international agreements in regard to drug trafficking and money laundering. The Government again promised to introduce that legislation during the Christmas to Easter session but failed to do so. Will the Taoiseach state when the Government propose to introduce legislation to govern the confiscation of the proceeds of crime in view of the fact that present penalties, mainly imprisonment, cost the taxpayer up to £600 per week?

The text of the Bill is almost ready.

When is the Bill likely to be introduced?

It is expected to be introduced in this session.

I seek information from the Taoiseach in relation to a question which he passed on to the Minister for Justice. It related to a subcommittee of the Cabinet who are meeting to examine the implications of the X case. When will that subcommittee report to the Cabinet so that the Taoiseach may make their findings known?

The question is down to the Minister for Justice, who chairs the subcommittee, and I have no doubt it will be answered at the appropriate time.

Will the Taoiseach agree that, as he has responsibility as chairman of the Cabinet, the subcommittee will have to report to him?

Deputy Spring will appreciate that that matter does not arise on the Order of Business.

It arose just now.

It should not have arisen.

We got to open waters.

Will the Taoiseach state when the promised committee on foreign affairs will be established, particularly in view of the implications of the statements he made outside this House in relation to Ireland's position in regard to defence internationally? If it is not possible to establish his committee before the Maastricht Referendum will the Taoiseach indicate whether he will enable a debate to take place on the defence implications?

As a question on that committee escaped to the Order of Business, I suppose one must accept that an answer should be given.

This matter is still being discussed by the Whips and I hope they will reach agreement this week.

Will the Taoiseach give details of the debate this week on the decisions as a result of the outcome of the talks and reform of the Common Agricultural Policy?

The Whips are discussing the matter at present to try to agree a suitable time.

Will he let me know the result as soon as possible? I raised an issue at Question Time with the Ceann Comhairle but it is more appropriate to raise it when the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance — who is in charge of the Office of Public Works — are present. Whatever air conditioning system there was in this House no longer exists and conditions are quickly deteriorating. Something should be done to rectify this very unsatisfactory situation; could we have a promise in that regard? We are still in the very early days of summer——

In so far as the general atmosphere can affect the Order of Business, I suppose it is relevant——

The whole country is deteriorating.

Appropriate inquiries will be made.

Will the Taoiseach give an undertaking that remedial action will be taken to improve the situation?

Will the Taoiseach state when the Colleges Bill will be taken? He said it would be taken at the end of the month, which is this week.

It will definitely be taken within the next couple of weeks.

In regard to promised legislation, is the Taoiseach aware that a number of passports are lost in the post and that people are being asked to pay £45 for a replacement passport?

Tá tú as ordú. There is no legislation promised in this regard.

It is obviously a laughing matter for the Government.

There are numerous other ways in which Deputy Kenny can raise that matter but it does not arise now.

Arising from the response to Deputy Deasy's request, will the Taoiseach consider tomorrow evening, at the end of sitting time, for the special debate on agriculture? It would be an appropriate time if agreement could be reached.

That is not in order.

A number of defects have been found in the Companies Bill and the Minister for Industry and Commerce undertook to introduce legislation to correct them. Will the Taoiseach say when we may expect those amendments?

I will check with the Minister for Industry and Commerce and report back to the Deputy.

I wish to ask you, Sir, as Leas-Cheann Comhairle, with overall responsibility for the Houses of the Oireachtas, for guidance. I put down a question to the Taoiseach asking if new committees of the House would be staffed by officials attached to the Houses of the Oireachtas to ensure independence from Government Departments, which was a perfectly reasonable question. However, it has been transferred to the Minister for Finance. This is a policy matter and one for the Taoiseach——

Deputy Barrett, you——

I do not want to get into conflict.

You are not entitled to get into conflict when you are out of order. The Deputy will get ample guidance from the office of the Ceann Comhairle in regard to that matter. It is not appropriate to the Order of Business no matter how important it is.

It is very appropriate to the setting up of committees.

It is not appropriate to the Order of Business.

There is another question on the right to travel.

I should like to ask the Taoiseach a question in relation to a promised decision of the Government concerning votes for emigrants, dealt with in the Programme for Government. I have questioned the Taoiseach about this on several occasions. Will a decision in relation to legislation be taken in time to enable Irish emigrants living in Europe to have a vote in the Maastricht referendum, as will all other citizens of European countries that are holding a vote?

Deputy McCartan, I am sure you realise that this does not involve promised legislation in the normal sense that we attach to legislation promised.

I accept that you have a view on that and I must be bound by your view. May I merely say that questions in this regard were allowed previously and were dealt with by the Government? The issue I am trying to deal with is the urgency of recognising that the vast number of Irish citizens who are living——

The Deputy cannot embark upon a speech.

I am not.

The Deputy gives me the impression that he understands he is not in order.

I do not understand. I understood from the Ceann Comhairle subsequent to our last intervention on this matter that questions in relation to promises or proposals contained in the Programme for Government as circulated are matters that can be raised on the Order of Business.

So far as I am concerned, they are not in order. If I discover that I have made a mistake, I shall notify the Deputy.

So that we are not at a difference on this issue again, I should like to have the matter clarified. Subsequent to our last intervention on this matter the Ceann Comhairle did allow questions and they were not answered by the Government.

I shall get advice on the matter, as I have indicated.

It is very frustrating to come into the House and have the issue blow hot or blow cold, depending on who is in the Chair.

The frustration does not reside on that side of the House all of the time. There is a certain frustration here, too. It is not a one-arm bandit frustration. If I discover that I have given a wrong decision, Deputy McCartan, I shall notify you.

I accept that. In view of the fact that the referendum on the ratification of the Maastricht Treaty is impending and all Irish emigrants who are in Europe should have a right to a vote——

Deputy McCartan will now allow us to proceed to item No. 1 on today's Order Paper.