The Order of Business today shall be No. 11d. ICC Bank Bill, 1999 – Financial Resolution; No. 4, Fisheries (Amendment) Bill, 1999 – Order for Second Stage and Second Stage; and No. 5, Human Rights Commission Bill, 1999 – Order for Second Stage and Second Stage to be taken not later than 1.30 p.m. The Order shall not resume thereafter. It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that No. 11d. should be decided without debate.

There is one proposal to be put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with item No. 11d. agreed? Agreed.

Given that the Dáil will not sit after today until next Tuesday and that the rcently published CSO survey shows that a majority of adults live in fear of crime, can the Taoiseach give a commitment that the policing of the State will be uninterrupted despite the refusal of gardaí to implement PULSE? Can the Taoiseach indicate what is happening today and why the talks with the gardaí did not commence when he knew PULSE was to be introduced in November? I ask the Taoiseach to be aware that there is a risk, because of the uncertainty during this period when gardaí will be using the quill and ink bottle, that court convictions may not stand up. Can the Taoiseach give a commitment regarding the policing of the State?

Deputy Owen is always preaching disaster.

The Deputy is aware that the PULSE negotiations have been quite protracted. She will be aware that recommendations were made previously and that those recommendations were agreed by the Garda representative group and put to their members but that their members rejected them. Discussions have been ongoing and are continuing today. Among the many positive things in the CSO report was the strong support of Irish citizens for the Garda Síochána. That should not be forgotten.

Will the Taoiseach assure the House and the people that there will not be a gap in the policing system because of the impasse created by the lack of administrative control of his Department by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

That is ridiculous and childish.

I do not understand why the talks are beginning only today. It is because of a few radio interviews that the Government is holding talks. Can the Taoiseach give a commitment that policing will continue uninterrupted while the talks are continuing and that all convictions in this period will stand?

This matter is of sufficient public concern for a comprehensive public statement to be made today by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. I suggest that the services of the Labour Relations Commission or of the Labour Court should be availed of sooner rather than later because of the widespread public concern about the collapse of industrial relations in the Garda Síochána.

The Government is continuing to do everything possible to resolve this matter. An enormous amount of taxpayers' money has been invested in the PULSE system. It is an excellent system.

Why is it not working?

It will give policing and the protection of citizens an enormous advantage. It is an outstanding system. The technological developments involved in it are outstanding and I hope it will soon be working.

Negotiations took place and were concluded. Both sides agreed and the recommendations were put and rejected when put to the gardaí.

What did the Taoiseach do then?

The Minister has continued to do everything possible. To say there was a lack of effort or administration by the Minister is nonsense.

Today we will discuss the Fisheries (Amendment) Bill. Yesterday I indicated that I would like to see the elections deferred. I do not now wish to have the elections deferred because the Minister has made concessions to the Opposition and to the fishing interests regarding the contentious aspects of this legislation. I am pleased the Minister did that and we will do everything possible to speed the passage of the Bill through both Houses.

I thank the Deputy for his co-operation.

I am glad the Minister backed down. He got it wrong this time.

At the start of this session the House was promised the publication of 19 Bills. As yet, 12 of those Bills have not been published. As there are now only ten sitting days left and taking out the final day of the session when the President will address the Oireachtas and budget day we are left with eight if not seven sitting days, will the Taoiseach indicate when the remaining Bills on section A will be published?

Will they be published before the Dáil rises?

The legislative programme is well on track and most of the Bills have been published. I hope the remainder will be published. There has been no difficulty with legislation in this session. I hope the remaining Bills will be published before Christmas.

Has the Government any strategy to help sheep farmers?

Questions on strategy are not in order on the Order of Business.

Will the Minister take this up at the Council of Agriculture Ministers meeting—

The Deputy should pursue the matter on another occasion. I call Deputy Rabbitte.

It is a pity this House could not have convened in Roscommon last Saturday evening—

The Deputy should resume his seat as I have called Deputy Rabbitte.

Is it because they are farmers that nobody cares?

The Deputy must resume his seat.

When will the minimum wage Bill be before the House? Will it come before the House before discussions start in earnest on a successor to Partnership 2000?

We hope it will be available before Christmas. That is what I have said to the House. I will let the Deputy know if there is a change to that.

Does the Taoiseach know?

It is meant to be published before Christmas.

We are again hearing, as a result of recent court cases, stories of abuse that took place in residential settings. Is the Taoiseach satisfied that the inspectorate of child care is adequately resourced? Is it intended to put it on a statutory basis, as was promised originally when the inspectorate was being discussed?

Is there promised legislation?

Yes, there was originally.

They are still looking to see if it is necessary to put it on a statutory basis. The inspector of child care service inquiries Bill established a basis to enable inquiries into child abuse and related issues to be published. It probably will not be necessary, but a final decision has not been made yet.

A meeting was held on 22 November between the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the social partners. Some commitments were made in relation to the publication of item 82 on the Order Paper, which is the Private Security Industry Bill. When will that commitment be honoured? When will we see the Bill? In the interim, what contact arrangements have been put in place with the social partners, as promised at that meeting?

Is this promised legislation?

It is. I mentioned this last week. The Bill is to provide for the establishment of a statutory framework for the regulation of the private security industry. Work is in progress in the Department. The heads of the Bill are expected next week. The Bill will be published next year.

The Taoiseach should do the decent thing and accept the Private Members' Bill.

One of the few Bills on the Government's list that was published earlier this year was an intoxicating liquor Bill, which allowed, among other things, for all night drink ing on the eve of the millennium, which I understand was at the behest of the Minister for the millennium, Deputy Seamus Brennan.

He is the Minister for candles.

The millennium bug.

The Minister for joy and fun.

This Bill disappeared following a backbench revolt and has not been seen since. Now that the House has voted confidence in the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, perhaps the Taoiseach might ask the Minister what the situation will be in regard to legislation on intoxicating liquor. Will the country be drinking all night on the millennium—

We cannot discuss the contents of the Bill.

—or is the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform about to do another U-turn?

People can drink at home all night.

Spirits will be high.

I call the Taoiseach on the promised legislation, not on the contents. Order, please.

There will be a short Bill before Christmas which will allow—

Who will be picking up the bill?

Order, please.

—some extension of the drinking-up time. I know the Deputy was pressing hard for some of this legislation earlier. However, I am sure he has noted that most publicans are closing at 7 p.m. on new year's eve.

Will the Taoiseach provide time for a debate on—

That is a matter for the Whips.

—the report of the inspector of mental hospitals.

That is not a matter for the Order of Business.

I hope the Government will accede to that request. Will the Taoiseach comment on the outrageous and insulting remarks of Judge Desmond Windle—

That is not a matter for the Order of Business.

—when he said that the—

He was appointed by the Deputy's party.

That is not a matter for the Order of Business.

The Government gave a commitment in its renegotiated programme for Government to have additional taxis in place by Christmas. Perhaps when the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, has recovered from her humiliation at the hands of Fianna Fáil she might put her mind to this issue, which is Progressive Democrats policy and something for which we have been asking.

That is if she has not been sent home in a taxi.

Will the Government bring in a regulation to, at least, allow hackneys use bus lanes over Christmas? Where are the extra taxis? It is exactly one calendar month from Christmas Day?

That is a matter for Question Time.

Where are the additional taxis the Taoiseach promised? It was a renegotiated promise and it may need legislation.

Where are the taxis of the Minister, Deputy O'Rourke?

They are not my taxis.

There is no promised legislation. I call Deputy Gilmore.

Will the Minister for the millennium be sending candles around by taxi for Christmas?

There are not enough of them.

There was a very disturbing report yesterday from the Environmental Protection Agency on the deteriorating quality of drinking water.

That matter was raised yesterday.

I have a different question on it today.

I hope it is on promised legislation.

Will the Taoiseach make time available in the House for a discussion—

Making time available is a matter for the Whips.

I asked the Taoiseach a question in the House yesterday, to which he failed to reply, and I will ask it again. When will the valuations Bill be published? Will it include the rating of small family-owned bed and breakfast accommodation?

That is not a matter for the Order of Business.

When will the Bill be published?

Early next year.

The Government will be awfully busy in the new year.

Is it possible to produce a short Bill, such as the one for intoxicating liquor, to ensure pig farmers will be paid what the Minister has agreed—

That is not promised legislation. I call Deputy Joe Higgins.

It could be very important legislation for pig farmers.

Well done.

(Dublin West): There is no let up in the rack-renting by private landlords, with the cost of rented accommodation continuing to rise to obscene levels, without security of tenure. The Taoiseach promised on the Order of Business on a number of occasions a commission on this matter. Will he bring forward the report of that commission quickly, so that people in private rented accommodation can have protection from the rack-renting landlords and have security of tenure?

Will the Taoiseach be calling in today to dine with Commissioner Kinnock?

That matter is not in order on the Order of Business.

(Dublin West): At £80 a plate, is the Labour Party not selling him a bit cheaply?

That is not in order on the Order of Business.

It is a rare opportunity.

The Deputy must resume his seat. That is not a matter for the Order of Business.

(Dublin West): On policy—

The Deputy is being disorderly.

It is 100 euros a plate.

I call Deputy Farrelly.

(Dublin West): Excuse me, I asked—

It is the Deputy's own fault. I tried to get him to resume his seat so the Taoiseach could reply. The Deputy refused to resume his seat. I call Deputy Farrelly.

(Dublin West): A Cheann Comhairle—

If the Deputy asks a question, he should resume his seat so it can be answered. If the Deputy fails to resume his seat, the question cannot be answered. I call Deputy Farrelly.

Will I ask the question for him?

In regard to promised legislation—

(Dublin West): I did resume my seat, but then you moved on to the next question.

The Deputy must resume his seat. The Chair has ruled. I call Deputy Farrelly.

In regard to promised legislation and the response here to the introduction of the private security industry Bill, is the Taoiseach aware this Bill was promised 18 months ago? Given that the Government is only now producing the heads of the Bill, will he accept the Private Members' Bill in my name on the Order Paper?

Do the honourable thing.

Can we make a decision? We will help the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

Does the Taoiseach wish to comment?

The Government Bill will be ready. I do not intend to accept the Private Members' Bill.

The Taoiseach and the Government were gracious enough to accept the Statute of Limitations (Amendment) Bill in the name of Deputy O'Sullivan which has completed Committee Stage. Will Report and Final Stages be taken before the end of this session?

The Government Chief Whip has informed me that he wishes to take the Bill before Christmas.

I thank the Taoiseach.