Tuesday’s business shall be No. 5, motions re EU regulation in justice area and in insolvency proceedings - referral to committee; No. 6, Financial Resolutions for Minerals Development Bill 2015 [Seanad]; No. 7, motion re ministerial rota for parliamentary questions; No. 7a, motion to instruct committee on Minerals Development Bill 2015; and No. 16, Civil Liability (Amendment) Bill 2017 - Second Stage (resumed). Private Members' business shall be No. 28, Equal Participation in Schools Bill 2016 - Second Stage, selected by Solidarity-PBP.

Wednesday’s business shall be No. 17, Planning and Development Bill (Amendment) Bill 2016 - Order for Report, Report and Final Stages; and No. 18, Criminal Justice Bill 2016 - changed from Bail (Amendment) Bill 2016 - Order for Report, Report and Final Stages. Private Members’ business shall be No. 108, motion re consumer impact of increased insurance costs, selected by Fianna Fáil.

Thursday’s business shall be No. 18, Criminal Justice (Offences Relating to Information Systems) Bill 2016 - amendments from the Seanad; No. 2, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank Bill 2017 - Order for Second Stage and Second Stage. Second Stage of No. 31, Residential Tenancies (Housing Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) (Amendment) Bill 2016 will be debated in Thursday's evening slot.

With regard to the announcement of proposed arrangements for this week’s business, I refer to the first revised report of the Business Committee dated 15 May 2017. In relation to Tuesday’s business, it is proposed that:

(1) motions regarding EU Regulation in justice area and in insolvency proceedings - referral to committee, Financial Resolutions for the Minerals Development Bill 2015 [Seanad], which shall be moved together and decided by a single question, and motion regarding ministerial rota for Parliamentary Questions will be taken without debate and any division demanded thereon shall be taken immediately;

(2) the motion to instruct the committee shall conclude within 60 minutes and the speeches shall be confined to a Minister or Minister of State and the main spokespersons, or a member

nominated in their stead, and shall not exceed 7.5 minutes each and any division demanded thereon shall be taken immediately; and

(3) Second Stage of the Equal Participation in Schools Bill 2016 shall be brought to a conclusion, if not previously concluded, at 10.00 p.m.

In relation to Thursday’s business, it is proposed that the amendments from the Seanad on the Criminal Justice (Offences Relating to Information Systems) Bill 2016 shall be taken after Questions on Promised Legislation and the weekly divisions will take place on the conclusion of the amendments from the Seanad.

There are two proposals to put to the House today. Is the proposal for dealing with Tuesday's business agreed to?

Not agreed.

It is not agreed to. I call Deputy Ó Snodaigh.

Loath as I am to object to the Order of Business, there was a protocol put in place for Whips and Deputies in case of events of national importance that need to be addressed in this House breaking over the weekend after the Business Committee has decided the Order of Business. I submitted such a request on Saturday. I believe it is one of the most important issues that should be tackled in this House. It relates to illegal telephone bugging by members of An Garda Síochána. I also submitted a Topical Issue request and a private notice request to try to see whether we as Whips could come up with some mechanisms to allow the Taoiseach, as the person who receives the report on phone-tapping from the judge each year, and the Tánaiste to come before the House to explain the background to this and maybe answer questions. Thus far, all we are getting is what has been in one newspaper. That is scandalous enough in itself. There are disturbing revelations. It is important that we know the full extent of this, who was affected and whether the officers themselves-----

I ask for a brief statement, Deputy.

That is all I was going to say. It is important that we have that debate. I believe this is the place to have it, rather than it being in the media only and this House always playing catch-up. I went through the normal process. I know the judgment lies with the Ceann Comhairle. However, in this instance in particular, this issue is of national importance.

I know that Deputy Boyd Barrett is offering. Just to help Members, five Deputies tabled Topical Issues on this issue today. I was of the belief, correctly as it transpired, that the matter would be raised on Leaders' Questions. I was of the view that if it was raised on Leaders' Questions and dealt with to everybody's satisfaction, there would be no need for a Topical Issue matter.

Hear, hear.

If Members are not satisfied, it is open for them to submit again tomorrow.

I was one of those who submitted a Topical Issue matter request. I note that over the weekend, the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Coveney, also said that legislation is being drafted to deal particularly with the misuse of power in office. The allegation that was made over the weekend is of a shocking order, suggesting the possibility that influence was exercised by a Minister to tap the phone of a constituency team member of a sitting Teachta Dála for political reasons.

We all appreciate the political import of it but we cannot have a debate on it now.

That is a shocking further revelation.

Given we have not succeeded in getting a Topical Issue debate on this, we cannot allow this week to pass without the issue being discussed, particularly now the Minister, Deputy Coveney, has said legislation is being drafted on it and the Government is serious about it. It is a shocking allegation-----

Thank you, Deputy.

-----that has to be addressed and it was not addressed in the Taoiseach's response.

Deputy Howlin wants to come in on the same matter.

I share the Deputy's concerns about what is an allegation at this stage. The Taoiseach will recall I raised it with him last week in Leaders' Questions. It fits into wider concerns Members of the House have about An Garda Síochána, as Deputy Shortall has rightly laid out. I understood the Taoiseach agreed last week the Tánaiste would make herself available to answer questions on the broader concerns that everybody on both sides of the House has. Will that happen in the course of this week?

Deputy Boyd Barrett raised an important point but I do not want anybody to be under any illusions, presumption or perception that this allegation is relevant to the current period. It is important Deputy Boyd Barrett understands that.

It refers to a sitting Deputy.

My understanding is-----

That is what the report says.

My understanding-----

I do not know why the Deputies are shaking their heads.

Let us be clear. My understanding is this allegation refers to a period back in the early 2000s. There was a judge in place at that time. I will not make any further comment on it.

He was paid off only last month.

It is not correct for the Deputy to stand up and leave a perception that this carry-on, which is very serious, is of the current time. The second thing I want to say to Deputy Howlin-----

When will it be dealt with?

-----is the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality has come before the House on a regular basis where there are provisions to call any Minister before the House either by way of Topical Issue debate or priority question. The Tánaiste also answers questions on Thursday mornings in the vast majority of cases.

If Topical Issue matters are submitted again tomorrow on this matter and Members continue to be dissatisfied, they will be considered. Is the proposal for dealing with Tuesday's business agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with Thursday's business agreed to? Agreed. On proposed legislation, I call Deputy Martin.