Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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It is proposed to take No. 9, statements on suicide prevention (resumed), to adjourn at 12.30 p.m., if not previously concluded; and No. 3, Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011 - Order for Second Stage and Second Stage.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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There are no proposals to be put to the House today.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The programme for Government promises speedy action to regulate lobbying, but the legislative programme is silent on the issue and states it is unlikely to be addressed soon. In the light of today's controversy, I am wondering whether there are any initiatives to bring forward speedy proposals to deal with the issue. The Tánaiste would be shouting very loudly about it if he was on this side of the House. What proposals does he have to deal with it as a matter of urgency?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Legislation to provide for a register of lobbyists is the subject of a commitment in the programme for Government and will be proceeded with. Not all of the commitments made in the programme are provided for in the current legislative list which was published at a much earlier stage than usual. It is a list of legislation that can be delivered in the foreseeable future, but the Government's commitment to provide for a register of lobbyists remains.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Tánaiste for his reply, but he is being less than specific about what is intended to be done. A parliamentary question was tabled to the Taoiseach, but it was transferred to another Department and we are still waiting for a reply on the issue. I would like to see a timescale in which it will be dealt with in order that we can ensure there will be transparency. That is something for which the Tánaiste called when in opposition, but he seems reluctant to give a definite date now that he is in government. It is important to avoid these issues coming into the public domain because they give a wrong impression.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I welcome the Deputy's renewed enthusiasm for legislation to deal with lobbyists which is in marked contrast with his position on two occasions during the lifetime of the previous Government when he voted down Private Members' legislation to provide for the registration of lobbyists.

Deputies:

Hear, hear.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Where is the legislation now?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I also thank Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív for his support and confidence in the Government, as he thinks we can do in 14 weeks what the Government of which he was a member could not do in 14 years. Let me be absolutely clear. The legislation dealing with lobbyists will be introduced by the Government and I hope the Deputy will support it.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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By then Fine Gael will have packed all of the contacts.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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I welcome yesterday's announcement on the minimum wage and I am glad to see that on this matter, at least, the Government's U-turn has come the full 360 degrees. I understand the matter will be addressed in the revised bailout agreement between the Government and the IMF. However, the proposal on the minimum wage was joined by one to cut the wages and conditions of almost 240,000 workers currently protected under the JLC system such as cleaners, workers in the security industry, agriculture and so on. It seems obvious that this was the price demanded by the IMF to reverse the cut in the minimum wage.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Are we coming to a question?

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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I am. For a long time Sinn Féin has argued for pay cuts at the top of the public sector and the Civil Service. I notice the sabre rattling by the Tánaiste's ministerial colleague, Deputy Brendan Howlin, who is coming at the issue of public sector wages in an indiscriminate way, in tandem with the IMF.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Hear, hear. Slash and burn.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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They are coming, too.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Can we have a question, please?

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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It is clear that low paid workers in the private and public sectors will be the target for further austerity measures. I want to ask the Tánaiste the following.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Will these matters be addressed in the Government's new bailout deal with the IMF? Will the Government bring the deal before the House, not for discussion by way of statements but by way of a debate and a vote? Will the so-called jobs budget actually be about job creation, or will it prove to be a charter to slash wages?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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As far as I can see, the only 360 degree revolution has been that taken by the Deputy. When she asked me this day last week about the national minimum wage, she seemed to be incredulous that the Government was serious about proceeding with the reversal of the cut in the national minimum wage. I told her that the Government had determined that it was going to reverse the cut which we considered to be wrong and inflicting pain on the lowest paid. The Government is proceeding to reverse it. When I was asked about the issue last week by the Deputy, I told her the Attorney General was being consulted as to whether it could be done by way of an order or legislation. I can tell her today that it will be done by way of primary legislation. To that end, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation will be publishing the heads of a Bill to give effect to the commitment made before 31 May. It is the Government's intention to reverse the cut in the national minimum wage and it will proceed.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I call on Deputy Higgins.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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I am sorry, a Cheann Comhairle, you gave the Fianna Fáil speaker a right to come back a second time. The Tánaiste wilfully did not answer my question.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Please, Deputy, respect the Chair. I am not here to judge whether your question was answered. This is not about how many questions are allowed. We are on the Order of Business. I ask the Deputy to respect the Chair, who is acting independently. She should, please, not pass that kind of remark again. I have called Deputy Higgins. I will call the Deputy later.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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I want to ask about the Education (Amendment) Bill 2010 which seeks to amend the Education Act 1998 which provides for children with special needs, among other things. We hear there are to be no more teachers for special needs children because the European Union and the IMF demand it. We hear this morning from the enterprise Minister, promising in the legislation we have just heard about, to restore the minimum wage, a poverty wage, for 60,000 workers but now making that legislation conditional on 250,000 extremely low-paid other workers being hammered by having their anti-social allowances taken from them, for example, because the EU-IMF demands it.

What is the point in asking about legislation when the Tánaiste represents a Government that is nothing more than a ventriloquist's dummy for the EU-IMF?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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No statements, please. Could the Deputy ask the question?

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Go easy on the ventriloquist, now, Joe.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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That makes dummies out of all of you as well, by the way. All I hear is "his master's voice", and the EU-IMF dictates it. Is the legislation to restore the minimum wage, which the Government promised to introduce shortly, conditional on new attacks on low-paid workers to pay off more bad gambling debts for European banks?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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As Deputy Higgins says, there is not much point in asking questions about legislation when the questioner has already presumed the answer. The answer to the Deputy's question is "No". The reversal of the cut in the national minimum wage is not conditional on anything. It is a commitment that was given in the programme for Government and it is being delivered in the manner I have described.

There is a separate issue, the review of the joint labour committee system. A commitment was given in the programme for Government, too, that there would be a review of the joint labour committee system and the employment regulation order system that applies to it. An independent review of the system has been under way for some time, headed by Mr. Kevin Duffy, chairman of the Labour Court. That review is due to report in the next couple of weeks and when it does the outcome will be considered by the Government.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Tá dhá ceisteanna agam ar an gclár riaracháin, an chéad ceann maidir le uimhir a 50, the Gaeltacht Bill, to establish Údarás na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta and repeal the existing Údarás na Gaeltachta legislation, defining the status of Gaeltacht areas based on linguistic criteria.

'Sé an cheist anseo ná: an bhfuil seans ar bith go dtiocfaidh an reachtaíocht os comhair na Dála i mbliana seachas fanacht bliain breise, mar atá siúd ins an nGaeltacht ag iarraidh fhios a bheith acu cá huair a mbeidh an toghchán do Údarás na Gaeltachta nó na Gaeilge, amach anseo, agus cén feidhm a mbeidh ag an údarás sin.

My second question is on other legislation, No. 77 on the legislative programme. This is a very important Bill for those looking for Garda vetting clearance, namely, the national vetting bureau Bill. It programme says that at this stage it is not possible to indicate when it will be published. Many people are looking for Garda vetting clearance to work with children for summer projects and youth clubs. Many people who are unemployed want to dedicate some of their time to helping community groups and so on. Is there any possibility of ensuring that this vital legislation is introduced quickly, and will the new agency or bureau come under the auspices of the Garda Síochána as a civilian function, or will it be a separate State agency or quango?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Ar dtús, mar gheall ar an mBile i dtaobh Údarás na Gaeltachta, bhí cruinniú de fochoiste an Rialtais a n-oibríonn i dtaobh an Gaeilge agus cúrsaí Gaeltachta ar maidin agus do bhí an Bile sin idir lámh ag an bhfocoiste. Tá sé in intinn ag an bhfocoiste agus an Aire dul ar aghaidh leis an mBile sin chomh lua agus is féidir.

On the national vetting Bill, there is no date for its publication as yet, but I will communicate the Deputy's concerns and anxieties to the Minister for Justice and Equality so that the legislation may be proceeded with as quickly as possible.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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On the forthcoming minimum wage legislation to which the Tánaiste referred, would he agree that while the introduction of that legislation is something many workers would have looked forward to as------

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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It is not a question of agreeing with anybody. This is about asking when legislation is due.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I am sorry, but I have not finished, a Cheann Comhairle.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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This is the Order of Business.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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While it might have been something they were looking forward to, will the Tánaiste not comment on the shocking comments made by the Minister for Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation on the minimum wage legislation?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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No, he cannot comment.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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This is not something workers should look forward to, but rather something 260,000 workers should fear because low-paid workers, precisely those who thought they would be protected, in hair-dressing, contract cleaning and agriculture will now have their wages and conditions attacked by this Government when they might have thought they would be protected.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Will the Deputy please resume his seat?

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I am asking about the legislation, a Cheann Comhairle.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy is not asking about the legislation.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I just wonder whether this vendetta, as it seems, against low-paid workers-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Does the Deputy hear me? I am asking him to resume his seat.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I have not finished, a Cheann Comhairle. I am just asking questions about minimum wage legislation.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Will the Deputy resume his seat? Did he hear me?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Please, Deputy Boyd Barrett, the Tánaiste is on his feet.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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There are occasions when the word "welcome" is appropriate to be used in this House and this is one of them. If the Deputy had a tither of genuine concern for people on the minimum wage he would have welcomed this morning the clear commitment by the Government to reverse the cut in the minimum wage.

Deputies:

Hear, hear.

Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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The programme for Government refers to the deposit retention scheme. This is very important legislation dealing with the unfair retention of deposits. Obviously, it affects thousands of vulnerable students who find it difficult enough to finance their third level education. Will the Tánaiste say when it is expected this vital legislation will be brought before the House?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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That legislation is not listed in the programme as published. I shall return to the Deputy on this issue.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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On No. 13, the ministers and secretaries (amendment) Bill, the Minister, Deputy Brendan Howlin said this morning that the Civil Service was generally not fit for purpose. What proposals will be in that Bill to correct that assertion and what are the Tánaiste's thoughts on the performance of the Irish Civil Service?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The legislation to which the Deputy refers is being worked on and will be published shortly.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Mary Lou McDonald

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. To return to the scene-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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What scene, please?

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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I refer to the minimum wage. Will the new deal, the revised memorandum of understanding between the Government and the IMF come to this House for a vote?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Let us be clear, what is under way is the quarterly review of the memorandum of understanding. This is part of the deal entered into last autumn. There is provision for a quarterly review of those arrangements.

The first quarterly review was due to take place somewhat earlier this year, but due to the general election and so on it was put back until now. The discussions on that review are continuing and I understand they are due to be completed tomorrow. We will have to await the outcome of those discussions.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Is that a "Yes" or a "No"?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Discussions are taking place between the Minister and Attorney General on this matter. The intention is that the legislative provisions dealing with upward only rent reviews will be dealt with as part of an existing Bill before the House, the Property Services (Regulation) Bill.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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I wish to inquire about the Education (Amendment) Bill. However, may I first remind the Tánaiste regarding his comments about Deputy Boyd Barrett that the Deputy has a strong track record in defending workers' rights?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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No. Will the Deputy please put his question on legislation?

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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I just wanted to point that out. He has always defended the workers of this country and I will back him 100% on those issues.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I ask the Deputy not to do so in this Chamber. Please deal with the issues.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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My apologies. On the Education (Amendment) Bill, is it now Government and Labour Party policy to cut, slash and burn the resources for children with special needs?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Minister is working on the Education (Amendment) Bill and it will be brought forward as soon as it is available.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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It will not do what is suggested.

Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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Yesterday, negotiations with over 100 workers at Aetna Limited in Castleisland broke down, despite tremendous efforts by the workers representatives to facilitate the company.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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This is not on the Order of Business.

Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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I am coming to the point. Is there any legislation promised to protect the rights of workers or does the Government have any intention of trying to compel the company to meet the demands and entitlements of the workers at this premises who will almost certainly lose their jobs in the next two weeks?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is legislation promised? The issue is more a matter for the Adjournment.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I am not familiar with the issue of the breakdown in discussions, but I hope discussions can either be resumed or that the industrial relations machinery of the State can be used to deal with the issue.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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These are matters appropriate to the Adjournment debate or, hopefully, when Dáil reform provides for it we will be able to raise topical issues. We are on the Order of Business now which deals with promised legislation and when it will be introduced. I ask Deputies not to abuse the hospitality of the House by constantly trying to raise issues that can be dealt with either by parliamentary question or the Adjournment. We have four Deputies to call yet and it is almost 11 a.m.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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The programme for Government makes a commitment to remove the criminal sanctions that have so aggrieved fishing communities around our coast and to replace them with new administrative sanctions. When will the Government introduce legislation to make that happen?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I will raise that issue with the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. No legislation on the issue is expected in this session. It is in the programme for Government and as with all the matters therein, progress will be made on them by the Ministers concerned.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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Will the Tánaiste get back to me on that?

Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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With regard to the legislation promised on upward only rent reviews, will that legislation cover leaseholders from the State who are subject to such reviews on a constant basis? Will the legislation cover people who have leased property from the State?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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As already indicated, the legislation is being discussed by the Minister for Justice and Equality and the Attorney General. It is intended to use the opportunity of another piece of legislation to bring the legislative proposals before the House. Obviously, I cannot comment on the detail of what will be in the legislation until the discussions are completed.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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With regard to the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill, work had been going on in the Department with regard to reform of the mortgage interest supplement to make it more accessible to people and to eliminate the 30-hour rule which meant that those who worked more than 30 hours a week, no matter what their income, were not entitled to a mortgage interest supplement. Will that Bill include amendments to the mortgage interest supplement provision to help those with mortgage arrears?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The content of the Bill is not a matter for the Order of Business.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Yes, but the brief we got on the content of the Bill is very vague. On the week of St. Patrick's Day, a debate was promised on the Irish language. When will that debate take place?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Tánaiste, on promised legislation.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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As the Ceann Comhairle is aware, I cannot comment on the content of the legislation. That is a matter the Deputy can pursue with the Minister directly. With regard to the debate on the Irish language, the arrangements for that can be made by the Whips.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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We were given that answer last week. The Government has an overwhelming majority. Can the Tánaiste give a date for that debate?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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He said he cannot. It is a matter for the Whips. The Deputy has a Whip there behind him.

Arthur Spring (Kerry North-West Limerick, Labour)
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Mention is made in the programme for Government with regard to innovation and commercialisation of the need for a national intellectual property protocol. Will this need legislation and, if so, what timeframe will be allowed for it? This is essential for the pharmaceutical industry and the development of jobs in the digital industry. With regard to what is relevant to the Order of Business, I will wait for the Adjournment Debate to deal with the issue of the workers in Castleisland.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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If the Deputy submits his request in the appropriate way, it will be considered.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I am not in a position to say at this point whether the intellectual property protocol will require legislation. It is something that is being considered by the Minister.

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The jobs budget has now become a jobs initiative. Will the initiative be subject to a statement in the House? A budget would require a statement, but will the initiative be subject to a statement? Second, when will the fiscal responsibility Bill be published? The Government has promised a comprehensive public expenditure review in September. How does that relate to the fiscal responsibility Bill? Is it a stand alone item, a sort of McCarthy for slow learners?

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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What was the Deputy's comment on slow learners?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The jobs budget will involve a statement to the House. The Government is giving priority to jobs and to getting people back to work. No matter the semantics of what it is called, let us be clear that the Government is determined to deal with the issue of jobs as part of the process of economic recovery we want to bring about given the mess we have inherited. The fiscal responsibility Bill is to be published this session and will be dealt with by the House in due course.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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At last.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy has already been on his feet for five minutes. He cannot be jumping up and down every five minutes.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I have a direct question for the Tánaiste.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Are you looking after this man?

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Well the Ceann Comhairle is not. That is for sure.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I ask the Deputy to withdraw that remark.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I withdraw it.

On the minimum wage-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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This is Parliament, not a county council.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Indeed. On the minimum wage, can I ask the Tánaiste a direct question?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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No, the Deputy cannot. We are on the Order of Business.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Are the IMF and the European Union demanding an input into draft legislation-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I have already told the Deputy.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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-----or demanding legislation on JLCs?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Tánaiste, please do not------

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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My second question is on the Order of Business. I ask the Tánaiste to comment on the second document mentioned on the Order Paper on a Council decision to conclude an agreement between the European Union and the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is not in order.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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It is included in the Order Paper. I ask the Tánaiste to say a word about exactly what the agreement is and whether the liberalisation of trade with the West Bank and Gaza regarding the Palestinian Authority-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Does the Deputy have any respect for the Chair?

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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It is on the Order paper.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy knows he is not allowed to make ongoing statements-----

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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It is a question.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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-----on a continual basis.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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It is a question.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy is abusing the House. Will he, please, learn the rules?

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I am asking a question.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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This is not Question Time.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy may ask a question, but he is not entitled to make a statement.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I am asking for an explanation-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy is not entitled to ask for one.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Can I not ask what about is on the Order Paper?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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No.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I am not allowed ask about what is on the Order Paper.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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It is a document which has been laid before the House.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I am not allowed to ask what it is about.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy should read it.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I have-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Then he should not be asking questions about it here.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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-----and I am looking for an explanation.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy should table a parliamentary question. Will he, please, show some respect for the Chair?

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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It is on the Order Paper and we are on the Order of Business.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I know it is on the Order Paper which is coloured green in case the Deputy-----

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Am I not allowed ask about the Order Paper on the Order of Business?

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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No.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I ask the Deputy to resume his seat and try to respect the Chair.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Will the Tánaiste respond and explain-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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He will not explain anything. He will answer questions.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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-----whether the agreement extends to the elected authorities on the Gaza Strip?

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The Minister must obey the Chair.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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It is bizarre.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy does not like the Order of Business. It is not a question of making ongoing statements every single morning. Will he, please, respect the Chair?

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I am asking a question about the Order Paper.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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There are other Deputies in the Chamber. Tánaiste, is this a matter for the Order of Business and if so, will you, please, answer the question?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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It is not. It is about a document that has been laid before the House.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Absolutely.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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In order to be helpful to Deputy Boyd Barrett, again this is something I would have thought he would have welcomed. It is a proposal for an agreement-----

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I just asked the question.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Will the Deputy, please, let the Tánaiste answer?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Let me give the Deputy the answer. It is a proposal for an agreement between the European Union and the Palestinian Authority, providing for the liberalisation of trade between the European Union and the Palestinian Authority. I would have thought this is something he would have warmly welcomed.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I call Deputy Ellis.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Does it extend to-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I will be asking the Deputy to leave the House shortly if he continues to behave like this. He will have to learn to respect the Chair.

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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On a point of information-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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There is no such thing as a point of information. I call Deputy Ellis.

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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On a point of order, is it possible to arrange a crash course for new Deputies-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I thank the Deputy.

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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-----who do not understand the rules and regulations of the House? Based on what we have been listening to this morning, it is very poor procedure to run the national Parliament. It is high time people-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I ask the Deputy to resume his seat. That is not a point of order.

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Some of us have been here for many years and we want to run our business much better.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I am trying to do so. Will the Deputy, please, resume his seat?

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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It is a learning curve for some of us. The programme for Government refers to cutbacks in capital programmes. Some of the capital programmes, including metro north-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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This is not a matter for the Order of Business.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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Will the Tánaiste outline if there are any future plans to cut capital programmes?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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No, he cannot do so on the Order of Business. The Deputy can table a parliamentary question.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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Will there be legislation or anything brought forward in that regard?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Tánaiste cannot do so. It does not deal with promised legislation.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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The Deputy can ask about proposed legislation.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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I am asking about proposed legislation.