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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 Mar 2012

Vol. 758 No. 2

Order of Business

It is proposed to take No.18, statements re Lá na Gaeilge; No. 19, statements on European Council, Brussels; and No. 3, Euro Area Loan Facility (Amendment) Bill 2012 - Second and Remaining Stages.

It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that in the event a division is in progress at the time fixed for taking Private Members' business, which shall be No. 50, motion re turf cutting, the Dáil shall sit later than 9 p.m. and Standing Order 121(3) shall not apply and Private Members' business shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 90 minutes; the proceedings in respect of No. 18 shall be brought to a conclusion within 25 minutes and the statements shall be made by the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and the main spokespersons for Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and the Technical Group, who shall be called upon in that order and who may share their time and shall not exceed five minutes in each case; the proceedings in respect of No. 19 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 85 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply: the statements shall be made by the Taoiseach and by the main spokespersons for Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and the Technical Group, who shall be called upon in that order and who may share their time and shall not exceed 15 minutes in each case; a Minister or Minister of State shall take questions for a period not exceeding 20 minutes; and a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed five minutes; and notwithstanding the Order of the Dáil of 6 March 2012, the proceedings on Second Stage of No.3 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 7.15 p.m today, and the proceedings on Committee and Remaining Stages shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 7.30 p.m. today by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall, in respect of amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Finance.

Private Members' business shall be No. 50, motion re turf cutting (resumed), to conclude at 9 p.m. tonight, if not previously concluded.

There are four proposals to put to the House. Is the proposal that the Dáil shall later than 9 p.m. tonight agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 18 agreed to?

Bhí mé ag lorg níos mó ama inné. Tá 20 nóiméad ann, nach bhfuil?

Cúig noiméid.

Tá cúig noiméid do na ceannairí agus is féidir le daoine ama a roinnt más mian leo. Más mian leis an Teachta go mbeidh níos mó ama ann, is cuma liom.

Bhuel, d'iarr mé níos mó ama inné ach níor tháinig aon rud ón Phríomh-Aoire.

Séard atá i gceist ná go mbeadh cead ag níos mó.

Drochmheas ar an nGaeilge atá ann i ndáiríre mar bhí Teachtaí ag iarraidh labhairt.

An bhfuil an Teachta ag iarraidh go mbeadh níos mó ama ag Teachtaí eile? Is cuma liom más mian leis go mbeadh leathuair an chloig eile le fáil do na Teachtaí áirithe.

An bata mór arís.

Deputy Mattie McGrath should stick to the bogs.

Is that agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 19 agreed to? Agreed. Fourth, is the proposal for dealing with No. 3 agreed to?

Ní aontaíom leis sin. Is trua nach bhfuilimid ag déanamh an ghnó don chuid seo den lá as Gaeilge chomh maith. An rud i bhí i gceist i gcónaí ná go mbeadh an lá iomlán as Gaeilge agus tá súil agam an bhliain seo chugainn go mbeimid ag dul sa treo sin agus go mbeimid ag taispeáint samplá don chuid eile den tír. Táim i gcoinne an mholta atá i Riar na hOibre mar tá guillotine i bhfeidhm. Níor chóir go mbeadh a leithéid i bhfeidhm agus ba cheart go dtabharfaí níos mó ama go ndéanfaimis cinnte de. Faoi láthair, in ainneoin nach bhfuil leasuithe ann ar Chéim an Choiste no ar Chéim na Tuarascála, ní bheidh aon am chun déileáil in aon slí leis an Bhille má tá an vóta ag an am atá molta anseo, 7.15 p.m.

Ba mhaith liom tacú leis sin. Ceist thromchúiseach atá ann do na daoine atá ag fulaingt i láthair na huaire faoi pholasaithe déine atá á gcur i bhfeidhm. Dá bhrí sin, ba cheart go mbeadh a dhóthain ama agus tá sé náireach go bhfuil an Rialtas fós ag úsáid, ar feadh bliana anois, an guillotine seo a chuir siad ina aghaidh chomh mór sin nuair a bhí Fine Gael agus Páirtí an Lucht Oibre sa Fhreasúra.

Tá an Dara Céim an-fhada, leanfaidh sí ar aghaidh go dtí 6.45 p.m. agus níl leasuithe ar bith curtha síos. Beidh am ag Teachta ar bith labhairt faoi. Tugadh am do Bhillí anseo le déanaí agus nach raibh urlabhraithe ar bith le fáil chun leanúint ar aghaidh. Bhí ar an Phríomh-Aoire deireadh a chur leis na díospóireachtaí.

Question, "That the proposal for dealing with No. 3 be agreed to," put and declared carried.

Mar is eol don Taoiseach, i gclár an Rialtais, tá an-chuid reachtaíochta agus an-chuid gealltanas foilsithe. Ó thaobh oideachais de, ar fud na tíre, tá daltaí ag fanacht ar na cártaí tuairisce faoi choinne na réamhscrúduithe atá déanta acu. Sa Dáil seo, is cosúil nach mbeidh aon chárta tuairisce d'Airí an Rialtais, cé gur gheall an Taoiseach go mbeadh. Gheall an Taoiseach ar "The Late Late Show" le Ryan Tubridy go raibh an Taoiseach i ndáiríre go n-éiseofar cárta tuairisce do gach Aire. Ca bhfuil na cártaí tuairisce? Beidh na hAirí ag dul thart ar an domhan anois agus bheadh sé i bhfad níos fearr dá mbeadh na cártaí ag na hAirí roimh dul thar lear. Gheall an Taoiseach go mbeadh an cártaí tuairisce ach níl siad le feiceáil ar chor ar bith.

Cá bhfuil na hAirí?

Tá siad ag obair.

Tá siad go léir sa chúinne.

That is not in order on the Order of Business.

Gheall mé go shuífinn síos le chuile Aire agus Aire Stáit le dul fríd na pointí a bhfuil siad ag déileáil leo faoi phlean an Rialtais agus tá sin déanta agam. Suifidh mé síos le gach Aire agus gach Aire Stáit maidir leis an chuid den chlár a bhaineann díreach lena n-aireacht.

Tá díomá an domhain ar Ryan Tubridy. Bhí an Taoiseach ar "The Late Late Show" agus gheall sé i ndáiríre go mbeadh na cártaí tuairisce ann.

Agus dúirt mé-----

Tá Ryan Tubridy ar buille.

Dá mba rud é go raibh an Teachta ag éisteacht leis an rud ar fad-----

-----is é adúirt me le Ryan go mbéinn ag suí síos le gach Aire agus le gach Aire Stáit i leith an chuid den chlár a raibh baint dhíreach aige nó aici leis. Tá sin déanta agam.

It was an oral exam.

B'fhéidir go bhféadfadh Sinn Féin tacú a thabhairt don Taoiseach mar chigirí. D'fhéadfaimís na cartaí tuairisce a mharcáil.

An Teachta Adams ag dul timpeall na tíre.

Tá a fhios againn gur mharcáil mhuintir na tíre carta tuairisce an Teachta Martin, ach sin scéal eile.

A Sinn Féin inspectorate to terrorise the nation.

An inspectorate for dumps.

Inné, rialaigh an Chúirt Uachtarach go raibh alt 29 de Acht um Chiontaí in Aghaidh an Stáit ag teacht salach ar an mBunreacht. Fuair an Chúirt nach raibh gardaí neamhspleách agus iad déileáil leis an gceist faoi chuartú ar theach shaoranach. Cén chéim a ghlacfaidh an Rialtas chun déanamh cinnte de go bhfuil gach uile phíosa reachtaíochta ag luí leis an mBunreacht agus le cearta saoránach a chosaint maidir le próiseas dlí. Ba chóir don Rialtas an deis seo a ghlacadh Acht um Chiontaí in Aghaidh an Stáit a chur ar leataobh.

Ní thuigim go díreach céard atá i gceist ag an Teachta. Cén alt den mBunreacht a bhfuil sé ag caint faoi?

Rialaigh an Chúirt Uachtarach go raibh Acht um Chiontaí in Aghaidh an Stáit ag teachta salach ar an mBunreacht.

Ní fhéadfainn cur isteach ar chinneadh na Cúirte Uachtaraigh. Léifidh mé an cinneadh atá curtha amach ag an Chúirt go cruinn agus tabharfaidh mé freagra don Teachta faoi céard atá le déanamh de bharr an chinneadh atá déanta ag an Chúirt Uachtarach. Níl sé léite agam go fóill.

Chomh fada is atá 440,000 duine dí-fhostaithe, ba cheart neamhní mór a thabhairt don Taoiseach féin maidir le marcáil.

The Deputy should note that we are on the Order of Business.

Maidir le reachtaíocht atá geallta, tá ceist agam faoi dhá Bhille, agus creid nó ná creid níl aon Ghaoluinn curtha orthu fós. Is iad an Treaty Establishing the European Stability Mechanism agus an European Communities Act 1972 (Amendment) Bill. An bhfuil siad siúd réidh? Cathain a bheidh siad ag teacht os comhair na Dála? Nach bhfuil sé fíor go gcaithfidh siad siúd a bheith tríd an Dáil sula bhféadfaidh an reifreann dul chun cinn, mar go bhfuil an comhshocrú fioscach bunaithe ar an rud seo?

The two items of promised legislation are the Treaty establishing the European Stability Mechanism and the European Communities Act 1972 (Amendment) Bill. An bhfuil siad réidh, cathain a bheidh siad ag teacht agus an gcaithfidh siad a bheith glactha ag an Dáil sular féidir dul ar aghaidh leis an gcomhshocrú fioscach? De réir mar a thuigimse, caithfidh.

Beidh an European Communities Act 1972 (Amendment) Bill ag teacht isteach i rith an tseisiúin seo. Tá sin leagtha amach ag an Rialtas. Maidir leis an Treaty Establishing the European Stability Mechanism, sílim go bhfuil Gaeilge curtha ar an gconradh. Níl sé agam anseo.

Caithfear próiseas a chur i gcrích. Caithfear Bille reifrinn a chur ar fáil agus a fhoilsiú, coimisiún reifrinn a bhunú agus cathaoirleach air a ainmniú. Caithfear an Bille i leith fiscal responsibility a fhoilsiu i dtreo is go mbeimid in ann díriú isteach ar na nithe dlithiúil a mbéadh brú orainn iad a chur i gcrích chun go nglactar leis an gconradh go bunreachtúil ag muintir na hÉireann. Tá an Rialtas ag díriú isteach ar an bpróiseas sin faoi láthair. Ag an chéadh chruinniú eile den Rialtas, Dé Máirt seo chugainn, beidh sé níos soiléire céard go díreach atá i gceist leis in bpróiseas sin.

An gcaithfidh an Bille dul tríd an Dáil sula rachaidh an reifreann ar aghaidh? An bhfuil sé sin fíor?

Má ghlacann daoine leis an gconradh beidh a fhios acu go díreach céard iad na nithe a bhéas san mBille faoi fiscal reponsibility. Beidh a fhios ag gach duine má ghlacann siad leis an gconradh céard a bhéas sa dlí go díreach.

A Cheann Comhairle, níl mórán Gaeilge agam anois agus dá bhrí sin caithfidh mé dul ar aghaidh as Béarla, le do thoil.

Tá a lán Béarla ag an Teachta.

Deputy Mattie McGrath should stick to septic tanks. When he has polluted all the wells in the country, he can then talk.

Deputy Durkan should proceed to ask a question.

I wish to refer to a serious issue relating to promised legislation. I have repeatedly raised this issue in the House in recent years. I refer to the ever-increasing incidence of violent crimes resulting in death. The previous Administration promised quite an amount of legislation in respect of this matter. The current Government also promised legislation on the issue but I accept that it has not had much time in which to put the latter into operation. Would it be possible to bring the criminal justice (miscellaneous provisions) Bill before the House for discussion at an early date?

I suggest that future Friday sittings of the House be devoted to debating urgently required legislation in respect of crime and organised criminality in particular.

The Deputy did not support the legislation which was before the House on Friday last.

Will Deputy Mattie McGrath please desist.

The scrap metal merchants should be moved to one side for the moment.

The criminal justice (miscellaneous provisions) Bill will be introduced later in the year. I am not in a position to provide an exact date for its introduction.

Ar maidin, chualamar tuairisc ó na meáin go raibh daoine ina lui ina gcuid gluaisteán thar oíche i gCorcaigh mar go raibh siad ag iarraigh fáil isteach go dtí taispeántas ar fostaíocht thar sáile. Mar gheall ar an slad a rinne Rialtas roimhe seo ar an eacnamaíocht, tá daoine ag fágáil na tíre. Tá an fhadhb chomh mór agus a bhí sé ón am a tháinig an Taoiseach in Oifig.

Is í an cheist atá agam ar reachtaíocht, cad é an reachtaíocht atá an Rialtas ag tabhairt chun tosaigh chun aghaidh a thabhairt ar fhadhb na dífhostaíochta agus na himirce-----

That is not promised. The Deputy should confine himself to questions on promised legislation.

-----go háirithe ó thaobh an Bhille atá geallta ar an bhanc straitéiseach infheistíochta. Cén uair a bhéas an Bille sin curtha os comhair na Dála? An bhfeicfimid airgead suntasach curtha isteach san mbanc sin le hinfheistíocht a dhéanamh i mbliana, le cúrsaí fostaíochta a bhisiú sa tír?

Ó thaobh Bhille na Gaeltachta de-----

Go raibh maith agat.

Maidir le Bille na Gaeltachta, atá thíos ar an gclár oibre, inné tugadh le fios ag an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Donnchadh Mac Fhionnlaoich, nár bhuail an coiste Rialtais atá ag déileáil leis an nGaeltacht agus leis an nGaeilge ó bhí Mí na Bealtaine na bliana seo chaite.

The Deputy is completely out of order.

Cén uair a bhéas an Bille sin curtha os comhair na Dála? Tá sé beartaithe ag an Rialtas, rud a chuirfeadh deireadh le daonlathas ó thaobh na Gaeltachta agus Údaras na Gaeltachta de, gan ligint do toghcháin Údaras na Gaeltachta dhul chun tosaigh mar a bhí geallta agus raibh Fine Gael ag iarraidh nuair a bhi siad sa bhFreasúra.

Tá freagra tugtha ar an gceist seo ag an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Mac Fhionnlaoich. Tá plean leagtha amach ag coiste na Gaeilge ón bhliain seo chaite agus tá an t-Aire Stáit ag cur an phlean sin i gcrích.

Ní raibh cruinniú ann ón 19 Bealtaine na bliana seo chaite.

Ciúnas, más é do thoil é.

Tá a fhios ag an Teachta go ndeachaigh cinn Bhille na Gaeltachta os comhair an Rialtais cupla seachtain ó shin. Tá an t-Aire ag obair ar sin. Beidh sé foilsithe nuair a bheidh sé réidh. Tá an t-Aire ag déanamh an obair air faoi láthair. Maidir le hinfheistíocht, tá níos mó airgid i Vóta an Aire Post, Fiontar agus Nuálaíochta ná mar a bhí ariamh cheana. Mar a dúirt mé leis an Teachta Ó Máirtín, tabharfar an Bille isteach anseo taobh istigh de chúig nó sé seachtain. Baineann an Bille le creidmheas agus solúbthacht do comhlachtaí beaga maidir le airgead agus creidmheas a fháil le haghaidh infheistíochta agus postanna a chur ar fáil. Beidh seans ag an Teachta labhairt ansin.

Cén uair an mbeidh an reachtaíocht a bhaineann leis na bainc anseo?

Ní bheidh sé anseo go luath.

Ní feidir liom dáta deimhneach a thabhairt don Teachta don Bhille sin. Ach maidir le infheistíocht, táimid ag déanamh tréan iarracht go dtabharfar an dá Bhille isteach chomh luath agus is féidir ionas gur féidir creidmheas a chur ar fáil do comhlachtaí beaga. Gheobhaidh mé freagra don Teachta faoin Bille infheistíochta.

Beidh fadhb mhór i dtaobh bailiú bruscar i mBaile Átha Cliath theas ag deireadh na míosa. Maidir le tarscaoilte bruscar, an bhfuil aon reachtaíocht le teacht ón Rialtas i dtaobh sin?

Níl. Baineann seo leis an chomhairle contae nó leis an chomhairle áitiúil. Tá díospóireacht ag leanúint ar aghaidh ar sin. Tá na bin waivers seo leagtha amach ag na comhairlí áítiúla ar fud na tíre le fada agus is dócha go ndéanfaidh an comhlacht faoina bhfuil an Teachta ag caint an rud céanna.

Is iontach an rud é go bhfuil muid ag déanamh iarrachta inniu imeachtaí an lae a phlé trí mheán na Gaeilge. Is maith agus is fiú é sin a dhéanamh. Cathain a mbeidh an Bille foilsithe don reifreann airgeadais? An féidir leis an Taoiseach geallúint a thabhairt don Teach nach bhfuil aon rud sa chonradh airgeadais a chuirfidh isteach ar shaoirse na tíre seo chun scéimeanna nua do jabanna a chur ar bun agus go mbeidh seans againn jabanna a fhorbairt taobh istigh den conradh nua?

Ní chuirfidh an reifreann airgeadais isteach ar an bplean Rialtais ar chor ar bith. Tá a fhios ag an Teachta nach gcuirfidh an conradh isteach orainn mar tír ach go mbeidh muid i gclár le dhá bhliain. Ní bheidh cosc ar an Rialtas leanúint leis an cineál infheistíochta atá á dhéanamh aige agus ó thaobh jabanna a chur ar fáil. Ní bheidh laghdú ar bith maidir le sin de bharr an conartha seo. Níl a fhios agam go díreach cathain a foilseofar an Bille. Mar a dúirt mé, caithfear an Bille a chur ar fáil ar dtús, an coimisiún a bhunú agus an próiseas a leagan amach. Nuair a bheidh an Bille réidh agus glactha ag an Rialtas, tabharfaimid eolas don Teach láithreach.

Mí Bealtaine, b'fhéidir.

Bliain ó shin, nuair a cuireadh an clár Rialtais le chéile, thug an Rialtas geallúint go ndéileáilfeadh sé go práinneach trí reachtaíocht le cúrsaí a bhaineann le siopaí agus gnóthaí. B'shin an cheist faoi athbhreithnithe ardaitheacha amháin ar chíosanna, upward only rent reviews. In ainneoin go ndúirt an tArd-Aighne nach raibh reachtaíocht cuí sa chás seo, toisc go mbeadh sí ag teacht salach ar an mBunreacht, an bhfuil sé i gceist ag an Rialtas athrú bunreachtúil a dhéanamh i bhfoirm reifrinn. Os rud é go mbeidh pobal na tíre ag vótáil i reifreann eile, an féidir leis an Rialtas an deis sin a thapú chun a dhéanamh cinnte de go dtiocfaidh athrú ar seo ionas nach mbeidh aon reachtaíocht ag teacht salach ar an mBunreacht, go háirithe mar tá a lán siopaí agus lucht gnó i gcruachás faoi láthair.

Bhí sé ar intinn ag an Rialtas sin a chur i gcrích, ach de réir an t-eolas a fuair an Rialtas ón Ard-Aighne, ní féidir é sin a dhéanamh. Níl sé i gceist againn go mbeidh aon reifreann ann faoi sin.

Cá bhfuil an reachtaíocht maidir le HIQA a gheall an Taoiseach anuraidh? Tá súil agam go gcuirfidh an Rialtas HIQA amach ar an mbóthar ag lorg suímh nua do ospidéal na bpáistí. Trasna na tíre, HIQA is frightening people and much damage could be done.

We do not want to frighten the life out of people.

We do not want to frighten the life out of them.

No. Tá súil agam go mbeidh an Bille seo ag teacht go luath.

Níl a fhios agam cén Bille atá i gceist ag an Teachta. Tá neart Billí le teacht ón Aire Sláinte. Cén Bille atá i gceist ag an Teachta?

An Bille a bhaineann le HIQA.

Ní féidir liom dáta a thabhairt don Bhille sin.

There is no promised legislation.

There is no promised legislation.

Geallúintí briste.

Considering the Government's failure to support the Scrap and Precious Metal Dealers Bill introduced by Deputy Mattie McGrath, has the Government any promised or proposed legislation to deal with this?

The Deputy should put down a parliamentary question on that.

It has some precious metals.

I want to hear if there is promised legislation.

The Deputy cannot have this on the Order of Business. It is only for promised legislation.

I am asking if there is promised legislation. If the Government was so intent-----

Is there promised legislation?

-----on ruling Deputy McGrath's Bill out of order, does it have its own proposal?

Mattie did not even appear for the vote.

I call Deputy Dooley.

So there are no proposals.

There is no legislation promised at the moment. The Deputy can put down a parliamentary question.

Tá mé in sa bhád céanna le Deputy Durkan agus b'fhéidir mar sin go leanfaidh mé ar aghaidh as Béarla. Last week the Minister for Transport published the Booz & Company report commissioned by the Government to consider the future ownership and management structures of the State airports. The publication has caused great concern among the people who work in the various airports, as well as the business and tourism industries surrounding those facilities. There has been nothing further from the Minister on how quickly he intends to proceed with the options outlined in the legislation. Will the Taoiseach give us some indication on when he proposes to bring appropriate enabling legislation before the House to give effect to one or other of the options outlined in the report?

The Deputy is aware of the Booz & Company report and what it recommends in respect of Dublin, Cork and Shannon. These are serious matters and the Minister is in a process of consultation. I suggest that if the Deputy speaks nicely to the Ceann Comhairle, he might allow a topical issue and the Minister could give a direct reply. I will have an answer sent to the Deputy when I get an opportunity to the speak to the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, who is considering the matter now.

I wish to ask about two items of legislation. When can we expect the valuation (amendment) Bill? There is a commitment in the programme for Government to establish a strategic investment bank, which would require legislation. I notice there is nothing current or for further contemplation in the legislative programme about a strategic investment bank. Is it the Government's intention to go ahead with this and does the Government intend during its lifetime to establish a strategic investment bank? If it does, when will the relevant legislation be brought forward?

The valuation (amendment) Bill is due this session. The Deputy is aware of the setting up of the strategic investment fund by the Government, which is the precursor to the issue raised by the Deputy.

Deputy O'Dea asked about an investment bank.

I asked two questions and the Taoiseach answered the first. Will he answer the second question?

We have set up the strategic investment fund, as the Deputy is aware.

No, I asked about the strategic investment bank mentioned by the programme for Government.

I am telling the Deputy we have set up the strategic investment fund.

I am not talking about the fund, I am talking about the bank.

I cannot give an accurate date with respect to the strategic investment bank proposal.

Is it the intention of the Government to establish such a bank?

The Deputy will have to-----

Does the Taoiseach intend to establish one? It is a "Yes" or "No" question.

We intend to fulfil the programme for Government.

I am only in the business of promised legislation.

It is promised legislation.

The Taoiseach has said nothing is promised at the moment.

I want to know. It is a very reasonable question.

He has just answered the Deputy.

The Government has promised to establish a strategic investment bank. There is a simple answer to the question. Does it intend to go ahead with the bank? Is the answer "Yes" or "No"?

We intend to fulfil the programme for Government-----

So is that a "Yes"?

-----and as part of that we set up the strategic investment fund.

That is not a strategic investment bank.

Take it out of the programme so.

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