It is proposed to take No. 4, Roads (Amendment) Bill, 1997, Second Stage (Resumed), and No. 5, Merchant Shipping (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, 1997, Order for Second Stage and Second Stage.
Order of Business.
I understand the Government is working on legislation to implement an EU agreement on extradition between member states. At what stage is the drafting of this legislation and when does the Taoiseach expect it to be introduced?
I have no knowledge of legislation in that area.
I refer to item No. 51 on page 5 of the Government's legislative programme as circulated on 23 January. The title is "the Convention on Extradition Procedures Between EU Member States, Bill."
That is at an early stage of drafting.
How early? Has the Taoiseach put pen to paper yet?
The Deputy is not likely to see it this year.
Will the Taoiseach agree that one of the principal purposes of the Amsterdam Treaty is to enhance security co-operation in the European Union and that any delay on our part in implementing the convention which has already been agreed would call into question our seriousness in new undertakings we might give?
There is a range of extradition arrangements. The Bill will give effect to the EU Convention on extradition procedures. This has to be done either by the end of the year or early next year. We will comply fully with this. As I understand it, difficulties are not being created.
I am glad to hear that. Will the Taoiseach ensure pen is put to paper and something is done about this matter?
We will adhere to the date specified.
Will the Taoiseach consider making time available today to clarify an issue on which, perhaps inadvertently, he misled the House last week when he stated that he had attended the ECOFIN Council on 11 December 1991 and argued the case for duty free sales?
I did not say that.
The record clearly shows the Taoiseach did not attend that meeting. He said last week he had been successful in securing a derogation.
That matter does not arise on the Order of Business.
A good try.
(Interruptions.)
I wish to reply. I was at the meeting, I think on 8 December 1991, at which these matters were wrapped up. When Deputy Stagg and his researchers were preparing a leaflet to attack me in Dublin North——
It was the Minister for Public Enterprise, Deputy O'Rourke, who gave us the document.
——they discovered that on the date in question Mr. Charles Haughey was acting Minister for Finance as Deputy Albert Reynolds had resigned and I had not been appointed. They then had to cancel the circular. We secured a derogation.
The Taoiseach claimed he had attended the meeting. The record clearly shows that he was not present.
We cannot pursue the matter any further.
Is it the Taoiseach's view that he does better when he does not go to meetings?
When is the Employment Equality Bill likely to be brought forward? Is the Taoiseach aware that, even though the Bill outlaws discrimination in employment on age grounds among other matters, State agencies are continuing to advertise jobs in respect of which there is an age bar? Will he ask his Ministers to direct the relevant State agencies to respect Government policy and allow us to deal with the matter?
The Bill is before the Seanad.
The debate in the Seanad is almost finished. The point the Deputy made has been brought to my attention. What people are doing is incorrect.
Before Christmas the Taoiseach stated the Minister for the Environment and Local Government was reviewing safety standards on school buses. When is this review likely to be completed and the findings published in light of an accident in County Laois last Wednesday when a young child was thrown from the back seat of a bus against the front windscreen?
It was not a school bus.
The matter will be dealt with by regulation.
When?
When will the EMU Bill be published?
It will be published after Easter. It has to be passed before the summer.
Dr. Upton
Will the Taoiseach indicate when he expects the parental leave Bill to be published and if we can take it from Deputy Hanafin's remarks yesterday that it will provide only for unpaid leave?
It will be published in the next session.
Will the Taoiseach indicate when he proposes to bring an amendment to the tribunal of inquiries Act before the House?
In the next week or two. The Bill is practically ready and it should be introduced the week after St. Patrick's Day.
Will the Taoiseach indicate when the indexation of fines Bill will be introduced? I am sure he will agree many fines are completely out of date due to changes in prices since they were put in place.
That Bill is under preparation in the Department of Justice which is dealing with quite an amount of legislation. I said in the House before that I would ask it to give priority to that Bill, and I have done that.
What is the Taoiseach's best estimate for its introduction?
When I last checked, I was told it should be ready early next year.
The Minister for Justice has gone to ground.
Given that the Local Government Planning and Development (No. 2) Bill will deal with a regional framework for the greater Dublin area, including Kildare, Meath, Wicklow and Dublin, and the urgency for it arising from a number of the counties being at an advanced stage of developing their own separate development plans, will the Taoiseach indicate when that Bill will be introduced?
I understand a question is tabled on that matter today. The legislation, which is to strengthen the protection afforded to the architectural heritage and to make other changes in the planning system, will be circulated in the autumn.
Mr. Higgins (Mayo): I know that some of the measures in the former equal status Bill have been included in the employment equality Bill. Can the Taoiseach indicate at what stage is the equal status Bill?
The Bill is under preparation and given the changes required, it will be early next year before it is ready.
Will the Taoiseach indicate the current status of the broadcasting Bill? Are we still on course for its production mid-year?
It will be published later this year. The proposals on digital broadcasting, which were to be dealt with separately, will now be included in that Bill which will delay its publication.
Is the Taoiseach aware that on 2 December he said the broadcasting Bill would be ready last month?
I did, but at that stage separate legislation was to be introduced on digitalisation, but now a decision has been made to include that in the broadcasting Bill.
Will the Taoiseach indicate the position regarding the judicial pensions Bill in view of the fact that the Supreme Court has ruled that existing arrangements for the payment of pensions to judges are unconstitutional?
An alternative approach is being considered to deal with that issue and it may not require separate legislation. We decided we could deal with the matter in another way and I believe that will be successful.
When will a decision be made on that?
Very shortly.
We come to deal with item No. 65. I call Deputy McManus.