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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Jun 1998

Vol. 492 No. 7

Order of Business.

It is proposed to take No. 8a on the supplementary Order Paper, a technical motion regarding the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Bill, 1998, [Seanad]; No. 8, the Urban Renewal Bill, 1998 — Financial Resolution; No. 23, statements on the EU Summit in Cardiff, No. 24, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland Bill, 1998, Order for Report and Report and Final Stages and No. 1, the Parental Leave Bill, 1998, [Seanad], Second Stage.

It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 tonight and that business shall be interrupted not later than 10.30 p.m. Nos. 8a and 8 shall be decided without debate and No. 23, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion after 75 minutes. Contributions shall be as follows: the statement of the Taoiseach and the main spokespersons for the Fine Gael and Labour Parties shall not exceed 15 minutes in each case. The statements of the main spokespersons of the Democratic Left and the Green Parties shall not exceed ten minutes in each case. The Minister or Minister of State shall be called to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed ten minutes. Report and Final Stages of No. 24 shall be taken today and proceedings thereon, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion tonight by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Health and Children. Private Members' Business shall be No. 36, the Broadcasting and Other Media (Public Right of Access and Diversity of Ownership) Bill, 1998, Second Stage.

There are four proposals to be put to the House. Is the proposal for the late sitting agreed? Agreed. Are the proposals for dealing with Nos. 8a and 8 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 23 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 24 agreed? Agreed.

Does the Government have any proposals to change the Criminal Justice (Sexual Offences) Act, 1993, to ensure better protection for prostitutes, given the murder of a prostitute in the last few days? I realise this is tabled for the Adjournment but, with no disrespect to the person who has raised the matter, we will not have an opportunity to discuss legislation with the Taoiseach. This is a different issue. Has the Taoiseach had a chance to see if the 1993 legislation requires amendment to provide better protection for prostitutes, many of whom have been seriously injured in recent years?

There is no legislation on this matter forthcoming, but I assume that the matter is well covered by other legislation. Regarding protection, it is well known that the Garda monitor these areas very closely. They keep a watchful eye on the ladies concerned and always try their best to protect them. There were gardaí in the area after the tragic death of the lady from Santry. I will convey the Deputy's views to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. I do not think new legislation is needed as these matters are already covered. The Minister keeps these matters under review in any case.

Last week we debated the apparent decision of the Government to introduce legislation to give effect to the prisoners provisions in the Good Friday Agreement. Can the Taoiseach indicate the legislative steps the Government will take?

Last week I thanked the Deputy for his proposals. The Bill was worked on over the weekend. We came to the conclusion beyond doubt that legislation would not be required but, based on what I have said over a number of weeks, in the spirit of the Agreement the legislation was cleared this morning by the Cabinet.

When is it proposed to take that legislation?

I think it has already been agreed by the Whips to take it on Thursday week. That is subject to agreement.

When is it proposed to bring the amended terms of reference of the Flood Tribunal before the House? When will there be a debate on this?

That does not arise on the Order of Business.

It arises from legislation.

It arises from legislation but Standing Order 26 refers specifically to legislation, not matters arising from it.

This is a legislative matter.

The question is not appropriate to the Order of Business. The Deputy may table a parliamentary question on the matter.

Legislation is required for the terms of reference of the Flood tribunal. I am asking when those legislative proposals are to be debated.

I understand the Whips are to discuss this matter with a view to debating it on Wednesday week.

Yesterday the Taoiseach promised a new children's strategy. Does he have any proposals for legislation to introduce that strategy? Does he accept that a better strategy would be to ensure that the Children Bill before the House becomes law rather than announcing something else?

I am astonished that Deputy Owen is not supportive of yesterday's announcement.

I am supportive of it. The Government should do something.

Children are socially excluded in disadvantaged areas of Dublin. The Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, was announcing 12 areas around the country where there would be intervention in conjunction with Barnardo's and other groups. The situation regarding the Children Bill is as I announced last week.

The Taoiseach has given the impression I do not support this——

The Chair is on its feet.

The Government would do better to ensure that the legislation is enacted. It should stop trying to make little of this matter. It is a serious issue.

The Children Bill is in committee. The Deputy knows there are substantial amendments tabled to it.

It is not in committee.

It is not. We have been waiting 16 months.

It has been tabled to start. I do not decide when it is to be taken. There are chairmen to do so.

I raise a matter that has been taken twice on the Order of Business. On 16 October 1997, the Government accepted a Dáil resolution tabled by me and Deputy Bruton regarding the Louth residents' group and their legal case. On the subsequent Thursday, the Taoiseach——

That is not in order. Deputy Stagg was ruled out of order on that issue.

It is now eight months later and not a penny has been paid. On a point of order, the Ceann Comhairle twice accepted that the Taoiseach——

That is not in order. The business before the House today is in order.

It is now eight months later and not a penny has been paid. There have been new preconditions set, legal expenses have been incurred and dialogue has broken down.

I ask the Deputy to resume his seat. It is not in order for a Deputy to stand when the Chair is on its feet.

You have not heard the substantive issue.

It is not in order.

I can give the Chair the dates on which the Taoiseach responded on the Order of Business.

The Ceann Comhairle has facilitated this. The Government made pre-election pledges. A resolution of this House is a very serious matter. This Government is accountable to this House.

If Deputy Yates does not resume his seat I will ask him to leave the House.

He has resumed his seat.

I will leave the House, but it is outrageous that the Government has broken every pledge it made prior to the election.

Tá an stáisiún TV3 ag tosnú i mí Meán Fomhair agus in agallamh i FOINSE le déanaí dúirt an tEagarthóir nach mbeadh cláracha Gaeilge ar an stáisiún nua ar chor ar bith. An bhfuil sé seo in ord leis na coinníollacha a cuireadh isteach san Acht Raidio agus Teilifíse 1988? Muna mbíonn freagra agat anois b'fhéidir go gcuirfeá scéala chugam faoi.

The Independent Radio and Television Commission has power to deal with a matter like that. If the station is stating that there are no Irish programmes and no Irish content, it would be a matter for the Independent Radio and Television Commission.

When will legislation be introduced to put into effect the Costello report on the registration of charities given that previously we were promised the Fund-raising for Charitable and Other Purposes Bill? This is a matter that many charities ask about.

Will the Minister for Finance have an opportunity to clarify a matter on which he either misled the House on Thursday last or in regard to which he himself has been misrepresented?

Work on the Fund-raising for Charitable and Other Purposes Bill is proceeding in the Department. No date has been given for publication because of other priorities in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. On the other matter, the Minister for Finance did not mislead the House. What he said in the House was correct. No decision has been made.

So the Irish Independent is wrong.

In December the Taoiseach promised in the House that the Greyhound Industry Bill would be introduced during this session. Given that the session is almost over, I am sure it will not now be introduced. Will the Taoiseach indicate when it will be introduced?

The Greyhound Industry Bill seems to be getting slower all the time. It will not be ready until next year.

I understand the Government has today agreed to the proposals for the National Conference Centre in the Docklands area. Will legislation of any kind be necessary to ensure that the project commences and is completed?

I do not think legislation is envisaged, but discussions have not yet been finalised.

Given that 14,000 bills are due to be sent out by Dublin Corporation for the collection of £2 million to pay for a rebaling plant and that these bills are to be sent to schools and non-profit organisations, including the President of Ireland, when is it intended to bring forward legislation on the election of mayors and chairpersons of county councils so that these matters can be properly debated in the House? To do this in the way it is being done amounts to a £2 million tax on education.

The Local Government (No. 2) Bill, to modernise local Government legislation will be ready early next year.

Will the Taoiseach provide time for a full and open debate on genetic engineering to avoid a repeat of the vandalism that was carried out by a protest group in County Wexford at the weekend?

That is not in order.

Regarding the legislation on prisoners will there be a specific section dealing with the murderers — who are in prison — of the four gardaí?

It is not appropriate to ask about the specifics of legislation.

It is important. The Taoiseach is aware of the concerns of the families of the four gardaí. I hope he will respond in legislation.

Mr. Hayes

I seek the permission of the House to introduce the Home Purchasers (Anti-Gazumping) Bill, 1998.

Perhaps the Deputy would wait a moment.

My question is also in relation to gazumping. Are the Progressive Democrats still on the team or will they be sent home after the first round?

That is not allowed.

In relation to the Children Bill, the Taoiseach may have been in Gallanstown last night when an announcement was made. Was he embarrassed that only one of the 12 schemes was for the Dublin area, given the problems in his and my area?

Will the Ombudsman Bill, which is promised, cover issues such as that raised by Deputy Yates, where the Taoiseach and the Government have reneged on commitments to Louth residents to take their case before Europe? Will the Taoiseach be dealing with that in the Ombudsman Bill to give people proper vindication of their rights?

The Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill will be ready in a number of months. Its purpose is to widen the remit of the Ombudsman to make provision for administrative procedures. When the Bill comes forward that matter can be debated.

Regarding the Health (Amendment) Bill, which includes the replacement of the Eastern Health Board, what effect will this have on rent allowances for couples who cannot afford to rent property in the Dublin area?

That is not in order. The Deputy cannot ask about the specifics of legislation.

Will there be provision of special treatment in the greater Dublin area where people are being evicted every day because of low rent allowances?

It is not in order.

When will the Health (Amendment) Bill be introduced?

In the autumn.

Has the Government made up its mind yet on the Sunday Trading Bill? The Taoiseach will recall that his Government voted it down before Christmas, and we are heading into the recess and a busy shopping time over the summer?

The Minister of State announced his proposals in this House some time ago. He is seeking agreement among the various sectors of the industry and between employers and staff to try to move this matter forward.

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