The Order of Business today shall be as follows: No. 34, Broadcasting Bill, 1999, Second Stage (resumed), and No. 1, National Beef Assurance Scheme Bill, 1999[Seanad], Second Stage. Private Members' Business shall be No. 85 – Motion re: Taxation (resumed) – to conclude at 8.30 p.m. tonight.
Order of Business.
There are no proposals to be put to the House.
On Question Time yesterday the Taoiseach indicated that he would supply me with a list of his travelling companions on his visit to New York. I have not yet received the list and I wonder if the Tánaiste is in possession of it?
The Joint Committee on Health and Children yesterday approved the Shatter report on tobacco and smoking. Does the Government have plans to extend the powers of the Joint Oireachtas Committee to compel representatives of the tobacco companies to appear before it? Given the success of the Committee of Public Accounts, it is appropriate that the Joint Committee on Health and Children be granted such powers. Will the Tánaiste indicate the position regarding the other legislation promised in respect of that committee, given that cross-party agreement has been reached?
The first question is not a matter for the Order of Business.
It was promised.
It does not refer to legislation.
I have a copy of the letter the Taoiseach sent to Deputy Owen last night and I will pass it to her following the Order of Business. I can assure her that it was sent on 9 November.
How many people will go on the trip?
Five.
Including the Taoiseach?
It is a bit early for Christmas shopping.
I hope the Tánaiste submitted her request for a Christmas present in good time.
Six people, including the Taoiseach, will go on the trip. I assure the Deputy that they will not be going shopping.
Perhaps they will be fundraising.
I understand they will be looking for money.
Yes, for Ireland.
With regard to Deputy Owen's comments about the Joint Committee on Health and Children, there is a statutory sub-committee which considers the compellability of witnesses and makes recommendations to committees if it feels that such action is desirable. The committee made such a recommendation in relation to the Committee of Public Accounts and if it receives a request from the Joint Committee on Health and Children I am sure it will be given favourable consideration.
Has the Government had the opportunity to consider the other legislation to which I referred?
No.
Is the Tánaiste in a position to extract a definite date for the introduction of the immigration Bill? I ask this question because, despite assurances given on television yesterday by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, at 10.30 a.m. this morning the office in Lower Mount Street remained closed and there was a huge queue of asylum seekers outside. It seems that something is seriously wrong and, despite ministerial assurances, a large queue of people is spilling out on to the footpath, the office is closed and a service is not being provided. That is a reflection of the absence of a policy in this area. Will the Tánaiste use her influence to extract a date for the introduction of the legislation to the House in order that we can identify the nature of Government policy? Will she also comment on this morning's events in Lower Mount Street?
We cannot have comments on the situation in Lower Mount Street, the Tánaiste may only comment on proposed legislation.
The matter raised by Deputy Michael D. Higgins is administrative in nature and it is being dealt with by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
Not very well.
Not at all.
The Tánaiste on promised legislation.
Legislation is not required in this area, it is a matter of administration and processing.
Legislation is required to open the door.
The immigration Bill is expected late next year.
I call Deputy Noonan.
Will people be obliged to queue for a year and a half? Is the office expected to open later this week? Will the Tánaiste ask the Minister when the—
I have called Deputy Noonan.
It is absolutely outrageous that people are being obliged to wait in the street.
The Deputy's party did nothing about this matter while in Government.
(Interruptions.)
I call Deputy Noonan. Deputy Higgins should resume his seat because this matter cannot be dealt with on the Order of Business. There are other ways to raise it.
This matter cannot be dealt with at all. It shows only total incompetence on the part of the Minister.
Zero tolerance, zero competence.
What arrangements have been made for the publication of the Book of Estimates? As is now the precedent, will the Opposition be provided with advance copies?
The Estimates will be published tomorrow, Thursday, and the precedent followed in recent years will be adhered to by the Minister for Finance. I will discuss the matter with him.
There are six weeks left until the end of the session and the Tánaiste promised to bring forward the jobs initiative set out in Partnership 2000. Does she intend to make time available, either today or next week, to announce to the House details of the jobs initiative which is of interest to approximately 3,000 people?
As the Deputy is aware, that matter does not require legislation. A review was carried out and a decision will be made on that within the next week.
Will that decision be announced in the House or will it be published outside of it?
I will ensure that the parties are made aware of the decision. I believe they will be satisfied with the outcome of the discussions and negotiations.
Do I understand that the Tánaiste has no intention of running away from this issue as she has from others?
Nobody has done more running away than the Deputy.
What about the Tánaiste's party's by-election and European election candidates?
(Interruptions.)
Earlier this year, in response to a Private Members' Bill introduced by Fine Gael, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Taoiseach promised that they would introduce amending legislation in the area of corruption prevention. Will the Tánaiste confirm that Bill is still on target and will be enacted before Christmas, as promised?
The Bill is on target for introduction this year.
The Tánaiste will be aware that the report of the inspector of mental hospitals has finally been published. It is a damning report of mental institutions here. Can she guarantee to the House the commitment made by the Taoiseach that the mental health Bill will be published in mid-November? We are getting very close to that date.
Yes, it will certainly be published before the end of the session.
The debate on the human rights motion has been adjourned for most of the year. I have tabled an amendment to that motion asking for the appointment of a Minister to co-ordinate immigrant issues. Will the Tánaiste consult the Whips and make arrangements to conclude that debate by the end of the year if time could be found for it, particularly given the recurrent problems faced by immigrants?
That is a matter for the Whips.
I have been told by the Chief Whip that there will be a debate on human rights on Tuesday week. Obviously, however, it is matter to be discussed by the Whips.
On the issue of work permits for asylum seekers, some 13 permits have been issued. When will there be legislation to introduce some sanity to the issue? Also, when will the Intoxicating Liquor (No. 2) Bill be before the House?
In relation to work permits, the Government made a decision in July and 15 permits have been granted and a number are under consideration.
Wow.
In four months 15 permits have been issued, after having talked about it for a year.
If people do not apply or the people who do apply do not qualify—
The Government can change the limitations.
Deputy Howlin knows that work permits are issued on an administrative basis, not a legislative basis. That is unsatisfactory and it will be put on a statutory basis. The Government agreed to do that and will do so next year.
It will be early to mid next year before the Intoxicating Liquor (No. 2) Bill is introduced.
(Mayo): We have been told that the comedy of errors afflicting the unopened £26 million project at Clover Hill will be rectified within a week. Will the Tánaiste assure the House that the bail laws which have been in place for the past two and a half years will then be brought into force immediately?
Clearly the regulations to bring the changes that occurred into law were not made because of the lack of prison space.
We will open another few prisons for a week.
All the Minister has to do is open the doors.
Are the visiting committees attending these new prisons?
And claiming their expenses?
All Deputy Rabbitte's visitors have gone already.
Order, please.
I do not think the Deputies should laugh. It is a pity they did not do something about it.
Deputies must only ask questions on legislation. We cannot have a discussion on the matter.
Will the Tánaiste reply to my query?
If the House gives an opportunity, we may hear a reply.
The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform will make the necessary order when he has sufficient space.
Arising from the Tánaiste's reply, could she or the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform explain why the prison officers in Clover Hill are all getting overtime payments for minding prisoners who are not in Clover Hill anymore?
That matter is not in order.
It has been some time since the Supreme Court decided that the 1979 legislation governing national parks in respect of the Blasket Islands was unconstitutional. What is the Government's response to that finding in view of the time it has had to deliberate on it?
In respect of the legislation which established Bord Gáis, what consideration has been given to the announcement of an extension to the gas pipeline from the Corrib field to the landing point of 1.5 trillion cubic metres of gas?
That is a matter for Parliamentary Questions, it is not a matter for the Order of Business.
It is very important for the west of Ireland.
The Local Government Reform Bill is to be published this session according to the Taoiseach. Will the Tánaiste tell the House if all the heads of that Bill have been approved by the Government?
Yes, they have. It will be published this session.
Is it then the case that the Minister's promise to have directly elected mayors and county council chairpersons will not be included in that Bill, as was previously promised?
What is to be included in legislation is not a matter for the Order of Business.
Does the Government have any plans to help the sheep and pig farmers outside the gates of Leinster House?
Again, that is not a matter for the Order of Business. The Deputy has other ways to raise the matter.
The last time I asked the Tánaiste about the Fundraising for Charitable and Other Purposes Bill, she was anxious that it came before the House. What is the position with the Bill now?
It is important that we should legislate in this area and there is a commitment to do so in the review of the programme for Government. I understand the Bill will come before the House in the middle of next year.
The Tánaiste said the Book of Estimates will be published tomorrow. Will it include the help needed by the pig farmers in the Border areas?
The contents of legislation are not matters for the Order of Business.
(Dublin West): The Government is like a giddy class this morning but I have something which may sober it up. There is appalling suffering among people on hospital waiting lists, suffering which has been made worse since the Government forced the nurses to go on strike.
Has the Deputy a question on the Order of Business?
(Dublin West): It is not strictly a matter for the Order of Business.
Does the Deputy have a question?
(Dublin West): In fairness, everyone else gets to finish their sentences before they are cut off. I should be given the same opportunity.
I gave the Deputy the floor but he did not put a question.
(Dublin West): What emergency measures will the Government introduce to rectify the situation?
That is not a matter for the Order of Business. There are other ways the Deputy can raise that issue.