Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 24 Nov 1999

Vol. 511 No. 4

Order of Business.

The Order of Business today shall be No. 11b, Motion re. Membership of Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine; No. 11c, Motion re. Referral of Stamp Duties Consolidation Bill, 1999, to the Standing Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills; and No. 3, the Illegal Immigrants (Trafficking) Bill, 1999 – Order for Second Stage and Second Stage. It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that Nos. 11b and 11c shall be decided without debate. Private Members' business shall be No. 83, Motion re. Confidence in the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (resumed) to conclude at 8.30 p.m. tonight.

Is the proposal for dealing with Nos. 11b and 11c agreed?

On No. 11b, when is the next meeting of that committee likely to be called?

Is the proposal agreed? Agreed.

Can the Taoiseach justify the continued delay in producing the Garda SMI legislation which he promised in this House for the second half of this year and which is now urgent in light of the fact that the Garda are going 16 years backwards in the use of technology as a result of failure to settle an industrial dispute; 30 per cent of householders believe they are unsafe, according to a survey published today; only 63 per cent of assaults are being reported to the Garda, and only 40 per cent of vandalism is being reported to the Garda? The public clearly has not got the necessary confidence in the way the force is working as a result of these statistics and such legislation, as the Taoiseach has promised, is therefore very urgent.

The Bill will be published in the middle of next year. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform established an expert group to examine the proposals in the report of the Garda SMI group and the group reported last year. Those recommendations will be part of the legislation. The heads of the Bill are expected before Christmas and the Bill will be published next year.

In relation to the report, Deputy Bruton has highlighted some of the negative statistics in the report but there are many positive aspects to it. It is the first of its kind to be done and is a good development. People should take heart from the fact that approximately two thirds of people are happy with the situation. I realise there are some negative issues to be addressed but that is being successfully done.

How could anybody take heart from the fact that less than half of non-violent theft is reported to the Garda? Surely that indicates a lack—

I must discourage any further discussion on this matter. There is a Private Members' motion this evening.

The Taoiseach used the phrase "take heart". People are not taking heart. They are not even bothering to report crime.

Did Deputy Bruton read the full report?

In respect of promised legislation, the Taoiseach may not have had sufficient notice yesterday when he answered questions and perhaps he might elaborate now upon reflection.

Did he manage to find out since yesterday?

There are two Bills promised, No. 26 of section C, which is the Work Permits Bill, and No. 76 of section C, the Immigration and Residence Bill. In relation to the announcement that the Government proposes to provide for up to 5,000 economic immigrants to come into this country, can the Taoiseach indicate to the House under which Bill that measure will be dealt with?

My answer is the same as the one I gave yesterday—

It cannot be the same.

—and it has been well reported but I will state it again. The Work Permits Bill, which is due to be published in 2000, is to deal with the issue of a work permits regime in respect of non-EU nationals working in the State. The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment has stated that the Bill will be reformed and brought forward later next year. The heads of the Immigration and Residence Bill are expected by the middle of next year and the legislation will be published later in the year. Between 11,000 and 15,000 people have come into the State in recent years under the 1935 legislation. As I stated yesterday, the issue arises as to whether those regulations, which are more than 60 years old and which allowed up to 15,000 to come to this country in the past 18 or 20 months, can be updated or is legislation required. That decision still has to be made and the Minister will make it shortly.

What was the reason for the announcement on Monday?

We cannot have a debate now.

That a number of people would come in.

The Taoiseach has offered a substantial amount of information to the report in the paper. Both he and I are familiar with the work permits legislation because at one stage we had responsibility for its administration. It specifically requires an employer to demonstrate that they cannot get suitable labour here and they have to specifically name the applicant. Do I take it that the principle of the existing work permits legislation will be maintained and that the announcement of inviting up to 5,000 people from different countries will not proceed—

A ball of smoke.

—because it cannot under the current system?

Under the 1935 regulations it is the company which seeks the individual. That is what is currently happening in most cases. Companies are doing their own recruitment outside the country. Most of them are technology companies and some of them are bringing in a large number of non-EU citizens.

So the announcement meant nothing.

The situation now is different from that which pertained in 1935. Since 1 January this year, between 11,000 and 15,000 people from non-EU countries have come here. The Tánaiste is examining this legislation and the regulations to see what is the best way to go forward.

There are two Bills promised for the electricity sector. One of those is an ESB Bill and the other is in relation to competition. When will this legislation be brought forward? Given that it will be three years at the earliest before the new power stations are operational, will the Taoiseach ask the Minister for Public Enterprise, Deputy O'Rourke, to speed up the legislation before we are all left in the dark because of the definite predictability of power cuts?

The Deputy is in the dark already.

The lights will go out shortly.

We are not just stuck in traffic.

Order. The Taoiseach on promised legislation.

The heads of the electricity Bill are expected in May and the Bill will be due in October.

The Taoiseach gave his reply but I did not hear him. When will we have the legislation? These are two important Bills.

The Taoiseach was silenced by the loudest chatterbox in the class.

October 2000.

Tá tuairisc san Irish Independent inniu a deireann: “drinking water quality going down the drain”. Tá cúrsaí ag dul in olcais ansin. Tá Water Services Bille geallta chomh maith ach feicimid in aice leis “work is at a preliminary stage”. An féidir leis an Taoiseach a rá go bhfuil an cheist seo práinneach anois agus go bhfuil gá gníomhú dá réir ar an reachtaíocht. Ní leor “preliminary stage” le haghaidh Bille chomh tábhachtach leis seo.

The heads of the Bill are expected late next year. The Bill will not be available until 2001.

The National Cultural Institutions Act became law in 1997. When is it proposed to appoint a board for the National Museum as there is only a caretaker board at present?

The Deputy should table a parliamentary question on that matter.

Will someone in the Government contact the county engineer in Westmeath to do something about the most appalling traffic cock-up which occurred yesterday?

This matter is not in order. The Deputy has other ways of raising such matters.

People were stuck in traffic for an hour and a half.

I call Deputy Quinn.

Deputy Yates is blaming the Government for everything.

There are more announcements than buses.

This is a matter for the county council.

Order. I will move on if Deputies do not return to the Order of Business. I have called Deputy Quinn.

On a point of order, a Cheann Comhairle, Deputy Kenny is in the wrong county. Enfield is in County Meath.

That is not a point of order. I call Deputy Quinn.

Deputy Kenny was in Westmeath trying to get to Meath.

I am glad Deputy Kenny gave up teaching.

In a humanitarian response last year, the Irish people donated approximately £3 million to the Red Cross. In light of the revelations that have emerged, does the Government have any intention to review the 1954 legislation or to investigate what is happening in that organisation in order to maintain public confidence in that body?

This matter was raised yesterday and disallowed. Is legislation promised? This issue can only be raised in the context of promised legislation.

As I stated yesterday, there was no change in legislation. A new financial controller was recently appointed and the society recruited a new secretary general. The workings of the society are being examined and there has been a review of its headquarters.

When will the land registry Bill be published? Is the Taoiseach aware that there is a 60-week delay in processing applications? When will the valuation Bill be published? Will small family-owned bed and breakfast accommodation be rated in the new Bill?

We cannot discuss the contents of a Bill.

The heads of the Land Registry Bill are expected before Christmas. The Bill will convert the Land Registry and Registry of Deeds into a semi-State body. The legislation will be introduced late next year.

This is a very important Bill.

As regards the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, in November 1997 and 1988 the Minister sought the House's permission to defer elections to the regional fisheries boards. Those elections are due on 14 December and there is much concern about the Bill.

The Deputy must ask a question on promised legislation.

Will the Minister be seeking a postponement of elections to the regional fisheries boards until next year in order to allow proper discussions to take place and to allay the concerns about this Bill?

This side of the House would support that deferment.

The legislation is tabled for tomorrow and perhaps these issues can be discussed on the floor of the House tomorrow.

When will Second Stage of the Bill be taken? I am concerned about this aspect of the legislation.

The legislation is tabled for tomorrow.

Top
Share