Today's Order of Business is No. 43, Protection of Children (Hague Convention) Bill, 1998, Order for Report and Report and Final Stages; No. 44, Children Bill, 1999, Second Stage (resumed); No. 42, the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse Bill, 2000, Order for Report and Report and Final Stages to be taken not later than immediately following announcement of matters on the Adjournment under Standing Order 21, the order to be resumed thereafter; and No. 2, the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Bill, Second Stage. It is proposed that, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, the Report and Final Stages of No. 43 shall be taken today and that the proceedings thereon, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 12.15 p.m. by one question put from the Chair which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down and accepted by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Private Members' business shall be No. 94, motion re. development aid (resumed), to conclude at 8.30 p.m.
Order of Business.
There is one proposal to be put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 43 agreed? Agreed.
The Minister for Public Enterprise has indicated she is considering legislation concerning the re-regulation of the transport sector. The European Commission in its recent annual report criticised the Government's handling of inflation and called for legislation to regulate competition in the transport sector and for enhanced powers for the Competition Authority. What are the plans for legislation to deal with these two matters identified by the EU Commission in its annual report on the Irish economy as critical in terms of its dissatisfaction with the Government's handling of inflation, which is running at twice the European average?
The House will note that an excellent report has been published by the EU on the Irish economy and sustainability of the current excellent performance.
What about the pinkos?
It also pointed out a number of ways in which we should continue to develop the economy. As I have always said, we will be very careful in terms of inflation.
The Taoiseach should apologise to every Christian in Ireland for his remark.
The Minister for Public Enterprise is continuing to examine the regulation of the transport industry. As she previously stated, she will bring forward her proposals in due course.
Has the Taoiseach read the remarks of the European Commission? The Commissioner obviously has a better command of certain linguistic terms than the Taoiseach who sometimes refers in blasphemous terms to other people.
The Deputy is renowned for some bloomers himself. What about the peace process?
The Commissioner said "the inflation situation is not so brilliant". That is a masterful understatement.
Columbo.
Undertakings were given last week in the House that the letter from the Taxing Master, Mr. Flynn, to the Attorney General would be put before the House. Will this happen? We have made inquiries and it has not happened yet. I tabled a question which was ruled out of order, but the Tánaiste fulsomely explained that the Government was very unhappy with the intemperate attack on the tribunals by Mr. Flynn. When will his public apology be put in the public domain, along with his public attack?
I will check that. My understanding is that this was put before the House over a week ago, but I will check.
There are many media reports about the Cabinet and sub-committees of the Cabinet discussing Dublin's underground and over ground transport projects. While I understand the Taoiseach has to take charge of the issue given the procrastination of the Minister on the matter, is it intended that there will be an end to this process? Will legislation be introduced as happened in the case of Luas? Will there be a change to the national development plan? Will the matter be debated or what will the Government do about it?
We just told the Deputy's leader.
The Minister looks well on the front of Phoenix. What bubble bath does she use?
We will get Deputy Yates to Dublin Airport.
There has already been legislation and there could be further legislation.
I am anxious to know what progress is being made with the Teaching Council Bill given the large number of students, particularly in primary schools, who do not have qualified teachers. Will the Government fulfil its promise of bringing forward that legislation before Easter?
The commitment I made a number of times was to publish the Bill before Easter, and that will be done.
A number of weeks ago in her announcement of new appointments to the Arts Council the Minister committed herself to revamping arts legislation, involving wide consultation. At that time she said the former troubles were rotting away and buried forever. How does she square that with the comments of Mr. Paul McGuinness as reported in today's issue of The Irish Times? Has the consultation process started?
That question does not relate to legislation. I call Deputy McManus.
It concerns promised legislation.
The Deputy should raise it in another way.
It concerns legislation promised by the Minister.
Has the Deputy a question on promised legislation?
Has the consultation process begun?
We are concerned with legislation, not process.
There was a promise to process this legislation.
The Deputy asked if I will square something between the Minister, Deputy de Valera, and Paul McGuinness. I have enough to be doing.
Legislation was passed in the House to establish the Lindsay tribunal to investigate the scandal of haemophiliacs being infected by HIV and hepatitis C. There is a serious risk that the tribunal will not now be able to do its work. I ask the Taoiseach to ensure the Minister for Health and Children abandons his obduracy—
The Deputy must ask a question on promised legislation.
—in the face of dealing with these victims. The Taoiseach and the Minister for Health and Children are both young men and have their lives ahead of them.
The Deputy is making a statement which is not in order on the Order of Business.
Irish haemophiliacs do not have that luxury.
A statement is not in order.
I ask the Taoiseach to respond for pity's sake.
The Deputy is being disorderly.
I told the Deputy yesterday that the Government is fully committed to establishing the truth and to ensuring the tribunal is effective. Yesterday the Deputy asked if there was an application to defer or postpone the tribunal. There is no such application. We want to facilitate the participation of the Irish Haemophiliacs Society and its members in the process as quickly as possible. This has been our avowed objective from the start. Discussions are ongoing with the Minister and I hope a conclusion is reached as quickly as possible.
Will the Taoiseach put his commitment in writing? That is all we want.
There is an Estimate on the Order Paper under which the Deputy will have an opportunity to make those points.
Mr. Hayes
Last night's "Prime Time" again exposed the problems for tenants in the private rented sector. In light of the report laid before the House last year by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform following the Mespil flats scandal—
The Deputy should ask a question.
Mr. Hayes
—where a specific proposal was made to amend the Landlord and Tenant Act, when are we likely to see amending legislation?
The major report which was commissioned by the Minister will be ready shortly.
The Government has failed on local authority housing. It is a disgrace.
Mr. Hayes
The Taoiseach misunderstands my question. It was proposed to amend the Landlord and Tenant (Amendment) Act, 1994, following the report of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform last year.
We must await the report.
Mr. Hayes
When are we likely to see the amendments to that Act which will give greater security of tenure for people who are suffering in the private rented sector?
The Deputy cannot embellish his question. I call Deputy Joe Higgins.
The question was not answered.
(Dublin West): The Taoiseach said yesterday that legislation would be brought forward if it was necessary to deal with private rented accommodation. It is obvious after last night's revelations of the most vile exploitation of tenants through rack-rents, lack of security of tenure and disgraceful conditions that legislation is needed.
The Deputy should ask a question.
(Dublin West): When will the legislation be introduced to protect the vulnerable people in private rented accommodation to control rents and provide security of tenure? It is a crucial matter affecting tens of thousands of people.
The Deputy cannot make a statement.
There will be a major report on this area, which will be representative of all interests and all the points raised on television programmes and elsewhere. The commission will report in early June.
All Members will be aware of the dreadful situation in the Horn of Africa, particularly in Ethiopia and parts of Somalia. Given the newspaper reports that the European Commission took back £2.3 billion in unused development aid, will the Taoiseach lay the report of the European Court of Auditors before the House so that this matter can be discussed?
That is not strictly appropriate to the Order of Business.
There is a Private Members' motion before the House dealing with some of these issues. If the Deputy wants the Whips to examine that issue, I am sure they can.
I refer to two Bills introduced by the Labour Party. One was accepted by the Government and the other was rejected in favour of a Government Bill. Where is the Whistleblowers Bill, 1999? When will the trade union recognition Bill be brought forward?
The Whistleblowers Bill, 1999, is before the Oireachtas Select Committee on Enterprise and Small Business. I do not think it has yet set a date to take it.
I am a member of the committee. There is no sign of it.