Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 29 Jun 2000

Vol. 522 No. 4

Order of Business (Resumed).

Mr. Naughten

In light of the British Government announcement yesterday that children brain damaged by the administration of vaccine will receive compensation of £100,000, and that the then Minister for Health, Deputy Woods, compensated such children with £10,000, will the Tánaiste ensure the ombudsman for children Bill is published as soon as possible to ensure equality of treatment for children brain damaged by State administered vaccines?

The Tánaiste: We will ensure it is published as soon as possible. The Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Hanafin, is currently working on the Bill, the heads of which the Government agreed on 18 April. The Bill will be published in the autumn session.

Mr. Howlin

I understand the chairperson of the Human Rights Commission will be appointed in the coming weeks and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform gave a commitment that consultation would take place with Opposition Members on that matter. Will the Tánaiste confirm that such consultation will take place and will she indicate the date on which the appointment will be made?

The Tánaiste

Consultation will take place with the Opposition and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform will be in contact with Opposition Members in the next two to three weeks. The matter will be dealt with in July.

Mrs. Owen

Item 20e on the Order Paper states that the Trade Marks Act, 1996 (Community Trade Mark) Regulations, 2000, will be referred to the relevant joint committee. However, the Tánaiste agreed this would not be the case. I seek to ensure that, because we did not amend the Order of Business, it will not be referred to the committee. Will the Tánaiste clarify the position? Should I table an amendment to the Order of Business?

The Tánaiste

We have already agreed not to refer it to the committee.

Mrs. Owen

I wish to inquire about two further issues, the first of which relates to the promised nursing Bill. Given that the Minister for Health and Children met representatives of private nursing homes and promised to—

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

It is not appropriate to make a speech on the matter, Deputy Owen.

Mrs. Owen

—consider the provision of subventions for nursing home attendants.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

The Tánaiste on the nursing Bill.

Mrs. Owen

Will the Tánaiste ensure the Minister for Health and Children gives a commitment to private nursing homes that additional subventions will be provided?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

The Deputy should allow the Tánaiste to answer the question.

The Tánaiste

The nursing Bill will be published in the autumn.

Mrs. Owen

Will the Tánaiste ask the Minister for Health and Children to reply to the Irish Nursing Homes Organisation? The other issue to which I wish to refer involves the regulations the Tánaiste proposes to put in place in respect of those who are concluding their time on the jobs initiative scheme in June. There appears to be no information available about what will happen to those people.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

That matter does not arise on the Order of Business. I call Deputy Quinn. We must proceed to other business. Approximately eight Members are offering. I am prepared to entertain Members' questions if they remain strictly within Standing Order 26. However, if Members are determined to make Second Stage speeches I will move on.

Mr. Deasy

The Leas-Cheann Comhairle would be right in doing so.

Mr. Quinn

Has the Government decided to introduce legislation to provide for a press council in view of the fears expressed by the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation that the members of the media are going to turn this country into a fascist state? Does the Minister believes Ireland will become like Nazi Germany?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

There is no such legislation promised. I call Deputy Jim O'Keeffe.

Mr. J. O'Keeffe

I am in favour of the establishment of a press council but there has been no movement in that area.

On a number of occasions I have raised with the Taoiseach the matter of the need for a judges inquiry Bill. In the aftermath of the Sheedy affair last year, it became clear that there are no procedures for implementing the impeachment process under the Constitution. I raise this matter again in the context of the ongoing inquiry into the actions of a District Court judge. If a recommendation is made to invoke the impeachment procedures, the process for so doing is not statutorily underpinned. The Taoiseach indicated that he accepted the need for such a Bill.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Is legislation promised in this area?

Mr. J. O'Keeffe

Yes. The Taoiseach informed me that he accepted the need to introduce legis lation of this kind but the next report will have been received before action is taken.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

I will proceed to the next business if Members continue to make Second Stage speeches.

The Tánaiste

It is important that we introduce change in the area to which the Deputy refers. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is awaiting the Chief Justice's report and a committee is investigating the area of judicial ethics.

Mr. J. O'Keeffe

When will the Bill be published?

Mr. Higgins

(Dublin West): Given that the Tánaiste is taking the Order of Business and that she cannot possibly get into any deeper water on the matter, will she indicate if she will attend the “Jail the Corrupt Politicians” street rally in Dublin this weekend?

(Interruptions).

The Tánaiste

Would I be welcome?

Mr. Rabbitte

The Tánaiste could go as Joan of Arc.

(Interruptions).

Mr. Ring

With regard to the rail safety Bill—

(Interruptions).

Mr. Ring

Would it be possible to call for order, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Order for Deputy Ring, please. The Deputy wishes to raise a matter appropriate to the Order of Business

Mr. Ring

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. With regard to the rail safety Bill, for many years people in this jurisdiction urged those in another jurisdiction to sit down and talk. We are in the middle of a busy tourism season and it is 12 days since—

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

The Deputy should raise a matter that is appropriate to the Order of Business.

Mr. Ring

This matter certainly is appropriate to the Order of Business.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Does the Deputy wish to pose a question on legislation?

Mr. Ring

Thousands of people in the west depend on tourism to make their living. Will the Tánaiste encourage everyone involved in the rail dispute to become involved in negotiations? If the dispute involved Dublin Bus, every Minister would be concerned about what was going to happen. The west is as important as Dublin.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

I call Deputy Belton.

Mrs. Owen

Deputy Ring is right.

Mr. Rabbitte

Where is the Minister for Public Enterprise, Deputy O'Rourke?

Mr. Ring

She left on the train, but she will not be travelling to Westport.

Mr. Belton

I have inquired on many occasions about the report on the death of the late John Carthy. Will the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform place the report before the House tomorrow?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

That matter has already been dealt with.

Mr. Belton

The Tánaiste indicated that the Minister will receive the report tomorrow. Will he place it before the House tomorrow evening?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

That matter has been dealt with.

Mr. Deasy

I wish to inquire about several items of promised legislation. I previously asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he intends to introduce the tougher bail laws that have been promised. When will this happen? When will murderers and rapists be removed from our streets? These people are released on bail the day after they are apprehended.

The Tánaiste

If the Deputy is referring to the bail regulations, I must inform him that they were made some time ago.

Mr. Deasy

Why have they not been implemented?

The Tánaiste

They are being implemented.

Mr. Deasy

They are not.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

We cannot have a debate on this matter. I call Deputy Fitzgerald.

Mr. Deasy

My second point relates to local government and the managerial Act. When will members of local authorities be given certain powers and when will such powers be removed from county managers?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

That matter is not appropriate to the Order of Business. The Deputy will have to find another way to raise it.

Mr. Deasy

It relates to promised legislation.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

If the Deputy does not resume his seat I will move on to the next business. We have already spent almost two hours on the Order of Business.

Ms Fitzgerald

My first point relates to the introduction of a Bill to deal with the State claims agency and the increasing number of compensation claims being taken against the State. Does the Government intend to establish the compensation tribunal to deal with such claims?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

The Deputy cannot raise that matter on the Order of Business.

Ms Fitzgerald

Legislation is required in this area. Will the Tánaiste comment on the loss of 4,000 child care places and indicate whether the Government will replace these?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

It is not appropriate to discuss the content of legislation on the Order of Business. I call the Tánaiste on the legislation.

The Tánaiste

The legislation, which was approved by the Cabinet on Tuesday, will be published today or tomorrow.

Mr. Stanton

The Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment recently made an announcement in respect of promised legislation. He has promised to introduce legislation to regulate advertising in the airline industry. When will that legislation be published and what is its current status?

The Tánaiste

I understand the matter will be dealt with by way of regulation.

Mr. Farrelly

When will the private security industry Bill, which was promised on numerous occasions, be introduced by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform? With regard to the measures the Government discussed earlier in the week in respect of curbing inflation, will the Tánaiste indicate if the price of petrol and diesel and the price of milk were discussed?

The Tánaiste

The heads of the Bill dealing with the private security industry were cleared by the Government on 25 June and the Bill will be published in the autumn. The introduction of price controls will be confined to the drinks industry. Such controls will not be imposed on the sale of liquid milk or petrol.

Mr. Farrelly

Will the Tánaiste indicate whether the Government—

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

We cannot debate the matter further. We must proceed to the business of the day.