It is proposed to take No. 3, Licensing of Indoor Events Bill, 2001 – Order for Second Stage and Second Stage; No. 27, Railway Safety Bill, 2001 – Second Stage (resumed); No. 28, Sea Pollution (Hazardous and Noxious Substances) (Civil Liability and Compensation) Bill, 2000 – Second Stage (resumed) and Private Members' Business shall be No. 36, motion re confidence in the Minister for Finance (resumed) to conclude at 8.30 p.m.
Order of Business.
I do not wish to object to the Order of Business because I know the Taoiseach—
There are no proposals this morning so there is nothing to object to.
I remind the Taoiseach that the workers of IFI are outside the gates. It is quite some time since the factory closed and they have not received any benefits.
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
We should pursue the issue of the adequacy of the pension fund. The factory may be gone but it is of the gravest concern to the workers and they deserve our support.
That does not arise. The Deputy had the opportunity to raise the matter during leaders' questions.
I know that but they are outside the gates.
They have no money.
The law is being broken.
(Interruptions.)
There was an opportunity earlier this morning to raise the matter.
(Interruptions.)
On a point of order, there are people—
That is not a point of order. I call Deputy Rabbitte. I ask the Deputies to resume their seats when the Chair is on his feet.
We have a right to speak.
Of course the Deputy has a right to speak and there are opportunities in the House for the Deputy to do so if he wishes to use them. I call Deputy Rabbitte.
On promised legislation, when will the Taoiseach bring forward legislation to renovate the Redundancy Payments Acts so that the workers outside the gates will at least get the minimum provided for by the State increased?
It is too late.
The heads of the Redundancy (Amendment) Bill to update the legislation, as agreed by the redundancy review group's report published a short time ago, have been agreed and the Bill has gone for drafting. We will hopefully have the Bill in the new year.
Given the Taoiseach's comments yesterday on the slow pace of dealing with Government legislation and the urgency of legislation, for example the greater Dublin area land use and transport authority Bill, does he think the House should sit on Fridays or Mondays to get through the legislative programme which is now backing up?
The heads of the greater Dublin area land use and transport authority Bill have not yet been drafted.
Should the House be sitting on Mondays and Fridays?
That is a matter for the Whips but, as I said yesterday, we need to speed up the process.
What is the Taoiseach's view on the issue?
That does not arise on the Order of Business. The Deputy will have to find another way to raise the matter.
Last week, the Ceann Comhairle ruled that a question of mine regarding the views of the European Central Bank on the National Development Finance Agency Bill could not be answered because it was a matter for the Cabinet and I accepted the ruling. I was therefore surprised to see on Friday that a press conference was held on this Bill referring to the attitude of the ECB.
We must have a question on legislation.
Yes. This legislation has not yet been circulated to Deputies. What sort of respect for this House is being shown by the Government? This is legislation it wants passed before Christmas and it is having news conferences and meetings without informing the House.
There is no need for a preamble.
That is a valid point.
The National Development Finance Agency Bill is ready to be taken in the House and will be debated shortly.
According to newspaper reports, thousands of children will have to continue attending substandard schools with leaking roofs, overcrowded classrooms—
Has the Deputy a relevant question on the Order of Business?
The Estimates will be published tomorrow and it appears there are proposed cutbacks—
We cannot discuss the Estimates at this stage. I call Deputy Gogarty.
The matter relates to the Finance Act. Schools were given to understand—
The Deputy knows she is out of order. I call Deputy Gogarty.
(Interruptions.)
I ask Deputy O'Sullivan to resume her seat when the Chair is on his feet.
Part of the remit of the forthcoming drug offenders Bill is to provide for the registration of convicted drug dealers with the Garda. Given the recent media reports of increasing drug abuse in second level schools, particularly fee paying ones, will the Taoiseach indicate when this Bill, for which there is an urgent need, will be published?
In accordance with An Agreed Programme for Government, the drug offenders Bill will provide for the registration of convicted drug dealers with the Garda and stiffer penalties for persons involved in the supply of drugs to a prison. Work on this Bill is at an early stage of examination, including consideration of how to order the heads of the Bill and it will take some time to complete the drafting process.
When will the national spatial strategy document be produced? I have raised this matter a number of times and, even as we speak, the railway line at Athenry is being lifted.
Has the Deputy a question appropriate to the Order of Business?
The issue could not be more relevant. When will the national spatial strategy be announced?
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
Publication of the strategy is extremely urgent, with Iarnród Éireann already ripping up the railway lines. Will the Taoiseach answer my question?
The Deputy is out of order. He should put down a parliamentary question on the matter. I call Deputy McManus.
(Interruptions.)
I ask Deputy Connaughton to resume his seat. A number of Deputies are offering and we need to move on to next business.
Promised secondary legislation on the control of cigarette smoking in restaurants and pubs has received considerable media coverage. Will the Taoiseach agree to have a debate in the House on that secondary legislation? It is a matter of great interest and concern to ensure the legislation is effective and not just cosmetic. I hope the Taoiseach will not tell us it is a matter for the Whips, which it is not. It is a matter for a direction—
The Deputy should submit a parliamentary question on the matter.
It relates to secondary legislation and the national Parliament has a role in that regard.
I appreciate the Deputy's point but I suggest she submits a parliamentary question.
This is a matter of promised secondary legislation.
All matters raised this morning are of importance. I call Deputy Gormley.
I was not only referring to its importance but to the fact that it relates to legislation.
Is there legislation promised?
The Deputy mentioned legislation, I assume she was referring to regulations. With regard to her request for a debate, that would be most appropriate in committee, where adequate time can be given to it.
Given the rapid deterioration of the Irish environment under this Government, as indicated by many independent reports, and the prospect of further deterioration when incinerators are introduced, when will the new EPA Bill be introduced? Does the Taoiseach agree that the EPA needs to be revamped?
I understand the Bill is almost ready and will be taken in this session.
I wish to refer to three relevant legislative matters. The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Bill is most important, particularly in relation to County Monaghan, in terms of accident and emergency cover.
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
When will the Bill come before the House?
That matter can be raised by way of question or adjournment matter.
The matter relates directly to promised legislation. Also, when will the Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill be introduced? Will it deal with the administration of health boards?
The question of when the Bill will be introduced is appropriate but the contents of the Bill are not relevant at this stage.
The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Bill to amend and consolidate the 1989 Act will be debated next session. The heads of the Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill have been approved, the Bill is being drafted and it will be introduced by the middle of next year.
My third question relates to the Health (Complaints) Bill. What is the position in that regard?
Publication of the Health (Complaints) Bill will be well into next year.
The Environmental Protection Agency Bill is the only promised legislation from the Department of the Environment and Local Government for this session. There are a number of other Bills from that Department in respect of which heads have been agreed and text is being drafted. Will legislation be introduced by the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, in this session or the next, to amend the waste management Acts?
As the Deputy has stated, the Environmental Protection Agency Bill will be introduced in this session. I believe that will be the only Bill from the Department of the Environment and Local Government before the Christmas recess. Many other Bills from that Department are listed in the schedule for future sessions.
Is there further update on the Government's legislative programme for this autumn with reference to amending the Waste Management Act?
There is no change from the list already circulated.
When will the Redundancy Payments (Amendment) Bill be published and will it contain provisions to meet the needs of the workers of IFI who are protesting outside the gates of Leinster House?
A Second Stage speech is not in order now. Has the Deputy a question appropriate to the Order of Business?
Will the Environmental Protection Agency Bill include provisions to ensure the British authorities inform the Irish Government about nuclear accidents? Has the Government received a full report from the British authorities on the recent nuclear accident?
The Deputy's first question is in order.
The Redundancy Payments (Amendment) Bill to update the relevant legislation will be based on the recent report of the redundancy review group.
(Interruptions.)
I call Deputy Naughten. I ask Deputy Allen to allow his colleague to speak.
In the light of a breach of section 21 of the Transport Act yesterday by Irish Rail, when will the Transport (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill come before the House? When will the Criminal Justice (Garda Powers) Bill appear? The Garda should have been in Athenry yesterday evening.
The Transport (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill requires prior notification and EU approval, as I mentioned yesterday. The Bill is being drafted and will be available next year.
What is the position in relation to the Criminal Justice (Garda Powers) Bill?
The heads of the Criminal Justice (Garda Powers) Bill have been approved. A memorandum will be submitted to the Government before Christmas proposing a number of alterations and additions to the scheme as approved. The Bill will have to be drafted on this basis later in 2003.
A question raised by Deputy Bruton last week referred to an issue which was on the Order of Business. He was fobbed off and a press conference was held two days later. Is it intended to carry on the Order of Business and the functions of the House outside of the House? Such downgrading of the House is unacceptable. I appeal to the Ceann Comhairle to use his influence to ensure that this does not happen in the future. It is a disgrace.
I ask the Taoiseach to make a last minute plea to the Minister for Education and Science not to have cutbacks in the schools building programme.
That does not arise. It is not appropriate to the Order of Business.
People, particularly younger people, are very worried as are school boards of management around the country.
I ask the Taoiseach about promised legislation on the urgent need to protect workers, especially workers at IFI, from the Government itself. When will he introduce the Protection of Employees Bill so that workers, especially at IFI, can receive protection from the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and not be treated disgracefully as they have been?
The draft heads of the Bill have been circulated to other Departments for their observations. Approval to draft the Bill will be sought when they are returned.
Why has not a single forestry grant been sanctioned in the past six weeks? I am coming to legislation now but it is necessary to mention this. Not a single forestry grant has been sanctioned for next year's planting season. In the context of the Forestry (Amendment) Bill, what is the point of legislation if there is no planting next year?
The Taoiseach will recall that I have raised with him a number of times the Residential Institutions Redress Act, which was supposed to set up a redress board to provide compensation for former inmates of residential institutions. Is the Taoiseach aware that although the Act went through the House a long time ago, the board does not yet exist and secondary legislation is necessary from the Minister for Education and Science to formally establish it? Will the Taoiseach ask the Minister for Education and Science to stir himself to introduce the necessary secondary legislation to set up the board? Many of these inmates are old, some are in poor health and it is unfair.
The board has been operating and will be formally set up on 2 December.
Will the promised legislation on the protection of workers be retrospective and will the sanctions therein also apply to the Government?
This legislation is not appropriate to the Order of Business.