The Order of Business today shall be as follows: No.12, motion re referral to select committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the agreement establishing the Agency for International Trade Information and Co-operation as an intergovernmental organisation; No.13, motion re Capital Acquisitions Tax Consolidation Bill 2002; No. 20, statements on Iraq. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that: (1) the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. and business shall be interrupted on the adjournment of Private Members' Business tonight; 2) Nos. 12 and 13 shall be decided without debate; (3) the following arrangements shall apply in relation to the proceedings on No. 20: (a) the statements shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after two hours and the following arrangements shall apply: (i) the statements of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the main spokespersons for the Fine Gael Party, the Labour Party and the Technical Group, who shall be called upon in that order, shall not exceed 15 minutes in each case; (ii) the statements of each other Member called upon shall not exceed 15 minutes in each case; (iii) Members may share time; (b) immediately following the statements, the Minister for Foreign Affairs shall take questions for a period not exceeding 30 minutes; (4) Private Members' Business, which shall be No. 35, motion re services for people with disabilities, shall be taken for 90 minutes immediately following the conclusion of the proceedings on No. 20.
Order of Business.
There are four proposals to be put to the House. Is the proposal for the late sitting agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with Nos. 12 and 13 without debate agreed?
This motion relates to assisting developing states under the World Trade Organisation trade policy. Here in Ireland we need all the understanding we can get on that matter. We were given a commitment by a previous Minister that an annual report would be brought before the House apprising us of the developments of the WTO but that has not happened. This item should not be dealt with without debate. I thought this was a Chamber for debate and discussion and not simply a rubber stamp for any of these conventions. I am extremely disappointed and I look forward to a debate.
Look forward to the committee for debate, not debates in the Chamber.
Why not? Surely this is the forum for such a debate.
Is the Deputy opposing the Order of Business?
I am certainly seeking that my disappointment be registered because there is any amount of time on Thursday afternoons or Friday mornings to debate these issues.
It is registered in the Official Report. Is the proposal for dealing with Nos. 12 and 13 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 20, statements on Iraq, agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with Private Members' business agreed? Agreed.
The tragic death took place at the UCI complex in October of Alan Higgins. Today his mother drew the timely attention of the House to the need for legislation to address the type of risk that young people like Alan are at. Has the Government prepared the necessary juvenile justice legislation to ensure parents take responsibility for their children? Have the necessary changes been introduced to implement the provisions of the bail referendum? Has the Government proposals in relations to CCTV requirements for places of entertainment? Given that there are genuine concerns in this area I would like to see a legislative response.
The bail legislation has long since been passed. Juvenile justice is part of the Children Act and is being implemented on a phased basis. I have given information here previously on the phases, most of which have been implemented at this stage.
Has the Government any intention of amending the equality legislation to ensure its provisions apply to workers in domestic service?
Is legislation promised?
I do not think there is separate equality legislation. I think the Deputy is asking about the Employment Equality (Amendment) Bill. The Deputy is referring to legislation covering—
There is also an employment protection Bill. It seems to me it would be possible to provide for a situation such as that which we heard this morning on "Morning Ireland"—
We cannot discuss the content of the legislation.
—-where non-nationals are seriously exploited in domestic service.
There is an Equal Status (Amendment) Bill and equality legislation but the question raised is already covered by legislation and there is a Bill.
In relation to telecommunications and radio communications, telephones were down in north county Dublin yesterday and there were many calls about it. I looked at the legislation and read the following under the Radio Communications Bill, "to introduce new legislation to allow for a more modern and liberal approach to the environment". Can the Taoiseach say if that has anything to do with radio communications, because clearly that sentence is not meant to say anything? What is envisaged because we see that publication is expected? I wonder what "a more modern and liberal approach to the environment" means in that regard.
We cannot discuss the content of the legislation.
The heads of the Bill are expected later this year but the legislation will not come before the House until 2004.
I wish to raise two matters. I wish to express my thanks to you, a Cheann Comhairle. You will recall that on Thursday I raised with you the disallowance of a question to the Minister for the Environment and Local Government on recycling. I thank you for allowing that question which I understand will be answered this week. May I ask the Taoiseach about the local government Bill which, as I understand it, is straightforward legislation amending the Local Government Act? What is the reason for the delay in publication of that Bill? Is it the case that the Government has changed its mind again on the abolition of the dual mandate?
The Bill will be published this session and, hopefully, will be passed this session.
On promised legislation, when can we expect to see the animal health Bill? Will the Taoiseach tell the House if there is any need for a Minister for Agriculture and Food given that he is merely implementing the measures as outlined in the review of Estimates report? What status has the review of Estimates report?
The first question is in order.
This Bill is being drafted to consolidate and update the diseases of animals legislation. It is anticipated that the memo on it will be ready by this summer.
Given that there is a growing number of redundancies in the State and many workers receive what can only be described as minimal and derisory redundancy, including the situation, as the Ceann Comhairle will be aware, at Lissadell Towels outside Carrickmacross, in our constituency—
If the Deputy does not have a question appropriate to the Order of Business I will move on.
I was certain you would be anxious to know when the Redundancy (Amendment) Bill would be addressed in the hope that it may address the scandalous level of support workers being made redundant currently receive.
On 15 October the Government approved the heads of the Bill and it is gone for drafting. Its purpose is to update the Redundancy Act. I do not have the exact date as to when it will be published.
In view of the fact that 28,705 patients were re-admitted to hospital within one week of discharge in 2001, will the Taoiseach allow time to debate this matter and when will the health complaints Bill be introduced?
The question on the health complaints Bill is in order, the other is a matter for the Whips.
The heads of the health complaints Bill are expected in the summer but it is unlikely the legislation will be ready until next year.
Last week the Minister for Health indicated he wished to introduce a ban on human cloning. Will the Taoiseach consider introducing in Government time the Labour Party Bill to ban human cloning which has been prepared by my colleague, Deputy Upton, and ensure the issue is progressed in that way?
Is legislation promised?
The Minister informs me that we would rather take a more comprehensive approach based on the recommendations of the reports being received from the Commission on Reproduction. That is the present position.
What happened to the refugee reception and integration agency Bill which was on the programme but seems to have disappeared?
It has disappeared. We are not going ahead with it.
Is the Nuclear Weapons Bill due back to the House for debate in the near future?
I do not have any nuclear weapons.
In light of the transfer of the cost of dealing with meat and bonemeal from the Government to farmers, is there any opportunity to debate that matter on the Land Bill or any other issue, because soon there will be no farmers on the land if the present trend continues?
The Deputy can raise the matter with the Whips.
On a point of order, for the information of the Taoiseach the Containment of Nuclear Weapons Bill 2000 is on Committee Stage in the Seanad. I know they do not have any nuclear weapons in Drumcondra and as far as I know they do not have any in Crumlin but can the Taoiseach tell us—
If the Deputy knows the answer to a question he should not take up the time of the House asking it.