Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 22 May 2003

Vol. 567 No. 3

Order of Business.

The Tánaiste

The Order of Business today shall be No. 22, Arts Bill 2002 – Order for Report and Report and Final Stages; No. 23, Fisheries (Amendment) Bill 2002 [Seanad] – Order for Report and Report and Final Stages; No. 3, Official Languages Bill 2002 [Seanad] – Second Stage, to be taken not later than 2 p.m. and the order shall not resume thereafter.

It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that: (1) the Dáil shall sit later than 4.45 p.m. this evening and business shall be interrupted not later than 7 p.m.; (2) the Dáil shall sit tomorrow at 10.30 a.m. and shall adjourn not later than 4 p.m., there shall be no Order of Business within the meaning of Standing Order 26(2) and (3), any divisions demanded shall be postponed until immediately after the Order of Business on Tuesday, 27 May 2003, and, accordingly, the following business shall be transacted in the following order: No. 3, Official Languages Bill 2002 [Seanad] – Second Stage, resumed; No. 1, Industrial Development Science Foundation Ireland Bill 2002 [Seanad] – Second Stage, resumed; and No. 4, Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill 2002 [Seanad] – Second Stage.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

There are two proposals to put to the House. Is the proposal for the late sitting agreed to?

Mr. Kenny

I am opposed to taking the Order of Business. I have here the official Government request for pairs today. It shows that the Ministers of State, Deputies O'Dea, de Valera, O'Malley, and Deputy Power are attending events in Clare with the Taoiseach. The House of Parliament sits at a time of great political uncertainty. The Taoiseach confirmed yesterday that the matter of the unseemly squabble between the Progressive Democrats and Fianna Fáil in respect of the third level fees issue would be dealt with before the leaving certificate begins. Next week is the last week the Dáil will sit before the leaving certificate starts and I want confirmation from the Tánaiste that this House will have a proper opportunity to debate the row that is going on between the parties in Government. They fight on every television programme and in the Seanad, where the Minister for Education and Science attacked the Fianna Fáil Leader of the Seanad yesterday, aided and abetted by the leader of the Progressive Democrats in the Seanad, Senator Dardis, on this issue. Everybody is talking about it but the two parties in Government are not talking to each other.

Before we deal with the business before us today, can I get confirmation from the Tánaiste that, first, there will be clarity from Government on the issue of third level fees and that there will be no re-introduction of these fees or imposition of charges of up to €8,000 on parents for every student; and second, that this House will be given Government time next week to debate the proposals by the Government on third level fees?

We have this carry on every Thursday morning. Four or five Ministers are attending events in County Clare with the Taoiseach while the national Parliament sits at time when a report in the Tánaiste's Department indicates that up to 800 jobs per week have been lost every week since this Government came into office, when the Government has brought about a position where we are now the most expensive country in the euro zone and when we have slipped out of the top ten in international competitiveness ratings. This has proven to be a Government of broken promises and panic-stricken actions.

Ms McManus

On behalf of the Labour Party, I also seek a guarantee from the Tánaiste on this. I welcome the Tánaiste back. We have not seen her for a little while but she is very welcome. Before this matter is dealt with we would like, and have already sought, a guarantee that the proposal by the Minister for Education and Science to re-introduce third level fees will be debated in this House next week.

The reason is very clear. As Deputy Kenny has pointed out, this issue is being debated across the country. It is a matter of some anxiety for parents and students who are about to sit their leaving certificate exams. The fact that the Government is riven in two on this issue does not do anything for the peace of mind of the electorate. That the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach seem to be unable to discuss this matter or that the Cabinet seems unable to discuss it, indicates some kind of dysfunctional relationship between the two parties, which does not reassure the public. We have not had a chance to debate this, a central issue in education, in this House even though it has now been discussed in the Seanad. It is being discussed everywhere else but the national Parliament.

It is important that the Tánaiste give this undertaking. We are running out of time. We have one week left and if we do not get to debate this in Government time next week, young people will go in to sit their leaving certificate exams in a state of uncertainly and concern because the Government cannot get its act together and cannot defend the interests of students who are seeking third level education that would be of benefit to them, yes, but also of benefit to us as a society.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

I remind Deputies that the proposal before the House is for the late sitting.

Mr. Sargent

I am dealing with the late sitting. It is important to bear in mind that we have already heard two concurrent views on the need for a debate. We in the Green Party called for a debate on the issue of third level fees and the plans, lack of plans, confused plans or differing plans from the Government in that issue. There has been no mention so far of the agreement to have such a debate and we cannot agree to the Order of Business until that is clarified. We cannot disappoint students, some of whom have been in the Public Gallery and have left already, and who are effectively on an educational death row wondering how long it will be before their case will be heard.

The Minister said that he would have this matter dealt with in January and then said he would have it clarified by Easter. It is a long time to wait to know one's fate and the Government has an obligation to tell the country what the plan is so that we can have a frank debate about the issue in this House.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

On the proposition for extended time and a late sitting, is it not possible to agree to a late sitting if the Tánaiste would extend it further and allow for the debate to take place this evening, never mind next week? The longer the delay in offering clarification on the Government's intention vis-à-vis the re-introduction of third level college fees or some sort of loan scheme, the more we add to the distress and burden of concern on young people facing their exams.

None of us have the detail at all of what the Minister is proposing. Where has it ever been explained to us that disadvantaged students or young people from disadvantaged areas of this jurisdiction will be empowered in terms of taking up third level places? Nothing has been explained and this total vacuum is grossly insulting to the Members of this House and very offensive to the wider public. It is this evening that we want to see this clarity, not at some later point in the coming week. We can agree to an extension of time but let us use it wisely and sensibly and clear up this continual fudge on the part of the Government and the exchange between the Tánaiste's party and Fianna Fáil in Cabinet.

The Tánaiste

What we are dealing with here is the late sitting and it is important that the Dáil sit later this evening to deal with important matters of business. On the issue raised by the Deputies opposite, they have Private Members' time at their disposal if they wish to raise any issue. The Taoiseach already indicated during Leaders' Questions in this House yesterday that the intention is to bring clarity to the matter raised before the leaving certificate begins.

Question put: "That the proposal for the late sitting be agreed to."

Tá

Ahern, Dermot.Ahern, Noel.Andrews, Barry.Brady, Johnny.Brady, Martin.Browne, John.Callanan, Joe.Carty, John.Cassidy, Donie.Collins, Michael.Cooper-Flynn, Beverley.Cowen, Brian.Cregan, John.Curran, John.Davern, Noel.Dempsey, Noel.Dempsey, Tony.Dennehy, John.Devins, Jimmy.Ellis, John.Fitzpatrick, Dermot.Fleming, Seán.Gallagher, Pat The Cope.Glennon, Jim.Grealish, Noel.Hanafin, Mary.Harney, Mary.Haughey, Seán.Healy-Rae, Jackie.Hoctor, Máire.Jacob, Joe.Keaveney, Cecilia.Kelleher, Billy.

Kelly, Peter.Killeen, Tony.Kirk, Seamus.Kitt, Tom.Lenihan, Brian.Lenihan, Conor.McCreevy, Charlie.McEllistrim, Thomas.McGuinness, John.Moloney, John.Moynihan, Donal.Moynihan, Michael.Nolan, M.J.Ó Cuív, Éamon.Ó Fearghaíl, Seán.O'Connor, Charlie.O'Donoghue, John.O'Donovan, Denis.O'Flynn, Noel.O'Keeffe, Batt.O'Keeffe, Ned.Parlon, Tom.Power, Seán.Ryan, Eoin.Sexton, Mae.Smith, Brendan.Smith, Michael.Treacy, Noel.Walsh, Joe.Wilkinson, Ollie.Woods, Michael.Wright, G.V.

Níl

Allen, Bernard.Boyle, Dan.Breen, James.Breen, Pat.

Broughan, Thomas P.Burton, Joan.Connaughton, Paul. Connolly, Paudge.

Níl–continued

Costello, Joe.Coveney, Simon.Cowley, Jerry.Crowe, Seán.Cuffe, Ciarán.Deasy, John.Deenihan, Jimmy.Durkan, Bernard J.English, Damien.Enright, Olwyn.Ferris, Martin.Gogarty, Paul.Gregory, Tony.Harkin, Marian.Hayes, Tom.Healy, Seamus.Kehoe, Paul.Kenny, Enda.Lynch, Kathleen.McCormack, Padraic.McGinley, Dinny.McHugh, Paddy.

Mitchell, Olivia.Murphy, Gerard.Naughten, Denis.Neville, Dan.Ó Caoláin, Caoimhghín.Ó Snodaigh, Aengus.O'Dowd, Fergus.O'Shea, Brian.O'Sullivan, Jan.Penrose, Willie.Rabbitte, Pat.Ring, Michael.Ryan, Seán.Sargent, Trevor.Sherlock, Joe.Shortall, Róisín.Stagg, Emmet.Stanton, David.Twomey, Liam.Upton, Mary.Wall, Jack.

Tellers: Tá, Deputies Hanafin and Kelleher; Níl, Deputies Durkan and Stagg.

Question declared carried.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Is the proposal for the sitting and business of the Dáil tomorrow agreed?

Mr. Kenny

It is not agreed. The clock is ticking on the issue of third level fees. The Government's numbers in the vote would have been five higher if the Taoiseach's cavalcade was not proceeding around County Clare. I hope they are travelling under the speed limit in orderly fashion to Dromoland Castle for their lunch. Deputies Killeen and Breen are here for some strange reason – they are doing their constitutional duty by representing their people in the Parliament.

I oppose the Friday sitting. I seek confirmation from the Tánaiste that the House will sit the week after the bank holiday weekend, as there is no reason it should not. I seek confirmation if possible from the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources on the issue raised by Deputy Coveney regarding the Government's position on the Irish Box. It relates to the Fisheries (Amendment) Bill.

I oppose tomorrow's sitting without confirmation on those issues.

Ms McManus

The Labour Party also opposes this sitting. It is not acceptable to us that the Government is trying to create the impression that substituting Friday sittings for proper sitting days meets the need for proper debate in the House and to deal with serious issues.

The Government proposes to close the House for a week, which is totally unnecessary. We ask the Government to ensure we return for that week to debate the issues of the day and carry out our work as legislators. We do not accept that a sanitised Friday sitting, as proposed by the Government, is any substitute for the rigorous work we are supposed to do. On Fridays there is no Order of Business, no Leaders' Questions, no questions to the Taoiseach, no ordinary questions to Ministers or Private Notice Questions, no Adjournment Debate and no votes. That is not parliamentary practice as it is known in the Dáil.

I ask the Tánaiste to live up to her commitments to accountability. We have had many lectures on accountability from the Progressive Democrats over the years.

Mr. D. Ahern

And from former Democratic Left.

Mr. O'Donoghue

Where are they now?

Ms McManus

She should ensure we return that week and stop this corrosive practice of meeting on Fridays in a way that does not meet the need for proper transparency and accountability from a Government riven by dissent. It is incapable of dealing with the issues the public wants it to deal with.

Mr. Sargent

The Green Party is opposed to the Friday sitting under the terms proposed by the Government. The Tánaiste has already told us that if we are concerned about third level fees, we should use our Private Members' time, which is available to us about once every three months. That is a derisory suggestion.

We should be able to provide the time and if the Government was not afraid of dealing with the issue it would make the time available so that this could be clarified. That would be for the greater good of the public, which cannot say what the Government's plan is other than that the Administration is menacing whatever way it moves. We should look again at the Friday sitting and make it a proper parliamentary sitting. It is not appropriate to have a sitting in which there is no Order of Business and no votes. It is a sham and it does the House no good to engage in that kind of sham politics. I ask for a proper Friday sitting in which we have an Order of Business and voting.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

The issue we want to see addressed is a matter of great national importance. I ask the Tánaiste to indicate that she and the Taoiseach will ensure that the issue of third level fees will be included in the business for tomorrow. I appeal to the Tánaiste and hope she is as anxious as everyone else to have this matter finally and substantively addressed.

Deputy Sargent mentioned sham politics, and there is an awful lot of it in evidence in the House. On one hand the Labour Party is always complaining that the Taoiseach is not here to answer questions on Thursdays, yet it was that party which facilitated his absence.

Mr. Stagg

The Deputy's party facilitated a lot of absences.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

The Leader of Fine Gael referred to the absence of members of the Cabinet, yet the sheet of paper he refers to is a facilitation which the so-called main Opposition party has with the Government to rig the outcome of every vote in the House. That is sham opposition.

(Interruptions).

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

If we are really serious about third level fees it is high time the leader of Fine Gael scrapped the arrangement with Government for pairings, which creates a totally false record of the voting position of Members. Day after day Fine Gael Members are instructed not to vote to facilitate the Government. That is sham opposition and the people deserve an awful lot better than that.

(Interruptions.)

Mr. Kenny

I wish to explain to Deputy Ó Caoláin, who probably has not been here long enough to understand the mechanics of how the House operates, that this party accepts that Government has to do its duty and has always accepted that Ministers away on legitimate business on behalf of the Government should be paired. We have always stood by that agreement in the interests of the country carrying out its affairs properly. For Deputy Ó Caoláin's information, the people who are in County Clare in the Taoiseach's entourage are not paired by this party because their absence from the House is not on Government business on behalf of the people. Talking about sham politics, he might tell us where the half tonne of semtex is buried.

(Interruptions).

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

I call the Tánaiste.

(Interruptions).

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Order, please.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

I have no doubt Fine Gael accommodated people other than Cabinet members in the pairing arrangement operating in this House as I have witnessed it here day in, day out and week in, week out. Six years here is long enough to see what works and what does not work, and what does not work is Fine Gael in opposition.

Mr. Kenny

The Deputy should tell us where the semtex is buried.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

I call the Tánaiste.

The Tánaiste

Far be it for me to intervene when Opposition parties are having a debate among themselves.

(Interruptions).

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

The Tánaiste, without interruption.

Mr. Allen

The Tánaiste does not know whether she is in opposition or in government.

The Tánaiste

I would say to Deputy Kenny and Deputy McManus that this is a legislative assembly. Tomorrow is a day when we can deal exclusively with legislation. That is very good and is why the Government—

Mr. Stagg

We cannot deal with it because we cannot vote on it. The Opposition is sanitised.

The Tánaiste

—wants to sit tomorrow. It is good and is in the interests of the people we represent to pass the important—

Mr. Stagg

It is not good, it is very bad for this House when the Opposition cannot call a vote on legislation. It is a talking shop.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

The Tánaiste, without interruption.

The Tánaiste

It is not a talking shop.

Mr. Stagg

It is a talking shop and the proof of the pudding is in the eating, as we saw what happened last week.

The Tánaiste

It is the Government's desire that the House should meet tomorrow to deal with important legislation.

Mr. Stagg

It will not be dealing with it—

The Tánaiste

We did good business last Friday and we can do the same tomorrow.

Mr. Stagg

—as it is not allowed to because of the order.

Question put: "That the proposal for the sitting and business of the Dáil tomorrow be agreed to."

Tá

Ahern, Dermot.Ahern, Noel.Andrews, Barry.Brady, Johnny.Brady, Martin.Browne, John.Callanan, Joe.Carty, John.Cassidy, Donie.Collins, Michael.Cooper-Flynn, Beverley.Cowen, Brian.Cregan, John.Davern, Noel.Dempsey, Noel.Dempsey, Tony.Dennehy, John.Devins, Jimmy.Ellis, John.Fitzpatrick, Dermot.Fleming, Seán.Gallagher, Pat The Cope.Glennon, Jim.Grealish, Noel.Hanafin, Mary.Harney, Mary.Haughey, Seán.Healy-Rae, Jackie.Hoctor, Máire.Jacob, Joe.Keaveney, Cecilia.

Kelleher, Billy.Kelly, Peter.Kirk, Seamus.Kitt, Tom.Lenihan, Brian.Lenihan, Conor.McCreevy, Charlie.McEllistrim, Thomas.McGuinness, John.Moloney, John.Moynihan, Donal.Moynihan, Michael.Nolan, M. J.Ó Cuív, Éamon.Ó Fearghaíl, Seán.O'Connor, Charlie.O'Donoghue, John.O'Donovan, Denis.O'Flynn, Noel.O'Keeffe, Ned.Power, Seán.Ryan, Eoin.Sexton, Mae.Smith, Brendan.Smith, Michael.Treacy, Noel.Walsh, Joe.Wilkinson, Ollie.Woods, Michael.Wright, G. V.

Níl

Allen, Bernard.Boyle, Dan.Breen, James.Breen, Pat.Broughan, Thomas P.Bruton, Richard.Burton, Joan.Connaughton, Paul.Costello, Joe.Coveney, Simon.Crowe, Seán.Cuffe, Ciarán.Deasy, John.Deenihan, Jimmy.Durkan, Bernard J.English, Damien.Enright, Olwyn.Ferris, Martin.Gogarty, Paul.Harkin, Marian.Hayes, Tom.Healy, Seamus.Hogan, Phil.Kehoe, Paul.

Kenny, Enda.Lynch, Kathleen.McCormack, Padraic.McGinley, Dinny.McManus, Liz.Murphy, Gerard.Naughten, Denis.Neville, Dan.Ó Caoláin, Caoimhghín.Ó Snodaigh, Aengus.O'Dowd, Fergus.O'Shea, Brian.O'Sullivan, Jan.Penrose, Willie.Ring, Michael.Ryan, Seán.Sargent, Trevor.Sherlock, Joe.Shortall, Róisín.Stagg, Emmet.Timmins, Billy.Twomey, Liam.Upton, Mary.Wall, Jack.

Tellers: Tá, Deputies Hanafin and Kelleher; Níl, Deputies Durkan and Stagg.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Are there any questions on the Order of Business?

Mr. R. Bruton

The Central Bank Bill is on the legislative programme. The Central Bank is primarily responsible for the control of price inflation. Today, we discover that 60% of our price inflation is coming directly from Government. If the Government was not involved, inflation would be below the European average and we would not have the competitiveness problems that have been eroding employment and taking money out of people's pockets, which they can ill-afford. Why has the Government not brought forward this Bill? Why have we not seen debated in this House the anti-inflation package from Government which is an entire sham? It is clear the Government is creating inflation and the lack of competitiveness and not the private sector or any other agent in the State.

The Tánaiste

We hope to have that Bill in the summer of this year.

Mr. R. Bruton

We have heard nothing but hollow language from the Government regarding what it will do about its responsibilities regarding price inflation. We want it to address its difficulties and not lecture others about theirs.

Ms Burton

Is the Tánaiste not concerned at today's devastating report about the loss of competitiveness—

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

On promised legislation.

Ms Burton

—in the Irish economy? We are bleeding jobs on a weekly basis, including from Gallagher's, which was in the Tánaiste's constituency. Where are the Bills meant to allow our businesses and factories to do their jobs efficiently? Where is the critical infrastructure Bill? Where is the greater Dublin area land use and transport authority Bill, which would allow our businesses to compete on price, delivery, terms and conditions, just like other businesses across Europe? We are haemorrhaging jobs at the moment and the Minister knows it. She knows constituencies in west Dublin are affected by it. It is like Nero fiddling while Rome burns. We are losing our competitiveness because of the Government.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

I call on the Tánaiste to answer the question on promised legislation.

The Tánaiste

It is important to remember that we have the most successful economy in Europe with the lowest level of unemployment, 4.5%. A memo will be taken to the Government shortly with the heads of the critical infrastructure Bill. The policy regarding the greater Dublin area land use and transport authority Bill is being reviewed by the Minister for Transport.

Mr. Neville

Will the Tánaiste state when a Bill to facilitate appeals against decisions of the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland will be introduced, as promised?

The Tánaiste

The heads of that Bill are expected in the summer.

Mr. Sargent

The competitiveness issue has been raised already. When will the Bord Bia Bill be introduced? This issue concerns the amalgamation of two key marketing areas in which Ireland is not performing. We import more than 70% of organic produce consumed here. Will the Tánaiste reconsider and bring this legislation forward so we can, I hope, do away with it? It is a bad move to amalgamate two marketing bodies when the country needs to market more.

The Tánaiste

The amalgamation of the bodies is a good idea and it is already Government policy. The heads of the Bill are due to come before the Cabinet very shortly.

Mr. Timmins

The Tánaiste may be aware that a court order was signed yesterday instructing the Minister for Agriculture and Food—

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Order, please. I call for silence in the Public Gallery.

Mr. Timmins

—to produce documentation so an individual farmer can dispose of his animals. Does the Tánaiste agree that it is regrettable that this House could not solve the problem in recent months despite repeated suggestions to do so from this side of the House and that we have to go to the Judiciary to protect farm interests? Will the Tánaiste inform me if the Minister will comply with the instruction? She might indicate the position of the Government?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Questions must relate to promised legislation.

Mr. Timmins

For two months, we have sought a solution in the House and met nothing but silence and disinterest. No effort has been made to address the problem. The Tánaiste might be interested in outlining her view on the matter.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

On promised legislation.

Mr. Hayes

On the same issue—

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

I understand from the Tánaiste that there is no promised legislation.

Ms McManus

I have two questions on education. The Grangegorman development agency Bill, the higher education authority (amendment) Bill and the register of persons who are considered unsafe to work with children Bill have been promised. That is the sum total of the relevant Bills on the list. Given that we have been listening to lectures by the Minister for Education and Science, can we expect a Bill to deal with social disadvantage in education or will we have a Bill setting up a loans system to pay for the fees the Minister wants to reintroduce?

Mr. N. Dempsey

Another one gone from the socialist wing of the Labour Party.

Ms McManus

Would the Minister like to keep quiet? One would expect a child to keep quiet, so I expect the Minister to keep quiet.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Deputy McManus, without interruption.

Ms McManus

At a time when Kathy Sinnott is in the Oireachtas presenting a case on behalf of children with autism and in view of the fact that the Government promised, the day after the Kathy Sinnott judgment, that there would be an education for persons with disabilities Bill, when will this Bill be debated in the House? Time and again, we receive promises but they are not delivered on. Will the Tánaiste declare exactly when we will debate this Bill so people with disabilities get some chance of equality?

The Tánaiste

The heads of that Bill were approved by the Government recently and it will be published before the summer.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

In February, the Tánaiste promised that the safety, health and welfare at work Bill would be published in April, and this was echoed by one of her Cabinet colleagues. Given that 22 people lost their lives in 2002 and a further eight have been killed on building sites since her commitment last February, what are the Government's plans now that the month of April has passed and that this essential legislation has yet to be presented?

The Tánaiste

The heads of that Bill were passed a considerable time ago and the Bill will be published this year. I cannot give the Deputy a precise date. Enforcement of the current law has a huge role to play in health and safety in the workplace.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Will the Tánaiste encourage the bringing forward of the Bill?

The Tánaiste

As quickly as possible, yes.

Mr. Hogan

The Taoiseach stated on the Order of Business on two occasions this week that there was no review of secondary legislation on the groceries order. Outside the House, the Tánaiste said that a review was taking place. What is the position?

The Tánaiste

I think the Taoiseach said that no legislation was promised in this area, which is a fact. However, as the Deputy knows, every issue is being examined, including the anti-inflation strategy, which is the responsible thing to do.

Mr. Hogan

The Taoiseach said there was no review.

The Tánaiste

I was not here when the Taoiseach spoke.

Mr. Hogan

She is here now.

The Tánaiste

In my Department, matters of that kind are reviewed constantly and there is review under way in respect of the issue raised. There is no legislation promised in this area, and that may be what the Taoiseach said.

Mr. Hogan

What about secondary legislation?

The Tánaiste

There is no legislation promised in the area of either kind.

Mr. Kenny

When the Deputy was in Brussels, we knew the Cabinet had not been briefed on the third level fees issue.

Mr. Cuffe

Regarding the human rights of people with disabilities, I note that it is not possible to indicate at this stage when the disability Bill will be published. Will the Tánaiste indicate when it might be possible to indicate when the Bill will be published?

The Tánaiste

The education of persons with disabilities Bill will be published first and I think the other Bill will be later this year.

Mr. Broughan

On the Tánaiste's last visit to the north side she praised the role of the local employment service in respect of people who had difficult work histories and life histories. Does she intend to introduce any legislation in that regard given that her colleague, Deputy Ó Cuív, has slashed the funding for the local Northside Partnership local employment service by more than 30%?

On the telecommunications Bill, is the Tánaiste alarmed at the communications industry reports on the massive profits being enjoyed by people in the mobile phone sector, a factor that must be considered in terms of the cost base of the economy getting totally out of control? Is she prepared to make any representations to the Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, on the matter?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Is any legislation promised?

The Tánaiste

There is no legislation promised in regard to the local employment service. Telecommunications legislation is promised for autumn of this year.

Mr. Deenihan

Will the Tánaiste indicate when the Abbotstown sports centre authority Bill will be introduced and if it will include provision for a national outdoor stadium, in view of the report by Ove Arup which shows that it would cost €750 million to provide the necessary infrastructure at that site?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

That question is not in order. When will the Bill be introduced?

The Tánaiste

The heads of the Bill were approved by the Government some time ago. I have no date for the legislation.

Mr. Deenihan

Will it include an outdoor stadium?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

That is a separate question.

Mr. Allen

That is the real question.

Mr. Costello

Last summer at a meeting in Grangegorman, the Taoiseach made a commitment that legislation would be introduced in the autumn on the Grangegorman project for the Dublin Institute of Technology because it could not go ahead without this. Given that the Dublin Institute of Technology has had its plans drawn up for the several years, can the Tánaiste indicate when that legislation is going to go through? The provision of student facilities or the transfer of facilities from the Dublin Institute of Technology's present accommodation to that new campus cannot take place until legislation is introduced. It has been delayed for at least six months. We have received promises in the past that it will come forward at some point. Will we see it before the summer?

The Tánaiste

No, we will not, and I cannot give a date for when we will see it.

Mr. Costello

The Tánaiste might remind the Taoiseach that he promised this legislation. It will be at least 12 months later than he promised. This is in his own constituency which makes the delay all the more surprising.

Mr. Ring

This time last year the Government promised that 200,000 more people would have medical cards. A year later 30,000 people have lost their medical cards. Now that the Government has a new social conscience can the Tánaiste ask the Minister for Health and Children when the health (complaints) Bill will come before the Dáil? I hope that people who lost their medical cards can be represented in this Bill.

The Tánaiste

The heads of the Bill are expected later this year and the Bill will be published next year.

Ms Lynch

I do not know whether to call the Minister for Education and Science Madame Rosa as a visionary or Karl Marx as a new-found socialist. Now that the Minister is so committed to ensuring that people from disadvantaged areas have access to better education at all levels can the Tánaiste say when he is going to put sufficient money in place to ensure that school attendance officers can do their job and not just sit in offices?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Does the Deputy have a question on legislation?

Ms Lynch

When is it intended to enable the legislation already introduced by providing funding to allow people under that legislation to do their job and carry out—

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

The Deputy must ask about promised legislation.

Ms Lynch

The Minister for Education and Science says this issue is his main priority but as far as I can see that legislation cannot operate because of Government cutbacks.

Mr. Durkan

Given the serious backlog that now exists in the courts, the serious logjam in the family law courts, and the complete inadequacy of the system to deal with the workload that exists, what is happening to the courts Bill? Hopefully, this Bill will deal with this urgent and pressing situation which has been ongoing for almost the entire life of this Government and its predecessor.

The Tánaiste

The heads of the courts and civil liability Bill will be published before the summer and the entire Bill will be published later this year.

Mr. Naughten

I have two questions for the Tánaiste. In light of the fact that Dublin city centre is now a "no go" area because O'Connell Street has become the most dangerous street in Ireland, where women are afraid to get into taxis because of the absence of any regulation of standards, when will we see the taxi regulation Bill ? Second, when will we see the greater Dublin area land use and transportation authority Bill?

The Tánaiste

I dealt with the latter Bill earlier when I said that the policy was under review by the Minister for Transport. On the taxi regulation Bill, the heads of that Bill will be before the Government very shortly and the Bill is expected to be published later this year.

Mr. Naughten

What are people to do in the meantime?

A Deputy

Stop taking taxis.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

That is a separate question.

The Tánaiste

What the Deputy is saying will not be affected by that. This is about regulation of the industry.

Mr. Naughten

Regulation ensures that people with criminal convictions are not given taxi licences.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

That concludes the Order of Business.