The Order of Business today shall be as follows: No. 3, Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004 — Second Stage (resumed); No. 1, the Sea Pollution (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003 [Seanad] — Second Stage.
Order of Business.
There are no proposals to put to the House.
On the Order of Business, I thank Deputies Ardagh and Paul McGrath for the work of their committee on the Barron report. Perhaps the Tánaiste will tell us, reflecting the concerns of victims' families, whether the Government has decided on a firm timetable regarding the committee's recommendations. Will she say when the Government intends to consider those issues?
I join Deputy Richard Bruton in thanking Deputy Ardagh and the entire committee for their extraordinarily hard work on this matter. Like Deputies, the Government only received the report yesterday afternoon and I am sure we will give it every consideration as quickly as possible, perhaps at our meeting next week or the one thereafter. It is important that we reflect on the report, into which an enormous amount of effort has been put by all the committee members. We owe it to them to give the report consideration now. We will revert to the Deputy regarding the timeframe since we do not yet have one.
In view of the Government's desire to rush through various Bills such as those on e-voting and the referendum on citizenship before the local and European elections, are there plans to introduce legislation to limit spending in local elections, given that corruption in Irish politics is primarily, though not exclusively, focused on local government?
No. No legislation is promised in that area.
Does the Tánaiste consider that, properly, there ought to be legislation?
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
Perhaps it ought to arise in the Order of Business, but I appreciate the Ceann Comhairle's ruling. As regards the debate so long after the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, is there to be a motion or statements, or in what form will the discussion be framed? It is important for the families concerned. They might appreciate the manner in which this matter is being considered by the House.
On promised legislation, as regards the building control Bill, will the submission of the Simon Community be taken into account which recommended that the special savings incentive account be reduced from 25% to 24%——
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
It would generate enough money to end homelessness——
The Deputy must speak on the legislation.
——seeing that the Tánaiste is interested in the special savings accounts.
That might be more appropriate to Second Stage of the legislation when it comes before the House.
It will be, indeed.
As regards the form the debate will take on the committee's report, that will have to be agreed. It would be desirable to have agreement among all parties in the House on that format. The Bill referred to by the Deputy will be published later this year.
Will the Tánaiste say when it is intended to consider the EU draft directive 14/2004 on bee tagging?
That sounds like a waspish inquiry, on 1 April. When I woke up early this morning and heard a different story from the Dáil, I thought that was an April fool's one as well. However, I understand it is not. I do not think I will even bother going through my notes. I suspect that is an April fool inquiry.
Given that Ireland has ratified the Montreal Convention 1999, will the Tánaiste say when it is proposed to introduce the air navigation and transport Bill? I was informed a couple of weeks ago that the pharmacy Bill would be on the agenda. What is the current situation on that?
Report Stage of the navigation Bill will be taken next Wednesday. The pharmacy Bill has not yet come to Government. I believe it will later this year.
(Interruptions).
The House will hear Deputy Ó Snodaigh without interruption.
I refer to No. 96 on the legislative programme, the judicial conduct and ethics Bill. What is the status of this Bill and will it be published this year, as promised? Is a White Paper on judicial conduct a problem? Will the heads of the Bill be published, as promised in the Government action programme on better regulation, in keeping with best practice?
The Bill is expected later this year.
In light of the destruction of a pure-bred herd in Ballinamore, County Leitrim, and the spreading of milk on land there that may cause pollution——
Has the Deputy a question on legislation?
This is relevant. There is an animal health Bill on the clár. Can that be brought forward as a matter of urgency so that the wanton destruction by the Department of Agriculture and Food may be discussed?
The animal health Bill will be brought forward later this year.
I raised some time ago with the Tánaiste the Diplomatic Relations and Immunities Act 1967 as amended in 1976. Amending legislation is promised in An Agreed Programme for Government. The Tánaiste undertook for somebody to contact me, but I have had no contact from the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of the Taoiseach or her Department.
I apologise that nobody has contacted the Deputy. We passed on the inquiry. It is not possible to indicate at this stage when we will have the Bill. However, I will get someone to speak to the Deputy on this matter.
The commission on electronic voting, despite its narrow terms of reference, is working away and spending taxpayers' money in the performance of its duties. Will the Tánaiste say when there will be an Estimate to sanction the spending of public moneys by the commission? To my knowledge there has been no authorisation by this House on the spending of money by the commission. I have no evidence of it. Will the Tánaiste tell the House where the authorisation came from and if there is not——
I suggest the Deputy submits a question to the Minister for Finance.
Will an Estimate be introduced to the House?
I am not certain under what subhead the money is being spent. I will have somebody from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government talk to the Deputy, but I am sure that if an Estimate is necessary it will be brought forward. Clearly, it was important to give the commission the resources it required. It is expected to report before 1 May.
I would expect——
We cannot have a debate on it now. I suggest the Deputy puts a question to the appropriate line Minister.
The Minister for Education and Science told the House on Tuesday that a report has been received on extending vetting procedures for people who work with children. Will the Tánaiste say whether the Government is in a position to proceed with a register of persons unsafe to work with children Bill?
My notes state that it is not possible at this stage to indicate when we will have the legislation, but obviously if we have the report, this will help expedite publication.
The Ceann Comhairle may be able to help me, or perhaps the Tánaiste. Yesterday I was upset when, with a number of other people, questions to the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources were refused on the basis that he had no accountability to the House. It related to a call to reduce mobile telephone charges and direct the regulator——
Has the Deputy a question on legislation?
I presume the Minister intends to legislate. Although the question was refused to several people, I opened my newspaper and——
This does not arise on the Order of Business. Deputy Richard Bruton——
——if the Ceann Comhairle opens his newspaper, he would see the same thing that I saw——
It does not arise on the Order of Business.
——the self-same Minister making an announcement to the world outside that he was now directing ComReg in this area——
What the Deputy saw in the newspapers does not arise on the Order of Business.
I just want to warn the Minister, if he persists, if he does that again——
The Deputy should allow his colleague, Deputy Bruton, to speak on something appropriate to the Order of Business.
I am sure the Tánaiste shares my belief that a vital concern is the extent to which schools in disadvantaged areas and children with special learning difficulties are making achievements, and being seen to do so. Will she clarify the Government's view on making information available to parents about the achievement of schools?
That question does not arise. It is more appropriate for questions to the Minister.
It does arise. The Minister for Education and Science indicated that the Education Act 2000 was excessively restrictive as regards providing parents and others with information.
Is legislation promised? No legislation is promised.
What constitutes a promise? If the Minister for Education and Science says this is unduly restrictive and there is an indication that he proposes to change it, it is about time reform in this area was thought about seriously.
I want to ask the Tánaiste about two matters. I asked her last week about the Grangegorman development agency Bill, when we are likely to have this long-promised legislation. We were supposed to have it before the end of this session. Second, in the context of the justice sub-committee reviewing the Barron proposals, it is proposed that this House endorses the recommendations. I understand that would require a motion to be put before the House. There is not much point in having statements unless accompanied by a motion. This should be done as a matter or urgency because of the request that the British Parliament should likewise endorse the recommendations. The victims and survivors have indicated strongly that they would like to see action on this as quickly as possible.
As regards the Grangegorman Bill, it is intended to have it this session. Regarding the motion, it would be the intention of the Whip to discuss that matter with other parties and to proceed along the lines suggested in agreement with everyone else. There is no sense in dividing on this important matter. We are all at one on it.
I congratulate the Tánaiste on her attendance in the House on three full days in a row, and for taking the Order of Business on the three days. She must be exhausted. I am invited this morning to attend a coalition of organisations for disabled persons. Will the Tánaiste inform me if I can let these organisations know when the rights-based disability Bill, which has been repeatedly promised, specifically by the Tánaiste at her party's annual conferences in recent years, and last week, will come before the House?
I thank Deputy Stagg for the compliment. It is not often he says nice things about me. April Fools' Day has its advantages. Even Deputy Finian McGrath said something nice. I understand he will be enjoying a makeover later in RTE.The disability Bill will be published very shortly. It is almost finalised.
Could the Tánaiste be slightly more specific? We have been hearing "very shortly" for two years. Will it be published in a month's time or before the summer?
As quickly as possible.
We saw today that the Director of Consumer Affairs is unable to charge people who jack up the price of the pint on match days because there is no legislative provision to prevent that.
That matter does not arise. I suggest that the Deputy submit a question to the Minister responsible.
Given that competition is manifestly not working in the licensed vintners' trade, and given the excessive profit-taking during major events and on the eve of those events, does the Tánaiste contemplate the need to make a price-fixing order in this area?
That is the same question.
Will the Tánaiste not answer it anyway?
The answer is no.