It is proposed to take No.14, Revised Estimates for the Public Services 2004 [Votes 28 and 29], back from committee; No. 14a, motion re Freedom of Information Act 1997; No. 15 , motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (Prescribed Research and Development Activities) Regulations 2004, back from committee; No. 16, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the transmission of natural gas by a second pipeline, back from committee; No. 23, the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2004 [Seanad] — Order for Report, Report and Final Stages; No. 26, Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Bill 2002 — Order for Report, Report and Final Stages; No. 24, International Criminal Court Bill 2003 — Second Stage (resumed). It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that Nos. 14, 14a, 15 and 16 will be decided without debate, and in the case of No. 14, Votes 28 and 29 shall be moved together and shall be decided by one question which shall be put from the Chair and any division demanded thereon shall be taken forthwith; the Dáil on its rising today shall adjourn until 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 29 September 2004.
Order of Business.
There are two proposals to put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with Nos. 14, 14a, 15 and 16 agreed?
I do not agree to this proposal. The Government is trying to take four separate items as one without debate. The first of these is the overseas development aid budget. We have set ourselves a target of €1 billion in this regard for the year 2007. However, the figure for 2004 is only €400 million. We have not yet reached 40% of the target level for 2007 and the Government is proposing to pass the Revised Estimate without debate.
The second item is a motion in respect of the Freedom of Information Act. A report has just been issued by the Information Commissioner which criticises the way in which policy is being implemented and which seeks specific changes in the Freedom of Information Act. It is proposed that there will be no debate on this matter.
The third item involves taxes on research and development. Newspaper reports this morning indicate that the Government has failed to secure approval from the European Commission for proposals it made in respect of the business expansion and the seed capital schemes. We will again pass a motion on tax incentives for business without debate and with no opportunity for Members to discuss the issues involved.
Each of these items involves significant issues of public concern and they should not be pushed through without debate. To do so is to make a mockery of the importance of the Parliament and of these issues. There are many hundreds of millions of people living on less than $1 per day and we are unwilling to debate the inadequacy of ODA budgets in the House.
The practice of taking a multiple of items together betrays the Government's real lack of regard in the House. The Green Party may have a difficulty with one of the items and has no problem with the other three but it will be obliged to vote against all of them to make our point. If we are to take each of these items seriously — I am sure the Government will indicate that it intends to do so — they should be taken separately. We are opposing the taking of the four items in one grouping.
I wish to highlight the grouping of items in this instance. We have no objection to the Revised Estimates for the public service but this item will be grouped with the motions relating to the Freedom of Information Act and the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (Prescribed Research and Development Activities) Regulations 2004.
The discussions we held recently on overseas development aid indicated that we will not reach, on current levels of commitment by the Government, the target of 0.7% of gross national product by 2007. However, we would not object to the passage of the Revised Estimate. What is needed is a debate on ODA and we are opposed to taking this matter without debate. How we are going to make up the shortfall in the budget between now and 2007 is beyond me. I do not believe that the Government will make up the difference in the coming three years.
As regards the Freedom of Information Act, in a submission to the Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service the Information Commissioner made it clear that there is not only a charge in respect of accessing freedom of information but that there is also a fee of €150 for those seeking redress through the Information Commissioner's office. That is prohibitive. If people are to go through the full course to secure a final and favourable judgment, they will be obliged to spend in excess of €400. That is absurd and there is no comparable situation in any other democracy as regards freedom of information legislation. We have a strong objection to this item being taken without debate.
The Government will agree an arrangement relating to significant tax reliefs for research and development with no certainty that there are certification schemes in place which will ensure that widespread tax avoidance does not result from this necessary proposal. In the debates on the budget and the Finance Act, the Minister for Finance promised that the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment would put in place a certification scheme to ensure that the scheme relating to research and development would not be the subject of widespread tax avoidance. The Dáil will rise today for the summer recess and no assurance has been provided about this matter by either the Tánaiste or the Minister for Finance.
The Information Commissioner said yesterday that there are 400 freedom of information officers employed by public bodies throughout the country and that she is not sure that they have much work to do because the Freedom of Information Act has been emasculated and usage of it has been decimated.
It is disappointing, in respect of the Revised Estimate on overseas development aid and in the context of the trumpeting of the success of the Irish Presidency, that the Dáil will rise as Africa, particularly the area of western Sudan, is on the brink of yet another catastrophe which will cost millions of lives. No specific additional provision is made in the Revised Estimate to supply the money Ireland and other European countries need to allocate to address the situation that is unfolding in Darfur in western Sudan.
Before calling the Minister to reply, I wish to inform the House that the grouping of one or more items of business in one proposal is in order as the proposed arrangements to be followed are the same for all items, namely, that they be taken without debate. The items themselves are voted on separately when put to the House after the Order of Business. It should be borne in mind that a proposal on the Order of Business is a narrow procedural motion, making arrangements for the taking of the business and nothing else.
Nos. 14 and 15 are back from committee. Deputies, therefore, had the opportunity to discuss these matters in committee. The House needs to reflect on whether it will have respect for the work done by committees or whether, as Members seem to be suggesting, everything should be dealt with in this Chamber.
As regards No. 14a, the relevant committee is being given the opportunity to discuss this matter. There is no prohibition on that happening.
There has been a substantial increase in Third World aid in recent years.
The Government is well below its target.
That increase is phenomenal when compared to anything that happened in the past. We are proud of the work going on across the world on foot of what——
The Minister should consider the events that are unfolding in Sudan.
I do not know why the people voted against the Government in the recent elections.
——the Government has provided. Deputies should not make light of that.
Is the proposal for dealing with the Adjournment of the Dáil agreed?
It would be appropriate to reflect on how much has been achieved in the context of the legislative programme. It is revealing to discover that of the 19 Bills that were promised by the Government, only nine have been published and ten remain to be published. Of the nine published, one was published only this morning. If one was interested in monitoring the performance of Ministers, particularly in the context of the fact that the Taoiseach is supposed to be considering a reshuffle, one would find that of the three Bills promised by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, none has been presented to the Dáil, although one was published this morning. The Bill promised by the Minister for Health and Children was not produced. Of the two Bills promised by the Minister for Agriculture and Food, neither was published.
People are leaving the land.
The Ministers for Arts, Sport and Tourism and Social and Family Affairs failed to produce any of the Bills they promised. I accept that some Ministers are fortunate in that they did not promise to produce any Bills and cannot be accused of failing to deliver. These individuals buried their talents well. The Minister for Defence is one of those who finds himself in this happy situation.
The Deputy has not kept himself up to date.
It will be a bad summer report.
Joking aside, we must consider the Bills that have not been published. The Disability Bill 2001 was withdrawn in 2002. In May 2003 it was stated that the Bill would be published before the summer recess. In October, the Government was working urgently to prepare the Bill. In December, it was to be published before the end of January. In April, it was the top priority on the Government programme yet it is already July and we have not seen it.
What is happening in Government? Why are Ministers not able to deliver the promises they make to the House? Why is legislation not being produced, debated and acted upon? Is there a paralysis in Government whereby Ministers just cannot make up their minds on important issues? It is just not good enough that the House should adjourn leaving so much work undone. The tragedy is that many of these Ministers do not need more time. They need a remedial programme to help them deliver some results, make some decisions and present some business to the Dáil.
It is a long six months.
Most people in the House will welcome the fact that the end of term beckons, given the work of the Presidency, the local and European elections and various other matters this year. It beggars belief as far as the public is concerned that the House should not reconvene until 29 September. I think the Government is of the opinion that it is disadvantaging the Opposition and that its manner of treatment of this House is disadvantaging the Opposition. All it is doing is diminishing the stature of the House and diminishing respect for politics. No Government has the track record of this one, not even the same combination of parties in the previous Government, in terms of its disrespect for this House, the number of guillotines and the manner in which long-promised legislation has not emerged.
In addition, legislation that was never promised emerged and was railroaded through the House in the minimum time possible and frequently on foot of a guillotine. There have been several examples. Yesterday we had some explanation of a Bill being prosecuted by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform which he was making up on the hoof, withdrawing his own amendments and submitting what he called draft amendments on the floor of the House. That is not unusual.
Despite the number of matters to be dealt with, it is now proposed that we go into recess until 29 September. I instanced yesterday the statement by the Chief Whip on behalf of the Government on 25 January which said the disability Bill was a priority for the Government and that it would be published shortly. I read it into the record yesterday. Despite the collapse of that Bill and the dismissal of the Minister that was piloting it through prior to the previous general election, it still has not re-emerged. Out of 19 Bills promised, ten remain unpublished. It is a lamentable performance by the Government. It had first-hand experience not of any opinion poll but of the attitude of the people in real live elections and, despite that, its response is to show disrespect for the House by staying out of it for as long as possible and making announcements outside of the House. The last place one will find an announcement of any significance made by a Minister is in this Chamber.
The Minister for Social and Family Affairs announced outside of the House yesterday that she will terminate the rent supplement for tenants after 18 months. I can see concern on the face of my constituency colleague, Deputy O'Connor, and I can understand why. He will know all about it in the weeks ahead. No commensurate provision has been made to allow local authorities to put measures in place to accommodate promptly the implications of such a severe measure. There are many such matters. The report of the enterprise strategy group, which was published yesterday, requires debate in this House, yet we are going into recess unnecessarily until the 29 September, to which I am opposed.
There is no denying that many people will appreciate a break but the length of it is the issue. The Cabinet is due to come back in September which means the Dáil should as well. I propose an amendment to the Order Paper that Wednesday, 1 September 2004 should be the date we reconvene. If the Cabinet is to meet from September onwards, not having the Dáil will allow it to duck and weave. It will lack accountability or any full debate in which the House is obliged to engage to reflect the views and interests of the people. In the absence of the Dáil meeting, it is remiss of us to allow the Cabinet to meet. We should take this into account in addition to the urgent needs we have in regard to issues like Sudan and many other world issues.
The report of the enterprise strategy group requires urgent debate in the House. Many of its terms are similar to the Culliton report, the Telesis report and many other proposals made throughout the years by the Green Party. It is clear the Government has been falling down on its responsibilities. We need to have that debate in the House.
The prospect of an ESB strike also looms. In that event I would like an assurance from the Government that the Dáil would resume early. We do not want to see an escalation of industrial problems. We do not want to see blackouts in this country. We want to see the Government held to account. An amendment is needed for the Dáil to reconvene on 1 September. On that basis we should also get an assurance from the Government that it is prepared to come back before that, if necessary.
In regard to the proposition to adjourn until 29 September, one should put on record that we will be meeting in committee during the rest of this month and in September. One can pre-empt the Minister's reply. It is important that we do not feed the general notion that we will be doing nothing over the summer. That does not serve any of our interests nor the interests of representative democracy. However, it is the case that the Dáil Chamber will not be in session and the Government will not be held to account over the period, which is a deficiency. There is no question about that.
The Chief Whip, Deputy Hanafin, issued a statement on the first day of the current Dáil session on 26 April. She stated in the third paragraph: "The pace of legislative reform being maintained by this Government has been remarkable." It certainly has. There is no doubt in the world about that. It has been absolutely remarkable and that has not been lost on anybody.
The disability Bill is not just a stick with which to beat the Government. We must recognise the reality of those who are at the coalface of the delivery of services, particularly to those in society with disabilities. Deirdre Carroll of the National Association for the Mentally Handicapped in Ireland stated the failure of the Government in bringing forward the disability Bill is unacceptable. She said more than that but I am just paraphrasing it. This is far from a joke; it is serious. Proposed legislation such as the disability Bill and other Bills needs to be expedited and brought forward. No Deputy would refuse the opportunity to come back early to ensure such substantive legislation is properly addressed. We must bring forward legislation that will make a key and critical difference in people's lives. Rights-based legislation is necessary to address the needs of the disability sector.
While the Government may take up the arguments of the Opposition, will the Minister in his reply at least indicate to us whether the Cabinet committee on health will sit in emergency session during the rest of this month for whatever time is necessary to come up with the key and necessary proposals to address the current crisis in the health services? That is one area that needs urgent attention. Perhaps the Minister would indicate in his response to us that the Cabinet committee on health would act responsibly in the coming days.
A Cheann Comhairle——
The provision only allows for one Member from each of the four parties in the House to make a comment at this stage.
That is the Ceann Comhairle's interpretation.
If I allow the Deputy, there is no reason every other Member on each side of the House should not be allowed to make a contribution. I call the Minister.
Why should they not be allowed to speak on the last day before the recess?
I have called the Minister.
It is very unfair.
It may well be. However, if the Deputy wishes to have the Standing Orders changed, the Chair would be happy to facilitate him.
The Standing Orders do not need to be changed; they just need to be interpreted differently.
The Deputy knows the rules.
My only problem is that the Government does more damage when the Dáil is sitting than when it is in recess.
For the information of the House and particularly for Deputy Ó Caoláin, the Government is not going on holidays at the moment and many Deputies in this House will not be going on holidays.
Some will win and get full-time holidays.
I will not be surprised to read in the newspapers tomorrow that Deputies are on their holidays. The journalists are not to be blamed. The people to blame are those who belittle the committees that will be sitting throughout this month and in September. The only time off will be in August. It should be part of our job to make sure that the public have some respect for that work and Deputy Ó Caoláin is belittling it.
The Government cannot be held to account.
The Government should give us the facilities.
The Minister should be allowed to speak without interruption.
The Deputies who will go into these committees and do work this month——
We cannot table questions.
The committees are just window dressing.
In that case, the Opposition Deputies should engage in reform, but they do not want to do that either.
Hear, hear.
We are perfectly happy to engage in reform.
And let the Taoiseach off altogether.
The Minister should be allowed to speak without interruption.
The Opposition has refused.
There is a snowball behind the Minister.
The Minister is entitled to the same courtesy as every other Member of the House.
Since the Government parties were returned to Office, 90 Bills have been enacted. Members should look at the records over the years and see if that was ever beaten. The Opposition wants to make little of that as well, even though much of its own work went into it as well as ours. We accept that and appreciate it. Ten Bills on the A list have been published and the remainder on the A list will be published this summer. Fourteen Bills have been published altogether even though some Deputies have mentioned only nine or ten. Again they want to make little of the work done for whatever reason and that is their business.
The Minister is talking about quantity. Whatever happened to quality?
The Taoiseach made it clear that the disability Bill would be published during the recess and that a number of other——
We have heard that before.
Which recess?
Will the Minister stake his job on that?
Members will have plenty of opportunity to discuss the Bill and a number of other matters will arise, possibly a nice financial package, which I hope Members will welcome when the time comes.
Are we being bribed?
These are entitlements.
Members will get some good news while they are working in the committees. If they then take a week or two off, we can try to help them out as well.
Deputy Sargent has proposed an amendment to the Order of Business, that the Dáil shall adjourn until 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 1 September 2004.
Tá
- Ahern, Dermot.
- Ahern, Noel.
- Andrews, Barry.
- Brady, Johnny.
- Brady, Martin.
- Brennan, Seamus.
- Callanan, Joe.
- Carey, Pat.
- Carty, John.
- Curran, John.
- Dempsey, Noel.
- Dempsey, Tony.
- Dennehy, John.
- Devins, Jimmy.
- Ellis, John.
- Finneran, Michael.
- Fitzpatrick, Dermot.
- Fleming, Seán.
- Glennon, Jim.
- Grealish, Noel.
- Hanafin, Mary.
- Haughey, Seán.
- Hoctor, Máire.
- Jacob, Joe.
- Kelly, Peter.
- Killeen, Tony.
- Kirk, Seamus.
- Lenihan, Brian.
- Lenihan, Conor.
- McCreevy, Charlie.
- McGuinness, John.
- Martin, Micheál.
- Moloney, John.
- Moynihan, Donal.
- Moynihan, Michael.
- Mulcahy, Michael.
- Ó Cuív, Éamon.
- Ó Fearghaíl, Seán.
- O’Connor, Charlie.
- O’Dea, Willie.
- O’Donnell, Liz.
- O’Keeffe, Batt.
- O’Keeffe, Ned.
- O’Malley, Fiona.
- O’Malley, Tim.
- Parlon, Tom.
- Power, Peter.
- Power, Seán.
- Roche, Dick.
- Sexton, Mae.
- Smith, Brendan.
- Smith, Michael.
- Treacy, Noel.
- Walsh, Joe.
- Wright, G.V.
Níl
- Boyle, Dan.
- Breen, Pat.
- Bruton, Richard.
- Burton, Joan.
- Connaughton, Paul.
- Connolly, Paudge.
- Crawford, Seymour.
- Crowe, Seán.
- Cuffe, Ciarán.
- Durkan, Bernard J.
- English, Damien.
- Enright, Olwyn.
- Ferris, Martin.
- Gogarty, Paul.
- Hayes, Tom.
- Healy, Seamus.
- Higgins, Joe.
- Hogan, Phil.
- Howlin, Brendan.
- McGrath, Finian.
- McGrath, Paul.
- McManus, Liz.
- Mitchell, Olivia.
- Moynihan-Cronin, Breeda.
- Naughten, Denis.
- Neville, Dan.
- Noonan, Michael.
- Ó Caoláin, Caoimhghín.
- O’Shea, Brian.
- O’Sullivan, Jan.
- Pattison, Seamus.
- Penrose, Willie.
- Perry, John.
- Rabbitte, Pat.
- Ring, Michael.
- Ryan, Eamon.
- Ryan, Seán.
- Sargent, Trevor.
- Stagg, Emmet.
- Stanton, David.
- Upton, Mary.
Will the Government introduce a Supplementary Estimate arising from the new proposal for housing persons who have been in receipt of rent supplement for more than 18 months? There will be public concern as there are 50,000 families on the housing waiting list and——
The Deputy should confine himself to a question and not what he might like to say if such an Estimate were to come before the House.
I appreciate that but I think we need to set the context for the urgency with which this ought to be brought forward. If there are no resources, the Government will not be in a position to meet the commitment it is making to this group.
That does not arise.
Will there be a Supplementary Estimate?
It seems the enforcement of the no smoking provision has been somewhat wanting in the past number of days. Is the Minister satisfied that the existing legislation is robust in terms of enforcement? Is he of the view the Dáil must reconsider it to ensure the legislation can be enforced speedily and effectively?
: The Government is satisfied that the legislation is sufficiently robust to ensure that everything that is necessary for compliance can be enforced. It does appear that there has been some delay in that enforcement procedure in a particular case. However, I understand that time has been given, which if not complied with, will lead to a further injunction being sought.
As regards the first question, no Supplementary Estimates are envisaged in that context. Over €300 million is now being expended on rent supplements. It is wise to look at that in terms of more permanent housing arrangements and the numbers of people who qualify on the housing lists. Many people will be anxious to see these moneys diverted, where possible, into permanent housing for people who are in need.
How it will happen is crucial.
There cannot be a debate on this issue.
The Dáil needs to have an opportunity to scrutinise how this is going to happen otherwise more people will be piled onto a system that is unable to cope as it is.
The Deputy has made his point. I would ask the Minister to refrain from going beyond the Order of Business. Otherwise this will lead to a long debate in the House.
I am sorry.
I wish the Minister for Defence well and hope he will be back in that seat taking the Order of Business in the autumn. I hope he will be untroubled by any telephone calls during the summer. Having wished him well, will he explain how, if there is to be no Supplementary Estimate, it is proposed to deal with this issue, given that there are almost 60,000 on the public housing queue, many in private rented accommodation?
I am touched by, appreciate and share Fianna Fáil's concern for the money we are giving private landlords. How is it proposed to terminate the rent allowance after 18 months if there is not a Supplementary Estimate? What is the point in the €300 million being put into public housing? That would build less than 3,000 houses. If the entire sum is spent it would mean a good deal less than 3,000. One could not build a local authority house for €100,000.
This does not arise on the Order of Business.
How is it——
The Deputy should raise the matter in the House in some other way.
When can he do that? Tomorrow?
When can he raise it?
I ask the Ceann Comhairle to understand——
It is not appropriate to the Order of Business. There are ample opportunities, for example, on this evening's Adjournment debate.
That is an excellent suggestion. If I can comply with the time I will table it for the Adjournment because many Deputies on both sides of this House will be meeting distressed people over the summer months who will want to know what will happen when their rent supplements are terminated.
I am sure that Members of the House will join me in expressing sympathy to the people of Austria on the recent death of their Head of State, President Thomas Klestil, at Vienna general hospital. It is important that a Head of State in the European Union who has been a voice for peace and reconciliation in his own country and beyond should be remembered. The Austrians, who showed this country an example in trying to end the EURATOM Treaty——
The Deputy's question must be appropriate to the Order of Business.
——should be borne in mind, as well. It is important that I should express sympathy, on that basis, from the Green Party to the Austrian Green Party and the Austrian people.
It is important to keep in mind the enterprise strategy group report and the legislation that might arise from it. We will not have a chance for a debate unless the Government does a turnaround. I would like to know whether there are to be written parliamentary questions at any point during the summer break so that Members can at least ensure some level of accountability and questioning. Just like the matter I raised earlier, as to whether the Dáil will reassemble if there is an ESB strike, this too is important.
One of the strategy group's recommendations concerned the education of the workforce.
Has the Deputy a question on legislation?
The Grangegorman Development Agency Bill has been raised again and again in the House. Will this Bill be given priority in light of that report and the need for further attention to be given to training?
As the Deputy knows, that Bill has been published and is being given priority for the autumn session.
When the Aer Lingus Act was taken in this House, a commitment was given by the Minister for Transport, Deputy Brennan, to bring forward secondary legislation which would require the approval of the Dáil to allow for any partial or full sale of the national airline. In light of the proposal now on the Minister's desk, when will we see a White Paper on the sale of Aer Lingus and when will the secondary legislation be published?
The Aer Lingus Bill has now been enacted. Any change in the status of Aer Lingus will obviously require legislation that will come before this House.
When will we see the White Paper on the sale of Aer Lingus?
When Dr. Neary was struck off the register by the Medical Council the House was advised that the heads of the medical practitioners Bill were ready for publication. This is an urgent matter, yet it is sliding down the list of legislation. Will the Minister ensure that at least the heads of the Bill are published?
The heads of the Bill have been approved by the Government. It is just not possible to say, at this stage, when they will be introduced.
I am not asking that. I am asking when the heads of the Bill will be published.
They are approved.
We have approval. All we want is publication. May we please have that?
I will discuss that matter with the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, and communicate with the Deputy.
The nation is shocked that the spectre of back-street abortions has reappeared, inevitably, with women in the twilight zone of the Government's immigration laws. Will the Minister say if the Government will look urgently at this terrible human tragedy and need that has emerged, and legislate or resolve it in the interests of those in our society who are extremely vulnerable?
The Taoiseach has indicated in the House on a number of occasions that no legislation is planned in this area. That remains the position.
In light of the publication of the enterprise strategy report by the Government yesterday, which says nothing more than we already knew, will the Minister say if one of the recommendations will require amending legislation to change the status of the development agencies and to amalgamate the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and a number of other agencies? Will the Government be introducing a Bill to put that into effect?
On a related matter, I asked two brief questions yesterday on the Order of Business as regards the briefing required on the publication of this important strategy. I heard nothing further since I raised it yesterday, although I was promised that such a briefing would be provided. I got the normal documentation every other Member of the House received.
As regards the document itself, one of its implications is the analysis that we require a significant input of foreign skilled labour to maintain our economy. Where exactly is the work permits Bill that has been promised for over a year and a half and why has it not yet been published, debated and enacted in this House?
I am told it will be published next September. As regards the report, obviously it is significant and one which will be duly considered by the Government. Whatever legislative action is required will be taken in that context.
I want to ask about the alcohol products control of advertising, sponsorship, marketing practice and sales promotions Bill. The land Bill and the veterinary medicines Bill were to have been dealt with in this session. The animal health Bill and the forestry Bill were also on the agenda. When will the Bills be taken and by whom?
The second part is the hard part.
It is a six-marker.
The $20,000 man will not answer that.
It is hoped that the land Bill, which has been approved by the Government, will be published tomorrow or very soon. The veterinary medicines Bill will be published in late July or early August. The animal health Bill will be published in the middle of next year.
The alcohol products Bill was the first Bill I mentioned.
It will be published later this year.
Mañana.
Given the decline in the number of Atlantic salmon to the extent that the species is dangerously close to extinction, and considering that Ireland is the only country on the Atlantic that continues to permit drift-netting, in breach of EU directives and law, when can we expect the fisheries (amendment) Bill which seeks to bring Ireland into line with EU legislation in this regard, to be published?
It is expected that the Bill will be published in August of this year.
The Bill should be brought forward as soon as possible because the salmon will all be gone if it is not.
It does not cover it.
The Minister can be sure of support from this side of the House.
It does not cover it.
Is this a new thing?
The Government works best when it is on holidays.
In light of the recent comments of the Taoiseach and the Minister for Transport, when can we expect the publication of the critical infrastructure (Dublin metro) Bill?
It will be published in the autumn of this year.
There are many problems in respect of work permits, such as the fact that companies rather than employees keep the permits. When will the employment permits Bill be introduced?
He has answered that question.
An raibh an Teachta ina chodladh cúpla nóiméad ó shin?
I am interested because the Minister might want a work permit himself.
I answered the question some moments ago.
I asked when the Bill will come to the House because I want to be sure.
The Bill will be brought forward in September, around the time that Mayo will be playing in the all-Ireland final.
I am delighted the Minister is so confident in that regard.
In light of the Government's general reluctance to provide information about its restrictions on the Freedom of Information Act, when does it propose to publish the criminal justice (protection of information) Bill, which will replace the Official Secrets Act? Given that we cannot get the information in any other way, we might be able to get it in that way.
We cannot tell the Deputy because it is a secret.
Are you worried, Séamus?
It is a secret.
In what month will we be bringing that one in?
As the Deputy is so concerned about these matters, we will do everything we can to make the Bill available before the end of the year.
I appreciate it.