Vol. 604 No. 5
It is proposed to take No. 26, Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad] — Order for Report, Report and Final Stages.
It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. and business shall be interrupted not later than 10 p.m. Private Members' business shall be No. 56, motion re Morris tribunal reports and establishment of commission into policing (resumed) to conclude at 8.30 p.m.
There is one proposal to be put to the House. Is the proposal for the late sitting agreed?
On that proposal, and in respect of No. 26, I want to object. Rushed legislation is bad legislation and we have had previous experiences with the Department of Health and Children, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and other Departments. I understand from my spokesman and based on what Deputy Rabbitte said earlier——
Perhaps on the Order of Business I will allow the Deputy to raise the point but this is merely dealing with the late sitting.
I am aware of that but the late sitting will continue tomorrow with a guillotine on this Bill.
The matter of the guillotine will come before the House tomorrow.
I have already made points about this matter. This is a very important Bill and it is critical that the House and the country get a Bill that will stand up to all kinds of scrutiny.
Does the Deputy oppose the late sitting?
I do not object to the late sitting but I object to the Order for Report, Report and Final Stages to be guillotined tomorrow.
The only parliamentary method available to us is to oppose the late sitting. I oppose the late sitting because, as I explained this morning, this is an entirely inadequate and disrespectful way to process a Bill of such importance. With some 40 pages of amendments, some of which are coming in as we speak, it is unconscionable that we make law in this way.
I ask the Taoiseach to agree to refer the Bill in its entirety to Committee Stage and to permit the House to sit for an additional week. This will allow us time to take advice on the amendments that have appeared this morning and last night, and give us the opportunity to scrutinise the main committee and to debate the issues, having regard to the specific request from Mr. Justice Morris that we do so. Mr. Justice Morris had the Bill, as it was, before him when he made his recommendation.
Why should the House rise on 1 July?
We are merely debating the late sitting today. There will be an opportunity to debate the House rising at a later stage.
I understand that and I am stating the Government has the option of continuing the House for an extra week to ensure this matter is dealt with properly. Why should the House not sit for an extra week? There is no justification that can be advanced for the House rising on 1 July, other than the fact that the Taoiseach wants to get his Ministers out of here, wounded, battered and bruised as they are.
The Deputy should speak for himself.
They are running away with their tails between their legs.
We are discussing the Order of Business for today. The Deputy is taking up the time of the House and the point he raises does not arise on this debate.
If the Government needs access to accident and emergency units it will be in serious difficulty waiting for it. We must oppose this measure because of the manner in which the Government is treating the House and Mr. Justice Morris.
I agree with Deputy Rabbitte on the concerns about amendments being rushed through. While I accept that we are debating the need for a late sitting this evening, the prospect of the guillotine is on the horizon and it is best to raise it at as early a stage as possible. We are receiving amendments on the hour and that is not a good way to do business. We have already seen Bills coming back for amendment because they were rushed through in the first instance. We should allow more time this evening and over the coming weeks to allow the Garda Síochána Bill to receive the attention it deserves.
It is less than satisfactory to object to a late sitting that will accommodate some further address of the Garda Síochána Bill. Nevertheless, there is no other mechanism by which we can object to the fact that for the greater number of Deputies there has not been sight of the new amendments the Minister has introduced. We do not know if the Minister has completed his submission of amendments as more may yet present.
At the end of the day there is no other course than that this Bill, given the significant changes offered, should be recommitted to Committee Stage. There is no other course at this time. Irrespective of what time is necessary, it is better that we get this as near to right as possible. Certainly, the current course and the Minister's approach is designed for outright confrontation with all Opposition voices in this House, resulting once again in rushed, flawed legislation, of which he has considerable experience. Accordingly, I object to the late sitting.
On the Good Friday Agreement, in a question the Taoiseach answered yesterday about meetings he had with the president of Sinn Féin, Gerry Adams, he made it clear he would continue dialogue with Sinn Féin. Is there a difference between formal and informal meetings in the sense that the Taoiseach has asked his officials to find out why Mr. Kelly was rearrested when he could probably have asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform who has access to the files in the first instance?
That does not arise on the Order of Business. Has the Deputy a brief question?
My point is, when the Taoiseach meets the president of Sinn Féin or any other party on such a matter, would it not be appropriate from a bipartisan point of view for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to be in attendance?
I bring another matter to the Taoiseach's attention because it has to do with an issue close to the area he represents as a Deputy. I attended a public meeting in Prussia Street last night where a number of women are very concerned about prostitution on streets in the locality. They feel that sooner or later somebody will be killed in the area because women with drug problems with children as young as two years have been seen getting into cars having been solicited for their services. They have requested meetings with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on a number of occasions——
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
In respect of the legislation——
The Deputy has raised two questions that are out of order on the Order of Business. Members of the House have just complained about the lack of time to discuss what we are supposed to discuss here.
With regard to the crimes Bill and an issue of serious concern in that locality, will the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform take action to deal with the matter?
I do not have a date for the crimes Bill. However, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has appointed Professor Finbarr McAuley to chair the statutory criminal law codification advisory group which will progress the codification of the legislation.
Will the Taoiseach remind us of the current position on the work permits Bill?
It has been passed by Cabinet and is due for publication shortly, either next week or in the next few days. I will check it for the Deputy, but it has gone through Cabinet.
We asked the Taoiseach earlier about the cross-Department team on infrastructure. With regard to legislation I want to ask about, the Taoiseach talked about looking at the situation - à la Humphrey Bogart rather than à la Taoiseach. Has the Taoiseach any plans to deal with the high ratio spending on roads? Will he publish the Dublin metro Bill and ensure it becomes a reality, or the transport reform Bill? Will we get the opportunity to debate these in the Dáil any time soon? Can we have some action in this regard?
I do not have a date for the transport reform Bill. There is some work done on the draft heads, but there is no date for the heads yet. Some other transport Bills are due in 2006, but I have no date for that particular Bill.
I call Deputy Naughten and ask him to be very brief and to confine himself to legislation. A number of people want to ask about legislation and I would like to facilitate them, but it looks as if I will not be able to.
I offered yesterday also, but there was no Order of Business. When will the intoxicating liquor Bill come before the House because it seems both the Minister for Agriculture and Food and Greencore were intoxicated when they agreed to the closure of the Carlow sugar plant?
We cannot have a statement. Has the Deputy a question on the legislation?
In light of the compensation proposals being put forward this morning, it seems the Carlow plant is now not deemed eligible for anything because of the premature closure of the plant prior to the publication of these proposals.
They might as well turn it into a café bar.
The Civil Registration Bill was published in 2003 and went through all the processes in this House. However, it has not yet been commenced as an Act. This is having an impact on situations regarding registration, such as parents trying to get registration of their children sorted out or people planning weddings. Why has the Act not been commenced? It seems to be tangled up with the issue of decriminalization.
The legislation is enacted. I will bring the Deputy's remarks to the attention of the Minister.
Will the Taoiseach set aside some time for the Tánaiste to come in this afternoon to explain to the House what hospitals——
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
There is huge confusion around the country about the number of hospitals the funding——
That does not arise. There are other ways the Deputy can raise the matter. We will move on to No. 26, if the Deputy does not want to remain on the Order of Business.
Last weekend we were treated to the gruesome images of the slaughtering of 4,000 pigs in an inhumane and cruel fashion. The Department of Agriculture and Food refused to intervene. When can we expect the animal health Bill?
The Government has approved the heads of the Bill and it has gone for drafting. I do not have a date for the Bill, but I will ask the Department to bring forward a date.
Last night I raised the matter of important legislation whereby a coroner can only call one medical practitioner in an inquest. When will the coroners Bill come before the House?
That Bill will come before the House in 2006.
This morning the Taoiseach mentioned legislation dealing with standards and services in nursing homes. What is the position in regard to that legislation and when will it be in the House?
What is the title of the Bill?
I am not sure. The Taoiseach mentioned it this morning and I just want to know what it is all about.
I mentioned the health inspectorate Bill. The drafting of that legislation is a priority and it should be ready for the autumn session.
Can we expect the electronic communications (miscellaneous provisions) Bill in 2005? Given that we do not have that Bill, will the Taoiseach ensure the Competition Authority urgently investigates the takeover of NTL by Chorus, given that the main shareholder is also one of the main shareholders of Sky television?
That legislation is due in the autumn session.
I support Deputy Upton on the issue of the slaughter of the 4,000 pigs. What happened——
That does not arise at this time.
We need to discuss the matter in this House.
With regard to the proposed major hike in electricity charges, when will the electricity Bill come before the House? In light of the extraordinary situation regarding non-co-operation by the National Roads Authority, when will the national roads infrastructure Bill be brought to the House so we can discuss the way property owners——
I call the Taoiseach on the legislation.
The energy Bill is due in 2006.
The Deputy asked about the electricity Bill.
The electricity Bill is due in 2006.
Those bills come every month.
The national roads infrastructure Bill is now named the road (miscellaneous provisions) Bill. It is being drafted, but I do not have a date for it to come to the House.
Why was the Taoiseach not in Kilkenny on Sunday when Westport United won the FAI junior cup, on which I congratulate the team? We were very disappointed the Taoiseach was not there. We looked out for him.
He will try to get to the match next time.
I want to ask about the Abbotstown sports campus development Bill, but with the Ceann Comhairle's permission I would like to congratulate Westport United, a team from a small rural town, on winning the FAI junior cup. I am sure the Taoiseach would also like to offer his congratulations to Westport. I am glad to say that we beat Waterford Crystal.
The Taoiseach, on the Abbotstown Bill.
The match was in Kilkenny. I congratulate the team. We went to Kilkenny, the marble city, and brought home the gold.
The Deputy should have been in Hyde Park in Roscommon.
It is amazing that Westport wants the support of the Taoiseach, rather than the support of Deputy Kenny.
If Dublin had not been playing, I would have been there to support Westport United.
I thank the Taoiseach.
My priorities are right.
When will the proposed alcohol products (control of advertising, sponsorship and marketing practices/sales promotions) Bill be published? Is the Taoiseach, who is a regular attender at Croke Park, concerned that the stadium is slowly turning into the biggest superpub in Ireland? It is important for the Taoiseach to give his view on the matter.
I cannot do that under legislation, obviously. The proposed alcohol products (control of advertising, sponsorship and marketing practices/sales promotions) Bill will be published later this year.
Does the Taoiseach have any concerns about the increased drink culture at Croke Park? He must have noticed it as he has been there a few times this summer.
As long as it is not on the pitch, anyway——
I would also like to ask about this country's drink culture and continuing problems with alcohol.
Does the Deputy have a question on legislation?
I do. It is directly related to legislation.
To what legislation does the Deputy refer?
I refer to the proposed alcohol products (control of advertising, sponsorship and marketing practices/sales promotions) Bill.
That question has just been asked.
The Taoiseach has answered a question about the Bill.
Contrary to what many people think, four energy Bills are listed on the Order Paper at present. I refer to the energy (miscellaneous provisions) Bill, the natural gas regulation Bill, the Bord Gáis Éireann Bill and the electricity Bill.
What about the hot air Bill?
The Deputy forgot the hot air Bill.
The only thing that is spectacular about that is the absence of the Minister who is responsible. Can he be encouraged to come to the House with a view to introducing the Bills as a matter of urgency? I refer in particular to the electricity Bill, given the proposed hike in prices.
That has already been dealt with this morning.
It has not.
Was the Deputy asleep? He should take some pep pills.
This part of it has not been dealt with.
It has already been dealt with this morning.
The proposed hike in prices will bring a 60%——
It was dealt with this morning.
——increase in electricity prices within three years.
We have to move on to the next business.
The Bills are before the House.
The Deputy should allow the Taoiseach to answer.
I hope the Chair will allow him to answer.
I have already spoken about the electricity Bill. The energy (miscellaneous provisions) Bill will be published in this session.
What about the natural gas Bill? I asked about that as well.
It is on its way.
Everything is mañana.
The pipe is being laid.
The other one is this session.
In view of the concerns about high levels of radon being found in new dwellings, can the Taoiseach assure the House that the building control Bill will be introduced soon?
It will be introduced in the autumn session.
