Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 7 Dec 2006

Vol. 629 No. 2

Order of Business.

The Taoiseach

It is proposed to take No. 15b, motion re referral to joint committee of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996; and No. 26a, Financial Motions by the Minister for Finance [2006] — motion 6 (resumed).

It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil shall sit later than 4.45 p.m. tonight and business shall be interrupted not later than 7.30 p.m; No. 15b shall be decided without debate; and the following arrangements shall apply in respect of the resumed debate on No. 26a: the speech of the Taoiseach and the main spokespersons, or a Member nominated in his or her stead, for the Fine Gael Party, the Labour Party and the Technical Group, who shall be called upon in that order, shall not exceed 40 minutes in each case; the spokespersons for the Technical Group shall be confined to a spokesperson for the Green Party, Sinn Féin and the Independents; and the speech of each other Member called upon, who may share their time, shall not exceed 30 minutes in each case.

An Ceann Comhairle

There are three proposals to put to the House. Is the proposal for the late sitting agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 15b, motion re referral to joint committee of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996, without debate agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 26a, Financial Motions, agreed? Agreed.

Mr. Kenny

I have a number of questions for the Taoiseach. I understand that 14 matters will come before the House without debate next week. A total of eight of these are motions back from committees without debate, while the remainder are before the House but are not to be discussed. This is not acceptable and the Taoiseach might like to deal with it.

It is perfectly obvious from the recent study that the prison system is not working and is breeding new crime and misery for the society it purports to serve. This party produced a fines Bill on a number of occasions which was voted down by the Government as far back as 1998. The study shows that 85% of those who have already done time for not paying fines will reoffend in some way. We have a situation where criminals are running loose from prison.

An Ceann Comhairle

Does Deputy Kenny have a question appropriate to the Order to Business?

Mr. Kenny

I understand that up to 300 prisoners are out on early release and have not gone back.

An Ceann Comhairle

Does Deputy Kenny have a question relating to legislation?

Mr. Kenny

Yes. Will the Government introduce a fines Bill which will deal in part with this issue? If the Taoiseach finds that the pressure of work on the Parliamentary Counsel is such that he cannot do that, I would be happy to reintroduce the fines Bill drafted by Fine Gael, to be amended by Government if that is appropriate.

Under the legislation governing the Taoiseach's appointment of Ministers of State, will the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Tim O'Malley, who is not here, go today to the parents of Jordan Kelly and deal with the situation?

An Ceann Comhairle

The matter does not arise under the Order of Business.

Mr. Kenny

It does arise under the Order of Business because the Taoiseach appointed him in terms of competence. The fact is that for four years, those parents have been given tablets, a sheet of paper and told to raise their child.

An Ceann Comhairle

The matter does not arise at this stage and there is no provision for Leaders' Questions on Thursday. Deputy Kenny has made his point. I call the Taoiseach to reply to the first two questions.

Mr. Kenny

If there is any compassion or sense of competency, I ask the Taoiseach to advise the Minister of State, Deputy Tim O'Malley, to go down in his State-sponsored car to those parents and speak to them today.

An Ceann Comhairle

That is not a matter for the Order of Business.

The Taoiseach

The Government Whip advises me that they are examining the issues raised by the Opposition Whips relating to next week and are trying to reschedule things. The fines Bill is due this session. It is still on target to be published this session.

A Deputy

What?

The Taoiseach

It is due to be published this session, which is up to the start of the next session.

Mr. J. O’Keeffe

Does that include the Enforcement of Court Orders Bill?

Mr. Rabbitte

The Government co-operated with me at the beginning of this year in putting through a Private Members' Bill to reform the coroner service. However, in November of last year, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform stated the heads of a comprehensive new coroners Bill would be published to facilitate discussion. When will it be before the House?

Does the Taoiseach intend to make any appointments to the positions of Minister of State before the end of the session? If so, when is he likely to make them?

The Taoiseach

The heads of the Bill to update the Coroners Act 1962 and reform the coroners service have been drafted and approved for some time. I am told it should be due early in 2007.

I will turn my mind to the other issue soon.

Mr. Rabbitte

Could the Taoiseach be any more explicit than "soon"?

Mr. P. McGrath

Christmas time.

Mr. Gormley

Does yesterday's budget not confirm that the Government——

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy is not in order.

Mr. Gormley

My point is actually about promised legislation.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy should come to the legislation.

Mr. Gormley

In my preamble, I would like to say that the Government is——

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy will have an opportunity during the day to say what he would like to say in his preamble. The budget will be debated all day.

Mr. Gormley

The Taoiseach wants to hear what I have to say.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy is out of order and should refer to the legislation.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

There is a new alignment alright.

Mr. Gormley

Through the budget yesterday, the Taoiseach tried to ingratiate himself——

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy should come straight to the legislation.

Mr. Gormley

——regarding climate change. He and his Government are clueless regarding climate change. The carbon fund Bill is promised for next week but only because of pressure from the European Union.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Taoiseach on the carbon fund Bill.

Mr. Gormley

Does this not demonstrate the Taoiseach's lack of commitment to the greatest challenge facing humanity?

An Ceann Comhairle

We cannot have a debate on the Bill. There will be an opportunity all day to debate the budget.

Mr. Gormley

The Taoiseach will not even tax his friends in the SUVs.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Taoiseach on the legislation.

Mr. Gormley

Why the tardiness and lack of commitment?

The Taoiseach

Next week.

A Deputy

A bit of coal for the stocking.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

In light of the information on the increase in the price of cigarettes that the Taoiseach shared with us yesterday in the debate on the financial regulations, which has the potential effect of achieving a 2% reduction in usage, is there legislation to complement the effort to dissuade an increasing number of people from smoking tobacco? Will it be part of the health Bill? Will the Taoiseach, in light of the limited impact of the measures exposed by the information he provided last night, bring forward the Bill as a result?

(Interruptions).

The Taoiseach

I do not believe there is a need for any legislation — we have regulations. The Deputy should not discount a reduction in consumption in the order of 100 million cigarettes.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Two per cent.

The Taoiseach

That is a fair amount of cigarettes.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

How many?

The Taoiseach

Imagine if they were in the Deputy's boot.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

If that is only 2%——

An Ceann Comhairle

Allow the Taoiseach without interruption.

The Taoiseach

It is 100 million cigarettes.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

——some 98% remain.

Mr. Durkan

Given that the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources broke his silence on the issue of gas and electricity prices while in Hanoi and disclosed that he had met the suppliers and expressed his concern thereon, will he indicate whether he will meet the suppliers again to express further concerns and inveigle them to reduce their prices so they will be in line with those that prevailed before the increase in October?

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy should ask a question appropriate to the Order of Business.

Mr. Durkan

He should facilitate other Members of the House in this regard and indicate when the relevant legislation, which is promised——

An Ceann Comhairle

I suggest the Deputy submit a question to the line Minister.

Mr. Durkan

I refer to the relevant legislation. We should all have an opportunity to air our views.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Taoiseach on the legislation.

Mr. Durkan

What is the position on the minerals development Bill?

Mr. N. Dempsey

It has nothing at all to do with energy prices.

Mr. Durkan

The Minister can break all the silences he wants to then.

Mr. N. Dempsey

It has nothing at all to do with energy prices.

Mr. Durkan

Bring it forward and let us hear the Minister's views.

Mr. N. Dempsey

Is Deputy Durkan giving out about the fact that the prices were reduced?

An Ceann Comhairle

The Taoiseach on the minerals development Bill.

Mr. Durkan

The Minister's views are at variance with those of some of his ministerial colleagues. When he breaks his silence in Hanoi on the tannoy once more, he should come into the House and tell us about it.

(Interruptions).

An Ceann Comhairle

Allow the Taoiseach to answer the question.

The Taoiseach

Next year.

Mr. J. Higgins

An important new record was set this morning when it took two hours and 25 minutes for the 39A bus to come from Ongar to the city centre, a journey of 12 miles.

An Ceann Comhairle

That does not arise on the Order of Business.

Mr. Rabbitte

It did not arrive at all.

Mr. J. Higgins

Any crash, big or small, around north-west Dublin creates instant gridlock for 20 miles.

An Ceann Comhairle

Has the Deputy a question on the Order of Business?

Mr. J. Higgins

Yes.

An Ceann Comhairle

We are still on the Order of Business and will be moving on to general financial statements later, when the Deputy will have an opportunity to raise these matters.

Mr. J. Higgins

I refer to the Dublin transport authority Bill. I will not ask the Taoiseach whether he is embarrassed by the catastrophic infrastructural void the day after the budget.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy can raise those matters later. I call the Taoiseach on the legislation.

Mr. J. Higgins

Massive resources were available for emergency action. When will emergency action be taken to save our people from a breakdown?

An Ceann Comhairle

This session.

Mr. J. Higgins

I did not hear the Taoiseach's reply because it was not delivered——

An Ceann Comhairle

If the Deputy would stop interrupting when the Taoiseach is called, he would hear the reply. I call the Taoiseach on the legislation.

The Taoiseach

This session.

Mr. J. Higgins

If the Taoiseach stood up and replied properly and maybe addressed the critical issue that has our people on the verge of breakdown——

An Ceann Comhairle

I call Deputy McManus.

Mr. J. Higgins

——we might get some action here.

An Ceann Comhairle

Allow Deputy McManus, who has been called, to speak.

Mr. J. O’Keeffe

The best emergency action would be to get rid of this godforsaken Government.

(Interruptions).

An Ceann Comhairle

Allow Deputy McManus to speak, please.

Mr. J. O’Keeffe

The Government will not buy its way out of trouble with taxpayers' money.

(Interruptions).

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy McManus is waiting patiently and I ask Members on both sides of the House to allow her to contribute.

Ms McManus

I am all for a little Christmas cheer.

Hospitals around the country have run over budget and are now receiving revenue funding from the capital fund. My understanding, on the basis of experience gained not long ago in this House——

An Ceann Comhairle

Has the Deputy a question on legislation?

Ms McManus

A decision to address this must be taken in this House. Will the Taoiseach state whether a resolution is required in this regard?

The Taoiseach

I have no notification for any resolution on this matter.

Ms McManus

I did not ask whether the Taoiseach had notification but about the transfer of funding, owing to capital moneys not being spent because of Government incompetence, to make up the shortfall in the hospitals arising from the lack of funding on the revenue side. Does this not require a resolution of the House?

The Taoiseach

No legislation is promised.

An Ceann Comhairle

We will proceed to No. 15b.

Ms McManus

This is a matter for this House.

An Ceann Comhairle

The question has been answered and the Taoiseach stated no legislation is promised.

Ms McManus

Does the Taoiseach expect there will be a resolution in the circumstances I have outlined to him?

An Ceann Comhairle

It does not arise.

Ms Burton

It arose last year.

Ms McManus

It would be important. The Government got into a bad tangle last year.

An Ceann Comhairle

We are proceeding to the next item. I suggest the Deputy submits a question to the appropriate Minister.