It is proposed to take No. 16a, motion re membership of committees; No. 1, European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad] — Second Stage; and No. 24, Health Bill 2006 — Second Stage, resumed. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that No. 16a shall be decided without debate.
Order of Business.
There is one proposal to be put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 16a without debate agreed? Agreed.
Will the Government agree to a debate on the annual report of the National Competitiveness Council, which was published yesterday? I understand that Pfizer, one of the flagship companies in Ireland's pharmaceutical sector, which has never seen any job losses, is about to announce significant job losses in Cork. There have been similar job losses in Motorola, Vodafone and Xerox.
I will allow the Deputy's question, but we cannot have a debate on the matter.
I want to make the point that this is not an isolated incident. There is a trend of job losses in our traded sectors.
We cannot have a debate at this stage. The Deputy asked whether a debate will be allowed.
That is the question.
Such a question should apply only to promised debates, but I will allow the Deputy to ask a brief question now.
As the announcement is being made as we speak, it is appropriate, timely and urgent to raise the matter now. I hope the Chair will indulge me if I stray slightly beyond the boundaries of Standing Orders.
No, Deputy, I could not set a precedent like that. Your colleagues might expect the same facility.
I am definitely inside those boundaries.
The Chair is grumpy this morning.
I would like to raise a second matter. We have spent the week trying to clarify what will be done about the gaping hole in the regulatory structure that the Government put together for health insurance. Will emergency legislation be introduced to deal with that lacuna? Will it be handled in a leisurely fashion over the coming weeks and months? There seems to be an extraordinary lack of clarity in respect of these serious issues. The Government seems to have been caught flat-footed. We need clarity. I read in today's newspapers that the Government intends to establish a forum to deal with pay issues. Is this being done within the terms of social partnership?
That question would be more appropriate to the responsible line Minister.
It seems that the forum will deal with all aspects of public sector pay policy, which is the collective responsibility of the entire Government
That matter should be raised with the Minister for Finance.
I am entitled to ask whether a legislative measure will be introduced so that the new forum we have heard about will be put in place.
Is legislation promised?
Was the Tánaiste consulted about the appointment of Mr. Tom Mulcahy to the——
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
It just arose.
I will allow the first two questions.
It is relevant to ask——
It is not relevant to the Order of Business.
May I just ask——
Of course it is relevant to ask, but there are other ways in which the Deputy can raise the matter
Perhaps the Chair will let me complete my sentence before he rules it out of order. Is it appropriate that the same person should chair two bodies?
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
He will act as a supervisor——
The matter can be raised in other ways.
The Tánaiste wants to answer.
It is a legislative initiative.
It has nothing to do with legislation.
It does not seem appropriate to merge the chairmanship of two boards.
The Tánaiste will be allowed to answer the first two questions.
The possibility of having a debate on the National Competitiveness Council's annual report can be considered by the Whips. If it is thought proper that there should be a debate on the matter, I am sure it can be arranged. As I said last week, the Government will consider two reports on health insurance — the Competition Authority's report on the market and the expected report from the Barrington group on risk equalisation and community rating — when they are to hand.
Is it not the case that irrevocable decisions which will have a bearing on this legislation will have to be made in the next few days?
That is right.
What emergency legislation, if any, is planned to deal with the steady deterioration in the health service? There is a real danger that all the key workers in the service — nurses, administrative staff and even hospital consultants — will be in dispute with the Government in the next couple of months. What will the Government do to ensure that patients can access the care they need?
That does not arise on the Order of Business. The Deputy must use another means to raise it.
With regard to promised legislation, the dismal record of the Government is only matched by our dismal performance in the football match yesterday. A series of legislative measures was promised by the Government and it is the Government who sets the timetable for legislation. There are less than 20 days left until the Dáil rises for Easter. According to the legislative programme published in 2003, the Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill was to be published in late 2003, the Animal Health Bill in early 2004 and the Minerals Development Bill in 2004. The Pharmacy Bill, to protect patients, was due to be published in 2004, the National Monuments Bill in late 2003, the Charities Regulation Bill in 2005, the Nurses and Midwives Bill, which should have been considered an urgent priority, was due to be introduced in 2004 and the esteemed Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, promised that the Dublin Transport Authority would be put on a statutory footing by way of legislation before last Christmas. Will the Tánaiste explain why the Government cannot even score within its own timetable?
I will not comment on the football match because I did not see it——
It is not the Government's fault.
——but I can guarantee that nobody is suggesting that Steve Staunton should step aside for the Deputy to take over.
(Interruptions).
It is like the Government — the promises are better than the delivery.
She might do a better job.
It is a political football.
Bray was never renowned for its soccer.
The Charities Bill, the Dublin Transport Authority Bill and the Pharmacy (No. 1) Bill will be published this session. The Nurses and Midwives Bill will be published this year.
Given that the Tánaiste represents the San Marino of Irish politics, he is not in any position to judge anybody's performance. On today's Order Paper there is a proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and the Council amending a directive on the Community code relating to medicinal products for human use. Will the Government provide time, under a new Order of Business, to use that proposal to discuss the situation at Pfizer in Cork? It has just been announced that the Ringaskiddy plant is to close and the Little Island and Loughbeg plants——
We cannot debate the matter now.
This relates to the meaning of this House. This is an issue of concern to the Cork region——
The Deputy is absolutely right——
——and time must be provided in the House to discuss it.
——and the House has provided facilities for Members.
It is an urgent issue and I ask the Tánaiste to respond to it.
The issue can be raised in other ways.
I appreciate there are other ways through the Ceann Comhairle's office but I am asking the Tánaiste to respond.
I will facilitate the Deputy if he wishes to raise it.
I appreciate that.
The Deputy is aware that the House agreed the Order of Business a few minutes ago.
The announcement has just been made.
With regard to Pfizer, I understand that 65 people are to be made redundant and the two plants are to be sold as going concerns.
If they are not sold, the jobs will be gone.
Yes, but IDA Ireland has a tremendous record and the Minister, Deputy Martin, has a great record in Cork for delivering jobs. I was in Amgen's headquarters in Thousand Oaks in California recently——
That could have caused the problem.
——and there is a US$1.1 billion investment in Carrigtwohill in Cork, of which the Deputy is well aware. I do not wish to talk down the Cork region or its economy. IDA Ireland has such a good record with regard to pharmaceutical capacity, which is always sought after, that I believe there will be alternative purchasers for those plants.
I have inquired a number of times about the current whereabouts of promised legislation, that is, the Postal Services Bill, which the Taoiseach admitted fell off the wagon. It was deemed to be important legislation two years ago but for some mysterious reason it disappeared. Is it intended to restore that proposal to the Order Paper or does disagreement exist within the Government as to whether it should have been there in the first place? Is that the reason it fell off the wagon?
Two years ago it was taken off the list of proposed legislation but that fact does not appear to have impinged on the Deputy, who regularly asks about its whereabouts. It is gone.
Why was it removed? Is it because the Tánaiste disagreed with it? Were there internal policy differences?
I wish to raise two issues. In the interests of clarity, given that many organisations are anxious to know the Government's intentions with regard to the proposed referendum on children, has a wording been agreed and, if so, when will it be circulated to Members of the Opposition so we can analyse it? Is it the Government's intention to hold the referendum before Easter? The second issue relates to legislation for which the Tánaiste is responsible, that is, the Judicial Council Bill. This has been promised since 2004. Has the retirement request from Judge Brian Curtin been agreed by the Government? When will the legislative framework be provided that will enable such contentious issues in the future to be dealt with in a structured manner?
The Taoiseach clearly stated to the House this week the position regarding the referendum, and it has not changed since then. We are in a process of study and consultation and the Deputy has been consulted about the matter. The situation has not changed dramatically since the Taoiseach spoke on it.
When are we likely to have agreed wording?
With regard to the Judicial Council Bill——
When are we likely to have the wording and is it the Government's intention to bring a referendum Bill before the Dáil before Easter? It is a legitimate question.
The Taoiseach answered the question clearly the other day. The answer does not change from Member to Member.
What is the answer?
The answer is the same.
What is it?
The Taoiseach made it clear the other day and it will not become clearer——
He did not make anything clear.
——by me repeating what he said.
Does the Tánaiste not know? Is he that much out of the loop?
Allow the Tánaiste to speak without interruption.
The second matter is the Judicial Council Bill. It is now three years since I consulted the Judiciary about this matter and I am still awaiting a response about certain points.
Three years.
Yes.
The Tánaiste mentioned in one of his replies that the House had agreed the Order of Business today. However, we had no opportunity to reflect on the Order of Business.
We cannot go back on that now. Has the Deputy a question appropriate to the Order of Business?
Yes, it is appropriate. There was no proposition before the House as to whether the European Communities Bill 2006 was something this House should address today. The elements in that and the powers the Tánaiste would like to see vested in his office as a result are obnoxious.
The Deputy will have an opportunity to speak on the Bill shortly.
I wish to make that clear.
Not at this point, Deputy. You can speak on the Bill later.
In the setting of offences and maximum penalties, I am aware of the type of jurisdiction the Tánaiste would like to preside over——
I call Deputy Crawford.
——but hopefully he will not get the opportunity in that regard.
The Ombudsman amendment Bill is promised for 2007. Will that legislation be brought before the House before the dissolution of the Dáil or is it, again, dependent on a new Government taking office after the general election?
The Ombudsman (amendment) Bill is promised for this year and it is not on the list for publication this session.
In light of the impossible situation in St. James's Hospital and other hospitals where beds are not available for seriously ill people, when will the nursing homes support Bill be coming before the House so additional beds can be provided?
It will be this year.
The HSE yesterday advised doctors that both Monaghan and Louth——
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
——hospitals will be taken off medicine by the end of the year.
Once the Deputy mentioned Monaghan at all it would not be appropriate on the Order of Business.
I call Deputy Lynch.
I thank the Ceann Comhairle for calling me earlier as I must leave the Chamber.
I cannot leave without raising the issue of job losses in Cork and I hope the Government will take note.
The Deputy should ask a question appropriate to the Order of Business.
I wish to ask about legislation. Thousands of people are waiting to buy what were commonly known as local authority flats and legislation was promised to deal with this issue. The social housing miscellaneous Bill is to be introduced. Will it be introduced before the election to ensure the value which these people have added to their homes will not be further eroded by inflation?
Legislation in this regard is projected for early summer.
During the week the leader of the Labour Party, Deputy Rabbitte, raised with the Taoiseach the issue of the threatened or promised — depending on which way one looks at it — increase of 30% in fees for auctioneers because they have not enough work to make themselves rich without working. In any event, the Taoiseach indicated the property services regulatory authority Bill would give powers to the Minister to control the prices paid. He indicated the Bill was a matter of urgency and was likely to be before the Dáil before Easter.
It states in the list of Bills that publication is expected in 2007. I am used to reading these lists and I know this means there is not a snowball's chance in hell of this legislation coming before the House before the general election. Does this mean nothing will be done about this 30% increase?
My colleague, Deputy Shortall, indicated to the Ceann Comhairle yesterday that she wished to raise an issue. She cannot be here this morning and I ask to be permitted to raise the matter on her behalf. The Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, promised some time before Christmas that he would introduce a short Bill to deal with a number of miscellaneous issues in the transport area, including the right of local authorities to have resident-only parking in various parts of towns and cities. This is a particular issue around Croke Park. I do not see that Bill on the list. I understand significant work has been completed on this short Bill and if it were to be brought to the House I imagine the Opposition would co-operate in passing it.
I will return to the Deputy on the latter point. The Bill is not on the list. As the Deputy stated a number of issues are currently being worked on. The legislation dealing with auctioneers is being worked on in my Department. It will be published this year but not before Easter.
The Tánaiste said he did not see the match between Ireland and San Marino. I presume he was not at Croke Park last Saturday with 80,000-plus fans for the first game under lights——
He was wearing his blue shirt that night.
——and did not see the rather obnoxious behaviour of some of those fans after the match.
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
My question relates to the large degree of public urination that took place in little side streets beside Croke Park——
Has the Deputy a question on legislation?
Is the Minister considering raising the derisory €2 fine applying to public urination? When will he impose on-the-spot fines as requested by the Garda Síochána for some time? As it is not an arrestable offence, does the Minister propose to make it an arrestable offence and impose on-the-spot fines?
With regard to the level of fines the Deputy will be aware that the recently published Fines Bill will increase the general level of fines across a range of offences.
Members of the Garda Síochána use the Public Order Act to deal with offensive behaviour, such as that described by the Deputy.
The Criminal Justice Act provides, not for on-the-spot fines, but for a letter to issue to people who have been arrested for those offences. In those circumstances they are given the option of paying a fixed penalty or facing prosecution.
Some time ago the Taoiseach sent me a list of the international conventions that are outstanding as not having been ratified by Ireland. He indicated that most of them are delayed in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The Minister for Foreign Affairs has replied to questions in the same vein. Ratification of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption was promised during discussion on the White Paper on Irish Aid. Will this happen in the lifetime of the Government?
Legislation relating to corruption is being studied in my Department and I intend to bring it before the House this year.
The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources arranged a wide-ranging consultation on the Broadcasting Bill and on webcasting. What is the progress on the broadcasting Bill to set up the broadcasting authority? Will anything happen in the lifetime of this Government?
The former Minister promised me about four years ago that we might have a Green Paper on the postal services, given the ongoing decimation of the post office network and the fact that quite a few postmasters and postmistresses earn less than the minimum wage.
When will the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform give a reply to the Stardust Relatives and Victims Committee on the substantive issue?
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
It arises because it is the only opportunity I have to speak to this Minister. He is the Minister who is making a response.
There are any amount of opportunities for the Deputy.
The broadcasting Bill is expected in the early summer.
What about the other matters?