Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 28 Feb 2007

Vol. 632 No. 5

Order of Business.

The Taoiseach

It is proposed to take No. 2, Statute Law Revision Bill 2007 [Seanad] — Second Stage; No. 22, Carbon Fund Bill 2006 — Second Stage (resumed), in accordance with the Order of the Dáil of 14 December 2006; and No. 3, Consumer Protection Bill 2007 [Seanad] — Second Stage.

It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that: (1) the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. tonight and business shall be interrupted not later than 10.30 p.m.; (2) the proceedings on Second Stage of No. 2 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 1.30 p.m. today; the speeches of a Minister or Minister of State and the main spokespersons for the Fine Gael Party, the Labour Party and the Technical Group, who shall be called upon in that order, shall not exceed 15 minutes in each case; the speech of each other Member called upon shall not exceed ten minutes in each case; Members may share time; a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed five minutes; (3) the proceedings on the resumed Second Stage of No. 22 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 6 p.m.; (4) the proceedings on the Second Stage of No. 3 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 10.30 p.m.; and Private Members' business shall be No. 64, motion re domestic violence (resumed), to conclude at 8.30 p.m.

An Ceann Comhairle

There are four proposals to be put to the House. Is the proposal for the late sitting agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 2 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 22 agreed?

Mr. Sargent

The Green Party opposes the guillotining of Second Stage of the Carbon Fund Bill. The Government's approach to dealing with climate change is focused on buying our way out of the problem. The debate needs to continue to determine how Ireland will manage when the period covered by the Kyoto Agreement elapses. The Bill only deals with approximately half of the amount required to buy carbon credits. The debate must continue because we are not out of the woods on this issue by a long shot.

Mr. Rabbitte

Three guillotines have been proposed.

An Ceann Comhairle

We will deal with them seriatim. I ask the Deputy to speak first on the proposal for dealing with No. 2.

Mr. Rabbitte

I want to use this opportunity to make a general point. The proposals follow an undesirable pattern observed in the House in recent weeks, which the Government clearly intends to continue until polling day following a legislative drought earlier in the year. As Deputy Sargent stated, the Carbon Fund Bill 2006 is important and the House should be given adequate time to debate it.

Question, "That the proposal for dealing with No. 2 be agreed to," put and declared carried.

Question, "That the proposal for dealing with No. 3 be agreed to," put and declared carried.

Mr. Kenny

When does the Taoiseach expect the Voluntary Health Insurance Board (Amendment) Bill to be published? Will further adjustments be made to the Bill? When will Deputies have sight of No. 21, the Immigration and Residence Bill, which features on the A list for publication at an early date? When will No. 9, the Electoral Bill be published? The legislation, which deals with the Supreme Court judgment concerning assenting to the nomination of non-party candidates for Dáil elections, has implications for current and aspiring Members of the House.

The Taoiseach

The Voluntary Health Insurance Board (Amendment) Bill is almost ready and will be available this session. The Immigration and Residence Bill may be taken a few weeks later than the VHI legislation but is also due in this session. The Electoral Bill was brought to Government yesterday. I am not sure when the Minister will publish it but we concluded it yesterday.

Mr. Kenny

When the Taoiseach uses the term "this session", he means——

The Taoiseach

The beginning of the summer session.

Mr. Kenny

That could get very crowded.

The Taoiseach

I am not sure when the Minister will publish the Electoral Bill but it should be available in the next few days. The same should be true to the VHI legislation. The immigration legislation is the only one of the three Bills which might drift into the Easter break.

Mr. Rabbitte

The Electoral Bill must be enacted.

The Taoiseach

Yes, it went to Government yesterday.

Mr. Rabbitte

Will the legislation promised to regulate and control management companies and the Bill to refurbish ethics legislation, which was promised, in particular, by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, be published in the lifetime of this Dáil?

The Taoiseach

The management companies legislation is being drafted. I understand the Minister expected to have it ready by Easter but I am not sure whether it will be introduced this session.

Mr. Sargent

I urge the Taoiseach to ensure the legislation on management companies is ready this session given the horrendous extortion taking place in many new housing developments.

The Taoiseach

It is a question of the availability of drafting staff. The work of two draftsmen is required for the Finance Bill.

Mr. Sargent

The urgency is nonetheless obvious.

Given that much of the legislation list is aspirational if not fictional in view of the length of time remaining to the Government, can we take it that the sale of alcohol Bill will not see the light of day, particularly given the voluntary code approach being taken by the Government? Can we strike it off so that valuable time is not wasted asking about it given that the Government has no intention of introducing it?

The Taoiseach

The sale of alcohol Bill is listed for 2007 but I do not know when exactly it will be brought forward.

Mr. Sargent

We know that.

The Taoiseach

The Bill has 2,002 heads. The same draftsmen are responsible for producing all Bills, including the social welfare Bill and the Finance Bill, which take precedence over other legislation. One will not get through more than 20 Bills in a session.

Mr. Crawford

This Bill is not a priority for the Government.

Mr. Sargent

That answered my question.

Mr. Durkan

What is the proposal in regard to the pharmacy No. 1 Bill in respect of which there have been inquiries from many Members? When in this session will it be brought forward? Members received notice on Monday that Committee Stage amendments to the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006 must be submitted by 11 a.m. today. I see no reason that we might not be given one or two additional days to prepare amendments.

An Ceann Comhairle

That does not arise on the Order of Business.

Mr. Durkan

I know, but it will arise on the Order of Business some day soon. Is it possible to allow an extra few days to get amendments in on time?

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy should communicate with the Office of the Ceann Comhairle on that issue.

Mr. Durkan

We will do that also.

The Taoiseach

The pharmacy No. 1 Bill will be ready shortly. The Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006 is listed for early summer.

Mr. Crawford

In light of the statements of the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Deputy Coughlan, and the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Parlon, on the desirability of eliminating red tape, when will the animal health Bill be introduced so we will have an opportunity to discuss this issue? In view of the extraordinary situation in which many families find themselves arising from the subvention difficulties and the various cutbacks, when will the nursing homes support Bill be introduced? Many families and elderly people are finding themselves in an impossible situation.

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy Crawford should allow the Taoiseach to answer his question on legislation.

The Taoiseach

The heads of the animal health Bill were drafted some time ago. Its purpose is to consolidate and update the legislation dealing with animal health and welfare. I do not have a date for when it will be ready. The nursing homes support Bill will be brought forward this year but I do not have a date. It is in the process of being drafted and will be introduced some time in 2007.

Mr. Broughan

Will the Indecon report on Ireland's natural resources be released before the election? I understand the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey, will make a major announcement tomorrow on plans for 100% broadband enablement. Will legislation be required in this regard before the election?

An issue that concerns the Taoiseach and I is the call for a new inquiry into the Stardust disaster. Will the Taoiseach not simply announce a commission of investigation?

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy's questions are all out of order unless legislation is promised on the second point.

The Taoiseach

No legislation is planned in respect of broadband enablement.

Mr. Broughan

I know I am out of order on the third point but I am obliged to keep asking the Taoiseach the same question. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform acted quickly in regard to the scandal in Dalkey.

An Ceann Comhairle

I suggest the Deputy submit a question or find another way of raising this matter.

Mr. Broughan

I am browned off at this stage.

An Ceann Comhairle

We are moving on to No. 2, Statute Law Revision Bill 2007 — Second Stage.

Mr. Broughan

The Taoiseach knows all about this. Is it not time to end these people's misery?