Order of Business.

The Taoiseach

It is proposed to take No. 2, Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008 — Second Stage (resumed).

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.; and the proceedings on the resumed Second Stage of No. 2 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 10 p.m. Private Members' business shall be No. 57, motion re small and medium enterprises (resumed), to conclude at 8.30 p.m., if not previously concluded.

An Ceann Comhairle

There are two proposals to be put to the House. Is the proposal that the Dáil should later than 8.30 p.m. agreed to?

Deputy Eamon Gilmore

No. The Labour Party will not agree any Order of Business because of the way in which the Government proposes to abolish the Combat Poverty Agency. As I said yesterday, the Government has done this in the sneakiest and the most underhand way by including it as an amendment to the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. The agency is being dissolved and taken back into the social inclusion unit in the Department of Social and Family Affairs. This same unit poverty proofed the budget and gave the green light to all the cuts being implemented in the same Bill. As outlined by Deputy Shortall, 12 different measures provided for in the Bill will impact severely on the poorest people in this country. The Government has decided to close the only independent body established to examine poverty issues and to bring its staff back into the social inclusion unit where they will not be able to bark.

An Ceann Comhairle

The only issue at the present time is whether the House should sit later than 8.30 p.m.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore

Many issues come before the House and when Members or members of the press or people with considerable power and influence or people who are well organised identify with them, there is a great racket about them but not many people in or around the Chamber have experience of poverty and perhaps do not identify as much with it as they should. If an agency dealing with any other area of life was closed down in this manner, there would be a racket about it. However, this agency deals with poverty and the needs of people who are largely not given the voice they should be given. The Labour Party will not allow this to happen unchallenged. I challenge the Order of Business because the Government is trying to slip this measure in under the door in the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. It is a retrograde step. There are 12 cuts in the Bill and the Government is clearing the decks for more down the line.

An Ceann Comhairle

It is a matter which can of course be debated when the Bill comes before the House.

Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

I wish to briefly——

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy should be brief because only brief interventions are allowed at this time. The proposal before the House is that the Dáil should sit later than8.30 p.m. tonight.

Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

The Sinn Féin Deputies supported Deputy Gilmore and the Labour Party in their opposition to the Order Paper as presented yesterday morning on this same issue and we do so again today. They have clearly identified a mechanism to challenge Government's clear intent to silence, to censor and to set aside what it regards as a thorn in its side. The Combat Poverty Agency is a body which has spoken the truth. We spoke earlier about honesty. This is a time for honesty. The Combat Poverty Agency has served the interests of the least well-off and the marginalised of this State over the years of its operation.

An Ceann Comhairle

That can be debated when the Bill comes before the House. Only brief comments are allowed.

Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Unquestionably, the arguments presented by Deputy Gilmore deserve the support of all in this House who wish to see an end to poverty in our society.

An Ceann Comhairle

The issue is whether the Dáil should sit later than 8.30 p.m. tonight. I call the Taoiseach.

Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

We will again support the Labour Party today.

The Taoiseach

I do not accept the contentions made in respect of the matters raised by the Deputies. The question of the elimination of poverty in the past ten years has been very successfully dealt with in many respects, although unfortunately the concept is still with us. The social partnership process has been instrumental in devising policies which have been most helpful to people who have been socially or economically deprived. That process should not be underestimated in terms of the continuing contribution it will make to safeguard to the greatest extent possible many of the advances we have made in this whole area.

While I respect the agency concerned and it will be brought into the Office for Social Inclusion, it is not the only body where advocates for poverty are located.

Deputy Michael D. Higgins

It is the destruction of advocacy.

The Taoiseach

There are many who advocate on this——

Deputy Michael D. Higgins

The Taoiseach is wiping it out because it was challengingclientelism.

The Taoiseach

No. I would not accept that at all.

Deputy Michael D. Higgins

The Taoiseach has been opposed to the Combat Poverty Agency since it was set up.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy should allow the Taoiseach to finish.

The Taoiseach

I would not accept the Deputy's contentions. He is misrepresenting my position. With regard to the policy of poverty proofing budgets or other measures, while it is claimed that in some way the Office for Social Inclusion failed in that matter, it simply poverty proofed the decisions that were taken by Government.

Deputy Kathleen Lynch

It has obviously failed in that.

The Taoiseach

The budget documentation will show——

Deputy Emmet Stagg

There are no savings.

The Taoiseach

The previous budgets in which I was involved compare very favourably with a predecessor in the Deputy's party. We have been far better at providing for the lower income groups and dealing with poverty proofing than was the case when they had the opportunity themselves. The budget documentation confirms that.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore

It does not.

The Taoiseach

It does.

Deputy Michael D. Higgins

The Taoiseach's party was against the Combat Poverty Agency since the day it was founded.

An Ceann Comhairle

I must put the question.

Question put: "That the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. tonight."

The Dáil divided: Tá, 66; Níl, 63.

Tá

Ahern, Michael.
Ahern, Noel.
Andrews, Barry.
Andrews, Chris.
Ardagh, Seán.
Aylward, Bobby.
Blaney, Niall.
Brady, Áine.
Brady, Cyprian.
Brady, Johnny.
Browne, John.
Byrne, Thomas.
Calleary, Dara.
Carey, Pat.
Collins, Niall.
Conlon, Margaret.
Connick, Seán.
Cowen, Brian.
Cregan, John.
Cullen, Martin.
Curran, John.
Dempsey, Noel.
Dooley, Timmy.
Fitzpatrick, Michael.
Flynn, Beverley.
Gogarty, Paul.
Gormley, John.
Hanafin, Mary.
Harney, Mary.
Healy-Rae, Jackie.
Hoctor, Máire.
Kelleher, Billy.
Kelly, Peter.
Kenneally, Brendan.
Kennedy, Michael.
Killeen, Tony.
Kirk, Seamus.
Kitt, Michael P.
Kitt, Tom.
McEllistrim, Thomas.
McGrath, Michael.
Mansergh, Martin.
Moloney, John.
Moynihan, Michael.
Mulcahy, Michael.
Nolan, M.J.
Ó Cuív, Éamon.
Ó Fearghaíl, Seán.
O’Brien, Darragh.
O’Connor, Charlie.
O’Dea, Willie.
O’Hanlon, Rory.
O’Keeffe, Batt.
O’Keeffe, Edward.
O’Rourke, Mary.
O’Sullivan, Christy.
Power, Peter.
Power, Seán.
Roche, Dick.
Ryan, Eamon.
Scanlon, Eamon.
Smith, Brendan.
Treacy, Noel.
Wallace, Mary.
White, Mary Alexandra.
Woods, Michael.

Níl

Allen, Bernard.
Barrett, Seán.
Broughan, Thomas P.
Burke, Ulick.
Burton, Joan.
Clune, Deirdre.
Connaughton, Paul.
Coonan, Noel J.
Costello, Joe.
Coveney, Simon.
Crawford, Seymour.
Creed, Michael.
Creighton, Lucinda.
D’Arcy, Michael.
Deenihan, Jimmy.
Doyle, Andrew.
Durkan, Bernard J.
English, Damien.
Enright, Olwyn.
Feighan, Frank.
Ferris, Martin.
Flanagan, Charles.
Flanagan, Terence.
Gilmore, Eamon.
Hayes, Brian.
Hayes, Tom.
Higgins, Michael D.
Hogan, Phil.
Howlin, Brendan.
Kehoe, Paul.
Kenny, Enda.
Lynch, Ciarán.
Lynch, Kathleen.
McCormack, Pádraic.
McEntee, Shane.
McHugh, Joe.
McManus, Liz.
Mitchell, Olivia.
Morgan, Arthur.
Neville, Dan.
Noonan, Michael.
Ó Caoláin, Caoimhghín.
Ó Snodaigh, Aengus.
O’Dowd, Fergus.
O’Keeffe, Jim.
O’Mahony, John.
O’Shea, Brian.
O’Sullivan, Jan.
Penrose, Willie.
Perry, John.
Quinn, Ruairí.
Rabbitte, Pat.
Reilly, James.
Ring, Michael.
Sheahan, Tom.
Sheehan, P.J.
Sherlock, Seán.
Shortall, Róisín.
Stagg, Emmet.
Stanton, David.
Timmins, Billy.
Tuffy, Joanna.
Upton, Mary.

Tellers: Tá, Deputies Pat Carey and John Cregan; Níl, Deputies Paul Kehoe and Emmet Stagg.

Question declared carried.

An Ceann Comhairle

Is the proposal for dealing with No. 2, Second Stage of the Finance (No. 2) Bill, agreed to?

Deputy Joan Burton

It is not agreed.

An Ceann Comhairle

Does Deputy Kenny wish to speak on the proposal on the Finance (No. 2) Bill?

Deputy Enda Kenny

I have made my point on this previously. I do not agree with the principle of guillotines and I object to this proposal.

Deputy Joan Burton

On the guillotining of the Finance (No. 2) Bill, we are probably at the most perilous stage of this nation's economic life. A decision will probably be made to sell some of our banks——

An Ceann Comhairle

We cannot deal with that now.

Deputy Joan Burton

——to private equity investors. The Government must allow a full debate on the Finance (No. 2) Bill before we have another Eircom disaster where private equity comes in——

An Ceann Comhairle

That can be raised during the course of the debate.

Deputy Joan Burton

——and picks us off like vultures. Closing down debate is not what we need now. We need a detailed debate on the Government's strategy.

A Deputy

The banks did not do much for them.

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

Hear, hear.

A Deputy

They have no Charlie McCreevy.

(Interruptions).

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy Burton has made her point. Does Deputy Ó Caoláin object to this also?

Deputy Joan Burton

I hope the Minister of State, Deputy Kelleher, feels like this when thousands of people in the banks lose their jobs.

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy Burton can have a chat with him later. I call Deputy Ó Caoláin.

(Interruptions).

Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

I object to the imposition of the guillotine on the Second Stage of the Finance (No. 2) Bill. All Deputies should have the opportunity to contribute to this important legislation at any time but particularly at this time of economic woes.

An Ceann Comhairle

Does the Taoiseach wish to speak?

The Taoiseach

Proceed.

Question put: "That the proposal for dealing with Second Stage of the Finance (No.2) Bill 2008 be agreed to."

The Dáil divided: Tá, 67; Níl, 64.

Tá

Ahern, Michael.
Ahern, Noel.
Andrews, Barry.
Andrews, Chris.
Ardagh, Seán.
Aylward, Bobby.
Blaney, Niall.
Brady, Áine.
Brady, Cyprian.
Brady, Johnny.
Browne, John.
Byrne, Thomas.
Calleary, Dara.
Carey, Pat.
Collins, Niall.
Conlon, Margaret.
Connick, Seán.
Cowen, Brian.
Cregan, John.
Cullen, Martin.
Curran, John.
Dempsey, Noel.
Dooley, Timmy.
Fitzpatrick, Michael.
Flynn, Beverley.
Gogarty, Paul.
Gormley, John.
Hanafin, Mary.
Harney, Mary.
Haughey, Seán.
Healy-Rae, Jackie.
Hoctor, Máire.
Kelleher, Billy.
Kelly, Peter.
Kenneally, Brendan.
Kennedy, Michael.
Killeen, Tony.
Kirk, Seamus.
Kitt, Michael P.
Kitt, Tom.
McEllistrim, Thomas.
McGrath, Michael.
Mansergh, Martin.
Moloney, John.
Moynihan, Michael.
Mulcahy, Michael.
Nolan, M. J.
Ó Cuív, Éamon.
Ó Fearghaíl, Seán.
O’Brien, Darragh.
O’Connor, Charlie.
O’Dea, Willie.
O’Hanlon, Rory.
O’Keeffe, Batt.
O’Keeffe, Edward.
O’Rourke, Mary.
O’Sullivan, Christy.
Power, Peter.
Power, Seán.
Roche, Dick.
Ryan, Eamon.
Scanlon, Eamon.
Smith, Brendan.
Treacy, Noel.
Wallace, Mary.
White, Mary Alexandra.
Woods, Michael.

Níl

Allen, Bernard.
Bannon, James.
Barrett, Seán.
Broughan, Thomas P.
Burke, Ulick.
Burton, Joan.
Byrne, Catherine.
Carey, Joe.
Clune, Deirdre.
Connaughton, Paul.
Coonan, Noel J.
Costello, Joe.
Coveney, Simon.
Creed, Michael.
Creighton, Lucinda.
D’Arcy, Michael.
Deenihan, Jimmy.
Doyle, Andrew.
Durkan, Bernard J.
English, Damien.
Enright, Olwyn.
Feighan, Frank.
Ferris, Martin.
Flanagan, Charles.
Flanagan, Terence.
Gilmore, Eamon.
Hayes, Brian.
Hayes, Tom.
Higgins, Michael D.
Hogan, Phil.
Howlin, Brendan.
Kehoe, Paul.
Kenny, Enda.
Lynch, Ciarán.
Lynch, Kathleen.
McCormack, Pádraic.
McEntee, Shane.
McGrath, Finian.
McHugh, Joe.
McManus, Liz.
Mitchell, Olivia.
Morgan, Arthur.
Neville, Dan.
Noonan, Michael.
Ó Caoláin, Caoimhghín.
Ó Snodaigh, Aengus.
O’Dowd, Fergus.
O’Keeffe, Jim.
O’Shea, Brian.
O’Sullivan, Jan.
Penrose, Willie.
Perry, John.
Quinn, Ruairí.
Rabbitte, Pat.
Reilly, James.
Ring, Michael.
Sheehan, P. J.
Sherlock, Seán.
Shortall, Róisín.
Stagg, Emmet.
Stanton, David.
Timmins, Billy.
Tuffy, Joanna.
Upton, Mary.

Tellers: Tá, Deputies Pat Carey and John Cregan; Níl, Deputies Paul Kehoe and Emmet Stagg.

Question declared carried.

Deputy Enda Kenny

There are only some ten Dáil sitting days remaining before the end of the year. Will the Taoiseach say when we will see the legislation giving effect to the Government's decision to change the regulations for medical cards for older people, which were given to these people as a right and withdrawn in part by the decision in the budget?

Given the discussion this morning on good governance, has the Taoiseach reflected on the High Court decision this morning of Mr. Justice Feeney, who proposes to impose a restriction on a person by the name of Mr. Joe Burke of J & H Burke & Sons Limited?

An Ceann Comhairle

Enough of that now, Deputy Kenny, we are on the Order of Business. I cannot allow a discussion of High Court actions.

Deputy Enda Kenny

This is a consequence of his actions as a company director in 2005 and 2006. The person involved is the chairman of the Dublin Port Company. Does the Taoiseach wish to reflect on this?

The Taoiseach

We hope to have the relevant legislation before Christmas in this session.

Deputy Enda Kenny

Fine Gael produced a transparency in public office Bill which may be of assistance to the Taoiseach in dealing with this matter.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore

I wish to pursue the issue raised by Deputy Kenny, namely, the matter of the Bill which will result in the withdrawal of the medical card from pensioners.

Deputy Pat Carey

We cannot hear the Deputy.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore

The Bill has not yet been published and we have not been told when it will be published.

Deputy Noel Dempsey

It will be before the end of the year.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore

I thank the Minister for Transport; that is very helpful. I understand the Government also intends to have the legislation enacted before Christmas. Including tomorrow, some ten Dáil sitting days remain until Christmas. It is clear what the Government intends to do and we know its form. It will try to introduce this legislation at the last minute, slip it through and then guillotine it because it is a controversial measure. This is not acceptable.

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy Gilmore is entitled to ask the question, but he is not entitled to answer it.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore

I thank the Ceann Comhairle.

An Ceann Comhairle

It defeats the entire purpose.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore

I will come at it in a different way. They say one should never ask a question in the Dáil unless one already knows the answer. I wish to know the Government's plans to introduce the Bill to the House. When will Second and Committee Stages take place? Will the Government publish a schedule of business for the remainder of this session, up to Christmas time? There are three Dáil sitting weeks remaining and we wish to know the legislative plans for the remaining three weeks. What will the timetable look like between now and Christmas? We need to plan our diaries.

The Taoiseach

I always wonder what goes on at Whips' meetings.

Deputy Emmet Stagg

Only what the Taoiseach allows.

The Taoiseach

The Deputy has often made a fair effort to penetrate that cover. This Bill has yet to be published and considered. As soon as that happens, it is a matter for the Whips to decide when it is taken in the House. Hopefully, with the co-operation of the House, we can introduce it before the end of this year. I look forward to the Deputy's co-operation in achieving that.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore

The Taoiseach knows very well he will not have co-operation, because we do not want it.

An Ceann Comhairle

He can only answer the question.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore

Here we are, with three weeks to go, and the legislation is not published.

An Ceann Comhairle

He can only answer the question on the legislation.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore

He has not answered it. He did not say when it would be published. The last I heard was that it was to be before the end of the month.

An Ceann Comhairle

It is the best I can do.

Deputy Seán Barrett

Now that the decision has been taken to guillotine the Finance Bill, for such important legislation, will the Taoiseach consider taking all Stages in this Chamber? These Bills are being sent over to committees. I am on the Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service, and nobody knows what is going on. There is no coverage. Nobody sits in. With such an important Bill, this really makes a joke of democracy. I am asking in the interest of proper procedure that we debate all Stages of that Bill in the House.

Second, will we have a package of Dáil reform when we come back after Christmas?

Deputy Pádraic McCormack

Will we come back after Christmas?

The Taoiseach

It is a matter for the Deputy himself.

Deputy Billy Kelleher

The Deputy said he was retiring before the last election and he did not.

The Taoiseach

I would hate to think the Deputy might be missed.

Deputy Paul Kehoe

Fianna Fáil Deputies will all be made to retire after the next election.

The Taoiseach

The Finance Bill is taken in committee, as Deputies know, and it is open to any Member of the House to attend that committee for the purpose of contributing to it.

Deputy Seán Barrett

It is buried. Nobody knows what is going on.

The Taoiseach

That is not a reflection on those who attend the committee. I have been there many times and have had some interesting debates. I agree it is a matter of such importance that perhaps people will be able to find some time to cover it. However, that is a matter for others, not for Members of this House.

Deputy Seán Barrett

The debate should take place in this Chamber.

The Taoiseach

The question of Dáil reform is a matter for the Whips in due course. Getting agreement on Dáil reform is usually a matter of whether the Government is prepared to give further concessions to the Opposition. For the good order of the House, the fact that we are still here on the Order of Business at almost dinner time——

Deputy Eamon Gilmore

The Taoiseach is getting hungry.

The Taoiseach

——does not reflect well on the House.

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

It is only two days a week.

The Taoiseach

If people wanted to engage in realistic arrangements which would be far more sensible I would always be open to them, but the prospect of getting agreement has never been great.

Deputy Emmet Stagg

On the same subject——

Deputy Seán Barrett

In view of the fact that the Taoiseach will be in Opposition after the next election, I suggest it is in his interest, as well as of this side of the House, to have reasonable procedures in place.

Deputy Pádraic McCormack

Will he be here after the next election?

Deputy Emmet Stagg

For the information of the Taoiseach, in case he is not aware of it, all parties in the House, including Fianna Fáil, have agreed a package of Dáil reforms which are with the Taoiseach for him to sign off on.

Deputy Noel Dempsey

Some of them are agreed — not all of them.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore

The Taoiseach did not get his way on everything.

Deputy Emmet Stagg

We have a package agreed between all parties.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore

It does not work like that.

Deputy Emmet Stagg

It is with the Taoiseach's office waiting to be signed off. The Taoiseach should not blame anybody else.

Deputy James Bannon

In order to give weight to the commitment of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to stamp out begging by way of penalties, which has been sought by this side of the House for some time, I ask the Taoiseach when we can expect the criminal justice (public order) (amendment) Bill. Strangely, this will be the first legislative update of such measures since the Famine.

The Taoiseach

As I said yesterday morning, that Bill is expected next year.

Deputy Joan Burton

The Minister for Finance announced the appointment of four wise men to An Bord Snip Nua. Will this give rise to a need for legislation in the context of allowing people to transfer between the Civil Service and State bodies? Why are the appointees all men over 50——

An Ceann Comhairle

I would love to have a discussion on that but we cannot.

Deputy Joan Burton

——with no women and no young people from the business world with a knowledge of IT?

An Ceann Comhairle

We cannot have a chat on that.

Deputy Joan Burton

What insights are they supposed to have over and above that of people actually working in the area?

An Ceann Comhairle

Is legislation promised in this area?

Deputy Joan Burton

Will it require legislation?

An Ceann Comhairle

I ask the Taoiseach whether legislation is promised.

The Taoiseach

No.

Deputy Joan Burton

The Taoiseach was talking about debates in the Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service.

An Ceann Comhairle

Legislation is not promised in that area.

Deputy Joan Burton

He said he was in favour of women's participation.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy will have plenty of opportunities to discuss all that.

Deputy Joan Burton

Can I get an answer?

An Ceann Comhairle

Not two hours into the morning when it is not in order.

Deputy Joan Burton

Can I have an answer?

An Ceann Comhairle

There is another way of raising that. The Taoiseach said legislation was not promised.

Deputy Joan Burton

I think the Taoiseach wants to answer. Maybe he is going to appoint women to this task force.

An Ceann Comhairle

There are other ways of raising that. I am sure the Deputy will be able to do so.

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

Given that the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources shared his thoughts on future energy requirements this morning on the radio and that he is not here at the moment, I ask the Taoiseach whether any agreement has been reached on the heads of the electricity (transfer of transmission assets) Bill. In view of the urgent——

The Taoiseach

The heads are not agreed.

An Ceann Comhairle

They are not agreed. That is it.

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

They are under discussion at the moment.

An Ceann Comhairle

They are not agreed anyway.

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

Legislation is proposed to enable ratification of the protocols to the 1957 European Convention on Extradition. In view of the ongoing occurrence of serious, violent, drug-related crimes, would it be possible to have the heads of that Bill discussed and agreed as soon as possible with a view to bringing the Bill to the House? In this way we can confront organised crime in a realistic fashion.

An Ceann Comhairle

When is that legislation planned?

The Taoiseach

The draft heads of the Bill are in preparation.

Deputy Jan O’Sullivan

There is another item of legislation linked to the legislation to remove medical cards from the over 70s. This relates to the fact that the Government wants to be able to talk to the IMO about the terms and conditions under which its members are paid. I refer to amending the Competition Act 2002. Some of the professional organisations seemed to think it might have been dealt with in the Finance Bill, but it is not in the Bill. Is the Taoiseach proposing legislation to amend the Competition Act?

The Taoiseach

The statement to which the Deputy refers mentioned that we would undertake to introduce proposals consistent with EU law. I refer the Deputy to the statement made on the day.

Deputy Jan O’Sullivan

There will be legislation?

The Taoiseach

I said I refer the Deputy to the statement on the day.

Deputy Jan O’Sullivan

I heard that. I do not know whether it means legislation.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore

What does that mean?

The Taoiseach

What it means is what it says.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore

It is gobbledegook.

The Taoiseach

It means what it says.

Deputy Phil Hogan

The Taoiseach will be aware there is a——

Deputy Jan O’Sullivan

We will ask the Tánaiste tomorrow. She might know.

Deputy Joan Burton

Send us a circular. The Government is good at circulars. Circles of circulars.

An Ceann Comhairle

We will give Deputy Hogan a break.

Deputy Phil Hogan

The Taoiseach will be aware that the planning and development (amendment) Bill is on the Order Paper.

Deputy Joan Burton

The Taoiseach should cheer up.

Deputy Phil Hogan

In the context of the recent cases in the High Court involving the Dublin Docklands Development Authority, which are now subject to the advice of the Attorney General, will the Taoiseach be introducing this Bill in order to reflect the regularisation that is required with regard to the serious planning issues that have been brought to the courts in recent times?

The Taoiseach

I understand the Bill is planned for next year but the heads are still to be confirmed.

Deputy James Reilly

I am going to try for third time lucky. Deputy Gilmore and Deputy Kenny have already asked the Taoiseach about the legislation to remove medical cards from the over 70s. There are only three weeks left in the session. Can the Taoiseach tell us whether this legislation is to be introduced next week, the week after or the following week?

Is legislation proposed to deal with the levies and changes in health insurance? Could the Taoiseach tell us why the Minister, when she was explaining the fair deal scheme, was able to give several examples of how it would apply, but we get no examples under this new proposal for tax relief and levies with regard to health insurance?

An Ceann Comhairle

I have ruled before that Deputies cannot fish for legislation on the Order of Business.

The Taoiseach

I have already answered the question about medical cards.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore

The Taoiseach did not answer it. That is the problem.

The Taoiseach

The Government would have to consider it, approve it, publish it and bring it to the House. It is normal procedure.

Deputy Olivia Mitchell

Is there legislation, a Cheann Comhairle?

Deputy David Stanton

I want to return to the issue of Dáil reform. When will the Government introduce——

Deputy James Reilly

The Taoiseach did not answer the question about legislation on medical cards.

Deputy Olivia Mitchell

Yes, he did not answer.

An Ceann Comhairle

Legislation is not promised in that area, Deputy Reilly.

Deputy Olivia Mitchell

That is what we are asking. Is it promised?

An Ceann Comhairle

Is legislation promised in that area?

Deputy James Reilly

Then there is no legislation necessary for this. I understood the Finance Bill and the health Bill would come through.

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

They have been promised.

Deputy David Stanton

When will the Government introduce motions to the House to enable us to enact changes to the way in which we do business? I agree with the Taoiseach that this is a most inefficient way of doing business in the House. The ball is in the Taoiseach's court now. We put forward our proposals. We want to engage. We are not looking for advantage on this. We want to make the House more efficient. Will the Taoiseach please engage with us and bring forward his own suggestions? We have seen nothing from him yet. We will all engage with him to make this House more efficient. It is up to him.

The Taoiseach

As I said, we look into these matters on a continuing basis.

Deputy Emmet Stagg

For the past 25 years.

Deputy Seán Sherlock

When will the animal welfare Bill be published? Has the consultation period ended yet?

I support the request made last week for a debate in the House on the implications of the CAP health check, which will have far-reaching effects on Irish agriculture and the way we do business within the rural economy.

With regard to the mental capacity Bill, the Law Reform Commission report has been in existence since 2006. When will the Bill be published? The Taoiseach has previously said it will be introduced in mid-2009. I ask that it be published forthwith.

The Taoiseach

I understand that the proposed mental capacity Bill cannot be introduced any sooner than mid-2009, unfortunately. The process of consultation on the proposed animal welfare Bill was completed earlier this autumn. The submissions that were received are being examined before we go any further with the matter. The possibility of a debate on the CAP health check is a matter for the Whips.

Dáil Éireann debate - Wednesday, 26 Nov 2008