It is proposed to take No. 1, Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad] — Second Stage (resumed) and No. 6, Biological Weapons Bill 2010 — Order for Second Stage and Second Stage.
Order of Business
There are no proposals to be put to the House.
It is more than 18 months since the Fine Gael Party put forward in the House an alternative to the banking problem in the country. We made a particular pitch that powers be given to the Central Bank to deal with what we called a special bank resolution system, which would allow for the orderly wind down of failed banks and spread the cost of such failures more evenly between the taxpayer, professional bank investors and creditors. The Government turned that down.
Yesterday, I listened to the Financial Regulator, Mr. Elderfield, and he confirmed that such powers as would be contained in a special bank resolution system would have been of assistance to Irish authorities in dealing with the banking crisis and he said they would be necessary for imposing losses on subordinated bondholders in Anglo Irish Bank. Last week, during the debate on the extension of the banking guarantee scheme, Deputy Noonan, on behalf of Fine Gael, offered the Government parties our support for the extension of a limited guarantee on condition that they would bring forward legislation by 1 November but, as always and as usual, they turned that down. Have the Government parties reflected on the comments of the Financial Regulator yesterday? Have they brought urgency to introducing such legislation? When might such legislation be brought forward?
On the same subject, I listened to the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the other day. She made the point that the Government was legally prevented from negotiating with bondholders. If that is the case, which legislation was the Minister referring to that prevents the Government from dealing with this?
Promised legislation is in order.
In light of the Financial Regulator's comment yesterday that the powers referred to under a special bank resolution system available to the Central Bank would have been helpful to the Irish authorities, will the Government bring forward the legislation that was proposed by Fine Gael 18 months ago?
Second, I understand the problem relating to the provision of a cystic fibrosis unit for sufferers is of such importance. We were told this would open by the end of 2011 but now we have been told it will not open until 2012.
That is not in order on the Order of Business and the Deputy knows that.
I gave evidence in the House yesterday of written confirmation from medical personnel that cutbacks are striking at people's lives. It is a matter of life and death. When will the unit open?
It is not in order to ask such a question on the Order of Business, as the Deputy knows.
The Tánaiste might know anyway.
With regard to the promised legislation referred to by the Minister for Finance in his banking statement, his Department and the Office of the Attorney General are working on resolution and reorganisation legislation, which will allow for the implementation of the reorganisation measures specific to Anglo Irish Bank and the Irish Nationwide Building Society. This will also address the issue of burden-sharing with regard to subordinated debt. The Department is working with the Attorney General in order to have the legislation before the House as soon as possible. I am not in a position to give an exact timeframe but we are hopeful and confident that this legislation can come to the House very soon.
On the other issue raised, there has been protracted procurement difficulties but I am assured by the HSE that the requisite finances are available for the provision of the new unit and some preparatory work has been carried out in St. Vincent's hospital with a view to having the contract completed soon.
On the matter of the cystic fibrosis unit for St. Vincent's Hospital, we had been told that this unit would be available by now. Will the Tánaiste ask the Minister for Health and Children to come to the House at some stage today to update the House on the exact position with regard to that unit? We have been hearing over the past number of days the harrowing accounts of young people who have found themselves in inappropriate multi-bed wards——
This is not in order on the Order of Business.
I am asking that the Minister for Health and Children update the House on what is happening with regard to that unit.
I wish to raise a second matter. I have been reading in the newspapers over the past couple of days and hearing media reports that the Cabinet decided on Tuesday that the Department of Finance would provide each of the Opposition parties with factual information on the economic and budgetary parameters to assist in the formulation of budgetary plans by the Opposition parties. I have been reading that the Department of Finance will be writing to the Opposition parties to inform us of these arrangements. The Labour Party has not yet received any correspondence from the Department of Finance with regard to this matter and I believe it is the same in respect of Fine Gael. I am not making an issue of this because I presume the correspondence is in the post, other than to make the point——
Christmas is coming.
——that the Labour Party has been writing to the Department of Finance since last April seeking this facility. My colleague, Deputy Joan Burton, has been raising the issue over a period of time about the type of information that Opposition parties need from the Department of Finance in order to address this issue.
On that matter also, will the Tánaiste acknowledge, on behalf of the Government, that when the Government agreed with the European Commission the target for the reduction of Ireland's deficit to 3% by 2014, that the Labour Party and indeed, Fine Gael, voluntarily accepted that target and we have continued to accept it? Second, will she acknowledge that of course political parties may differ on how it is to be achieved and this is a matter for resolution in the normal——
These are not matters of legislation and are not in order on the Order of Business, as the Deputy knows well. It is extremely important but just not in order.
It relates to the Finance Bill.
The third issue I wish to raise was referred to yesterday in a statement by my colleague, Deputy Joe Costello. Will the Tánaiste tell the House if it is true that the National Roads Authority made an arrangement with the toll companies on a number of new motorways, the effect of which was that if the traffic levels on those motorways fell below a particular threshold——
This is not in order.
——there would be a penalty which would have to be paid?
That is an appropriate question for the Minister for Transport, as Deputy Gilmore knows.
——We are now told that traffic levels on the M3 are 22% below the threshold——
(Interruptions).
——and 26% below the threshold on the Limerick tunnel.
This is a matter for an Adjournment debate or Leaders' Questions.
Will the Tánaiste ask the Minister for Transport to make a statement to the House on this matter to tell us what kind of secret arrangements——
(Interruptions).
——were made between the NRA which may commit the taxpayer to having to compensate these toll companies by, we are told, up to €100 million over the lifetime of the contracts?
I call the Tánaiste to reply on the questions that were in order.
It will cost the taxpayer €100 million.
As I indicated to Deputy Kenny, the issue of the cystic fibrosis unit is very much a priority for the Government and the HSE. I advised there were procurement issues which I believe can be resolved very quickly with a view to a contract being signed. Some preparatory work has been done on the site to progress the build. I appreciate that it is a matter of angst to all Members of the House who are of the view that this is a significant priority in the delivery of health care to those suffering from cystic fibrosis.
On the issue of the Government decision on Tuesday, it is correct that the Government decided to facilitate the Opposition. The Labour Party spokesperson requested this information on a number of occasions. That matter is in hand. I will ensure that Deputy Burton gets her letter very quickly. The situation is that arrangements are being put in place in the Department of Finance for the exchange of information. It is appropriate that consideration of proposals from the Opposition will be considered by the Government following on from those discussions. It is a very serious matter and those facilities will be made available to members of the Opposition.
I will leave the matter of the NRA to the line Minister.
I will allow Deputy Gilmore to reply briefly before I call Deputy Ó Caoláin.
It is important that the Tánaiste would acknowledge in the House, on behalf of the Government, that the two main Opposition parties have accepted the target which the Government agreed with the European Commission in respect of the deficit reduction. There was some reference to this elsewhere yesterday. We all understand the importance that attaches to this. It is a fact that both the Labour Party and Fine Gael at the time voluntarily accepted those targets——
The Deputy has made the point.
The Tánaiste should acknowledge that.
In the national interest, the Government should acknowledge the fact that the two main Opposition parties have accepted those targets.
The point is made by the Deputy.
I agree with Deputy Gilmore's point. The Taoiseach made a very anodyne statement yesterday and the Government spin doctors are now attempting to lock in Opposition parties to their method. We have said and agreed——
The Opposition has got it now.
This is an issue that all leaders in the House regard as being extremely sensitive for our country and therefore, should be raised in a way that allows a full debate on it and not on the Order of Business.
——what the fiscal targets are and we will arrive at our own conclusions in that regard. The Government should not try to spin a situation in which it wants to lock in every party in the country into the failed strategy. The sum of €60 million is small change——
(Interruptions).
It has been acknowledged by my colleague, the Minister for Finance——
No, it was not. He denied it.
Statements.
——that all parties in the House have accepted the need to return to the deficit target of 3% of GDP. The figure was agreed with the European Commission. We also agreed that this would have to be achieved by 2014 without adversely impacting on the capacity of this economy to grow. That has been acknowledged and I will acknowledge it again if it has not been heard. I also wish to reiterate——
The Tánaiste should tell her spin doctors.
Please allow the Tánaiste to be heard.
——that the Government has decided to facilitate the members of the Opposition as requested. This work is in hand and will be facilitated.
Will the Government open all the books?
It is interesting to note that at least there is an alternative in the House. While there seems to be unanimity between the Government parties and the two, so-called main, Opposition parties, there is an Opposition voice here that acknowledges that the deficit must be addressed but which has provided an argument for a very different course to be taken.
On promised legislation, will the Tánaiste say why it is, once again, that the health information Bill has been put back for yet another year? Will she confirm that the heads of that Bill have been agreed? Will she use her office to ensure that the heads of the Bill are circulated in the spirit in which the former Taoiseach indicated, that heads of the Bill would indeed be provided to the Opposition spokespersons and parties? This practice has not been taken up by the Department of Health and Children. Will the Tánaiste indicate if the health information Bill will be given a priority status, whatever that might mean within the Department or the Government, and be brought forward speedily?
The heads of the Bill were agreed by the Government in June 2009. The Bill will be brought forward in the middle of next year. I am not sure if it is the intention of the Department to publish the heads the Bill but I will make inquiries.
The Tánaiste can communicate with the Deputy.
Regarding the Cabinet sub-committee on the amendments to the air navigation Acts of 1978 and 1988, legislation has been promised but there is no sign of it. The legislation deals with chemical weapons traffic through Irish airspace. We will turn to the substantive matter later today in the Biological Weapons Bill.
Deputies should listen to the Deputy in possession.
Legislation was promised in response to my Bill, which I tabled for the Labour Party in Private Members' time, and the Government suggested it was preparing legislation. That is over two years ago and there has been no sight of the legislation. It is not listed in the Government legislation programme.
I refer to Nos. 89, 90 and 91 on the Government legislation programme, the road transport Bill, the sustainable travel and transport Bill and the transport infrastructure Ireland Bill. The Government has not yet agreed the heads of the three items of legislation yet someone outside the Dáil is drawing attention to the chaos that prevails in the taxi industry as the livelihood of taxi drivers has been destroyed. There is chaos in the office of the regulator and there is no provision for people to park. Livelihoods are being wrecked and the heads of three items of legislation that might be amended to handle the issue of putting proper shape on road transport as it affects taxi drivers and the public have yet to be agreed by the Government.
The expected publication of the road transport Bill is next year. It deals with the implementation of European regulations governing road transport operator licences and replacing existing road transport Acts with updated legislation. No. 90 is the sustainable travel and transport Bill. Work is proceeding on identifying issues that must be included in the Bill. It is expected next year. The transport infrastructure Ireland Bill, to provide for the merger of the NRA and the Railway Procurement Agency, is expected next year.
What about the air navigation Bill?
I must revert to the Deputy on the air navigation Bill.
With the greatest of respect to the Tánaiste, I am quite well aware of how the Bills are described. Anyone passing along a street in cities in this country knows the chaos that exists in respect of the taxi industry. A further item of promised legislation came from the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport.
The Deputy has had a good innings on this issue.
On the second issue——
The Deputy asked about four Bills so far.
My second question concerns the amendment of legislation from 1978 and 1988. Two years ago the Taoiseach said he would revert to me on this issue. He told me there was a Cabinet sub-committee on this matter and, for the information of the Tánaiste, it last met in 2009. When the Tánaiste has identified the issue of whether we have a taxi problem, she might have another Cabinet sub-committee meeting before leaving office.
In light of the fact that the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Ryan, has difficulty discussing the North-South interconnector with the people concerned in County Monaghan, when will the electricity transmission (amendment) Bill, which deals with EirGrid, be introduced in the House so that we can discuss the issue in the open?
In light of the great amount of money lost in red tape, estimated at €500 million, when will the companies consolidation and reform Bill be introduced? In light of the fact that primary producers are being overpowered by the major supermarkets, which are taking the cream of the product——
I am sure Deputy Crawford will get to legislation any second.
——when will the consumer and competition Bill introduced?
The interconnector Bill will be dealt with next year. The companies consolidation and reform Bill, a major item of legislation, is expected next year. The consumer and competition Bill does not yet have a date but I know that work is ongoing in having that for the beginning of the year.
Is it not urgent?
It is.
It is with much amazement that I noticed the monuments Bill has, after much time spent in section C of Government legislation programme, reached section B. When will it reach publication stage or will it remain in section B for another three years?
It will be in the middle of next year.
That Tánaiste's answer about cystic fibrosis was very vague and those people need certainty. I have tabled this matter for the Adjournment debate. I hope it will be accepted and the Minister will come into the Chamber and provide certainty to these people.
Is there a separate legislative matter?
I refer to the Bill to regulate sunbeds. There is much waste in HSE but this will not cost money. Last June, coincidentally on the same day as I published a Private Members' Bill on sunbed regulation and Senator Fitzgerald did the same in the Seanad, the Minister for Health and Children published what looked like the heads of the Bill. She provided a list of details of what would be in the Bill.
We cannot go into detail about the public health (sunbeds) Bill.
The Government legislation programme does not show that the heads of the Bill are agreed. It is way in the future with vague promises. Can we have some clarity? I thought the heads were agreed.
Approval was given to draft that legislation. The matter was raised with me before the summer recess and I undertook to speak to the Minister for Health and Children to have the matter expedited.
When it is expected?
I am not in a position to indicate when it will be published but permission has been given to prepare the legislation.
That means never.
I understood from the comments of the Minister for Finance some weeks ago that there is to be a pre-budget outlook published by the middle of this month. Is the Government committed to publishing the pre-budget outlook for next year by the middle of October? In respect of the agreement made on a four-year budgetary plan with the European Union, can the Tánaiste tell us the date of publication of this plan? Has the Government agreed the date of 12 November with the EU Commission?
A report on RTE this morning, related to the period of time the Tánaiste was——
I am sure this is in order.
——the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, suggested workers in Aer Lingus may be facing quite serious tax issues for individual workers——
This is a serious matter that cannot be raised in this way.
There has been a promise by Government to transfer redundancy matters fully to the Department of Social Protection and to remove it from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation. Will one of the Ministers arrange to make a statement about the impact on the Aer Lingus workers? It sounds very odd that the tax arrangements were not dealt with.
A question on the timing and publication of financial matters and if there is to be a statement on the transfer——
Will legislation will be required to transfer?
Very good.
The situation is that the information normally contained in the pre-budget outlook will now be part of the four-year plan. That four-year plan is to be brought forward and published in the first half of November.
With respect to the Tánaiste, the pre-budget outlook——
I am sorry——
Deputy Burton should allow the Tánaiste to reply. If anything needs to be clarified there will be time.
I can be helpful or I can be in order.
I would rather if the Tánaiste were helpfully in order.
That is not easily done.
The Tánaiste could do both.
The situation is that the pre-budget outlook will now be included in the four year plan. Therefore, the pre-budget outlook will not be available in the middle of October. The four year plan will be made available and published in the middle of November.
So much for informing the Opposition.
On the other issue that has been raised about the rebate to Aer Lingus——
We cannot deal with that now.
——I wish to take the opportunity to provide clarity. No decision has been made by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation on the eligibility of Aer Lingus for a rebate. Discussions are continuing between both parties. That matter has not been brought to finality as of yet. In normal circumstances a recommendation is made to the Minister to determine the eligibility of a rebate following legal advice or for that matter if the issue is sent to the Employment Appeals Tribunal. The redundancy rebate and the determination as to whether it is redundancy or not is still a matter of discussion. The issue that arose with the Revenue Commissioners is their determination under their legislation as to whether those who received redundancy packages are excluded and given an exemption as a consequence of it being redundancy. That matter has not been clarified fully as of yet. I will be speaking to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment who will update people with regard to same.
On the issue of the transfer, I believe that transfer will take place to the Department of Social Protection at the beginning of next year.
The Bill to extend the functions of Science Foundation Ireland to enable it to provide funding for activities not encompassed within its existing remit would seem to be a very appropriate Bill for introduction to the House.
I call on the House to pay some attention, please, to Deputy Durkan.
Thank you, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. It would seem to be a very appropriate and necessary Bill at this time. It is scheduled for publication in 2011. In view of the economic situation, could the Tánaiste give some indication to the House as to whether any importance will be placed on bringing that forward as a matter of urgency along with two other equally relevant Bills?
Deputy Durkan should name the Bills rather than describe them.
Absolutely. They are self-evident as well at the moment. One is to consolidate the body of legislation relating to the Central Bank into a single statute. That is a very important Bill at the moment. Publication is also expected in 2011. The final one is the Bill to address the question of necessary changes and enhancements to the regulatory functions of the Central Bank. Nothing could be more appropriate than that.
Will the Tánaiste respond on the three pieces of legislation?
Will the Tánaiste give some indication to the House as to whether a particular priority rating will be given to the introduction of those Bills soon?
Questions have been asked about three pieces of legislation.
The Central Bank No. 2 Bill will come before the House first and the consolidation Bill will follow that but it will be next year. It was agreed to proceed with the Science Foundation Ireland legislation in July of this year and work is ongoing with the Department and the Attorney General.
Have the heads of the Bills been agreed in all cases?
No, not on the Science Foundation Ireland Bill.
Will the Tánaiste use her good offices to get the Health Service Executive to invoke the grandfather clause——
That is a question for the Minister for Health and Children in due course.
——and open Dingle Community Hospital immediately?
It is also a matter that was already discussed yesterday. I call Deputy Kathleen Lynch.
I did not get an answer then.
I am afraid the Deputy will not get it on the Order of Business.
A total of 43 people are in a three storey hospital that was built at the time of the Famine.
The Deputy's concern about this matter is well known. That is why it was aired yesterday.
It is. The building is unsuitable for patients and unsafe.
I call Deputy Kathleen Lynch.
Will the Tánaiste use her good offices to invoke the grandfather clause?
I ask the Deputy to please not abuse the Order of Business.
The Tánaiste needs to consider the matter.
Deputy Durkan was so helpful to date.
Well done Bernard.
This is a legislative matter. I will come to it in a moment.
The sooner, the better.
Yes. Will the Tánaiste indicate where she can direct the former detainees of Magdalene Laundries and Bethany Homes in order to get some redress in terms of an apology——
The matter is not in order unless legislation is promised.
Legislation is promised. This is such a serious——
What is the legislation?
The legislation is No. 43 on the list. It is the residential institutions statutory fund Bill.
Where stands the residential institutions statutory fund Bill?
After the Ryan report, the Ferns report and the Murphy report, the notion that we can continue to brush this under the carpet is gone.
This is urgent.
It is an urgent matter, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.
Where stands the Bill?
We are not talking about those who went into those institutions as children. We are talking in the main about adult women who are——
It is an extremely important subject that merits a better airing than can be afforded on the Order of Business.
——now of advanced years. They are being pushed from pillar to post. We must do something about it.
Deputy Lynch should allow the Tánaiste to reply.
Either we do it or someone else will, but it will be done.
The Tánaiste should be allowed to reply. Deputy Lynch has asked about the legislation.
The residential institutions statutory fund Bill is my responsibility. I have had consultations with those involved. I am preparing the legislation as a matter of urgency. I hope to bring the legislation to Government before the end of the year.
Could I just clarify whether the Tánaiste is telling me that she has had consultation with the groups to whom I referred, Justice for the Magdalenes and the women of the Bethany Homes?
It is not in order for Deputy Lynch to ask that on the Order of Business. Perhaps a private discussion with the Tánaiste would elicit that or a proper question——
I am always reluctant to be in any way bolshie about the issue because it needs a bit of dignity at this stage but the difficulty is that those people have been pushed from pillar to post and they do not get an answer in public.
The Deputy has had a more than generous opportunity to make that point.
You have been more than generous, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, but unfortunately, the State has not been at all generous.
Earlier, Deputy Gilmore raised the issue of the public private partnership contracts that had been entered into by the National Roads Authority and that reports now indicate that the taxpayer may already have been exposed to €100 million in penalties because of the irresponsible way in which the contracts were put together.
I expect the Deputy will come into order any moment now.
You indicated, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, as did the Tánaiste, that this matter would be left to the Minister for Transport. Yesterday, I tabled a question on that precise issue.
If Deputy Costello is not happy about the question he should discuss the matter with the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.
I am not happy. This is a relevant matter and I need your direction on it, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. The response I got from the Minister is that it was exclusively a matter for the National Roads Authority.
I will answer the question directly as the Deputy put it to the Chair——
The National Roads Authority refused to give the information because it is commercially sensitive.
Deputy Costello's colleague, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, had concerns about the way a question was answered and he brought it to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.
A lot of good it did him.
A resolution was passed by the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.
It was vetoed at the next meeting.
I hope that process might be available to Deputy Costello also.
The Whips have been trying to change Standing Orders.
The House can do nothing about it today.
What was said today by your good self, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, and the Tánaiste is that the matter would be dealt with by the Minister for Transport. He has already told me it is a matter for the National Roads Authority. I am not getting satisfaction in this House——
Perhaps the Deputy might seek to raise the matter by way of an Adjournment debate.
——-despite your best intentions, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle and the best intentions of the Tánaiste. This is a matter of the taxpayer being exposed for a significant quantity of money.
We cannot discuss the matter now, as Deputy Costello knows full well.
The relevant Minister is not prepared to come into the House and answer the question. He is hiding behind the quango of the National Roads Authority.
I suggest to the Deputy that he has had a good innings. The normal procedure is that the Deputy sits down when the Chair stands. There are two avenues open to him; to submit a parliamentary question or table a matter for the Adjournment debate. The relevant responsible Minister will be assigned.
On a point of order. I do not wish to delay the proceedings of the House but I specifically and strongly support the point raised by Deputy Costello. As you well know, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, from sitting over here, this has been a cause of frustration to Members on this side of the House. We keep raising the matter because the general public expect us to raise issues and get answers for them in the House appertaining to public expenditure.
That is not a point of order. I will try to assist Deputy Durkan if he will sit down. If there are concerns across party benches on the way questions are answered that is a matter for the Committee on Procedure and Privileges of the House and should be raised there.
On a point of order, your interpretation, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, is wrong. It is not a matter for the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, it is a question of changing the Standing Orders of the House so that Ministers have to answer questions about quangos. We now have some 250 quangos. Ministers will not answer questions about them even though they are funded out of the public purse. That is the problem, Government by quango.
The Deputy is right, it is a matter for the procedures of the House and those procedures are changed through CPP.
They are changed through the Dáil reform committee, which the Government refuses to call meetings of.
The Dáil reform committee is a sub-committee of the CPP and reports to it but we will not resolve that matter now. If there are genuine concerns on the answering of questions, CPP should be called in to discuss the matter. We cannot resolve it here.
Will the Government be making any further forays into the area of animal welfare legislation? Can the Tánaiste indicate when the animal health and welfare Bill will be introduced? I find it strange that it is not possible to indicate the position with that Bill because commitments were given on this legislation.
There are 250,000 workers who are party to defined benefit pension schemes. They face a nightmare in terms of the returns from such schemes. Could time be made available to the House to discuss this issue because many of the schemes are underperforming? This is a vital issue so we should arrange a debate in this House or a discussion with the Pensions Board on the funding of those schemes.
The animal health and welfare Bill is a huge Bill. It consolidates and updates animal health and welfare legislation for domestic and non-domestic animals. Department officials are dealing with a large number of submissions following a consultation process and the Minister is preparing the heads of the Bill. I will consult with the Whip about a debate on pensions.
The sale of alcohol Bill was promised by the last Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats Government and it has appeared on every list of Bills since. I cannot see why it is so difficult to introduce this Bill. When will there be progress in making sure those who sell alcohol are held accountable for it?
We hope to introduce that legislation at the start of next year. There are policy issues that have not been addressed but we are of the view that it will be available at the beginning of the year.
The Limerick local government review group has recommended to Government that the boundary to Limerick city be extended into County Clare. When does the Tánaiste expect a date for the Government decision on that? Could the Tánaiste assure the House that the Government will not allow the boundary of Limerick city to extend into County Clare?
That matter is out for consultation at present. I assume legislation would be required but it has not been drawn up yet.
There will be hand to hand combat.
I will not be getting in the way.
With the crisis in the tourism industry, which employs tens of thousands of people, when will the national tourism development authority (amendment) Bill be introduced? This is a matter of urgency.
There is no date for that Bill yet.
When will legislation to repeal the Explosives Act 1875 be introduced? Will that be introduced before Christmas? When will the defence (amendment) Bill be introduced? When will the Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009 come before the House?
The explosives legislation will take place during this session.
The legislation as opposed to the explosion.
We will have to wait and see. The defence legislation will be introduced in the middle of 2011 and we are awaiting a determination from the Whips on when Second Stage of the Property Services (Regulation) Bill can be taken.
When will the criminal justice (legal aid) Bill be brought into the House? Is it expected before Christmas? This legislation is urgent because there is a very significant amount of waste in the legal aid system and we must put in place clear restrictions and criteria to qualify for legal aid. The legal costs Bill has been long promised. When will that be published and when will it be taken in the House? Again, this relates to huge costs that are crippling the legal system.
The criminal justice (legal aid) Bill will be introduced during this session and the other legislation will be introduced next year.
The Hunt report on the third level sector is on the Tánaiste's desk. When does she expect to have that published?
I must bring it to Government first, which I hope to do in the coming weeks, and then it will be published for discussion.