It is proposed to take No. 3, Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011 — Second Stage (resumed); and No. 10, statements on Dáil reform. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the following arrangements shall apply in regard to No. 10: the statements of a Minister or Minister of State and of the main spokespersons for Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and the Technical Group, who shall be called upon in that order, shall not exceed 15 minutes in each case, the statements of other Members called upon shall not exceed ten minutes in each case, Members may share time, and a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed ten minutes.
Order of Business
There is one proposal to be put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 10, statements on Dáil reform, agreed to? Agreed.
In regard to primary and secondary legislation and the ordering of business in the House, we know from this week the ability of the Tánaiste and other members of the Labour Party to say one thing in public and to make a totally different commitment in private.
(Interruptions).
The Deputy should be allowed to speak without interruption.
Fine Gael Deputies are defending the Tánaiste. That must be a consolation to him.
(Interruptions).
It is not funny. I ask Deputy Durkan to allow Deputy Ó Cuív to continue.
I apologise, a Cheann Comhairle.
Deputy Ó Cuív is on his feet and should be allowed to proceed.
Given the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn's, solemn signed pledge of less than three months ago to reverse the €500 increase in the student services charge and the €200 charge for post-leaving certificate courses——
(Interruptions).
Who imposed those charges?
Deputies must let Deputy Ó Cuív have his say. The Tánaiste will deal with the matter.
(Interruptions).
I ask Members to show some respect to the Deputy who is in possession. Deputy Buttimer, you are always at this. Would you please stay quiet?
(Interruptions).
I ask Deputy Ó Cuív to proceed.
The Minister, Deputy Quinn, confirmed this week that he will not now reverse these increases and that he is considering——
A Cheann Comhairle, the Deputy is not asking about promised legislation.
(Interruptions).
I am coming to that, if the Deputy will be patient. The Minister indicated he is now considering the introduction of third level fees. Will the Tánaiste arrange for a debate on this issue and will he confirm whether primary and secondary legislation will be required?
I gcomhthéacs an Bille Gaeltachta atá geallta, an bhféadfadh an Tánaiste a dhearbhú inniu nach bhfuil aon bhunús leis na ráflaí atá ag dul thart go bhfuil i gceist laghdú a dhéanamh ar chumhachtaí an údaráis agus na cumhachtaí fiontraíochta a bhaint de?
The latter is completely out of order.
I remind Deputy Ó Cuív that the increases in the student registration charges to which he refers were introduced by his own Government.
We accept that; it is not the issue.
The damage that Government did to the economy——
Deputies
Hear, hear.
(Interruptions).
If Members ask a question they should listen to the answer.
The parties opposite knew all about this before the election.
We do know all about it, and the Irish people know all about it. That is why they made the decisions they did in the election. It will take quite some time to undo the damage the previous Government did in education and in many other services.
Deputies
Hear, hear.
(Interruptions).
The Tánaiste was more sincere when he was on this side of the House.
There is no legislation promised on the matter referred to by the Deputy.
Maidir leis an Bhille i dtaobh Údarás na Gaeltachta, tá reachtaíocht geallta ach ní dóigh liom go mbeidh sé foilsithe go dtí an bhliain seo chugainn.
Watching the antics of this Government in recent times reminds me of "Fawlty Towers". The latest water charges episode has the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach cast as Manolos, claiming they know nothing.
Deputies
Manuel.
Or even Manuels.
Manolos are shoes.
Can we proceed, please?
They still know nothing.
Whatever about the Tánaiste's preference for footwear, when can we expect to see legislation on water charges, which the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has stated will be imposed on households from 1 January? When can we expect to see legislation on the household charge, however it is defined, and will this be part of the budget or a stand-alone measure? I could ask how the Tánaiste expects people to pay these charges when record numbers are struggling with personal debt but that would be entirely out of order.
Thank you so much.
The legislative programme envisages the electricity (transmission assets) Bill. This proposes to hand over ESB transmission assets. The Government has a copy of the Cahill report, which it has failed to publish. I understand the report states clearly that the handover would be expensive and damaging to the State. The report also outlines that the State should and can seek a derogation from the EU directive.
Deputy McDonald is talking about the legislation.
I am asking about the legislation in the first instance and, second, whether the Government has sought a derogation from the directive and if the Tánaiste could publish the Cahill report.
I recommend that Deputy McDonald improve the quality of her television viewing. It is a sad life to be watching reruns of an old, outdated television series.
We have just come in here.
Go ahead, Micheál, Bertie or Brian.
The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has set out proposals that are under consideration by him. The proposals have yet to be brought to Government and the Government has yet to make a decision on the matter. When it does, if legislation is required, it will be prepared and brought before the House. The electricity (transmission assets) Bill will allow for the unbundling of the electricity transmission system assets and to establish EirGrid in primary legislation. Consultants were appointed to carry out an independent analysis on the electricity transmission assets and consideration of that is still with the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.
Speaking of reruns, can the Tánaiste imagine how sick we are of seeing Fine Gael and the Labour Party doing an exact rerun of the horror movie that was Fianna Fáil and the Green Party in regard to——
Deputy Higgins is fairly stuck in a groove himself. Mao is dead, even the Chinese know it.
I understand that Deputy Stagg is still smarting from being forced to sit over there rather than nearer the seat of power but he must desist.
Closer to Deputy Higgins.
The Tánaiste has not cleared up the confusion, from a legislative point of view, about the Government's intention with regard to the new stealth taxes. Three have been proposed — water, property and the new household utility charge. What is the legislative provision for these? Specifically, will the Government introduce legislation this year to impose a water tax on householders? In regard to these charges, will the Tánaiste explain the Labour Party's shabby betrayal as he cynically abandons another election promise, having said he would not introduce water charges?
Deputies
We never said that.
There is no confusion. The question of legislation only arises when the Government has made a decision. The Government has not made a decision on any of these matters. The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has set out the proposals under consideration. When he has concluded his consideration and brings a recommendation to Government, a decision will be made. If the question of legislation arises from that decision, it will be prepared and brought before the House.
Like many other Deputies, I attended the InterTradeIreland event at the Mansion House. It was great to see so many companies trying to create jobs at home and abroad. One concern raised by a company from my county of Meath was achieving payment for work done. My understanding is that part of the Construction Contracts Bill provides for this issue. The Bill has been laid before the House. Can the Tánaiste tell us when it will be brought before the House?
The Government is willing to take the Bill in this House. It was debated in the Seanad. We hope to have Second Stage in this House before the summer recess.
The registration of wills Bill would do a great service to the country if it was introduced as soon as possible. It is overdue and will address the crazy situation where the family of the deceased and the solicitor administering an estate cannot formally establish whether the deceased held a will. This has been going on for years and I ask that we do some housekeeping to debate the legislation as soon as possible.
I do not see the registration of wills Bill listed on the Government's legislation programme. There was a Private Members' Bill on this topic in the Seanad. I will check the position on it and I will revert to the Deputy.
The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has a commitment to introduce legislation on the reform of local government. This will consider the undemocratic system of sitting county managers and give serious, powerful, decision-making roles to councillors. When will legislation on this be introduced?
The Government has a series of reform measures to be introduced. The reform legislation being given priority concerns the funding of political parties and constituency revision arising from the census. Legislation on these matters is being prepared. In addition, legislation is being prepared to provide for an incentive for political parties to encourage an increase in the participation of women in Irish politics, particularly in election to the Dáil. The issue of local government reform will be considered in advance of the local elections that are not due until 2014. The heads of the local government services corporate bodies (amendment) Bill have been approved and a draft from the Office of the Attorney General is expected shortly.
I would like clarification on how the Government is working out its first 100 days in office. What method is it using to calculate that?
The calendar.
It is now approximately 96 days——
The Deputy cannot go on like this, he should ask a question.
This is very important with regard to legislation promised within 100 days, particularly the NewERA Bill.
Has the Deputy a question on legislation?
Would he please ask it?
Along with the NewERA Bill, there is a Government commitment to abolish 20 State bodies. What method is being used to calculate the first 100 days in office?
We are not into methods but when legislation will be published.
Does it take in normal days, working days or Dáil sitting days? It is now 96 days since the election and almost 86 days since the Government was formed.
The Deputy should ask the question. He will not be called again if he is not careful.
We have had 70 years of Fianna Fáil.
There is a vast number of Bills promised within the first 100 days.
The Deputy should ask the question. To what Bill is he referring?
Will the Tánaiste name the day on which his Government will have been in office for 100 days?
Deputy, please.
The Deputy needs a calendar.
I am calling Deputy Boyd Barrett.
Can we expect to see all the promised legislation before then?
That is not an appropriate question.
My question is when will the Government have been in office for 100 days?
That is not an appropriate question. The Deputy should not abuse the Order of Business. We can all count.
Yesterday we heard the shocking news that there is an intention to impose a 10% cut on the teaching hours available for special needs, visiting more suffering on one of the most vulnerable sectors of our society.
That is wrong.
Wrong.
Can we at least expect some discussion on the matter or a debate in this House?
The Deputy is wrong.
We must make it a priority to protect the most vulnerable sectors of our society from the effects of austerity.
The Deputy is wrong.
That is disinformation.
The Deputy is wrong.
It is not the first time.
There is no 10% cut in support teachers——
It is an increase.
——in the school system. There are 350 more resource teachers this year than last year.
The Labour Party press office is working this morning.
What was announced by the Minister for Education and Skills very sensibly yesterday was that he would allocate 90% of those now, with the remaining 10% to be allocated later in the year, when the position of schools becomes much clearer.
The Deputy should withdraw his scurrilous remark.
It is a serious matter.
That is in order to ensure that we get the best value for money and that resource teachers are applied to where they are most needed.
The Deputy is participating in the politics of fear.
It is an increase.
Returning to the issue of the electricity Bill, the Cahill report recommends that we could apply for a derogation — it would be successful — from the EU electricity directive. The deadline for doing so is next week so the clock is ticking. The Cahill report has not been published but it clearly recommends an opportunity for us to do something which is cost-efficient. The Government must give this its urgent attention as the deadline is next week. Will the Government seek that derogation and implement the recommendations of the Cahill report?
I am not briefed on the detail of but I will ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to respond directly.
The press office has announced the broad policy on prescription charges but we are still waiting for the publication of legislation to abolish prescription charges, as was announced by the Minister, Deputy James Reilly, some time ago with great fanfare. We will facilitate the speedy passage of that legislation through the House as soon as it is published.
I am sure the Minister will be delighted to hear that.
That health amendment legislation will be published later in the year.
It will be later in the year and not the first 100 days of the Government.
It was not done for 15 years either.
Possibly the most important Bill to come before this House so far has been the Finance (No. 2) Bill. Is it intended to curtail discussion on that next week and guillotine it within one day?
I understand the Bill is listed for debate next Thursday and it is not intended to guillotine it.
The Tánaiste mentioned Dáil reform and I wonder will the issue of gender balance arise. There are plans to penalise parties if they do not have a proper balance. Will that also apply to Independents and how will that be done?
(Interruptions).
That is a very difficult question to answer. The Tánaiste should be given the chance to answer it.
I presume Deputy Ellis is supportive of the Government's reform proposal and our intention to introduce legislation that would have political parties suffer a penalty if they do not, at the next general election, have a gender balance of 30% to 70%. In elections after seven years, the gender balance will be 40% to 60%. The issue of attaining a gender balance in this House is long overdue and it requires legislation. The Deputy asked how this might apply to Independent Deputies.
It has not been worked out yet.
There are options.
This House has addressed many difficult issues and will no doubt do so again in the foreseeable future. I have a suspicion that this one may be beyond even the all-party collective ingenuity of Members.
We could set up a committee.
In the EU-IMF deal, stress tests carried out in the banking sector were to be completed and a plan was to be published. Legislation is promised for the credit union sector. The new deal — as opposed to the old deal — signed up to a programme of consolidation in the sector and according to media reports, this could result in the closure of up to half of the credit unions in the country. Will the Tánaiste clarify the position?
It is intended to introduce the Bill to regulate credit unions towards the end of the year.
When will we have Committee Stage of the Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010?
It is awaiting Committee Stage and I understand that as soon as time is available, it will be taken.
When does the Government expect to bring before the House amendments to the Freedom of Information Act to ensure that the secret operations of NAMA will be made more transparent?
I expect that will be later in the year.
I have a point of order. There has been much discussion about Dáil reform and I would like the guidance of the Ceann Comhairle on the reading of scripts in the Chamber by Members. It is discouraged under the Salient Rulings of the Chair. Will the Ceann Comhairle give us some guidance?
In accordance with Standing Orders, a script is only allowed when a Minister is introducing legislation. Notes may be used by a Deputy to assist a presentation.
Many long notes.
That is correct.
How will that be enforced?
It will be through the Chair.
Perhaps we need a couple of heavies in here.
For the record, Deputy Ellis will be delighted to hear that the grouping with the highest percentage of females in this Parliament is the Technical Group, with a figure of 25%.
That is useful information. I believe Deputy Higgins has already been called.
Nothing in Standing Orders prevents me from standing up a second time.
It is always nice to hear from the Deputy anyway.
I thank the Ceann Comhairle. The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government is adamant that a flat rate utility charge — a new stealth tax — will be introduced next year.
Is the Tánaiste saying he is wrong?
He is not going to indicate whether the Minister is right or wrong. This is about legislation.
Excuse me, Ceann Comhairle. It is about legislation.
This is not a debate on whether a Minister is right or wrong. This is about legislation being introduced or promised.
I did not think it was necessary to say it.
Deputy Higgins knows that as well as I do.
That would necessitate legislation, so one could argue that legislation is promised.
He already answered that question.
He did not answer the question. He said it had not been discussed by the Government.
Ask him to clarify.
I have already answered this question twice this morning. The Minister has set out publicly certain issues that are being considered by him and his Department. As the Taoiseach and I have indicated, these proposals have not yet been considered by the Government and the issue of legislation does not arise until the Government has made a decision on them.
Tabharfaidh mé seans eile don Tánaiste a dhearbhú nach bhfuil i gceist aon laghdú a dhéanamh ar chumhachtaí Údarás na Gaeltachta. Tá ráflaí ag dul thart go bhfuil sin i gceist agus tá an-imní ar phobal na Gaeltachta. Seo an dara seans don Tánaiste a dhearbhú do phobal na Gaeltachta nach dtiocfar siar ar straitéis 20 bliain don Ghaeilge mar a foilsíodh í agus mar a d'aontaigh na páirtithe uile sa Teach.
Will the Tánaiste clarify the matter? Is legislation due?
Tá an Teachta Ó Cuív ag éisteacht le ráflaí. Níl a fhios agam cé atá freagrach as na raflaí sin. An féidir leis a rá sa Teach cé atá freagrach astu? Mar a dúirt mé, tá reachtaíocht maidir le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta ann agus tiocfaidh an reachtaíocht sin os comhair na Dála. Seans gur fearr leis ceist dhíreach a chur ar an Aire faoi na hábhair a bheidh sa Bhille sin.
An bhfuil cinneadh déanta ag an Rialtas faoi chumhachtaí Údarás na Gaeltachta?