It is proposed to take No. 11a, motion re progress report of the Joint Committee on Investigations, Oversight and Petitions and Orders of Reference of Committee; No. 4, Veterinary Practice (Amendment) Bill 2011 — Second Stage (resumed); and No. 14, National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Bill 2011 — Second Stage (resumed). It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that No. 11a shall be decided without debate; and No. 13a, motion re by-election for Dublin West, shall be taken on the conclusion of Topical Issues on Tuesday, 4 October 2011 and the proceedings thereon shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 60 minutes on that day and the following arrangements shall apply: the speeches shall be confined to the spokesmen for Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin, the Technical Group and a Minister or Minister for State, who shall be called upon in that order and who may share their time, which shall not exceed 15 minutes in each case.
Order of Business
Is the proposal for dealing with No. 11a, without debate, agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 13a agreed to? Agreed.
The Taoiseach yesterday called for all candidates in the presidential election to be open and upfront with the electorate. The Government promised the comprehensive spending review in the early autumn and then it was put back. The Minister for Finance said yesterday it will not now be published until the end of the budgetary process. Will the Tánaiste confirm the Government has gone back on another promise on openness and transparency, that this information would be published before the completion of the budgetary process? Is he now saying the expenditure decisions and review will not be published until budget day?
The comprehensive spending review is a new process initiated by this Government that will inform the formulation of the Estimates and the budget. The outcome of that process will be published as part of the budget and Estimates publications.
What happened to the promise to publish the review early in the autumn?
There may have been a misunderstanding about the purpose of this exercise. This approach is different from that of the previous Government to the preparation of the Estimates. This involves an exercise led by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform which involves all Departments in identifying savings, efficiencies and reforms that can be progressed in Departments. That exercise is informing the preparation of the Estimates and will be published.
We were promised the expenditure review early in the autumn.
The expenditure review is a process that will inform the preparation of the Estimates, which will then be published when they are ready.
Will the review be published early in the autumn, as the Government had already stated?
It is a process, it is not a book.
The Government said this process could be published. It seems to me the Tánaiste is right, this is a Government of change; it changes everything it has ever promised and never fulfils any of its promises.
Safe Ireland has now published its national statistics on domestic violence for 2010. I am sure the Tánaiste has seen them and is shocked by them. On more than 3,000 occasions, women and children could not be accommodated in refuges. Terrified woman and children were turned away, with the numbers representing a 38% increase on the 2009 figure.
The programme for Government makes a commitment to consolidate and reform domestic violence legislation. What is happening with the commitment? Why is there no reference to it in the legislative programme? What does the Government intend to do about the cutbacks that literally devastated services for women and children fleeing domestic violence?
The report is, indeed, shocking. The incidence of domestic violence is a disturbing feature of our society. The 38% increase since 2009 in the number of incidents of women seeking refuge from domestic violence is disturbing. The HSE funds 20 domestic violence centres, with a budget of €10.5 million. The Government is committed to implementing the national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence for the five year period from 2010 to 2014. One of the main aims of that strategy is to respond to the needs of victims of domestic violence. The HSE is currently undertaking a national and regional review of domestic violence service provision. The aim of this review is to ensure that funding is allocated according to need and that the areas of high demand are appropriately resourced. This issue is very much under active consideration by the Government.
I raise a point of order. I understand that the new Standing Orders for the Order of Business allow questions to be raised about promised legislation. Other matters that would previously have been raised on the Order of Business should now be raised in the Topical Issue debate and answered by the line Minister. This is a case in point.
Protect your leader.
I will be dealing with that matter. I will allow Deputy McDonald very briefly on the issue she raised.
I do not accept Deputy Stagg's point of order. A promise has been made in respect of legislation in this area.
We all know that funding for services to victims of domestic violence and abuse are woefully inadequate. We do not need an elaborate review to establish that fact.
Can the Tánaiste tell the House when the legislation will come forward? The promised consolidated domestic violence legislation is a matter of some urgency. Can he also tell us what actions he will take, as a member of the Government, to ensure adequate funding is dedicated to these services? I ask him not to pass the buck to the HSE.
Contrary to what the Deputy said, there are no plans to reduce funding to front line services in this area.
That is not what the Minister for Justice and Equality said.
Funding has been reduced.
There have not been reductions. There are no plans to reduce funding to front line services. The Government will ensure that appropriate funding is available to provide adequate front line services to victims of domestic violence.
Legislation is being considered as part of the Government's overall legislative programme. I cannot put my hand on the particular legislation to which the Deputy referred but I will respond directly to her on that matter.
Given that every Deputy and every county and region is anxiously watching developments at local health facilities, as I am doing with regard to the Midlands Regional Hospital in Mullingar, it is extremely important that the HSE governance Bill be expedited.
What about Mullingar barracks?
Can the Tánaiste be more specific than to say it will be published in 2012?
I do not have a specific date for the HSE governance Bill. The Minister for Health is actively working on it.
Given the Tánaiste's clear indications that he intends to connive with the EU/IMF troika in asset-stripping the country in order to pay off speculators' debts, when will the legislation which I presume will be required to sell off our State assets come before the House? If the Tánaiste can give us the date I can get busy organising the protests which I hope will be taking place outside Leinster House.
I thought the Deputy was busy doing that already.
That is a solution all right.
It is better than the Government's solution.
Government Deputies were happy enough to protest a couple of months ago.
I am sure the people of Dún Laoghaire will be delighted with the Deputy's solution.
Will Deputy Boyd Barrett send out the notices in Oireachtas envelopes?
I have answered this question on a number of occasions. The only decision the Government has made in respect of State assets has been to sell a minority shareholding in the ESB. On a previous occasion, I outlined the process by which that will be progressed. The Ministers for Public Expenditure and Reform and Communications, Energy and Natural Resources are dealing with that issue and it will be done in the best interests of the country. I expect that they will bring proposals to Government by the end of November. When we have those proposals the necessary legislative measures will be prepared. The whole approach to State assets, including the proceeds of any sale, is to ensure they are used in the best way to generate employment in the country.
Of course, the Deputy has no interest in improving the situation of people who are worried about their jobs and futures and their families' jobs and futures. The Deputy's sole interest is in organising protests. So, away with him. Let him organise whatever protest he wants. He is going to do it anyway.
Since when did privatisation create jobs? Is this the new Labour Party line?
He would be serving the people he represents better if instead of picking up a picket he occasionally picked up a pen and made some constructive proposals.
Deputies
Hear, hear.
Phil Hogan will be very pleased with the Tánaiste today.
Today is 29 September, the third anniversary of the bank guarantee. It is 1,095 days since the guarantee was entered into that has left the country on its knees and in pain.
Legislation.
The guarantee finished after two years.
The guarantee was time limited.
Are you asking about legislation, Deputy?
I recommend that the Taoiseach, the Minister for Finance and the Governor of the Central Bank write to the chairmen and boards of directors of all financial institutions, and particularly the banks, and ask them to ensure that all directors, including non-executive directors, are competent and qualified on a continuing basis and dedicate sufficient time to carrying out their duties and responsibilities as directors of their banks and that each director confirm in writing to the Minister for Finance that this is the case.
That does not relate to promised legislation or business, but I am sure you will raise it in some other way.
This is a very significant anniversary.
Would it be possible to get some guidance and information on the selection process because many people are confused about how they should approach it. I thought Members would have an opportunity to raise topical issues of the day but some of the issues selected to date have been ones that were topical a few weeks previously.
The Deputy should take up that matter with the Ceann Comhairle's Office. It is not a matter for the Tánaiste.
The Whip can tell the Deputy about it.
The Ceann Comhairle's office will assist the Deputy in the matter.
On the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011, does the Tánaiste support the stance of his colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Penrose, on the future of Columb barracks, Mullingar?
That question does not relate to promised legislation.
It is important.
I know it is important.
Will the Tánaiste make time available next week to discuss the important issue of Columb barracks, Mullingar?
Deputies
Hear, hear.
On the matter of a debate, I advise the Deputy to take up the matter with the Whips.
Perhaps the Tánaiste will answer the question.
There a number of ways open to the Deputy to raise the issue in the House.
I have raised it. Will the Tánaiste make a statement on the matter?
I am sure the Deputy will avail of those and that time can be made available for a debate in the normal way.
Will the Tánaiste make a statement on the matter?
I call Deputy Kevin Humphreys.
What about Ashford Castle?
What has Ashford Castle got to do with Mullingar?
The announcement this morning in this House of the strategic investment fund is one of the most significant we have heard thus far. Jobs should be the priority of every Member in this House.
Some 120 jobs are being lost in Mullingar.
What legislation is required to establish the strategic investment fund and when will it come before the House?
Is legislation promised?
Legislation may be required in respect of the National Pensions Reserve Fund. When it has been prepared and brought before Government it will then be brought to the House.
Has the interdepartmental group on mortgages, chaired by Mr. Declan Keane, reported yet? If so, when does the Tánaiste expect the report to be considered by Cabinet and does he envisage legislation based on the group's recommendations being introduced this side of the budget?
The interdepartmental group was asked by the Government's economic management council to carry out an exercise of the available options, many of which were contained in the programme for Government and some of which have been the subject of a previous report on mortgage distress. The group has completed its work and reported yesterday to the economic management council. I expect that the report will be considered by the Government next week, following which it will be brought before the Dáil.
To better deal with the situation inherited from the previous Administration, when will it be possible to expedite the introduction and process through the House the Bill to remove barriers to mobility and redeployment from statutory recruitment and appointment procedures for posts in the civil and public service? The item concerned is No. 118. It would be wise to bring this forward as soon as possible given the need for redeployment of people from one Department to another arising from the current economic situation. Are there any plans to do so?
I understand the Bill to which the Deputy refers is due next year.
Does the Government propose to introduce legislation to extend the bank guarantee that will elapse at the end of this year?
I do not normally disagree with Deputy Peter Mathews but today is not the anniversary of when the bank guarantee came into effect. It came into effect two weeks later when the terms and conditions were presented to the House——
Will the Deputy vote for it again.
——which Sinn Féin voted against, something which other Members choose to forget.
Vandalism.
There is no legislation on the list. I remind Members that one of the loudest enthusiasts for the guarantee was Deputy Doherty.
Deputies
Hear, hear.
Order, please.