It is proposed to take No. 1, Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2011 [Seanad] — Second Stage (resumed); and No. 4, Patents (Amendment) Bill 2011 — Order for Second Stage and Second Stage. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that in respect of the Industrial Relations (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2011, the Second Stage of which shall be considered tomorrow, the following arrangements shall apply: the opening speeches of the main spokespersons for Sinn Féin, Fianna Fáil, the Technical Group and of a Minister or Minister of State, who shall be called upon in that order, shall not exceed 15 minutes in each case, the speeches of other Members called upon shall not exceed 15 minutes in each case, Members may share time, a Minister or Minister of State, who may speak twice, shall be called upon not later than 1 p.m. to make a speech which shall not exceed 15 minutes, and the main spokesperson for Sinn Féin shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 15 minutes.
Order of Business
There is one proposal to be put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with the Industrial Relations (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2011 tomorrow agreed to? Agreed.
We will move to matters on the Order of Business which are in order.
I hope the Ceann Comhairle will guide me as to whether this matter is in order.
I certainly will.
Of that there can be no doubt.
The NewERA proposal means a fundamental change in the way that State companies are managed, as they will not be managed in the national interest but as financial interests for a shareholder. These are not the same.
That is not true.
Where did the Deputy get that idea?
We are going astray. We are talking about promised legislation.
That is what I am trying to elicit.
The Deputy is running for the park.
It is not a question of eliciting information. The Deputy should ask about promised legislation.
It takes him some time to get off the runway.
I am coming to it. Will the Tánaiste clarify that in the EU memorandum last December there was no mention of any figure for the sale of State assets? Will he verify the confirmation that this is so by the Minister for Finance yesterday, with the €2 billion figure being agreed even before the Government parties took office and could examine the issue?
That is not promised legislation.
Will legislation be required to introduce the changes outlined in NewERA, which will be fundamental changes in the management of our State companies?
The Deputy is a little confused.
A bit like the Tánaiste.
All the spin is making him dizzy.
The changes being made in respect of the shareholdings in our State companies are being made in the national interest in order to revive our economy and create jobs. Deputy Ó Cuív is probably more familiar than I with the EU-IMF memorandum of understanding, which was concluded with his Government last December. It is well known that the understanding that his Government had with the troika was for the sale of State assets in the order of €5 billion.
No. Show me where that is written? It is not there.
Where is it?
It is not in the memorandum but it is the understanding.
It was said publicly.
The Tánaiste said it was there.
He should apologise for misleading the House.
Deputy Ó Cuív should resume his seat.
I wish to assist the Tánaiste.
There is no need. You should sit down.
That is the new party, Fianna Fáil nua.
It is not there.
As with many other issues, it is not in the document but it is what Fianna Fáil agreed.
So it is not there.
Where was it agreed?
The whole of the social welfare budget.
The IMF has since publicly confirmed that. What is in the programme for Government is a commitment for a €2 billion sale and the Government is proceeding to implement that commitment.
It is a fire sale.
There will be no fire sale.
Just the timber and turf.
The Government has made decisions on foot of what is in the programme. As with many other matters that were in the bad deal done by the previous Government with the EU and IMF, this Government will renegotiate and improve the deal to get it working better for the people in this country.
Even the parts that were not in the agreement.
It was shocking.
The Government is implementing it fairly well.
The programme for Government contains a commitment to ending long-term homelessness and rough sleeping. It also states the Government believes in prevention rather than cure and promises to tackle aggressively the root causes of homelessness. Why have homeless charities been instructed to provide shelter only to local homeless people and not those from outside counties?
This has nothing to do with legislation.
That is more suitable as a question to a line Minister.
Is this Government policy?
We will not deal with it at this stage.
It would be more appropriate as a topical issue.
I thank Deputy Rabbitte for his assistance.
The Deputy should ask about legislation.
The Deputy should stick to the Order of Business.
A commitment was made in respect of the programme for Government.
Is legislation required?
The commitment was to tackle on-street homelessness and sleeping rough. When will the Government bring forward legislative initiatives to deal with it?
Is there promised legislation?
There is no legislation promised.
It cannot be dealt with as a result.
Nothing is promised.
It betrays a very poor understanding of the nature of homelessness if the Deputy believes it can be dealt with or eliminated through legislation. Homelessness must be dealt with by implementing a range of measures, which the Government is committed to doing.
Will the Tánaiste spell those out?
They are in the programme for Government, to which the Deputy referred. That is the Government's policy. It is utterly naive of the Deputy to believe homelessness can be ended by passing a piece of legislation.
She never said that.
I again remind Deputies that on the Order of Business only matters promised with regard to promised legislation can be discussed.
It is hard to know what is promised.
Deputies are going around the houses but they should stick to the issues.
When will the proposals to assist people with difficulties paying their mortgages be introduced?
The interdepartmental group established by the Government's economic management council has reported to the economic management council and the proposals will go before the Government shortly. I hope it will happen next week and that it will be published shortly thereafter. It is the Government's intention that when they are published we will bring the proposals before the House to have a full debate.
Ba mhaith liom ceist a chur faoi dhá Bhille atá ar an liosta, uimhir 59 agus uimhir 60. Ní raibh toghchán d'Údarás na Gaeltachta ann le roinnt blianta anuas, cuireadh ar athló é. Tá cruachás teanga sa Ghaeltacht agus sa tír i gcoitinne agus chomh maith leis sin tá fadhb mhór fostaíochta sna ceantair sin. Cathain a bheidh Bille Gaeltachta os ár gcomhair? Tá géarghá leis sin de bharr an cruacháis seo.
An Bille eile atá i gceist ná an leasú ar an mBille Coimisiún Thithe an Oireachtais, maidir leis an seirbhís aistriúcháin atá ag an Stát. Cén uair a bheidh an Bille sin os ár gcomhair? Go bhfios dom, is Bille bunúsach é agus ní gá go mbeadh mórán moille air. An bhfeicfimid é an tréimhse seo nó sar i bhfad?
Labhair an Teachta faoi dhá phíosa reachtaíochta, ar dtús, uimhir 59 an Bille Gaeltachta. Tá an Bille sin ar an liosta agus foilseofar é an bhliain seo chugainn, 2012. Cén uimhir a bhí ar an mBille eile?
Uimhir 60.
Foilseofar an Bille sin i 2012 freisin.
I will deal with promised legislation, some of which was promised a long time ago by those people now in opposition. There is a great opportunity to shed some light on the issues. The criminal justice (cyber-crime) Bill was repeatedly promised a long time ago, as was the criminal justice (forensic evidence and DNA database) Bill.
They are out there somewhere.
Will the Tánaiste give some indication as to whether the heads of these Bills have been discussed or cleared by Cabinet for debate before the House?
It is big in Kildare.
CSI Kildare.
Deputy Durkan wants to know where these Bills are.
Perhaps the outgoing Government hid them on its way out.
We will find out for the Deputy. He can sit down and rest.
I am not in a position to say when those Bills will be published but I will communicate the information to the Deputy.
I have two more issues to raise.
Perhaps the Deputy could raise them together.
Deputy Durkan is on a roll.
We do not have the Order of Business in stages.
I am anticipating a very positive response.
There is a time limit.
The Ceann Comhairle would be interested in this as it might bring levity to the Opposition.
We are running out of time.
The common arrangements for the gas Bill should bring a smile to the faces of the Opposition.
It is in the pipeline.
Has it been discussed in Cabinet?
It is expected that the Bill will be brought forward in 2012.
When is the health Bill due to come before the House?
It is hoped to have it later this year.
The programme for Government promised to prioritise legislation to deal with the issue of transparency in that highly secretive organisation, the National Asset Management Agency, NAMA, which is now apparently paying huge amounts of money to the developers who got this country into huge trouble. Is there no priority for that legislation? When will it be introduced?
What legislation is it?
The legislation to introduce transparency in NAMA.
Transparency in NAMA.
Absolutely. It is a highly secretive organisation, as you know well.
Is there anything about a secret organisation on the Tánaiste's list?
I asked him about this on a number of occasions in the last session.
Does the Tánaiste know anything about it?
There is no legislation listed on that matter.
It is not listed. Perhaps the Deputy might table a parliamentary question to get further information.
It is listed.
What is the name of the Bill?
It is No. 116 in section C. The Tánaiste told me a number of times previously that the Freedom of Information Act would be extended to cover NAMA. Is it not now a priority?
No. 116 is the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill which is due to be introduced in 2012.
Will it deal with the promise made in the programme for Government?
The Deputy will have to find out.
We will have to wait.
Will it deal with it? It is included in the programme for Government.
We cannot deal with that matter now.
It is included in the programme for Government and the Tánaiste spoke about it previously. Is it now not the position of the Government to introduce transparency in NAMA?
It is introducing a freedom of information Bill.
Everything that is included in the programme for Government will be implemented.
When?
When will it be introduced?
The Deputy has just been told.
Last week the Minister for Health said in this House that the strike by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisations, INMO, and nurses in the Mid-West Regional Hospital was putting patients' lives at risk. Does the Tánaiste concur with these comments? If he does, are there any legislative proposals to remedy the situation and stop the nurses striking?
Has legislation been promised in this area?
No, it is not a legislative matter.
Therefore, we will not deal with it.
Does the Tánaiste concur with the comments made by the Minister for Health?
The matter the Deputy is referring to is an industrial dispute. There are talks taking place and I hope they will continue——
The Minister for Health stated clearly that patients' lives were at risk.
——in order that a resolution will be found to the dispute and that people will get back to work.
I call Deputy Ó Caoláin.
Does the Tánaiste concur with the Minister for Health's comments?
The Government and its predecessor both undertook to raise with the British Government and its representatives the all-party motion relating to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings which was reaffirmed by the Houses last May. I understand the Tánaiste is meeting later today Mr. Owen Paterson, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Will he indicate if he will use that opportunity to reflect the sentiments of the House and the unanimous demand of all parties and Independent Members that the British Government fully co-operate in the release of all information and, with the Government, ensure there is a full, independent judicial inquiry into all the information surrounding the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 17 May 1974?
I am sorry, Deputy, but although it is a very serious matter, it is not one for the Order of Business. I call Deputy Daly.
A Cheann Comhairle——
It is not promised legislation.
It was promised by the Government and its predecessor.
It is not promised legislation.
The Tánaiste is meeting Mr. Owen Paterson today. It is a very reasonable request to establish if the Tánaiste will use the opportunity to reflect the sentiments of the House.
I am sure he will.
With respect, a Cheann Comhairle, that communication was forwarded on behalf of the Members of this Parliament, not the Government, and I ask you to defend the right to ask this question.
To clear up the matter, I am meeting the Secretary of State, Mr. Paterson, later today. As I have done on the previous occasions when I have met him, the Foreign Secretary, Mr. William Hague, and the Prime Minister, Mr. David Cameron, I will raise the issue and pursue the decision and request made by the House. That will be part of the discussion I will have with him.
Will the Tánaiste report back to the House?
I will be happy to do so. Perhaps the Deputy might table a parliamentary question and I will reply to it.
Yesterday the Minister for Finance said the Bill dealing with the issue of fiscal responsibility would be before the House sometime before Christmas. Will the Tánaiste give us a more definite date? This is the Bill to deal with the six-pack governance measures passed by the European Parliament earlier this week which will have a major impact on the workings of the European Union. Also, when will the bankruptcy Bill be before the House? I believe it is also due for publication before Christmas.
It is intended to deal with the fiscal responsibility Bill in this session. The personal insolvency Bill is being progressed by the Minister and the Department. It is intended to bring it to the Government shortly.