It is proposed to take No. 14, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council creating a European account preservation order to facilitate cross-border debt recovery in civil and commercial matters, back from committee; No. 15, statements on the report by the interdepartmental working group on mortgage arrears (resumed); and No. 4, Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011 — Second Stage (resumed). It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that No. 14 shall be decided without debate; and for the purposes of Standing Order 117A, the first Friday of the month for November shall be Friday, 18 November, the time and date by which notice of a Bill in connection with that sitting shall be received by the Clerk shall be 11 a.m. on Friday, 4 November, and related Standing Orders shall apply accordingly.
Order of Business
There are two proposals to put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 14 without debate agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for the sitting of the Dáil on Friday, 18 November agreed to? Agreed. I call Deputy Ó Cuív on the Order of Business.
The Standing Orders for the Order of Business allow us to ask questions regarding documents required to assist the House in carrying out its business. I understand that next week the Government will agree the tax and spending proposals for the next four years.
I also, of course, understand these will not be published until after the issues of the Dublin West by-election and the presidential election are comfortably out of the way. If the House is to have a meaningful debate on the spending proposals, it seems imperative that Members have access to the spending review. I understand the troika has had access to it, but Members will be asked to debate the Government's spending proposals for the next four years without having sight of it. Does the Government intend to publish the spending review, about which it has spoken for so long and which it has put back from month to month? Is it intended to publish it in order that Members will have to hand the information contained within it at the same time as they receive the Government's spending proposals for the next four years?
First, the Deputy is mistaken. It is not intended that the Government will decide on the tax and expenditure measures for next year——
No, I said for the next four years.
It is not intended that the Government will decide on that matter next week. That is the first inaccuracy. Second, the House has already been informed by the Taoiseach that in the first week of November the Government will publish the medium-term budget plan——
That is what I said.
——which will detail the proposed tax and spending policies between 2012 and 2015.
That is exactly what I said.
On 10 November the Government will publish the capital spending plan. On 17 November it will publish the various public service reforms identified in the comprehensive review of spending. On 1 December the detailed spending Estimates for 2012 will be published and the budget will be announced on 6 December. I should point out to the Deputy that the publication of all this material in advance of the budget is in marked contrast to the manner in which his party used to do business in respect of the budget.
Hear, hear.
Hear, hear.
Fianna Fáil did not announce the spending Estimates in advance of the budget.
Hear, hear.
It announced the budget, after which its Ministers went off to make their spending announcements at press conferences at 6 p.m or 7 p.m. on budget day.
The Tánaiste is right.
The difference this time is that the Government will put its spending proposals, the spending strategy and the information pertaining to it before the House in advance of the budget——
Honour the commitments made.
——which is in marked contrast to the manner in which——
What about answering the question the Tánaiste was asked?
——Fianna Fáil used to conceal the information until the day of the budget.
Sorry, Deputies.
I asked a simple question. Will Members be provided with a copy of the comprehensive spending review? The Tánaiste is brilliant——
Thank you.
The Tánaiste is brilliant at answering every question, except the simple question he was asked.
It is all about brilliance.
We are not having a debate on the issue now.
I ask the Tánaiste to answer the question. Will the Government publish the comprehensive spending review? It is a simple question to which there must be a yes or no answer. If the answer is yes, when will it be published?
The Tánaiste may say "Tá" or "Níl" if he wishes.
It is definitely possible.
That is right, it is a big joke.
The spending review process is new. It is a new way of bringing forward and approaching the Estimates.
The Tánaiste is not answering the question.
The publication of the outcome of the comprehensive spending review will take the form indicated to the House. Dates have been set for the publication of various parts. This is being done in advance of the budget and it is the largest amount of information on spending proposals ever been put before the House, after which Deputy Ó Cuív can respond to it.
That is a "No".
Why could the Tánaiste not simply say, "No, the Government will not publish it"——
No, it is a "Yes".
Will Deputy Ó Cuív, please, be seated?
——and be straight with other Members?
Thank you, Deputy. I call Deputy McDonald.
The answer is that the medium-term budget plan——
The answer is no. The Tánaiste should not waste his time.
Will the Deputy, please, sit down?
No, the answer is yes. The medium-term budget plan will be published in the first week of November, while the capital programme will be published on 10 November.
The answer is no.
Yes, it is.
The public service reforms will be published on 17 November and the detailed spending Estimates on 1 December.
The answer is no.
Waffle.
The Government has made much of the fast-tracking of legislative items to meet the demands of the troika. Will it afford the same priority to the protection of workers' rights? Specifically, when will it bring before the Dáil the industrial relations (amendment) Bill and the temporary agency workers Bill?
The heads of the temporary agency workers Bill were approved by the Government this week and it is intended to bring the Bill before the House this session. It is also intended to bring the industrial relations (amendment) Bill before the House this session.
I wish to raise three items of promised legislation. There have been major breaches of company law in the past ten years, during which time I repeatedly raised the issue in the House. In view of this and the need to ensure obvious issues are addressed, has there been progress in the preparation of the companies Bill which will involve consolidation and modernisation of the law and probably more? What is the current status of the judicial council Bill? When are Members likely to see the heads of this Bill or its introduction in the House? I refer to something with which the Opposition can readily identify, namely, the common arrangements for gas Bill. They are a gas lot.
As is the Deputy. He should light a match.
Thank you, Deputy Durkan.
It is an important Bill and the Tánaiste should indicate when it is likely to be brought before the House.
The companies Bill is a major piece of consolidation legislation and there are something like 1,200 heads to be agreed. It is not expected to be completed until near the end of next year. The gas Bill is due to be published next year, while the judicial council Bill will be published early next year.
Yesterday the Taoiseach told me the heads of the personal insolvency Bill would be considered by the Cabinet next week. However, the question I actually asked was when was the Bill expected to be published for debate in the House. What is the earliest date on which Members can expect to see its introduction in the House?
I thank the Deputy for the question. The personal insolvency Bill is a core part of the Government's approach to dealing with mortgage arrears. The heads of the Bill are in circulation and being considered by members of the Government. The Government hopes to publish it not later than early next year.
Will the Tánaiste indicate when the legislation to abolish prescription charges will be published?
To what Bill is the Deputy referring?
There was a 50 cent prescription charge to be abolished.
Yes, but what number is the Bill on the list of proposed legislation? I do not see it.
It was promised in the programme for Government.
It is included in the programme for Government.
No, that is not——
It is not listed for publication this session.
It is not listed.
Too right it is not.
Will the legislation be made retrospective?