Order of Business

The Taoiseach

It is proposed to take No.18, statements re Lá na Gaeilge; No. 19, statements on European Council, Brussels; and No. 3, Euro Area Loan Facility (Amendment) Bill 2012 - Second and Remaining Stages.

It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that in the event a division is in progress at the time fixed for taking Private Members' business, which shall be No. 50, motion re turf cutting, the Dáil shall sit later than 9 p.m. and Standing Order 121(3) shall not apply and Private Members' business shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 90 minutes; the proceedings in respect of No. 18 shall be brought to a conclusion within 25 minutes and the statements shall be made by the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and the main spokespersons for Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and the Technical Group, who shall be called upon in that order and who may share their time and shall not exceed five minutes in each case; the proceedings in respect of No. 19 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 85 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply: the statements shall be made by the Taoiseach and by the main spokespersons for Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and the Technical Group, who shall be called upon in that order and who may share their time and shall not exceed 15 minutes in each case; a Minister or Minister of State shall take questions for a period not exceeding 20 minutes; and a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed five minutes; and notwithstanding the Order of the Dáil of 6 March 2012, the proceedings on Second Stage of No.3 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 7.15 p.m today, and the proceedings on Committee and Remaining Stages shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 7.30 p.m. today by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall, in respect of amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Finance.

Private Members' business shall be No. 50, motion re turf cutting (resumed), to conclude at 9 p.m. tonight, if not previously concluded.

An Ceann Comhairle

There are four proposals to put to the House. Is the proposal that the Dáil shall later than 9 p.m. tonight agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 18 agreed to?

Deputy Micheál Martin

Bhí mé ag lorg níos mó ama inné. Tá 20 nóiméad ann, nach bhfuil?

An Ceann Comhairle

Cúig noiméid.

The Taoiseach

Tá cúig noiméid do na ceannairí agus is féidir le daoine ama a roinnt más mian leo. Más mian leis an Teachta go mbeidh níos mó ama ann, is cuma liom.

Deputy Micheál Martin

Bhuel, d'iarr mé níos mó ama inné ach níor tháinig aon rud ón Phríomh-Aoire.

The Taoiseach

Séard atá i gceist ná go mbeadh cead ag níos mó.

Deputy Micheál Martin

Drochmheas ar an nGaeilge atá ann i ndáiríre mar bhí Teachtaí ag iarraidh labhairt.

The Taoiseach

An bhfuil an Teachta ag iarraidh go mbeadh níos mó ama ag Teachtaí eile? Is cuma liom más mian leis go mbeadh leathuair an chloig eile le fáil do na Teachtaí áirithe.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

An bata mór arís.

Deputy James Reilly

Deputy Mattie McGrath should stick to the bogs.

An Ceann Comhairle

Is that agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 19 agreed to? Agreed. Fourth, is the proposal for dealing with No. 3 agreed to?

Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ní aontaíom leis sin. Is trua nach bhfuilimid ag déanamh an ghnó don chuid seo den lá as Gaeilge chomh maith. An rud i bhí i gceist i gcónaí ná go mbeadh an lá iomlán as Gaeilge agus tá súil agam an bhliain seo chugainn go mbeimid ag dul sa treo sin agus go mbeimid ag taispeáint samplá don chuid eile den tír. Táim i gcoinne an mholta atá i Riar na hOibre mar tá guillotine i bhfeidhm. Níor chóir go mbeadh a leithéid i bhfeidhm agus ba cheart go dtabharfaí níos mó ama go ndéanfaimis cinnte de. Faoi láthair, in ainneoin nach bhfuil leasuithe ann ar Chéim an Choiste no ar Chéim na Tuarascála, ní bheidh aon am chun déileáil in aon slí leis an Bhille má tá an vóta ag an am atá molta anseo, 7.15 p.m.

Deputy Joe Higgins

Ba mhaith liom tacú leis sin. Ceist thromchúiseach atá ann do na daoine atá ag fulaingt i láthair na huaire faoi pholasaithe déine atá á gcur i bhfeidhm. Dá bhrí sin, ba cheart go mbeadh a dhóthain ama agus tá sé náireach go bhfuil an Rialtas fós ag úsáid, ar feadh bliana anois, an guillotine seo a chuir siad ina aghaidh chomh mór sin nuair a bhí Fine Gael agus Páirtí an Lucht Oibre sa Fhreasúra.

The Taoiseach

Tá an Dara Céim an-fhada, leanfaidh sí ar aghaidh go dtí 6.45 p.m. agus níl leasuithe ar bith curtha síos. Beidh am ag Teachta ar bith labhairt faoi. Tugadh am do Bhillí anseo le déanaí agus nach raibh urlabhraithe ar bith le fáil chun leanúint ar aghaidh. Bhí ar an Phríomh-Aoire deireadh a chur leis na díospóireachtaí.

Deputy Micheál Martin

Mar is eol don Taoiseach, i gclár an Rialtais, tá an-chuid reachtaíochta agus an-chuid gealltanas foilsithe. Ó thaobh oideachais de, ar fud na tíre, tá daltaí ag fanacht ar na cártaí tuairisce faoi choinne na réamhscrúduithe atá déanta acu. Sa Dáil seo, is cosúil nach mbeidh aon chárta tuairisce d'Airí an Rialtais, cé gur gheall an Taoiseach go mbeadh. Gheall an Taoiseach ar "The Late Late Show" le Ryan Tubridy go raibh an Taoiseach i ndáiríre go n-éiseofar cárta tuairisce do gach Aire. Ca bhfuil na cártaí tuairisce? Beidh na hAirí ag dul thart ar an domhan anois agus bheadh sé i bhfad níos fearr dá mbeadh na cártaí ag na hAirí roimh dul thar lear. Gheall an Taoiseach go mbeadh an cártaí tuairisce ach níl siad le feiceáil ar chor ar bith.

Deputy Billy Kelleher

Cá bhfuil na hAirí?

Deputy Dinny McGinley

Tá siad ag obair.

Deputy Billy Kelleher

Tá siad go léir sa chúinne.

An Ceann Comhairle

That is not in order on the Order of Business.

The Taoiseach

Gheall mé go shuífinn síos le chuile Aire agus Aire Stáit le dul fríd na pointí a bhfuil siad ag déileáil leo faoi phlean an Rialtais agus tá sin déanta agam. Suifidh mé síos le gach Aire agus gach Aire Stáit maidir leis an chuid den chlár a bhaineann díreach lena n-aireacht.

Deputy Micheál Martin

Tá díomá an domhain ar Ryan Tubridy. Bhí an Taoiseach ar "The Late Late Show" agus gheall sé i ndáiríre go mbeadh na cártaí tuairisce ann.

The Taoiseach

Agus dúirt mé-----

Deputy Micheál Martin

Tá Ryan Tubridy ar buille.

The Taoiseach

Dá mba rud é go raibh an Teachta ag éisteacht leis an rud ar fad-----

Deputy Mattie McGrath

Ceann buí.

The Taoiseach

-----is é adúirt me le Ryan go mbéinn ag suí síos le gach Aire agus le gach Aire Stáit i leith an chuid den chlár a raibh baint dhíreach aige nó aici leis. Tá sin déanta agam.

Deputy Micheál Martin

That too.

Deputy Willie O’Dea

It was an oral exam.

Deputy Gerry Adams

B'fhéidir go bhféadfadh Sinn Féin tacú a thabhairt don Taoiseach mar chigirí. D'fhéadfaimís na cartaí tuairisce a mharcáil.

Deputy Micheál Martin

An Teachta Adams ag dul timpeall na tíre.

Deputy Gerry Adams

Tá a fhios againn gur mharcáil mhuintir na tíre carta tuairisce an Teachta Martin, ach sin scéal eile.

Deputy Micheál Martin

A Sinn Féin inspectorate to terrorise the nation.

Deputy Robert Dowds

An inspectorate for dumps.

Deputy Gerry Adams

Inné, rialaigh an Chúirt Uachtarach go raibh alt 29 de Acht um Chiontaí in Aghaidh an Stáit ag teacht salach ar an mBunreacht. Fuair an Chúirt nach raibh gardaí neamhspleách agus iad déileáil leis an gceist faoi chuartú ar theach shaoranach. Cén chéim a ghlacfaidh an Rialtas chun déanamh cinnte de go bhfuil gach uile phíosa reachtaíochta ag luí leis an mBunreacht agus le cearta saoránach a chosaint maidir le próiseas dlí. Ba chóir don Rialtas an deis seo a ghlacadh Acht um Chiontaí in Aghaidh an Stáit a chur ar leataobh.

The Taoiseach

Ní thuigim go díreach céard atá i gceist ag an Teachta. Cén alt den mBunreacht a bhfuil sé ag caint faoi?

Deputy Gerry Adams

Rialaigh an Chúirt Uachtarach go raibh Acht um Chiontaí in Aghaidh an Stáit ag teachta salach ar an mBunreacht.

The Taoiseach

Ní fhéadfainn cur isteach ar chinneadh na Cúirte Uachtaraigh. Léifidh mé an cinneadh atá curtha amach ag an Chúirt go cruinn agus tabharfaidh mé freagra don Teachta faoi céard atá le déanamh de bharr an chinneadh atá déanta ag an Chúirt Uachtarach. Níl sé léite agam go fóill.

Deputy Joe Higgins

Chomh fada is atá 440,000 duine dí-fhostaithe, ba cheart neamhní mór a thabhairt don Taoiseach féin maidir le marcáil.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy should note that we are on the Order of Business.

Deputy Joe Higgins

Maidir le reachtaíocht atá geallta, tá ceist agam faoi dhá Bhille, agus creid nó ná creid níl aon Ghaoluinn curtha orthu fós. Is iad an Treaty Establishing the European Stability Mechanism agus an European Communities Act 1972 (Amendment) Bill. An bhfuil siad siúd réidh? Cathain a bheidh siad ag teacht os comhair na Dála? Nach bhfuil sé fíor go gcaithfidh siad siúd a bheith tríd an Dáil sula bhféadfaidh an reifreann dul chun cinn, mar go bhfuil an comhshocrú fioscach bunaithe ar an rud seo?

The two items of promised legislation are the Treaty establishing the European Stability Mechanism and the European Communities Act 1972 (Amendment) Bill. An bhfuil siad réidh, cathain a bheidh siad ag teacht agus an gcaithfidh siad a bheith glactha ag an Dáil sular féidir dul ar aghaidh leis an gcomhshocrú fioscach? De réir mar a thuigimse, caithfidh.

The Taoiseach

Beidh an European Communities Act 1972 (Amendment) Bill ag teacht isteach i rith an tseisiúin seo. Tá sin leagtha amach ag an Rialtas. Maidir leis an Treaty Establishing the European Stability Mechanism, sílim go bhfuil Gaeilge curtha ar an gconradh. Níl sé agam anseo.

Deputy Joe Higgins

Níl.

The Taoiseach

Caithfear próiseas a chur i gcrích. Caithfear Bille reifrinn a chur ar fáil agus a fhoilsiú, coimisiún reifrinn a bhunú agus cathaoirleach air a ainmniú. Caithfear an Bille i leith fiscal responsibility a fhoilsiu i dtreo is go mbeimid in ann díriú isteach ar na nithe dlithiúil a mbéadh brú orainn iad a chur i gcrích chun go nglactar leis an gconradh go bunreachtúil ag muintir na hÉireann. Tá an Rialtas ag díriú isteach ar an bpróiseas sin faoi láthair. Ag an chéadh chruinniú eile den Rialtas, Dé Máirt seo chugainn, beidh sé níos soiléire céard go díreach atá i gceist leis in bpróiseas sin.

Deputy Joe Higgins

An gcaithfidh an Bille dul tríd an Dáil sula rachaidh an reifreann ar aghaidh? An bhfuil sé sin fíor?

The Taoiseach

Má ghlacann daoine leis an gconradh beidh a fhios acu go díreach céard iad na nithe a bhéas san mBille faoi fiscal reponsibility. Beidh a fhios ag gach duine má ghlacann siad leis an gconradh céard a bhéas sa dlí go díreach.

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

A Cheann Comhairle, níl mórán Gaeilge agam anois agus dá bhrí sin caithfidh mé dul ar aghaidh as Béarla, le do thoil.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

Tá a lán Béarla ag an Teachta.

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

Deputy Mattie McGrath should stick to septic tanks. When he has polluted all the wells in the country, he can then talk.

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy Durkan should proceed to ask a question.

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

I wish to refer to a serious issue relating to promised legislation. I have repeatedly raised this issue in the House in recent years. I refer to the ever-increasing incidence of violent crimes resulting in death. The previous Administration promised quite an amount of legislation in respect of this matter. The current Government also promised legislation on the issue but I accept that it has not had much time in which to put the latter into operation. Would it be possible to bring the criminal justice (miscellaneous provisions) Bill before the House for discussion at an early date?

I suggest that future Friday sittings of the House be devoted to debating urgently required legislation in respect of crime and organised criminality in particular.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

The Deputy did not support the legislation which was before the House on Friday last.

An Ceann Comhairle

Will Deputy Mattie McGrath please desist.

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

The scrap metal merchants should be moved to one side for the moment.

The Taoiseach

The criminal justice (miscellaneous provisions) Bill will be introduced later in the year. I am not in a position to provide an exact date for its introduction.

Deputy Pearse Doherty

Ar maidin, chualamar tuairisc ó na meáin go raibh daoine ina lui ina gcuid gluaisteán thar oíche i gCorcaigh mar go raibh siad ag iarraigh fáil isteach go dtí taispeántas ar fostaíocht thar sáile. Mar gheall ar an slad a rinne Rialtas roimhe seo ar an eacnamaíocht, tá daoine ag fágáil na tíre. Tá an fhadhb chomh mór agus a bhí sé ón am a tháinig an Taoiseach in Oifig.

Is í an cheist atá agam ar reachtaíocht, cad é an reachtaíocht atá an Rialtas ag tabhairt chun tosaigh chun aghaidh a thabhairt ar fhadhb na dífhostaíochta agus na himirce-----

An Ceann Comhairle

That is not promised. The Deputy should confine himself to questions on promised legislation.

Deputy Pearse Doherty

-----go háirithe ó thaobh an Bhille atá geallta ar an bhanc straitéiseach infheistíochta. Cén uair a bhéas an Bille sin curtha os comhair na Dála? An bhfeicfimid airgead suntasach curtha isteach san mbanc sin le hinfheistíocht a dhéanamh i mbliana, le cúrsaí fostaíochta a bhisiú sa tír?

Ó thaobh Bhille na Gaeltachta de-----

An Ceann Comhairle

Go raibh maith agat.

Deputy Pearse Doherty

Maidir le Bille na Gaeltachta, atá thíos ar an gclár oibre, inné tugadh le fios ag an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Donnchadh Mac Fhionnlaoich, nár bhuail an coiste Rialtais atá ag déileáil leis an nGaeltacht agus leis an nGaeilge ó bhí Mí na Bealtaine na bliana seo chaite.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy is completely out of order.

Deputy Pearse Doherty

Cén uair a bhéas an Bille sin curtha os comhair na Dála? Tá sé beartaithe ag an Rialtas, rud a chuirfeadh deireadh le daonlathas ó thaobh na Gaeltachta agus Údaras na Gaeltachta de, gan ligint do toghcháin Údaras na Gaeltachta dhul chun tosaigh mar a bhí geallta agus raibh Fine Gael ag iarraidh nuair a bhi siad sa bhFreasúra.

The Taoiseach

Tá freagra tugtha ar an gceist seo ag an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Mac Fhionnlaoich. Tá plean leagtha amach ag coiste na Gaeilge ón bhliain seo chaite agus tá an t-Aire Stáit ag cur an phlean sin i gcrích.

Deputy Pearse Doherty

Ní raibh cruinniú ann ón 19 Bealtaine na bliana seo chaite.

An Ceann Comhairle

Ciúnas, más é do thoil é.

The Taoiseach

Tá a fhios ag an Teachta go ndeachaigh cinn Bhille na Gaeltachta os comhair an Rialtais cupla seachtain ó shin. Tá an t-Aire ag obair ar sin. Beidh sé foilsithe nuair a bheidh sé réidh. Tá an t-Aire ag déanamh an obair air faoi láthair. Maidir le hinfheistíocht, tá níos mó airgid i Vóta an Aire Post, Fiontar agus Nuálaíochta ná mar a bhí ariamh cheana. Mar a dúirt mé leis an Teachta Ó Máirtín, tabharfar an Bille isteach anseo taobh istigh de chúig nó sé seachtain. Baineann an Bille le creidmheas agus solúbthacht do comhlachtaí beaga maidir le airgead agus creidmheas a fháil le haghaidh infheistíochta agus postanna a chur ar fáil. Beidh seans ag an Teachta labhairt ansin.

Deputy Pearse Doherty

Cén uair an mbeidh an reachtaíocht a bhaineann leis na bainc anseo?

Deputy Micheál Martin

Ní bheidh sé anseo go luath.

The Taoiseach

Ní feidir liom dáta deimhneach a thabhairt don Teachta don Bhille sin. Ach maidir le infheistíocht, táimid ag déanamh tréan iarracht go dtabharfar an dá Bhille isteach chomh luath agus is féidir ionas gur féidir creidmheas a chur ar fáil do comhlachtaí beaga. Gheobhaidh mé freagra don Teachta faoin Bille infheistíochta.

Deputy Robert Dowds

Beidh fadhb mhór i dtaobh bailiú bruscar i mBaile Átha Cliath theas ag deireadh na míosa. Maidir le tarscaoilte bruscar, an bhfuil aon reachtaíocht le teacht ón Rialtas i dtaobh sin?

The Taoiseach

Níl. Baineann seo leis an chomhairle contae nó leis an chomhairle áitiúil. Tá díospóireacht ag leanúint ar aghaidh ar sin. Tá na bin waivers seo leagtha amach ag na comhairlí áítiúla ar fud na tíre le fada agus is dócha go ndéanfaidh an comhlacht faoina bhfuil an Teachta ag caint an rud céanna.

Deputy Joe O’Reilly

Is iontach an rud é go bhfuil muid ag déanamh iarrachta inniu imeachtaí an lae a phlé trí mheán na Gaeilge. Is maith agus is fiú é sin a dhéanamh. Cathain a mbeidh an Bille foilsithe don reifreann airgeadais? An féidir leis an Taoiseach geallúint a thabhairt don Teach nach bhfuil aon rud sa chonradh airgeadais a chuirfidh isteach ar shaoirse na tíre seo chun scéimeanna nua do jabanna a chur ar bun agus go mbeidh seans againn jabanna a fhorbairt taobh istigh den conradh nua?

The Taoiseach

Ní chuirfidh an reifreann airgeadais isteach ar an bplean Rialtais ar chor ar bith. Tá a fhios ag an Teachta nach gcuirfidh an conradh isteach orainn mar tír ach go mbeidh muid i gclár le dhá bhliain. Ní bheidh cosc ar an Rialtas leanúint leis an cineál infheistíochta atá á dhéanamh aige agus ó thaobh jabanna a chur ar fáil. Ní bheidh laghdú ar bith maidir le sin de bharr an conartha seo. Níl a fhios agam go díreach cathain a foilseofar an Bille. Mar a dúirt mé, caithfear an Bille a chur ar fáil ar dtús, an coimisiún a bhunú agus an próiseas a leagan amach. Nuair a bheidh an Bille réidh agus glactha ag an Rialtas, tabharfaimid eolas don Teach láithreach.

Deputy Joe Higgins

Mí Bealtaine, b'fhéidir.

Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Bliain ó shin, nuair a cuireadh an clár Rialtais le chéile, thug an Rialtas geallúint go ndéileáilfeadh sé go práinneach trí reachtaíocht le cúrsaí a bhaineann le siopaí agus gnóthaí. B'shin an cheist faoi athbhreithnithe ardaitheacha amháin ar chíosanna, upward only rent reviews. In ainneoin go ndúirt an tArd-Aighne nach raibh reachtaíocht cuí sa chás seo, toisc go mbeadh sí ag teacht salach ar an mBunreacht, an bhfuil sé i gceist ag an Rialtas athrú bunreachtúil a dhéanamh i bhfoirm reifrinn. Os rud é go mbeidh pobal na tíre ag vótáil i reifreann eile, an féidir leis an Rialtas an deis sin a thapú chun a dhéanamh cinnte de go dtiocfaidh athrú ar seo ionas nach mbeidh aon reachtaíocht ag teacht salach ar an mBunreacht, go háirithe mar tá a lán siopaí agus lucht gnó i gcruachás faoi láthair.

The Taoiseach

Bhí sé ar intinn ag an Rialtas sin a chur i gcrích, ach de réir an t-eolas a fuair an Rialtas ón Ard-Aighne, ní féidir é sin a dhéanamh. Níl sé i gceist againn go mbeidh aon reifreann ann faoi sin.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

Cá bhfuil an reachtaíocht maidir le HIQA a gheall an Taoiseach anuraidh? Tá súil agam go gcuirfidh an Rialtas HIQA amach ar an mbóthar ag lorg suímh nua do ospidéal na bpáistí. Trasna na tíre, HIQA is frightening people and much damage could be done.

An Ceann Comhairle

We do not want to frighten the life out of people.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

Cad é sin?

An Ceann Comhairle

We do not want to frighten the life out of them.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

No. Tá súil agam go mbeidh an Bille seo ag teacht go luath.

The Taoiseach

Níl a fhios agam cén Bille atá i gceist ag an Teachta. Tá neart Billí le teacht ón Aire Sláinte. Cén Bille atá i gceist ag an Teachta?

Deputy Mattie McGrath

An Bille a bhaineann le HIQA.

Deputy Micheál Martin

HIQA.

The Taoiseach

Ní féidir liom dáta a thabhairt don Bhille sin.

An Ceann Comhairle

There is no promised legislation.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

There is no promised legislation.

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae

Could I ask-----

Deputy Mattie McGrath

Geallúintí briste.

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae

Considering the Government's failure to support the Scrap and Precious Metal Dealers Bill introduced by Deputy Mattie McGrath, has the Government any promised or proposed legislation to deal with this?

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy should put down a parliamentary question on that.

Deputy Micheál Martin

It has some precious metals.

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae

I want to hear if there is promised legislation.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy cannot have this on the Order of Business. It is only for promised legislation.

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae

I am asking if there is promised legislation. If the Government was so intent-----

An Ceann Comhairle

Is there promised legislation?

Deputy Paul Kehoe

No.

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae

-----on ruling Deputy McGrath's Bill out of order, does it have its own proposal?

Deputy Emmet Stagg

Mattie did not even appear for the vote.

An Ceann Comhairle

I call Deputy Dooley.

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae

So there are no proposals.

An Ceann Comhairle

There is no legislation promised at the moment. The Deputy can put down a parliamentary question.

Deputy Timmy Dooley

Tá mé in sa bhád céanna le Deputy Durkan agus b'fhéidir mar sin go leanfaidh mé ar aghaidh as Béarla. Last week the Minister for Transport published the Booz & Company report commissioned by the Government to consider the future ownership and management structures of the State airports. The publication has caused great concern among the people who work in the various airports, as well as the business and tourism industries surrounding those facilities. There has been nothing further from the Minister on how quickly he intends to proceed with the options outlined in the legislation. Will the Taoiseach give us some indication on when he proposes to bring appropriate enabling legislation before the House to give effect to one or other of the options outlined in the report?

The Taoiseach

The Deputy is aware of the Booz & Company report and what it recommends in respect of Dublin, Cork and Shannon. These are serious matters and the Minister is in a process of consultation. I suggest that if the Deputy speaks nicely to the Ceann Comhairle, he might allow a topical issue and the Minister could give a direct reply. I will have an answer sent to the Deputy when I get an opportunity to the speak to the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, who is considering the matter now.

Deputy Willie O’Dea

I wish to ask about two items of legislation. When can we expect the valuation (amendment) Bill? There is a commitment in the programme for Government to establish a strategic investment bank, which would require legislation. I notice there is nothing current or for further contemplation in the legislative programme about a strategic investment bank. Is it the Government's intention to go ahead with this and does the Government intend during its lifetime to establish a strategic investment bank? If it does, when will the relevant legislation be brought forward?

Dáil Éireann debate - Wednesday, 7 Mar 2012

Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 Mar 2012