It is proposed to take No. 14, European Communities (Amendment) Bill 2012 - Order for Report, Report and Final Stages; No. 15 - Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011 [Seanad] - Second Stage (resumed); and No. 16 - Construction Contracts Bill 2010 [Seanad] - Second Stage (resumed). Private Members' business will be No. 5, Local Government (Household Charge) (Repeal) Bill 2012 – Second Stage. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the proceedings on No. 5 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, 20 June 2012.
Order of Business
There is one proposal to put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with Private Members' business agreed to? Agreed.
What is the status of the health governance Bill? Many hospitals are in a very serious situation in terms of their capacity to pay bills and we are seeing overruns in budgets throughout the State. I understand management at Beaumont hospital, among others, has indicated that it may not be in a position to pay staff in the autumn because of the crisis that is emerging in its finances. Since the abolition of the board of the Health Service Executive there has been a vacuum in health governance. The relevant Bill must, therefore, be brought before the House as a matter of urgency. Will the Taoiseach give a commitment that it will be dealt with before the summer recess?
The Taoiseach seemed to indicate earlier in an admonition to Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett that 18 July is a moveable feast and may not be the definitive date for the House's rising for the summer. The Government Whip proposed the schedule of sittings through to July to all the other Whips. Is the Taoiseach now proposing to change it?
Careful now.
The heads of that Bill were approved in May and it is expected to be published before the end of this session. On the Deputy's second point, Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett indicated earlier that he and his people intend to organise a national march in protest at household charges on 18 July, that being the date on which the session would end. I advised him that he should be very careful about his authority to determine the date on which the Dáil will rise. We have a great deal of business to do before then, including the personal insolvency Bill and other serious items of legislation. That is why the Dáil is sitting late, not, as heretofore, two days before it rises, but right through from now until the rising date. We will confirm the date to Members in good time, but there are several items of legislation of serious import which we must get through.
Will the Taoiseach confirm that it is the Government that will decide the timetable, not Deputy Boyd Barrett or anybody else?
Yes.
The point is that Deputy Boyd Barrett is not, in fact, determining anything in this regard.
Deputy Boyd Barrett has no influence or impact whatsoever on Government business in this House.
Thankfully.
I am sure Deputy Boyd Barrett will be very upset to hear that. When does the Taoiseach expect to receive the report of the group chaired by Dr. Don Thornhill in regard to the proposed property tax? I note that this matter is causing some disquiet with the Taoiseach's coalition partners. Will he clarify when the report will be completed, whether it will be debated in the Dáil and when he expects to bring forward legislation on the matter?
It is not causing any disquiet at all. As the Deputy observed, the Government set up a working committee under the chairmanship of Dr. Don Thornhill. I can confirm that Dr. Thornhill and his committee have completed their work and a copy of the report was furnished to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.
Has he taken it with him to Rio?
The Minister must now reflect on it and bring forward his recommendations to the Cabinet. I cannot confirm when that will happen. Nor can I confirm when the Government will make a decision on it or speculate on what that might be. As the Deputy is aware, the memorandum of understanding with the troika requires that a property value tax be introduced in 2013.
The provisions of the forthcoming consumer and competition Bill must make abundantly clear that consumers will be treated in the same way and are entitled to the same level of service irrespective of their location.
Is the Deputy telling us what is in the Bill?
I raise this in the context of mobile phone coverage in this country.
That is a different issue.
We do not want the situation which has come to light in recent days where mobile telephone operators cherry-pick the service-----
You already put in a request for a topical issue.
-----and cut out rural Ireland.
Let us hope the Deputy gets his money back.
Is there promised legislation?
It relates to the consumer and competition Bill.
I know this has to do with mobile telephony. When himself was here, he went down in history as making one the greatest statements about the mobile phone outside Beaufort church. He said, "How did you know I was here" when the phone rang. In any event, the Bill will be introduced later this year. If Deputy Healy-Rae could arrange it that mobile telephones would work in the Black Valley, it would be very helpful to those of us who travel through it occasionally.
When will the review of community employment schemes, which is underway, be published? We need to know because it is unfair to communities throughout the country, sponsor groups, participants and the public who are availing of the services.
A draft of this report has been received and the Deputy can take it that it will be finalised very shortly.
I refer to the legislation to establish a micro-finance lending fund, which is laudable and much sought after. Have the heads of the Bill been discussed in Cabinet?
We cannot discuss what is debated in Cabinet.
It would be helpful if we knew the heads had been discussed in Cabinet.
Cabinet confidentiality.
It would be also helpful to know if this legislation will be published before the summer recess.
I refer to the promised trusts Bill to reform and consolidate the general law relating to trustees to deal better with and protect trust assets and to the probation service Bill to give effect to an EU directive of 2008.
I will work in reverse. I have no date for the probation service Bill. The trust Bill will be introduced next year. The text of the micro-finance agency legislation was approved this morning and it will be published before the House rises for the summer recess.
Bingo.
I knew I would hit the target eventually.
Last week the Taoiseach indicated to the House that he would endeavour to establish when the Government proposes to bring forward guidelines in regard to the inspection of septic tanks and, in particular, the legislation underpinning that. Has he had any success in his endeavours in that regard?
I spoke to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government-----
Before he went away.
-----about this after it was raised by Deputy Ó Cuív. He expects the details of the guidelines to be published in the next two weeks.
We have been hearing that since Christmas.
The programme for Government promised to bring accountability and transparency to NAMA, which is effectively a secret organisation. The Taoiseach and the Tánaiste confirmed that legislation will be brought forward. Does the Taoiseach have any idea when that will happen? Have the heads of the Bill been agreed? What is the position in regard to the freedom of information Bill?
The freedom of information Bill will be introduced this year. Recommendations are being prepared by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
Will it include NAMA?
The Deputy will be aware that the Minister for Finance has made changes to the board and the structure of NAMA and to the way it conducts its business. It is far more open than previously to Oireachtas representatives making legitimate queries about its policy.
Will the Coroners Bill which has been promised for some time - maybe for some years - be published in the near future?
The Coroners Bill is on Committee Stage in the Seanad and will be brought before this House shortly.