Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 21 Jun 2012

Vol. 769 No. 3

Order of Business

The Tánaiste

It is proposed to take No. 1, Statute Law Revision Bill 2012 [Seanad] - Second and Subsequent Stages; and No. 19, statements on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation issues, to be taken on the conclusion of No. 1 or at 1.30 p.m. today, whichever is the later.

It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that Second and Subsequent Stages of No. 1 shall be taken today, with the proceedings on Second Stage, if not previously concluded, to be brought to a conclusion at 1.15 p.m. today, the opening speeches of a Minister or Minister of State and of 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, not to exceed 15 minutes in each case, the speech of each other Member called upon not to exceed ten minutes, and such Members may share their time, a Minister or Minister of State to be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed five minutes, and the proceedings on the Committee and Remaining Stages, if not previously concluded, to be brought to a conclusion at 1.30 p.m. today by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform; and the proceedings on No. 19, if not previously concluded, to be brought to a conclusion at 3.42 p.m. today, with the opening statements of a Minister or Minister of State and of 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, not to exceed 15 minutes in each case, the statement of each other Member called upon not to exceed ten minutes in each case, and such Members may share their time, and a Minister or Minister of State to be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed five minutes.

An Ceann Comhairle

There are two proposals to be put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 1, Second and Subsequent Stages of the Statute Law Revision Bill 2012 [Seanad] agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 19, statements on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation issues agreed to? Agreed.

Deputy Dara Calleary

It is 21 years since I sat a leaving certificate geography exam. That was the last occasion on which I saw maps being so closely perused in the manner I observed in the Chamber this morning.

Deputy Ciara Conway

What result did the Deputy get?

Deputy Dara Calleary

Could the Tánaiste confirm the Government intends to accept the recommendations of the Constituency Commission report and are they any legislative issues that arise from it?

Deputy Emmet Stagg

Mayo is only a four-seater.

The Tánaiste

There is much studying of maps today. First, the report has just been issued so the Government has not had an opportunity to examine it yet.

Deputy Timmy Dooley

Steady now, Tánaiste.

Deputy Dara Calleary

I know there is a comedy festival on this weekend.

The Tánaiste

It has normally been the practice that the report of the independent commission is accepted by Government and legislation is prepared and brought into the House to give effect to it. I expect that is what will happen on this occasion.

Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh

My question is on the same issue. In the coming days and over the weekend, everyone outside of the House and in it will be perusing the report of the Constituency Commission. Could the Tánaiste give an indication that there will be discussion in the House next week or whether we must wait for the legislative change to come to the House before we can discuss what is contained within the report on boundary changes?

Will the Government bring forward legislation to abolish ground rents, as both parties in government have demanded in the past? Many households on whom the household charge is imposed are also expected to pay an annual ground rent, in some cases to landlords in England.

An Ceann Comhairle

Where is the question leading?

Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh

I am just asking whether it is intended to introduce legislation to abolish ground rents to landlords abroad.

An Ceann Comhairle

Is legislation promised?

The Tánaiste

Two issues have been raised by the Deputy. First, on the House debating the report of the Constituency Commission, that will be done by way of a debate when the Bill is brought before the House to give effect to it. It is not intended to have a debate in advance of the Bill. A ground rents Bill is not on the legislative programme.

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

On promised legislation, the health insurance (risk equalisation) Bill has been promised for some time. It must be enacted before 1 January 2013. Is it expected to have it published and debated in the House in this session or have the heads of the Bill been discussed in Cabinet? Similarly, the criminal law (sexual offences) Bill is regarded as being an important Bill for the protection of children and vulnerable adults. Likewise, I wish to inquire about the explosives Bill. Given the ready use of explosives with tragic consequences on an ongoing basis throughout the country, is it possible, first, to bring the Bill before the House as a matter of urgency and, second, to incorporate within it some means of controlling access to explosives.

An Ceann Comhairle

We can only deal with when the legislation will be taken.

The Tánaiste

The heads of the health insurance (risk equalisation) Bill were approved by Government this week and it is intended that it would be published at the end of this year. The sexual offences Bill is being prepared in the Department of Justice and Equality. The explosives Bill is intended for later this year.

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

I thank the Tánaiste.

Deputy Brian Stanley

I wish to ask about turf cutting legislation. Last night, Mr. Michael Darcy at Clonmoylan bog had his digger seized-----

An Ceann Comhairle

Hold on one second.

Deputy Brian Stanley

It was burned this morning.

An Ceann Comhairle

Will the Deputy resume his seat, please?

Deputy Brian Stanley

Mr. Darcy is in hospital.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy has been cut off and is not being recorded. Will he resume his seat, please?

Deputy Brian Stanley

A plan was put forward by the turf cutters and contractors. Will the Tánaiste ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to work with the contractors to implement their plan and to call off the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS?

An Ceann Comhairle

This is not in order. I have already granted a Topical Issue debate on the matter for today and I ask the Tánaiste to bear that in mind. It is not a matter for the Order of Business.

Deputy Thomas P. Broughan

When is it intended to introduce the health governance Bill and will the special delivery unit be put on a statutory basis? I ask this in the context of the grotesque overcrowding at Beaumont Hospital's accident and emergency unit last Monday night. The Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Shortall, is sitting beside the Tánaiste. There were trolleys three deep. It was horrendous. When we were all over on this side of the House, many a morning on the Order of Business the Tánaiste lambasted the former Government for allowing emergency rooms to be in the condition-----

An Ceann Comhairle

Thank you, Deputy.

Deputy Thomas P. Broughan

-----that has been evident at Beaumont Hospital this week. What action can the Government take urgently? There are packages and salaries for people in the special delivery unit.

An Ceann Comhairle

That is out of order and I ask the Deputy to resume his seat.

Deputy Thomas P. Broughan

I am asking about a Bill on the special delivery unit with a view to ending the disgraceful conditions in the accident and emergency unit at Beaumont Hospital.

An Ceann Comhairle

What Bill are we discussing?

The Tánaiste

The Deputy is asking about the HSE governance Bill, which is being progressed urgently and is expected to be published before the end of this session.

Deputy James Bannon

When will the protected disclosures Bill, which is scheduled for 2012 and is urgently required to address the victimisation of employees, etc., be published?

The Tánaiste

That Bill is expected to be published before the end of the year. I understand that its heads have been referred to the committee for consideration.

Deputy Arthur Spring

Under the programme for Government, the Government will establish the qualifications and quality assurance Ireland body. To do so, the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011 must be passed. Will that occur during this term?

The Tánaiste

That Bill was published on 25 July 2011 and is on Committee Stage. The committee will meet to discuss the Bill next Tuesday.

Deputy Dessie Ellis

As the Tánaiste mentioned, there are plans to transfer the administration of rental subsidy payments from the Department of Social Protection's welfare officers to local authorities.

An Ceann Comhairle

We must deal with promised legislation.

Deputy Dessie Ellis

I will reach that point.

An Ceann Comhairle

There is no need for a preamble.

Deputy Dessie Ellis

It is only a short preamble.

An Ceann Comhairle

Not even a short one.

Deputy Dessie Ellis

This area has been a minefield, given the cuts to the rental subsidy in successive budgets-----

An Ceann Comhairle

What legislation is the Deputy inquiring about?

Deputy Dessie Ellis

-----that have caused significant problems for residents and their families. When will legislation be introduced and debated?

An Ceann Comhairle

What legislation in particular?

Deputy Dessie Ellis

It is legislation on the transfer of the subsidy's administration.

The Tánaiste

The Government is attempting to get a joined-up approach to the provision of social housing, which has been located in too many different places, for example, the Housing Agency and the Department of Social Protection's community welfare officers, who operate the rent allowance system. We intend to bring everything together. The heads of the housing Bill to give effect to our intention are expected later this year.