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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 17 Jul 2012

Vol. 773 No. 1

Order of Business

It is proposed to take No. 13, Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill 2012 - Order for Report, Report and Final Stages; and No. 14, Personal Insolvency Bill 2012 - Second Stage (resumed).

It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil shall sit later than 9 p.m. and shall adjourn not later than 10 p.m., and Private Members' business, which shall be No. 28, Consumer Credit (Amendment) Bill 2012 – Second Stage, shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, 18 July, 2012.

There are two proposals to be put to the House. Is the proposal that the Dáil shall sit later than 9 p.m. agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with Private Members' business agreed to? Agreed.

The child and family support agency Bill is more necessary than ever given the extent of the cuts the Government has applied to one-parent family supports, disability payments, the provision of special needs assistants and so on. Families are facing an increasing number of challenges as a result of these reductions. Will the Bill provide for a sufficiency of places for the hundreds of intellectually disabled children who left school in June?

Earlier today I met a delegation from Community Hospital of the Assumption in Thurles. The Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, has reneged on a firm commitment he gave to reopen 22 beds at that facility.

That is not a matter for the Order of Business. It would be better suited to a parliamentary question.

People are extremely concerned at the undermining of the hospital. It is symptomatic of the lack of governance in the health service.

A lack of governance we inherited from the Deputy and his colleagues in government.

No, you did not. This is a new, start-of-the-art hospital which we built and opened.

It is difficult to listen to the Deputy talking about governance in the health service.

Can we have the conversation through the Chair, please?

The Minister cynically promised these people the sun, moon and stars, just as he made promises to every community up and down the country.

The Deputy should not succumb to the interruptions.

We will deliver on our promises.

Will the HSE governance Bill be published during the summer recess? What is the intention? Does the Government have interim plans in terms of the legal structures governing the provision of health services at this time? There is a lack of clarity as to who is in charge, whether the Secretary General, the Minister, the chief executive officer of the Health Service Executive, the officials-----

That sounds like a query suited to Leaders' Questions.

Given the volume of issues we have to raise, putting in place a legislative framework would give much needed clarity to a situation that is of the Minister's own creation. He abolished the HSE board without putting anything in its place.

I notice that the Deputy said in reference to the hospital he mentioned that "we" built it. That is what has been wrong in this place for so long, this notion that "we" build things.

(Interruptions).

The taxpayers pay their money and governments put a process in place to oversee the expenditure of those moneys. That does not allow us to claim ownership of the people's facilities.

Government members are always saying "We will do this" and "We have done that".

Do not get excited, Deputy Healy-Rae.

Deputy Healy-Rae's father was good at that. He built a lot of things.

Using their own construction equipment.

Let us get back to business.

The heads of the child and family support agency Bill were cleared by the Cabinet this morning and the Minister given approval to proceed. That legislation will be ready in the autumn. The HSE governance Bill was approved by Cabinet today for publication.

There might be some Government amendments on Committee Stage, but the Bill is expected to be published tomorrow.

I have two questions for the Taoiseach, both of which relate to legislation on health matters. This is no coincidence given that the health service is in such a mess. I very much welcome the news that the HSE governance Bill is about to be published. Every Member could tell a story of constituents coming into their offices in extreme distress. I, too, met the group from north Tipperary to which Deputy Micheál Martin referred. The people concerned are beside themselves over the closure of those 22 beds. It has had dreadful consequences, particularly for elderly citizens and for carers in that area.

I ask the Deputy to confine himself to questions on promised legislation.

The Minister for Health promised that the beds would be reopened. I note that the Minister has written to pharmacists and GPs in regard to the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill, presumably because that Bill has not completed all Stages in the Dáil and Seanad. When does the Taoiseach expect that it will complete its passage through the Houses and is that the reason the Minister wrote to doctors and pharmacists?

I am not up to date with the community nursing home in Thurles to which the Deputy referred. The Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill was published last Friday and is on its way into the Seanad.

I am sure the Taoiseach is aware that private management companies are using clamping as a means to force people to pay management fees. A report has been sent to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Leo Varadkar, from the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications containing a series of recommendations to bring public and private regulations under one umbrella. Will the Taoiseach indicate when the vehicle immobilisation regulation Bill will be published and whether any of the committee's recommendations have been taken into account in setting out its provisions? One of those recommendations relates to the absurd situation of clamping in hospital carparks. It is going on constantly at Blanchardstown hospital.

Drafting of that Bill has commenced, but I do not have a date for its publication. The Minister will keep in touch with the Deputy as matters proceed.

Noise nuisance and pollution is a major issue for people throughout the country. A noise nuisance Bill has been promised.

Something like that is required in this Chamber at times.

What progress has been made on that legislation and when will it be brought before the House?

And will its provisions extend to the Chamber?

That legislation is still rumbling in the distance. I can see it but I cannot hear it. I will get back to the Deputy with a more accurate fix on it.

Last week I asked the Taoiseach, and the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, last Thursday week, about legislation to implement the ruling in the X case and the working group established to discuss the matter. I have not received any information from the Taoiseach's Department despite his undertaking to update me on progress in this regard. The group's report was supposed to have been published by now.

The specialist group established by the Government to consider this matter requested and was granted an extension of time. When it completes its deliberations in due course, that report will go to the Minister.

How much additional time was given to the group to complete the report?

The request was for an extension until the end of September.

What is the status of the public health (alcohol) Bill, which will introduce measures relating to minimum pricing of alcohol? I have heard from the chairperson of the Labour Party that it was neither discussed nor signed off at today's Cabinet meeting. Yesterday a Garda forum on the north side of Dublin issued a request that the legislation be passed by Hallowe'en. Will the Taoiseach indicate whether that will be done?

Several sections of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008 were never implemented or are not being enforced, specifically those relating to the quantities and pricing of alcohol for sale. Large multiples, in particular, are selling large quantities of alcohol at low prices. Will the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter, undertake to implement those sections of the 2008 Act that are not yet implemented by signing the relevant regulations and, where provisions are already implemented, will he ensure their enforcement?

I assume the Deputy is referring to provisions regarding the separation of alcohol for sale in outlets. The Minister has his documentation ready in that regard. That 2,000 hospital beds throughout the State are taken up every night by people fuelled with drink is an appalling statistic. The Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Róisín Shortall, has been working on a range of propositions in regard to the sale of alcohol. We had a good discussion about this issue at the Cabinet sub-committee on social affairs some time ago. The agreement at the conclusion of the meeting was that the Minister would reflect upon the issues that were raised and the good range of comments that were made and would bring her findings back to the next meeting of the Cabinet sub-committee, which would be entirely devoted to the question of alcohol. This matter is of the most serious import given what happened, along with drug abuse, in the Phoenix Park recently with horrendous consequences. I saw some sort of an altercation on Talbot Street in one of the videos one sees on the newspaper websites in which somebody kicked somebody else in the head. It was absolutely appalling. This issue is of major significance and must be dealt with correctly.

Will the Bill be taken before Hallowe'en?

I saw many reports that this issue would be on the Cabinet agenda for today. It was never to be on the agenda for today. It will come back to the Cabinet sub-committee on social policy's next meeting, which will be devoted fully to this matter. We will include in that the recommendations of the Minister, Deputy Shatter, in regard to the sections of the 2008 Act. We will, in the most comprehensive way we can, bring it to the House and have a proper discussion about it.

All training bodies or providers should be bonded and regulated to avoid another fiasco such as occurred recently with trainee pilots. Does the Government have proposals or will it produce legislation-----

This sounds like a matter to be raised as a topical issue or in a parliamentary question.

I believe the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, is meeting with representatives of the trainee pilots on Friday.

I wish to briefly raise a second matter.

Please ensure it is in order this time.

I believe it is in order. On critical infrastructure legislation, last week I raised with the Taoiseach and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the critical situation facing farmers. Has the Government produced any sensible, practical proposals in the past week to help farmers with the crisis they face this winter?

Is legislation promised?

The Minister has commented on this matter publicly and, as the Deputy will be aware, sections of the single payment have been brought forward. Clearly, the bad weather has exacerbated the position. I note today's reports that farmers could lose up to €250 per head through the drop in the value of cattle caused by this problem. The situation has been exacerbated by the flooding of 100,000 acres on the wetlands of the River Shannon.

The problem is that there has never been any management structure in place to look at that issue to see what could be done. It is not a case of going back to drain the river. Much more sophisticated early warning systems are needed, and a system that operates to the best advantage of everybody. For years, farmers have had to put up with winter flooding but nothing of the scale of the current summer flooding which has devastated the incomes of many.

We will have to put a roof over the country.

In recent days, we have had unedifying episodes of Cabinet Ministers undermining the national substance misuse strategy and, in particular, undermining the Minister of State with responsibility for its implementation, Deputy Shortall, who has been brave in taking on the issue of alcohol abuse. When will legislation be introduced to implement minimum pricing for alcohol, which is a key part of the national substance misuse strategy? In view of the finding of a recent report commissioned by the National Suicide Research Foundation that up to 80% of suicides of young males were related to alcohol or substance abuse, this is clearly an issue of major importance.

I understand the matter the Deputy raises will be addressed in the Topical Issue debate.

Yes, but I am seeking clarity on the legislation. The Minister of State, Deputy Shortall, clearly will not be able to give a commitment because she is being undermined by the Cabinet as she seeks to implement her proposals.

Nobody is undermining anybody. There is a clear process in place for dealing with this matter, which is far too serious to be rushed in any way. As I indicated to Deputy Broughan, it is a case of the Cabinet sub-committee on social policy having a full hearing on the issue, taking into account the recommendations from two Ministers, the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, and Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Shortall.

Has the Cabinet sub-committee met?

Yes, it has met.

It obviously did not have a full hearing.

Based on the comments and proposals put forward at the meeting, the Minister of State, Deputy Shortall, was mandated to come back to the sub-committee with a focus arising from those comments. The next meeting of the sub-committee will be devoted exclusively to this matter.

The Irish Daily Mail got an exclusive on the issue today.

Unfortunately, it is true in my experience that drink and drugs are involved in the vast majority of cases resulting in self-harm or suicide. Tragically, such cases are occurring in every parish and townland in the country. I know of a particular location where six cases arose in just a fortnight, which is a terrible burden for people to bear.

The issue of minimum pricing and other areas surrounding alcohol are matters for serious discussion at the Cabinet sub-committee. When it concludes its discussions the Government will make its collective decision and we can all debate it in the House. I listened to the points made about the urgency of this issue but it is also important to get it right. Somebody brought to my attention last week that on the morning after a recent celebration following examinations young people were wheeled out of ambulances on trolleys with their mothers walking alongside them as they went to have their stomachs pumped out. While we have issues of parental responsibility, these things should not happen in 2012.

Will the proposed Bill to amend the Valuation Act give due cognisance to the need to take a flexible approach to differences between small businesses and much larger industries? When local authorities change the rates for a pub or shop it makes a small difference, whereas in the case of a large multinational a change to the local authority rates could lead to a significant loss of income. At what stage is the legislation?

The Bill is due for publication on 24 July. The points raised by Deputy Heydon have been raised by many others and will be relevant to the Bill.

I will raise an issue related to the reorganisation of the Health Service Executive. I am delighted the Taoiseach has indicated the HSE governance Bill will be introduced tomorrow. The word "non-governance" would be more appropriate in the Title. I am glad the Minister for Health is present as I have two questions on health issues. When the Health Information and Quality Authority visits a facility, as it did when it visited Carrick-on-Suir in my constituency of Tipperary South-----

The Deputy should table a parliamentary question on the matter.

I have done so but I cannot get an answer.

He will not get an answer on the Order of Business.

Are all nursing homes treated equally?

On the issue raised by Deputy Martin, the Minister for Health gave a commitment last November, in the company of Deputy Noel Coonan, to reopen 22 beds in the Hospital of the Assumption in Thurles in January of this year.

That matter has been dealt with.

The commitment was not given before the election.

The issue is not appropriate to the Order of Business.

It was given in November last when the Minister had been in government for a year and had access to the books and his own budget. In response to his announcement that 22 beds would be reopened, Deputy Coonan issued a press release indicating the commitment was solid and would be met.

I ask the Deputy to resume his seat.

Deputy Coonan will sort him out.

When will it be met?

The matter is not relevant to the Order of Business.

I attended the public meetings whereas Deputy McGrath did not show up for them. He has no support.

We cannot have untruths such as this peddled by a Minister and a Deputy. People in County Tipperary are entitled to honesty.

The Order of Business is concluded. The Deputy must resume his seat.

No. They are entitled to honesty. Deputy Coonan welcomed the commitment to reopen the beds. A deputation from County Tipperary has just left.

I ask Deputy McGrath to resume his seat, please.

Deputy Coonan will sort the Deputy out.

That is an awful threat. I am asking about beds in a hospital.

The Deputy may not do so on the Order of Business.

The Deputy did not show up at any of the meetings.

Deputy Coonan has been promising the beds will be reopened.

The Deputy should contact the Minister.

Is the Deputy getting anything in the reshuffle?

Tá mé ag teacht.

Ceapaim go bhfuil tú ag dúl.

Ní bheidh aon fháilte roimh an Aire i gCarraig na Siúire arís.

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