It is proposed to take No. 5, Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012 - Second Stage (resumed); and No. 6, Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 - Order for Second Stage and Second Stage. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the resumed Second Stage of No. 5 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 3.42 p.m.
Order of Business
There is one proposal to be put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 5 agreed to? Agreed.
In the context of the forthcoming Finance Bill, will the Tánaiste indicate if it is the Government's intention to provide for a realistic ceiling in respect of bankers' salaries, including those of CEOs? That is my first question.
We cannot deal with questions on the Order of Business. We can, however, deal with promised legislation.
My question relates to proposed legislation.
Yes, but we cannot deal with the content of such legislation.
I wish to ask a second question in respect of proposed legislation. Many Members will be familiar with the delays which currently obtain in respect of the Garda compensation scheme. A new scheme has been drafted to deal with the issues which give rise to the delay in the processing of many claims by members of An Garda Síochána. However, we are awaiting the publication of legislation to facilitate the implementation of that scheme. Will the Tánaiste indicate when it is proposed to publish and introduce the legislation to which I refer?
Deputy Niall Collins will be fully aware of the fact that I am not going to discuss the contents of the forthcoming Finance Bill in advance of the budget. On foot of previous replies the Taoiseach and I have given in respect of bankers' pay, the Deputy is also aware that the Minister for Finance is considering all of the options available.
The Bill relating to the Garda Síochána about which the Deputy inquired is due to be published early next year.
I am sure that like many people the Tánaiste is watching the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East with great concern and is aware of the ongoing suffering of people in the region, particularly those who live in Gaza and Palestine. Is it planned to take statements on this matter in the House?
The HSE is facing a €400 million deficit this year. In that context, does the Government plan to bring forward a supplementary budget on health?
I have no difficulty in making time available for statements on the deteriorating situation in the Middle East, particularly Gaza, if the House so desires. Arrangements in that regard can be made among the Whips and we will try to facilitate the debate.
All issues relating to health are matters for the forthcoming budget and the Estimates process. It is less than three weeks to budget day and those issues will be dealt with in that context.
Nos. 5 to 8, inclusive, of the documents laid before the Dáil which are listed on today's Order Paper relate to the annual reports of CIE, Bus Éireann, Bus Átha Cliath and Iarnród Éireann. Would it be possible to have a debate on those reports in the House in the coming weeks? The Government and its predecessor have consistently slashed the public subvention to the companies concerned. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport seems to spend a great deal of time discussing everything but transport. Would it be possible to engage in a full-scale debate on the future of the public transport companies?
Will the forthcoming Central Bank (consolidation) Bill make provision in respect of the new EU banking supervision rules or is it intended to introduce separate legislation in respect of banking supervision?
The Government has shown a willingness to engage in debates on issues Members raise. The normal way in which such debates are arranged is through the Whips. Deputy Broughan might ask his party's Whip to request-----
I am my own Whip at present.
There are three Whips on the opposite side of the House. Perhaps the Deputy could use one of them.
A Deputy
It is a three-line whip.
Deputy Broughan may have difficulty remembering who are the Whips on this side.
Deputy Broughan is self-whipping at present.
There is a consequence to everything. Debates in the House are arranged through the Whips and I do not propose to break that precedent. However, the Government is very open to a debate on public transport issues.
On banking supervision, the establishment of the single supervisory mechanism is being progressed at European Union level. As a result of what was agreed at the October Council meeting, it is intended that the legislative framework will be put in place by December. Whatever legislative measures here will then be introduced in the House but that will probably not happen until next year.
There is powerful prima facie evidence that the ethos of one church in this State was applied in order to deny Savita Halappanavar a life-saving medical termination in respect of an unviable pregnancy. Will the Tánaiste see to it that the Minister for Health immediately puts forward an emergency statutory instrument to instruct all hospitals that no woman's life should be put in jeopardy as a result of the ethos of one church applying in any hospital? The Tánaiste promised that a debate will take place in the Dáil in respect of this terrible tragedy but did not provide a timescale in that regard. In order to show the depth of their feelings on this matter and at less than 24 hours' notice, some 2,000 people gathered outside Leinster House last night.
We discussed this matter in detail earlier.
A vibrant debate is under way so why does the Government not publish the expert group's report today? The latter could hopefully help to inform and focus the debate to which I refer.
I thank the Deputy. We cannot have speeches on the Order of Business.
What is the point in holding on to the report? Will the Tánaiste ensure that the report is published today?
We have already dealt with this issue. I am not sure whether the Deputy was present in the Chamber for that.
I have already set out the steps which will be take on this matter. A report has just been received and it will be considered by the Government. I expect that it will be discussed in the House.
When?
The Whips will arrange that. The Deputy can consult his Whip.
There is a requirement to make a response to the Council of Europe by the end of the month. An investigation into the tragic death of Savita is under way. Members should not jump to conclusions about either what happened or what was the motivation of those involved until the investigation is concluded.
I asked a specific question-----
Deputy Higgins should resume his seat.
Under Standing Orders-----
The Deputy should please resume his seat.
-----I am entitled to ask about the timescale relating to a debate.
No, the Deputy is not entitled to do anything. I gave him a certain amount of leeway as a result of the seriousness of the situation and the fact that he no longer contributes to Leaders' Questions. The matter has been dealt with and that is it.
Deputy Higgins is not a leader anymore.
I am sure the financial difficulties being experienced by pubs throughout the country will be foremost in the minds of the Tánaiste and his colleagues as they frame the budget. On promised legislation, when will minimum pricing orders in respect of alcohol be introduced by the new Minister of State at the Department of Health?
The Minister of State, Deputy White, is working with the Minister for Justice and Equality on an action plan in respect of alcohol abuse. That action plan is due to be brought before the Government shortly. Whatever decisions are made will obviously be notified to the House.
We are only dealing here with promised legislation.
I wish to press the Tánaiste in respect of legislation that has been promised for the 20 years since the judgment was handed down in the X case. He indicated that the response of the Government is conditional on the report to which he referred.
The Deputy cannot make a speech.
I am not making a speech, I am posing a very straightforward question.
We already dealt with this issue.
In view of the tragic circumstances relating to this case, is the Tánaiste in a position to indicate when the Government proposes to publish the report? Why can the report not be published today-----
The Tánaiste has just given a reply to that question.
-----in order that the public and Members on all sides of the House would be in a position to consider it-----
I thank the Deputy very much.
-----before the Government has time to put its own spin on it? The Government should open up the books and everybody should have a chance to look at them.
The question has been answered. Will the Deputy please sit down?
I asked a question.
The matter has already been dealt with.
We have just asked for the Tánaiste to provide a timescale.
Deputy Boyd Barrett should chillax.
Did they not teach Deputy Boyd Barrett how to listen when he was at St. Michael's?
When will the report be published?
The Deputy appears to want to make a political issue out of every matter he raises. However, there are some matters in respect of which he should not do so.
Deputies
Hear, hear.
Will the Tánaiste arrange for the Whips to meet today to agree on when the report can be discussed in the House? This is not the prerogative of the Government because it is an issue of public interest which must be debated in public as soon as possible.
I do not know how many times I have to say it, but this issue has been dealt with. However, if the Tánaiste wishes to add anything at this stage, I ask him to please do so.
He will not tell us what we want to know.
The expert group was established by the Government to report to it on the options it could take in addressing the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights. It is not unreasonable that the Minister for Health who has received the report and the Government should have an opportunity to read and consider it and take the issue forward. I have indicated as clearly as I can that we are open to having the report discussed in the House and having a wider public debate. No one is delaying or trying to hide anything. However, I ask Deputies to be reasonable. The report has only been received in the past couple of days. The Minister needs an opportunity to consider it and the Government an opportunity to discuss it. This is an issue to which we need to give some consideration. That will be our approach.
In the High Court in recent days a judge whom I will not name stood aside from a case. The proceedings have been ongoing for 16 years. Cartels are operating in the concrete industry. CRH has a cartel-----
Please, Deputy.
I am referring to the courts (consolidation and reform) Bill.
On the courts (consolidation and reform) Bill only, please.
When will we have a judicial council to oversee the appointment of judges and indicate when judges will have to declare their interests?
That issue can be discussed when the Bill is brought before the House.
Many cases have been heard by the judge in question.
Will the Deputy, please, resume his seat?
Is the Deputy volunteering?
The Law Reform Commission's report contains a draft Bill which will form the basis of the Bill the Government will bring forward. It is not possible at this stage to indicate when it will be published.
I have two items to raise on the Order of Business. The ICSA and the IFA are making pre-budget presentations to the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Will the Tánaiste give an assurance that the farming community will not be hurt any further in the finance Bill?
How many times do I have to say it? I hear myself every morning. The Deputy knows he is out of order on the Order of Business.
On another matter-----
The Deputy is making a joke out of it. I do not want to have to keep saying this to him every single morning.
It is on a separate matter. The Tánaiste will be aware that gambling on the Internet has gone out of control in recent years. There is a massive loss of revenue to the Exchequer as a result of on-line gambling. I ask for an update on the gambling control Bill.
That Bill is due next year.
I refer to the Education and Training Boards Bill. Can we expect to see the Final Stages being taken in the House before Christmas? Also, where stands the legislation to establish SOLAS?
The Education and Training Boards Bill is on Committee Stage. The SOLAS Bill will be published early next year.
On adoption legislation, have the heads of the adoption, tracing and information Bill been approved by the Government? When is the Bill likely to be brought before the House? Similarly, have the heads of the legal aid Bill been approved? Is it intended to bring the Bill before the House in the near future?
The heads of the adoption, tracing and information Bill were approved in July and the Bill is expected to be published next year. The legal aid Bill will be published late next year.
As I voted in favour of the financial stability Bill, I am pleased to see the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in the Chamber. Will the Tánaiste give a commitment that funding will be provided in the finance Bill for these major infrastructural projects? I have been informed that the National Roads Authority wants to sign the contracts for the N17 and N18 road projects, but the Government has stated the funding is not available and that the contracts should not be signed.
I suggest the Deputy submit a parliamentary question on the matter.
Will the Tánaiste give a commitment that funding will be provided for these much-needed projects which will create employment?
We cannot deal with such issues on the Order of Business.
These projects were included in the stimulus package announced by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin. The package will proceed as announced.
When will the education (admission to school) Bill be published? The Bill will ensure the process of enrolment in schools is more open, equitable and consistent. I ask this question in the light of Trim being one of the areas chosen for the pilot schemes on patronage and Educate Together schools.
The heads of the education (admission to school) Bill are being drafted and the Bill is expected to be published next year.
When will the EU directive on parental leave to improve parental leave rights be transposed into Irish law?
I will revert to the Deputy with that information.
That completes the Order of Business.