It is proposed to take No. 11a, Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2013 - Financial Resolution; No. 1a, Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013 [Seanad] - Second Stage (resumed); and No. 23, Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013 - Second Stage (resumed). It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that No. 11a shall be decided without debate.
Order of Business
There is one proposal to be put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 11a agreed to? Agreed. I call Deputy Kelleher on the Order of Business.
The ephemeral joy of responsible politics - auction politics is back on the agenda again with the Labour Party conference in Killarney over the weekend. There are a number of pressing issues on which I would like the Tánaiste's view. He spoke about the coping classes and the need to-----
Excuse me, we are talking about promised legislation, not about the coping classes.
Promised legislation has nothing to do with them.
I just want to-----
You are not going to read anything.
I just want to raise the issue of the Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill.
Sorry, Deputy. You are not going to read anything. You ask questions. This is the Order of Business.
I want to raise the issue-----
I think I hear a joke coming on.
The Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill is no joke for over 2 million people-----
The Health Insurance (Amendment Bill).
-----for whom health insurance will increase by at least 15% to 20%.
A Deputy
No, it will not.
That is no joke, particularly for hard-pressed families. Will the Tánaiste agree to the suspension of the Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill until the HIA report has been published? We are not asking for a massive delay as it is to be published in a number of days. This would allow us to have an informed debate on the issue of health insurance, which is in crisis in this country.
On the issue of the employment permits Bill, as the Tánaiste knows, the UK Prime Minister, Mr. Cameron, is making very strong soundings in regard to concerns about the number of immigrants coming from Bulgaria and Romania. In view of the fact we share common travel with Britain, has the Tánaiste concerns this could have a major impact on Ireland? Has he given it thought and has he made his views known to the British Government?
All of these are important matters but we are dealing with the Order of Business here. If we need to have debates, I do not have a problem with that.
It is the employment permits Bill.
The Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill will be at committee next week. That will give Deputy Kelleher ample opportunity to raise whatever issues he wants to raise in regard to it.
We do not have the report.
The employment permits Bill is due for publication this session.
I call Deputy Ó Snodaigh.
I believe Deputy Kelleher signed that himself.
Has he told him?
It was either Deputy Kelleher or Deputy Calleary who signed it.
Order, please. I have called Deputy Ó Snodaigh.
I want to ask about three Bills but I also want to ask about a commitment made on Dáil reform in regard to the pre-legislative stage. There are a number of Bills which are still outstanding and which may be published before the end of the session. I ask that the heads of those Bills that have not been published but which were indicated in the A list would be published now so the committees could start the pre-legislative stage of those Bills.
The three Bills about which I want to ask include the official languages (amendment) Bill. Cathain a bhfuilimid chun é sin a fheiceáil agus an ndéileáilfidh sé leis an méid atá leagtha amach sa chlár? Chomh maith le sin, the housing (miscellaneous provisions) Bill is supposed to change the system from rent allowance, on which many people are suffering, to a housing assistance payment. It is long-awaited and I am trying to find out whether the expected date of 2014 will be complied with or whether there has been a delay.
I find it strange that the national paediatric hospital development board (amendment) Bill is on the section C list, which lists Bills where the heads have yet to be approved by Government. While we have heard of progress in respect of appointing CEOs and heads of development of that project and delays in respect of the national paediatric hospital, there is still no indication of when this legislation, which would oversee the development of a new national paediatric hospital, will be published. Can the Tánaiste enlighten us as to whether there has been any progress made on that important legislation?
As part of Dáil reform, it is the Government's intention to ensure the heads of Bills go to committee in the first instance. Some Bills are at the heads stage and others are at a drafting stage, so it depends on where Bills are. We are in the transition phase in respect of doing that. The Deputy spoke about three Bills. Maidir leis an Bille teanga, foilsíodh é an bhliain seo chugainn, 2014. The heads of the housing (miscellaneous provisions) Bill are expected this month and it is expected to be published next year. The national paediatric hospital development board (amendment) Bill is proceeding. I do not have a date for its publication.
Will the Tánaiste indicate when the water services Bill will be brought to the Dáil to be debated?
It is intended that this Bill will go to the Seanad in the first instance to get its first reading. It will then be brought to the Dáil. It will come here when it has been completed in the Seanad. It will happen reasonably soon but I do not have an exact date. It is a matter for the other House.
Can the Tánaiste outline when the common arrangements for gas Bill, which will amend the Electricity Regulation Act 1999, will be brought before the House? This will help facilitate gas delivery on an all-Ireland basis.
That Bill is expected next year.
The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has, once again, created great fear and anxiety with his plan to introduce a raft of new indirect taxes which will disproportionately affect the less well-off in society and further cripple people who are at breaking point.
Will the Deputy let us into the secret of which one he is worried about now?
I am asking in respect of the environmental liability Bill. When will that Bill come before the House and when will we have an opportunity to oppose any further indirect taxes on the people who cannot afford any more taxes?
It is a political liability Bill.
The Phil Hogan miscellaneous provisions Bill
The biggest liability people of this country have is the legacy Fianna Fáil left them.
Or the legacy of the Government's broken promises.
The environmental liability Bill is expected in mid-2014.
When will the industrial relations (amendment) (No. 2) Bill be published? Will there be any announcement over the weekend about it?
Is something on over the weekend?
Not too many people know about it.
We might replay the All Blacks match. I do not have a date for the publication of the industrial relations (amendment) (No. 2) Bill.
The Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy White, is engaged in a body of work in respect of the public health (alcohol) Bill. Among other things, this Bill will set minimum pricing for alcohol products. When does the Tánaiste expect publication of that Bill?
That Bill is expected next year.
I compliment the Garda on apprehending the gang from Dublin responsible for the recent vicious attack on the family in Tipperary. A criminal gang from north Dublin raided houses in my constituency in Galway and were caught with the help of the local people and the Garda. When does the Tánaiste expect the criminal justice (proceeds of crime) Bill to come before the House?
I join Deputy Grealish in congratulating the Garda on its success in those cases. I do not have a date for the publication of that Bill.
I read this morning that the Minister for Social Protection is talking about a living wage. Is that just a tonic for the troops at the weekend in Killarney or is it something the Government is seriously considering legislating for? In respect of the industrial relations (amendment) (No. 2) Bill, talks are starting today between management and trade unions at the ESB. Will the Tánaiste be taking any steps to assist the resolution of this very serious problem in respect of the defined pension scheme for ESB workers either through legislation or legislation on a minimum standard or the €400 million which the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the Minister for Finance are proposing to take from the ESB this coming year?
I have answered the question about the industrial relations (amendment) (No. 2) Bill. In respect of the threatened strike in the ESB, I hope the discussions that have commenced between management and unions will be successful in resolving that issue.