Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 1 May 2014

Vol. 839 No. 2

Order of Business

The Tánaiste

It is proposed to take No. a9, motion re by-election for Dublin West; No. b9, motion re by-election for Longford-Westmeath; and No. 4, Children First Bill 2014 - Second Stage (resumed).

It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that: the proceedings on Nos. a9 and b9 which shall be debated together shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 25 minutes, whereupon separate questions thereon shall be put from the Chair, and the following arrangements shall apply: the speech of the Tánaiste, a Minister or a Minister of State and the main spokespersons for Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and the Technical Group who shall be called upon in that order shall not exceed five minutes in each case and such Members may share their time; and Private Members’ business, which shall be No. 144, motion re housing (resumed), shall take place at the conclusion of Nos. a9 and b9.

An Ceann Comhairle

There are two proposals to be put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with No. a9, motion re by-election for Dublin West, and No. b9, motion re by-election for Longford-Westmeath, agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with Private Members’ business agreed to? Agreed.

Deputy Michael Moynihan

In view of the major concerns in every community affected by EirGrid's proposals, when will the EirGrid Bill be brought before the House?

The Tánaiste

The EirGrid Bill is due to be brought forward next year.

Deputy Pearse Doherty

Permanent TSB recently announced that it is to raise its standard variable rate for mortgage holders. As the Tánaiste is aware, this bank is 100% State owned. It is introducing an additional charge so that the variable rate will move up to 4.5% from 9 June. No. 89 on the Order Paper is the Interest Rate Approval Bill, a Bill I drafted on behalf of Sinn Féin. This would require any bailed-out bank to seek approval of the Financial Regulator before changing a variable interest rate. Given that this will place a major burden on Permanent TSB mortgage holders, will the Government revisit the issue and look at the commitment the Taoiseach previously gave to give these powers to the Central Bank? On average it will cost a family approximately €480 for a €300,000 mortgage, which is a major imposition given that 17,000 mortgage holders with this bank are in arrears of 90 days or more. The Government has clearly stated it will do nothing about carbon tax, but hopefully it will stand in when a State-owned bank is again fleecing approximately 70,000 customers by hiking up its rate.

An Ceann Comhairle

Sorry, Deputy, this is-----

Deputy Pearse Doherty

Will the Government support the moving of the Interest Rate Approval Bill? Will the Government introduce a similar Bill or allow this Bill to pass?

An Ceann Comhairle

There is a procedure for dealing with Private Members' Bills. We cannot have this on the Order of Business. It is a Private Members' Bill; is that correct?

Deputy Pearse Doherty

The Taoiseach publicly gave a commitment regarding banks increasing variable interest rates. He said he would consider introducing legislation to prevent this happening.

An Ceann Comhairle

Is there promised legislation?

The Tánaiste

There is the Central Bank consolidation Bill. Deputy Doherty is talking about a Private Members' Bill and he knows very well the procedure for advancing-----

Deputy Pearse Doherty

I am asking if the Government will consider-----

The Tánaiste

-----a Private Members' Bill.

An Ceann Comhairle

We are dealing with promised legislation here.

Deputy Dara Calleary

I ask the Tánaiste to confirm the status of the workplace relations Bill. Will it include a commitment to mandatory collective bargaining within firms?

The Tánaiste

The workplace relations Bill is due this session. The Deputy asked a second-----

Deputy Dara Calleary

I asked about collective bargaining.

The Tánaiste

On the issue of collective bargaining, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is due to circulate proposals on that legislation shortly.

Deputy Dara Calleary

Is there a commitment to mandatory collective bargaining within the Bill?

An Ceann Comhairle

No. We are not dealing with the content.

Deputy Billy Kelleher

I wish to ask about two Bills. When will the Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill to provide GP services to persons aged five years and under be debated in the House? We now find that 30,000 discretionary medical cards have been withdrawn in the past year or thereabouts.

An Ceann Comhairle

No-----

Deputy Billy Kelleher

How will the funding mechanism be put in place to ensure we do not have further attacks on very sick and vulnerable people?

An Ceann Comhairle

What Bill is the Deputy talking about?

Deputy Billy Kelleher

The Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill because-----

An Ceann Comhairle

We can find out for the Deputy.

Deputy Billy Kelleher

I also have a second Bill.

An Ceann Comhairle

I will come back to the Deputy.

The Tánaiste

The health Bill to provide medical cards to children under six, which I understand Fianna Fáil opposes, has already been published.

An Ceann Comhairle

What is the Deputy's second Bill?

Deputy Billy Kelleher

While it is giving GP-visit cards to those aged under six-----

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy is not listening to me. What is his second piece of legislation?

Deputy Billy Kelleher

-----it is taking medical cards from the sickest people, which I will oppose.

Deputy Barry Cowen

Michael O'Leary's child will get one.

An Ceann Comhairle

Please-----

Deputy Billy Kelleher

In the context of the announcement by the Minister for Health about lifetime community rating, will that require primary legislation or will it be done through statutory instrument or regulation?

An Ceann Comhairle

Is there promised legislation here?

Deputy Billy Kelleher

A commitment has been made that lifetime community rating will be introduced immediately for private health insurance. When will that be-----

The Tánaiste

What Bill is the Deputy referring to?

Deputy Billy Kelleher

I do not know the Bill because he mentioned he would bring forward legislation to introduce lifetime community rating.

The Tánaiste

The Deputy should probably put the question to the Minister for Health directly. If he can tell me the Bill, I can tell him where it is in the-----

An Ceann Comhairle

This is about promised legislation.

Deputy Billy Kelleher

There has been a policy decision.

The Tánaiste

No. I will answer any question the Deputy has on a Bill that is on the legislative list.

Deputy Billy Kelleher

We are entitled to raise policy issues as well, are we not?

The Tánaiste

If it is a policy issue, the Deputy should address it to the Minister.

An Ceann Comhairle

There are other ways to raise it. I call Deputy Kitt.

Deputy Barry Cowen

The Tánaiste just does not know.

Deputy Billy Kelleher

A Cheann Comhairle, we are entitled to raise policy.

An Ceann Comhairle

No. The Deputy knows as well as I do. He is long enough here. He should not be playing games with me. I appreciate he wants to make a point. He has made his point and I now ask him to resume his seat. If he wants to table a parliamentary question, he may by all means do so.

Deputy Barry Cowen

The Tánaiste will be home in a few weeks and he will know all these things.

Deputy Michael P. Kitt

The programme for Government makes a commitment to give effect to a waste policy - it was actually mentioned by the Minister this morning - the environment miscellaneous provisions Bill. I understand that has implications for the merger of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland. I also wish to ask about the radiological protection miscellaneous provisions Bill. Given the problems with the illegal dumping of waste, when will we see that legislation?

The Tánaiste

I have good news for the Deputy on both Bills he mentioned. The environment miscellaneous provisions Bill is due this session. The radiological protection miscellaneous provisions Bill is also due this session.

Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl

The Government deservedly won many plaudits on the publication of the McAleese report on the plight of those people who had been incarcerated in the Magdalen laundries. What progress has been achieved in implementing the recommendations of that report? Specifically a restorative justice Bill was promised arising from that process. Where stands that restorative justice Bill? Where is the Government in terms of implementing the other recommendations of the report?

The Tánaiste

The restorative justice Bill is due this session. From responses to parliamentary questions, I know the Minister for Justice and Equality, the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, and the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs have responded to the progress on the implementation of various elements of the report.

Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly

A few weeks ago Deputy Finian McGrath introduced a very worthy Bill, the Down's Syndrome (Equality of Access) Bill, which the Government accepted on Second Stage. This morning some constituents asked me the current situation with that Bill. When will it come before the committee?

An Ceann Comhairle

This is a Private Members' Bill that was agreed on Second Stage.

The Tánaiste

Again that is a Private Members' Bill. I believe it passed Second Stage and it is now a matter for the relevant committee.

An Ceann Comhairle

I call Deputy Mathews.

Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly

Is there a planned timetable for it to go to the committee?

An Ceann Comhairle

That is not a matter for now. It is a matter for the committee; it goes to the committee.

Deputy Peter Mathews

I refer to Nos. 150a and 150b on the Order Paper. I appreciate the Tánaiste's remarks that the banking inquiry is a Dáil banking inquiry. It is not a Government proposal, but a Dáil, a parliamentary, exercise. With that in mind the committee that is being established to carry out the banking inquiry will have nine members.

An Ceann Comhairle

Sorry, we cannot discuss that now.

Deputy Peter Mathews

It is in light of the Tánaiste saying that it is a Dáil inquiry. The recent court case had a jury of up to 15 people.

An Ceann Comhairle

Hold on a second. We cannot debate this now.

Deputy Peter Mathews

I understand, a Cheann Comhairle.

An Ceann Comhairle

You have to understand. I understand you have a point but not on the Order of Business.

Deputy Peter Mathews

It is on the Order of Business.

An Ceann Comhairle

Put down a Topical Issue or a parliamentary question.

Deputy Peter Mathews

Sorry, a Cheann Comhairle, it is on 150b.

An Ceann Comhairle

We cannot debate the number of people on a committee on the Order of Business. It is as simple as that.

Deputy Peter Mathews

It is on the Order of Business, in print.

An Ceann Comhairle

It is not on the Order of Business that we debate the number of people who serve on a committee. I am sorry.

Deputy Peter Mathews

The second point relates to 150a which is terribly important for the scope of this inquiry. Under the terms of reference, all the directors of all the deposit taking institutions-----

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy, please-----

Deputy Peter Mathews

-----in the period 2001 to 2008-----

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy, I have to ask you to resume your seat. You know you are out of order.

Deputy Peter Mathews

-----should be available and compelled to be here, otherwise-----

An Ceann Comhairle

Thank you, Deputy. Please resume your seat. It is not in order on the Order of Business.

Deputy Peter Mathews

Sorry, a Cheann Comhairle. I was removed from committees as a punishment for-----

An Ceann Comhairle

Hold on a minute. Please resume your seat.

Deputy Peter Mathews

That exists to this day and that is wrong in a democracy.

An Ceann Comhairle

Would you switch off the microphones, please?

Deputy Paul Kehoe

Deputy Brian Walsh is back.

(Interruptions).

An Ceann Comhairle

Would you please resume your seat, Deputy Mathews? I will not ask you again.

Deputy Peter Mathews

I apologise.

An Ceann Comhairle

Every time you stand up, you are out of order. You will not adhere to the Chair. I call Deputy Pringle.

Deputy Peter Mathews

A Cheann Comhairle-----

An Ceann Comhairle

You know what can and cannot be raised on the Order of Business. Deputy, will you sit down?

Deputy Peter Mathews

This is why the country is in the state it is in.

An Ceann Comhairle

Raise this some other way.

Deputy Peter Mathews

This is why Ireland is in the state it is in and it is wrong.

Deputy Thomas Pringle

The Taoiseach gave a commitment that the inquiry by Justice Cooke into the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission bugging allegations would be delivered before Easter. Does the Tánaiste have any information as to when the report will be made available to the House?

The Tánaiste

As I understand it, that report has not yet been received. Clearly when it is, arrangements will be made to have it discussed in the House.

Deputy Ray Butler

When is publication of the family law Bill to make provision for pension adjustments in the context of separation agreements and certain other reforms in family law expected?

The Tánaiste

It is expected next year.

Deputy Thomas P. Broughan

I refer to the housing (miscellaneous provisions) Bill. We will discuss the Children First Bill 2014 today. Probably like the Ceann Comhairle and almost every Deputy, I have come across situations where children in families are being evicted because of the situation in the rental housing market and with rent supplement. The Tánaiste was a housing spokesperson for approximately ten years when we served together as spokespersons. Is it time to declare a housing emergency-----

An Ceann Comhairle

Not on the Order of Business.

Deputy Thomas P. Broughan

-----to cap rents and take some urgent action? I know we will debate a motion on homelessness later, and I did not get the chance to speak yesterday, but I think the Tánaiste knows this subject as well as, if not better, than any Member of this House.

An Ceann Comhairle

Thank you very much.

Deputy Thomas P. Broughan

In the time this Government has left, is it not time to declare a housing emergency and to stop putting children and their parents on the streets as a result of what is going on in the housing market at this time? For anybody representing a worker's movement party, it is outrageous.

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy Broughan, please.

Deputy Thomas P. Broughan

Thank you, a Cheann Comhairle.

An Ceann Comhairle

Do not thank me. You are totally out of order.

Deputy Thomas P. Broughan

I am not actually.

An Ceann Comhairle

You are totally out of order.

The Tánaiste

A Cheann Comhairle-----

An Ceann Comhairle

I do not know what legislation the Deputy is talking about. What legislation are you talking about, Deputy Broughan?

Deputy Thomas P. Broughan

The housing (miscellaneous provisions) Bill.

The Tánaiste

The housing (miscellaneous provisions) Bill will be taken in this session. We address the housing crisis not by making declarations but by taking action on it.

Deputy Thomas P. Broughan

The Government is not doing that.

The Tánaiste

The Deputy may be absolutely assured that this Government is taking action on the housing crisis.