Order of Business

The Taoiseach

It is proposed to take No. 16, Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2014 – Financial Resolution; No. 17, motion re membership of committees; No. 18, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Horse and Greyhound Fund Regulations 2014 - back from committee; No. 19, Intellectual Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 – motion to instruct the committee; No. 35, Intellectual Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 - Order for Report Stage and Report and Final Stages; No. 36, Garda Síochána (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014 - Second Stage (resumed).

It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that in the event that a division is in progress at the time fixed for taking Private Members’ business, the Dáil shall sit later than 9 p.m.; that Private Members’ business which shall be No. 176, motion re funding of health services, shall, if not previously concluded, adjourn after 90 minutes; that Nos. 16, 17 and 18 shall be decided without debate; that the proceedings on No. 19 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after one hour and that the following arrangements shall apply: the speeches of 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 15 minutes in each case and that such Members may share time.

Tomorrow’s business after Oral Questions shall be No. 20, Social Welfare Bill 2014 – motion to instruct the committee; and No. 37, Social Welfare Bill 2014 - Order for Report Stage and Report and Final Stages. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the proceedings on No. 20 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after one hour and that the following arrangements shall apply: the speeches of 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 15 minutes in each case.

An Ceann Comhairle

Is the proposal for dealing with the late sitting agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with Nos. 16, 17 and 18, motions re Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2014 – Financial Resolution; membership of committees, and proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Horse and Greyhound Fund Regulations 2014, without debate agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 19, Intellectual Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 – motion to instruct the committee, agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with Nos. 20 and 37, Social Welfare Bill 2014 – motion to instruct the committee, and Social Welfare Bill 2014 - Order for Report Stage and Report and Final Stages, tomorrow agreed to? Agreed.

Deputy Michael Moynihan

When will the EirGrid Bill be published and debated? When will the energy (miscellaneous provisions) Bill be brought before the House? Recently in answering ministerial questions the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Alex White, agreed to have a debate on broadband provision. When will the debate be held because there is major concern, particularly in rural communities, about broadband provision? Nobody believes the latest proposal from the Government to address the issue.

The Taoiseach

The EirGrid and energy (miscellaneous provisions) Bills will be taken in the first half of next year. With regard to the discussion on broadband communications the Deputy mentioned, last Monday the Minister published the information on mapping in County Clare. It is a matter for the Whips to arrange a time and there is no difficulty except in finding an opportunity to debate the issue.

Deputy Michael Moynihan

At Question Time the Minister promised to have a debate on the issue of broadband. When will it be dealt with the House?

The Taoiseach

The Deputy should ask his Whip to raise the issue at the Whips meeting and the Chief Whip will make arrangements whenever time permits. There is no objection to having a debate on the issue.

Deputy Gerry Adams

I refer to three items, the health information Bill, the housing (miscellaneous provisions) Bill and the housing regulation Bill. There is also the legislation on EpiPens. Táimid ag fanacht leis an health information Bill le tamall fada anois agus tá sé ar an gclár le tamall fada anuas fosta. The Bill has been designed to provide a legislative framework for the better governance of health information initiatives. I understand the alarming rate of suicide is one of the issues that could be addressed. Can we have a timeframe for its introduction, given the seriousness of the issues with which it deals? While it is not always the case, I note that legislation is sometimes promised but is then sent back to be redrafted before the process of pre-legislative scrutiny begins. Before the Government runs out of time, will it speed up the work on some of these issues?

On the housing (miscellaneous provisions) Bill, homelessness is one of the biggest issues. Mar atá a fhios ag na Baill agus ag an Taoiseach, tá a lán daoine ag stopadh ar na sráideanna gach oíche sa chathair seo agus ar fud na Stáite agus fuair an fear bocht sin bás cúpla oíche ó shin. Dúirt an Taoiseach go raibh sé ag caint le daoine nuair a bhí sé ag siúl thart agus bhí mise ag caint le daoine fosta. There are two separate Bills which have been promised on this issue. Will the housing (miscellaneous provisions) Bill be brought forward as a matter of urgency? When will the housing regulation Bill be published? Can we have a sense of the timeframe involved?

The Minister for Health met the mother of a young woman-----

An Ceann Comhairle

To what legislation does this refer?

Deputy Gerry Adams

The EpiPen legislation promised by the Minister for Health who met the mother of Emma Sloan who died from anaphylaxis. The Minister promised legislation in 2015 to deal with the issues raised by her. There is not enough education or information available and lives can be saved through the introduction of legislation and the provision of EpiPens and information for the folks involved. The legislation is at an early stage, but, given that the Minister has made a commitment which I welcome and that the mother of the child has been so active in trying to ensure no other child suffers the same fate, perhaps we might have a sense of when there will be the wider availability of life-saving EpiPens and when the new education programme will be rolled out.

The Taoiseach

Tá a fhios ag an Teachta gur thug mé freagra ar a chéad ceist - an Bille leighis a bhí sé ag caint faoi - cúpla seachtain ó shin. Luadh go mbeidh sé foilsithe roimh deireadh samhraidh na céad bliana eile. Tá neart oibre déanta agus le déanamh ar an mBille sin.

The housing regulation Bill and the housing (miscellaneous provisions) Bill will both be seen by the end of spring or early summer. It means that we must deal with the emergency in respect of decisions the Government has already made. The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, will meet the groups in Dublin on Thursday and this will be followed by a meeting with the Cabinet sub-committee on Monday. We will take whatever decisions we must take on Tuesday to make this more effective.

I cannot answer the question about the good lady whose daughter died, but I will have the Minister for Health communicate with the Deputy.

Deputy Gerry Adams

That is appreciated.

Deputy Peadar Tóibín

In a recent OECD report Ireland had the second highest proportion of low paid jobs in OECD countries. It also has the third highest rate of underemployed people in the European Union. In its statement published six months ago the Government promised to put a low pay commission on a statutory basis. The drafts heads of the Bill have not yet been seen. When will we see the legislation?

Two years ago under the credit guarantee scheme it was promised that €450 million would be available to 5,600 businesses to create 4,000 jobs.

What we have seen is €15 million, 11 companies and 870 jobs. The promised credit guarantee (amendment) Bill is supposed to address these shortfalls and is due to be published in the current session. An bhfeicfimid an Bille seo roimh an Nollaig?

The Taoiseach

The credit guarantee (amendment) Bill is listed for this session. The Government has given authorisation and approval for the legislation to establish the low pay commission. Work is under way on the terms and conditions that will apply to it. The Ministers for Social Protection and Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation have an interest in this legislation. I will advise the Deputy later as to when it will be published.

Deputy Finian McGrath

The universities Bill.

Deputy Emmet Stagg

That proves the Deputy is a fraud.

Deputy Patrick O'Donovan

The Deputy got a mention on Saturday night.

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

Well done.

The Taoiseach

If Deputy Finian McGrath proposes to join Deputy Ross, he will have to structure his questions a little more succinctly than that. The only people suffering because of today’s strike are the students. The Minister has bent over backwards to help in this matter.

I am not sure when the universities Bill is to be published. I will advise Deputy Finian McGrath when it will be. I hope it is in time for all the current students when they emerge from second level in order that they can avail of the provisions of the new universities Bill.

An Ceann Comhairle

It might be the university of life Bill to which the Deputy is referring.

Deputy Patrick O'Donovan

Every turkey needs a left wing and a right wing.

Deputy Finian McGrath

I warned you, lads.

Deputy Joe Carey

When will the family court Bill be published? What is the publication position of the St. Patrick's Institution (closing) Bill?

The Taoiseach

I do not have a date for either of these Bills. I will ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Reilly, to inform the Deputy on the current position of the Bills’ preparations.

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

What is the current position of the redress for women who were in certain institutions Bill? Is it likely to be passed before the end of this session?

I cannot leave the occasion pass without mentioning the bail Bill which is wandering around somewhere.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

Like the Deputy.

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

Hopefully, it will come safely home. Has the way been cleared for this?

Deputy Finian McGrath

Is the Deputy looking for bail?

The Taoiseach

The bail Bill is still out there. The redress Bill will be taken in this session. Hopefully, we will get to a point where we can focus on the Bill and be able to bring it forward.

The reason the Bill in question has been moved out is because of the time lost in respect of dealing with the Water Services Bill. Deputy Mathews's Bill will be the first Bill to be taken in Private Members’ time and will be allowed to go to Committee Stage.

Dáil Éireann debate - Tuesday, 2 Dec 2014

Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 2 Dec 2014