I call on the rapporteur for the business committee, Deputy Jim Daly, to announce the Order of Business for the week and to move the proposals regarding arrangements for the taking of that business.
Order of Business
Today's business shall be No. 11, motion re Standing Orders 141 and 146A, and No. 12, motion re business of select committees, without debate. Government business shall be No. 17, statements on the housing strategy and the Private Members' business shall be No. 77, motion re domiciliary care allowance, in the name of Sinn Féin.
Tomorrow's Government business shall be No. 1, Health (Amendment) Bill 2016, all Stages; No. 13, motion re Standing Order 149; No. 14, motion re terms of reference of commission on investigation (IBRC); No. 21, Energy Bill 2016 - Order for Report, Report and Final Stages; No. 17, statements on the housing strategy (resumed); and No. 18, Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 2016 - Committee and Remaining Stages. Private Members' business shall be No. 26, the Housing (Sale of Local Authority Housing) Bill 2016, in the name of Fianna Fáil.
Thursday's Government business shall be No. 15, motion re CEPOL; No. 16, motion re Legal Services Regulatory Authority - membership of board; No. 18, Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 2016 - Committee and Remaining Stages (resumed); No. 19, Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2016 - Order for Report, Report and Final Stages; and No. 20, Finance (Certain European Union and Intergovernmental Obligations) Bill 2016, changed from Single Resolution Board (Loan Facility Agreement) Bill 2016 - Order for Report, Report and Final Stages. Second Stage of No. 27, Education (Amendment) Bill 2015, will be debated in the evening slot.
There are three proposals regarding today's business. It is proposed that:
(1) the Dáil shall sit late and adjourn after the debate on No. 17, statements on the housing strategy;
(2) No. 11, motion re Standing Orders 141 and 146A and No. 12, motion re business of select committees, shall be taken without debate and any division demanded on the motions shall be taken immediately; and
(3) No. 17, statements on the housing strategy, will adjourn on the conclusion of the contributions from the main spokespersons. The Minister and the main spokespersons will have 15 minutes each, all other Members will have five minutes, there will be a 15 minute response from Minister or Minister of State and all Members may share time.
There are eight proposals regarding tomorrow's business. It is proposed that:
(1) the Dáil shall sit at 10 a.m.;
(2) No. 1, Health (Amendment) Bill 2016 - Second Stage shall be brought to a conclusion within 90 minutes if not previously concluded and any division demanded will be taken immediately. The Minister or Minister of State and the main spokespersons will have ten minutes each, there will be a ten minute response from the Minister or Minister of State and all Members may share time. Committee and Remaining Stages shall be brought to a conclusion within 30 minutes by one question which shall in relation to amendments include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Health;
(3) No. 26, Housing (Sale of Local Authority Housing) Bill 2016, Second Stage, shall be brought to a conclusion, if not previously concluded, at 6.30 p.m.;
(4) No. 13, motion re Standing Order 149, shall conclude within 45 minutes, if not previously concluded, and the Minister and the main spokespersons will have five minutes each, there will be a five minute response from the Minister or Minister of State and all Members may share time;
(5) No. 14, motion re terms of reference of commission of investigation (IBRC), shall conclude within 45 minutes, if not previously concluded, and the Minister and the main spokespersons will have five minutes each, there will be a five minute response from the Minister or Minister of State and all Members may share time;
(6) No. 21, Energy Bill 2016 - Order for Report, Report and Final Stages, will be brought to a conclusion within one hour by one question which shall in relation to amendments include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Communication, Energy and Natural Resources;
(7) No. 17, statements on the housing strategy, shall be brought to a conclusion at 10 p.m., if not previously concluded; and
(8) No. 18, Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 2016 - Committee and Remaining Stages, will be brought to a conclusion within one hour, if not previously concluded, by one question which shall in relation to amendments include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Justice and Equality.
In relation to Thursday’s business, there are nine proposals. It is proposed that:
(1) the Dáil shall sit at 10 a.m.;
(2) the Dáil shall sit late and adjourn after the debate on No. 27, the Education (Amendment) Bill 2015;
(3) No. 15, motion re CEPOL, shall conclude within one hour, if not previously concluded, and the Minister and the main spokespersons will have five minutes each, all other Members will have five minutes, there will be a five-minute response from the Minister or Minister of State and all Members may share time;
(4) No. 16, motion re Legal Services Regulation Authority – membership of board, shall be taken immediately after No. 15, motion re CEPOL, to conclude within one hour, if not previously concluded, and the Minister and the main spokespersons will have five minutes each, all other Members will have five minutes, there will be a five-minute response from the Minister or Minister of State and all Members may share time;
(5) No. 18, Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 2016 - Committee and Remaining Stages, if not previously concluded, will be taken following the conclusion of No. 16;
(6) No. 19, Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2016 - Order for Report, Report and Final Stages, will be taken immediately after No. 18, Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 2016, or if No. 18 has previously concluded, immediately after No. 16 if No. 16 concludes before midday, or otherwise immediately after voting time, and will be brought to a conclusion within one hour by one question which shall in relation to amendments include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Health;
(7) No. 20, Finance (Certain European Union and Intergovernmental Obligations) Bill 2016 - changed from Single Resolution Board (Loan Facility Agreement) Bill 2016 - Order for Report, Report and Final Stages, shall be taken following No. 19, Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2016, and will be brought to a conclusion within one hour if not previously concluded by one question which shall in relation to amendments include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Finance;
(8) Question Time shall take place following No. 20, Finance (Certain European Union and Intergovernmental Obligations) Bill 2016; and
(9) the Dáil on its rising on Thursday shall adjourn until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 27 September 2016.
There are three questions to be put to the House. First, are the proposals for dealing with Tuesday's business agreed to? Agreed.
Second, are the proposals for dealing with Wednesday's business agreed to?
As regards the proposals for dealing with business for Tuesday, is the Ceann Comhairle incorporating in those the situation concerning select committees?
To what extent?
I mean is that part of the proposition the Ceann Comhairle is putting to the House? I wanted to comment on that, please.
If you want to comment, go ahead.
First, this is an extraordinary step. It is not consequent on new politics; it is consequent on the worst of old politics. This House deserves a full explanation as to why it has taken so long for the Seanad Committee on Procedure and Privileges to be constituted. That is an essential step before the Seanad Committee on Selection is able to do its business in nominating Members of the Seanad to joint committees of these Houses.
We are within two days of going into the summer recess, yet we have still not had a single joint committee meeting, nor will we be able to constitute same before Thursday. That is the reality behind this proposition. This House deserves a full explanation as to why that situation presents. Almost six months after the general election, we still do not have a working committee system in these Houses.
The Deputy's point is very well made. The motion provides the opportunity for the select committees to undertake the work that needs to be undertaken in the absence, should that continue, of the nominees of the Seanad.
It does.
However, this House cannot impose its will in any way upon the Members of the Seanad. Members of the other House must make their own decisions in respect of the people whom they will nominate to serve on these particular committees. It is neither appropriate nor possible for us to engage in a debate on that particular matter, notwithstanding the validity of the Deputy's point that it is not acceptable that the committees continue not to be fully populated.
I appreciate that the Ceann Comhairle is accepting the validity of the point, and the protest, that I am making because I think it is a valid point to make.
Yes, and we will communicate that to our colleagues.
Respect is the critical word.
Yes.
It not only behoves voices in the Seanad to explain this. It also requires those party leaders who have an insight into why this situation has been allowed to develop as it has to take the opportunity to explain to Members of this House why it has been allowed to get to this absolutely outrageous situation.
Deputy Ó Caoláin's point is made. Are the proposals for dealing with Wednesday's business agreed to? Agreed. Are the proposals for dealing with Thursday's business agreed to? Agreed.
On the Order of Business, I already have ten Members offering. There will be one minute and one question per Member, starting with Deputy Micheál Martin.
As regards the Action Plan for Jobs and the legislative commitments therein, serious doubts have emerged in recent weeks over eBay's operation in Dundalk. It is urgent to have clarification on the company's presence in County Louth. There is a lot of anxiety among eBay workers who are nervous about their future. There are obvious implications for them if anything were to happen to the eBay facility there. As the Taoiseach knows, more than 200 people are employed by eBay in Dundalk and the company is a major contributor to the local economy. Will the Taoiseach confirm that every effort is being made by the Government, and particularly by the IDA, to ensure the retention of these jobs in the Dundalk area?
The landlord and tenant law reform Bill has been promised for some time. Will the Taoiseach indicate when it will come before the House?
I am well aware of the anxiety expressed by eBay workers and a number of public representatives have contacted me about it. The IDA has been diligent about this and has been talking to the eBay company and personnel there. The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Mitchell O'Connor, might want to give an update on that situation.
Yes. I understand that there is anxiety among the eBay workers. I have had a discussion with the CEO of the IDA, Mr. Martin Shanahan, on this and other matters. The IDA will continue to work with FDI companies to support them in creating jobs in Ireland, and especially in regional and rural Ireland.
The IDA will not and cannot discuss publicly the circumstances of individual companies due to commercially sensitive reasons.
I thank the Minister for her statement, although it might give little solace to the workers who now feel under threat in eBay in Dundalk, which is in my constituency.
I want to raise another issue. Six months ago, the Minister for Finance established a task force in his Department to review policy in the insurance sector. Last week, however, in a parliamentary response to an Teachta Pearse Doherty, the Minister revealed that the review group into the rising cost of car insurance will only meet for the first time this week and will not meet again until September. There is no timeframe within which the review is to be compiled. When I raised this matter with the Taoiseach four weeks ago he said it would be raised at the Cabinet sub-committee.
I appeal to the Minister to set a timeframe for dealing with this issue with the urgency it requires. There is a lot of dissatisfaction as premiums have increased by 67% in the past three years. I support the demand for a task force similar to the Motor Insurance Advisory Board, established in the 1990s, to be set up. The MIAB's recommendations led to a 40% drop in premiums. I appeal to the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance to deal with this matter with more urgency than we have seen thus far.
A number of issues of great concern have arisen around the insurance industry in recent times. The first, in sequence, was the collapse of Setanta Insurance, a Maltese-registered company, which gave rise to many people being off cover. The task force addressed the issue arising from Setanta Insurance first of all.
The report was presented to Government today and it will be published. The recommendations of that report was the first phase of the work of the task force. It is now moving on to an in-depth examination of the difficulties in motor insurance, which work it will complete with all due expedition, allowing for the fact that as August is a holiday period not everybody relevant will be available during that month.
I have raised twice with the Taoiseach and once with the Tánaiste the consensus in the House on the establishment of a north inner city task force. The view across the House was that the task force should be up and running before the House goes into recess. Now that a date has been set for the recess, when will the membership of the north inner city task force and its terms of reference be known to us and will we have an opportunity to comment upon it before the Dáil goes into recess? There has been much talk about publicity and media focus moving on. In that regard, the view was that we were not going to allow this to happen in relation to the north inner city and that we were going to do something exemplary for the area. I know the Taoiseach has had a lot of discussions on this matter, the fruits of which, along with the terms of reference of the task force and its membership, should now be made known to the House.
We approved it this morning at Cabinet, including the terms of reference and the appointment of an appropriate person to carry out an analysis of the exiting facilities that apply in the north inner city. I will forward the details to Deputy Howlin. I expect to deal with this matter tomorrow in the north inner city.
Will we have an opportunity to discuss this issue before the Dáil goes into recess?
I am not sure if a discussion on it will take place before the Dáil goes into recess but I will circulate the detail to the Deputy.
The county councils, through a memorandum of understanding, are transferring water charging functions in relation to non-domestic water to Irish Water. This means supply to all types of businesses, including farms, shops and so on, will be affected. In the context of the so-called "ceasefire" in relation to water charges, why are businesspeople being asked to pay for water? Why is this train moving on? This is a retrograde step. It is unfortunate and I do not think-----
Is the Deputy asking about legislation?
I am asking about the Water Services (Amendment) Bill. As I said, what the county councils are doing is a retrograde step. Why are we moving in the artillery from the side given the moratorium on water charges while the report of the expert commission is awaited? Are businesspeople the patsies who are going to pay all the expenses? My concern is that charges on private contributors will increase exorbitantly.
Committee and Remaining Stages of the Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016 will be taken in the Seanad tomorrow.
The Taoiseach's response is not an answer my question.
The Deputy's question was about the legislation.
I and other Members of the House have raised on a number of occasions in the past few weeks the agreement put in place by the Minister, Deputy Coveney, with the waste companies to defer the introduction of the pay-by-weight scheme. It is clear that one of the companies, Greyhound, is in defiance of that agreement in terms of its requiring people to opt out of the new pay-by-weight scheme. People who decide to opt out are being required to make an upfront one month's payment to Greyhound. This goes against the agreement reached. We have been told that this situation is being monitored by the Minister, Deputy Coveney, yet no action has been taken by him.
Greyhound customers have up to 1 August 2016, which is 12 days away, to opt out. The Taoiseach assured us that this would not happen, that an agreement was in place and companies would be required to adhere to that agreement. Patently, that is not happening. Will the Taoiseach give an assurance today that he will request the Minister, Deputy Coveney, to take action immediately to put an end to this and to tell Greyhound to stop what it is doing?
I am aware that there are discussions taking place. I will bring the matter raised by Deputy Shortall to the notice of the Minister, Deputy Coveney, later this evening, following which I will respond to the Deputy's query.
In light of Ireland's commitment at the UN General Assembly in 2012 to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, when will the necessary legislation be introduced? Given the convention has been already ratified by 156 countries, it is time we ratified it.
The heads of the disability equality Bill were cleared in February. It is currently proceeding through the development stages. I will seek an update on the Bill, which I will communicate to Deputy Kenny.
The Taoiseach's colleague, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, said earlier that the next phase of the insurance task force would be completed with all due expedition. This is a critical issue. People are waiting to see what action is going to be taken to reduce premiums. Will the Taoiseach give a more specific indication as to when the work will be completed? For example, will it be completed this year?
The programme for Government includes a commitment to introduce a system of personalised budgets for people with disabilities to enable them to buy services for themselves, which will give them greater freedom. When will that come into play?
It already applies in a small number of cases. This is a priority issue for the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath. I will advise Deputy O'Dea on the progress being made. Obviously, personalised budgets will not apply in every case. As the Deputy will understand, some people are in a better position than others to avail of personalised budgeting. As I said, I will advise him of progress made.
The Taoiseach did not answer my question on when the second phase of the work of the task force on insurance will be completed.
It will be completed either late this year or early next year.
There are seven other Deputies offering. If Members are brief, we will be able to get everybody in.
Is the Taoiseach aware that the local authority in Kerry is dezoning lands around the towns of Killarney and Tralee, which will have a devastating impact of on house building in Kerry? I know of 30 people working in Liebherr who cannot find a house to buy or a site on which to build a house. Will the Taoiseach direct that this process be delayed? It is wrong that any local authority would be dezoning lands in the context of current housing need. I respect the right of people and private developers to build their own houses. If lands are dezoned, we may end up in the situation of there being no land available in Killarney on which to build houses. I would be grateful if the Taoiseach would direct that this process be delayed.
This is a matter for the local authority, the members of which I am sure have discussed the issue of land dezoning and the land banks available to it for industrial, commercial and house construction use. It is a function of the local authorities to discuss this issue. I am sure the authority concerned has made its decision in the full knowledge of why it is necessary.
This issue arises out of the national spatial strategy, which is being directed by the Government under the Taoiseach's watch.
Deputy Healy-Rae might consider raising the matter as a Topical Issue.
There were decisions made by the Minister of the day because of the over-zoning of land in a number of areas, as Deputy Healy-Rae is well aware.
Given the commitment in the programme for Government to address the evolving educational curriculum, I welcome the announcement yesterday by the Minister for Education and Skills that computer programming and coding will be introduced into the primary school curriculum. Rather than kick this to the NCCA for prolonged consultation, will the Minister, Deputy Bruton, engage with the local education centres countrywide, including the local education centre in Navan which is spearheading this proposal and has already piloted the project, on the possibility of rolling out this change to the September 2016 curriculum because my fear is that the technology will move faster than the NCCA report?
I am open to looking at any initiative that could be piloted. When one is talking about introducing it on a broad basis, one is talking not only about a pilot but introducing the teaching support and designing the curriculum so an element of time is essential to make sure it works in a proper way. The notion of piloting something in the short run would certainly be of interest and I would be happy to talk to the Deputy.
Last week, there was an announcement of funding for roads. Again, the N71, which is the main west Cork road, and the R586 were excluded from any funding. I ask the Taoiseach to intervene in this issue. It is not a case that it is not happening on a yearly basis or we are not getting funding. It is now a case of not getting funding from decade to decade on the main routes from Innishannon, Bandon and Clonakilty into west Cork and our roads are getting seriously run down.
I think that is a Topical Issue rather than an item for the Order of Business.
It is about strategic infrastructure. I would appreciate the Taoiseach's views on the matter.
The Macroom by-pass is in the programme. I am not sure of the details regarding what Deputy Michael Collins is talking about. I am not sure whether he is talking about national or non-national roads in respect of west Cork.
National roads.
The Deputy should put down a Topical Issue and we will try to facilitate it.
The mortgages special court Bill, the Courts (Mortgage Arrears) Bill, is promised legislation but is unlikely to become effective until later in the year. In the interim, might it be possible to set out a series of guidelines with the co-operation of the Central Bank within which it might be possible to allow borrowers and lenders to come to some agreement about outstanding mortgages, some of which have been paid over the years and some of which have not been paid, to prevent all of them being treated the same way?
There are special sittings of the special courts to deal with a number of these. The proposals under that Bill are still proceeding. I can advise the Deputy of the progress made.
We have been working on the Energy Bill, which is on Report Stage tomorrow, and have had a good debate. We were looking to make amendments further to the ones we made on Committee Stage. In doing so, we came to the realisation that there is no consolidated version of the Bill. It is a 1999 Act that has been amended umpteen times. It is impossible to know what one is legislating. We are legislating blind and I imagine that if there are legal challenges or other issues in this area, any court would have difficulty in working out what the actual legislation is. In respect of indecipherable legislation, what plans does the Government have to provide drafting and other resources so that the legislation can be consolidated so we are not legislating blind and the public is aware of what the law actually says?
This issue applies to a number of pieces of legislation. Deputy Eamon Ryan is right. If things were perfect, all of these provisions would be codified and updated. I will discuss the matter with the Minister and the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to see what is the scope for consolidation and updating of the energy legislation. The Deputy's point is valid in that there have been so many sections and amendments over the years, it is difficult to track them accurately.
Did I hear the Taoiseach correctly when he said he has agreed terms of reference for the task force for the north inner city? He led us to believe at every stage that there would be a form of consultation with the local community in respect of those terms of reference. He has clearly reneged on that. Can he tell us what he will be doing in the north inner city tomorrow, where he will be going and whether he is proposing to launch these terms of reference?
On a second issue-----
The Deputy can only raise one issue.
If the Ceann Comhairle does not mind me observing, others raised two.
No, they did not. They raised one issue.
They raised two.
No, they did not.
My hearing is good.
Well, mine is reasonably good. They did not. The Deputy can raise the issue but we will not deal with it.
I will raise it nonetheless. I have previously raised the case of Mary Boyle, a young child who disappeared in County Donegal some 40 years ago, with the Taoiseach. Public disquiet about this matter is growing. There is a suggestion of political interference in the investigation of that child's disappearance. The Taoiseach knows that her twin sister, Ann Doherty, and people around her are most dissatisfied with the level of co-operation and support they have received in respect of this case. Will the Taoiseach again meet with Ann Doherty and exert whatever influence he has in moving these matters forward and certainly in respect of others elected to this House in respect of co-operating if there is any suggestion of political cover up and interference?
I had a very good meeting with the Doherty family. Arising from that, I sent an official report to the Garda inspector dealing with the report into the gardaí themselves. I understand that since then, the special investigative unit is looking afresh at this case. Mary Boyle disappeared 40 years ago. Her remains were never found and it would be a source of great consolation to her family were the case to be concluded.
I hope to make an announcement about a further visit to the inner city as I have been down there on a few occasions in the past few weeks. I will advise Deputy McDonald of the information I have in respect of developments, as I said to Deputy Howlin earlier.
Deputy McDonald took up all the time so I think I am entitled to ask a question. When will the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill resume progression through the Houses of the Oireachtas? It was almost finished during the last term. It is very important legislation and I want it to resume as soon as possible.
It has been published. We are waiting to be able to deal with it on Second Stage.