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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 11 May 2017

Vol. 950 No. 2

Questions on Promised Legislation

We have only 15 minutes for questions on promised legislation so if Members observe the time limit, it will give others a chance. I call Deputy O'Callaghan.

Yesterday, the Dáil Select Committee on Justice and Equality met to consider amendments to the Coroners Bill 2015. We never got a money message in respect of it but that is an issue for another day. However, we were informed by the Chairman, Deputy Ó Caoláin, that the Tánaiste had informed him she intends to bring forward issues concerning maternal deaths in a civil law and courts (miscellaneous provisions) Bill. When will that Bill be published so we can know it will come before the committee?

I had given a commitment to Deputy Clare Daly recognising the importance of this issue she had highlighted, as had Deputy O'Callaghan and other members of the committee. I am very keen that it would be passed before the summer. There are a variety of legislative mechanisms or Bills I could use but I might also consider a stand-alone Bill. I am meeting Deputy Daly later this afternoon to discuss that issue. I emphasise I want to work with the committee to ensure that legislation is passed before the summer. I recognise there are many families who have a very deep and serious concern around this issue and would like to see it being brought into law.

We might be able to include all if we make the questions and replies short and snappy. I call Deputy McDonald.

We will see what we can do. Yesterday, the Taoiseach indicated the Tánaiste would be more than happy, in fact delighted it seems, to come before the House and make a statement on the matters surrounding Templemore and some of the issues we touched on during Leaders' Questions. He also indicated the Tánaiste would be quite happy to take questions in that regard. I want to know when she proposes to do that.

When she takes to her feet on that occasion, she also should shed some light on the case of Dara Quigley, a young woman who died by suicide on 12 April. She had been detained by gardaí some days previously under the Mental Health Act. She had been walking naked in a Dublin street when detained. Garda CCTV footage of this detention was posted on Facebook, a really deplorable and revolting turn of events, and something that has brought great hardship to her family and which clearly brought very great distress to Dara. We mark her passing. When we talk about Garda culture, reform and accountability, I suppose this is the rawest end, the sharpest end, of a deplorable culture of humiliation and disregard for human beings.

I hope the Tánaiste will, as the Taoiseach promised, come before the House to make her statement and take questions. I hope also that she might shed some light on the accountability that will be held for the life of Dara Quigley.

In regard to the individual case the Deputy mentioned, everybody will be totally disturbed and appalled by the story that has been reported in the media and actions are following on from that. As the Deputy knows, that has been reported and there is an investigation and a GSOC inquiry. Of course, our thoughts are with that young woman's family, given the appalling and very sad sequence of events.

No doubt, the Business Committee can discuss the question of Ministers appearing before the Dáil. I just want to make the point that I do not want to in any way cut across the work the Committee of Public Accounts is doing in regard to Templemore.

I want to raise the issue of bogus or phoney self-employment whereby, as a condition of getting work, somebody is forced to become self-employed or to form a company. It means the person's employer does not pay social insurance and that the person has very little protection in terms of labour law.

When I was Minister and Tánaiste, I set up a group drawn from the Departments of Social Protection and Finance to look at the issue. My understanding is that the work on that has been complete for some time. There was a public consultation process which ended well over a year ago and I understand the information is to hand.

This issue of phoney self-employment involves a very significant number of people, including many low-paid and poor people. I want to know why both the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Social Protection are refusing to publish this report.

Time. This is ridiculous.

Thank you, Deputy Burton. We want to give others a chance.

When the Revenue Commissioners did a study of it about three years ago, it resulted in a large amount of extra tax being recovered by the State because of the bogus self-employment.

I will ask for the information in regard to that report to be sent to the Deputy. While I do not have details as to when it will be published, I will ask both Ministers to liaise with the Deputy. I am not familiar with the publication date.

I have raised it with both Ministers-----

Sorry, Deputy. There are others who want the opportunity to speak. I call Deputy Troy. I ask Deputies to consider their colleagues and make it short and snappy.

The An Post network and its mail distribution centres face uncertain times. The Bobby Kerr report is with the Government and the McKinsey report is currently under way. There is huge anxiety and worry among the employees of An Post in the mail distribution centre in Athlone and in other areas of the An Post network. The Minister with responsibility might update the House on when we can expect these reports to be published and debated in the Dáil and on when we can expect a clear roadmap for the future of the An Post network and the mail distribution centres.

I will ask the Minister, Deputy Naughten, to respond.

I thank Deputy Troy for his questions. As he knows, this is something very close to my heart. First, in regard to the post office network, I am one of the five Deputies who made a submission to initial review for the Bobby Kerr report and it is something I articulated when I was on the other side of the House in regard to constructive reform of the network. The issue of the mail centres is also close to my heart, given there is one in my home town of Athlone. No decision has been made in regard to any of these. The board is considering reports that are being produced by the company. The board has discussed some of these issues to date but no decisions have yet been made and there will have to be extensive engagement with the group of unions and with the IPU. I understand the IPU has already commenced engagement with management.

The Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act, which was passed in December 2016, introduced rent caps in rent pressure zones. I am the representative of a rent pressure zone in Kildare North. A number of rent reviews have been with the Department for nearly three months. While the Tánaiste might not be able to answer me, she might get her colleague or departmental officials to revert to me in this regard. It has taken nearly three months to have a review carried out, which is causing a lot of stress and hardship for families and putting pressure on them. Can the Government have this speeded up? It is unacceptable that a review of a rent pressure zone would take nearly three months.

When the Minister introduced that initiative, he made it clear that there could be reviews. I will ask him to correspond with the Deputy directly to see when that review in regard to Kildare will be finalised.

I want to ask about the commitment in the programme for Government regarding the cost of housing rents. There are many people caught in the middle who cannot get on a local authority waiting list because they are over the €25,000 or €26,000 threshold and they cannot get a mortgage. These are low to middle-income workers who are caught in that bind. We know there is a huge housing crisis, that it is difficult to get private rented accommodation, that people have no security of tenure and that rents are sky-high, as demonstrated by the report this week by www.daft.ie.

What I want to highlight for the Tánaiste is the fact that the Nevin Institute has put forward a proposal. There is money with the credit unions, namely, €8 billion in deposits. There is money in pension funds which is earning 0.5% interest. There is European Investment Bank, EIB, money. There is money available. I am not saying that there is a magic wand, but most Members agree with the cost-to-rent scheme contained in the programme for Government. There is significant political support for it. Such a scheme is badly needed. What progress has been made in bringing that scheme into being in order that we might have developments of cost-to-rent apartments and housing built?

The Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government has announced a series of initiatives to increase housing supply and to make every effort to ensure that we can make rents more affordable and manageable and make social housing available. He will be making further announcements in the coming weeks on a number of housing initiatives-----

I asked about the cost-to-rent scheme.

-----and no doubt he will be considering the points the Deputy makes in respect of that initiative.

With a little co-operation, we might get through all those who are offering.

A Programme for a Partnership Government contains a commitment to increase access to safe and timely care close to patients' homes. Recent figures from the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, show that, at the end of April, there were 2,281 people waiting for outpatient appointments at Mayo University Hospital. These are people who were referred for necessary care and treatment by their GPs. The length of the waiting list is leading to increased stress, anxiety, further medical complications and increased illness among those patients. Clearly, the Government is failing in its commitment to provide timely access to care. Another related issue is the fact that patients who choose to go north of the Border for treatment are having it paid for by the HSE. Patients in my constituency of Mayo are availing of treatment across the Border. When will the Government address the delays relating to the NTPF? When will we see full and proper roll-out of that fund? Is serious action being taken to address the delays being experienced by patients languishing on waiting lists?

As the Deputy will be aware, there is a budget again for the NTPF. I indicated previously that hundreds of appointments would be made for patients so that they can benefit from treatment. Notice of those appointments has begun to issue. Over 300 patients have received appointments. The process in this regard will continue and accelerate in the coming weeks and months. In the meantime, as the Deputy will be aware, other initiatives are being taken by the Minister for Health. He has access to the largest budget ever in the history of the State. Of course, there is increasing demand on health services but it is important to note that almost 1.69 million patients received inpatient or day-case treatment in our hospitals in 2016, an increase of almost 40,000 on the previous year.

Deputy Martin Kenny is next. Brevity, please.

The fracking Bill was brought through by my constituency colleague, Deputy Tony McLoughlin. It is a magnificent Bill and there is progress being made steadily as it moves through the Oireachtas. I seek an assurance. The Bill has been changed or adjusted slightly to become an amendment to the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act 1960. Will the Government set time aside to have it progressed through the Houses before the summer recess?

We are proceeding with Deputy McLoughlin's Bill on fracking. My understanding is that, with the consent of the Business Committee, the intention is to take Report Stage in the House the week after next. I intend to bring the legislation to the Seanad as quickly as possible and to have it enacted before the summer. That was the commitment I gave to the House at the end of last year when the Bill was brought forward. I gave a commitment that I am determined to have the legislation enacted. It is my intention to have it enacted without undue delay.

On numerous previous occasions, I have asked questions about work on flood relief measures. As the Minister, Deputy Naughten, will be aware, Roscommon and the surrounding counties have suffered terribly as a result of flooding. I acknowledge and admit that work has been done in respect of flood defences. My problem, as I have stated time and again, is that there is no dredging programme in place. As a result, there is no real cleaning up of rivers being done. We need to get this work done. The Tánaiste will have heard the adage, "Make hay while the sun shines." It certainly is appropriate. We have had six months of outstanding weather and I do not see diggers working on the rivers. I do not see the programme that was promised for the River Shannon being put in place. Members will know that rivers everywhere are choked up with peat and silt. I am aware that this is not the Tánaiste's area. The Minister, Deputy Naughten, is pushing for this. I implore the Tánaiste to use the fine weather to get this work done. We cannot wait for further floods to cause destruction to people's lives, as they have right along the Shannon.

Four more speakers are offering.

I ask the Minister, Deputy Naughten, to answer.

I ask the Minister to be brief.

Deputy Eugene Murphy is correct. This is most frustrating. The previous maintenance on the Shannon was carried out under a different authority in a different Parliament. This is a complex issue. All of the semi-State companies are now sitting down with the Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW. There is significant engagement ongoing. A number of those semi-State companies come under the control of my Department and I have instructed each of them to facilitate the OPW in progressing this matter. I reiterate that this is a complex issue . It is not only a matter of the physical removal of the material; where that material subsequently goes also needs to be addressed as part of this process.

In recent days, there has been media comment on the circumstances leading up to the death of the journalist and blogger, Ms Dara Quigley. Very serious questions have been raised about the Garda Síochána and its treatment of the most vulnerable in society. I will leave those questions for another day. Today, I want to ask the Tánaiste about the question of dual diagnosis. Dara suffered from and struggled with mental health problems and addiction. She received help from many agencies but what was available was not sufficient. A particular problem was the lack of dual diagnosis services where psychiatric and addiction problems are treated together in a professional and properly funded manner. My question to the Tánaiste is as follows. Does she see a legislative pathway to addressing this problem?

I ask the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, to answer.

I offer my condolences to the late Ms Quigley's family and friends. This was a terrible situation and what happened consequently was deplorable. The issue of dual diagnosis is something that we have not dealt with in the past. We know that in a significant number of suicides there is a link between drug or alcohol use as well. We are developing a clinical programme on the issue of dual diagnosis. We have appointed a national clinical lead who will work to develop a programme whereby if somebody is suffering from either a drug or alcohol problem that is leading on to a mental health problem, there will be a clear clinical pathway for our doctors and nurses, both within the acute hospitals and in primary care settings. There is work well under way and we would be hoping to continue that during the year.

Following Deputy Durkan, we will have Deputies Mitchell and McConalogue.

The insurance (amendment) Bill is promised legislation, the purpose of which is to implement the report, Review of the Framework for Motor Insurance Compensation in Ireland. I ask the Tánaiste when the Bill is likely to come before the House.

Work is under way on that Bill. At this time, I do not have a date for its publication.

I want to refer to the general scheme of the social welfare and pensions Bill 2017. Elements of the proposed Bill intend to deal with abuse in the welfare system. However, I note the inaction to date of the Department in chasing up more than €450 million owed to the State by companies the liabilities of which had to be covered by the taxpayer. Will there be provisions in the proposed Bill which will lead to the Department getting tough in the context of recouping the moneys owed to the State by such companies?

The heads of that legislation were cleared by Cabinet on Tuesday and it is now going for pre-legislative scrutiny. Hopefully, the Bill will be published after that. There will be an opportunity to raise that issue in committee.

The programme for Government contains a commitment to encourage young farmers to take up careers in farming. However, unlike its predecessor, the young farmers scheme relating to the national reserve, which was announced a few weeks ago by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, does not accommodate farmers who are currently undertaking agricultural courses. The deadline for basic payment scheme returns and for making applications in respect of those schemes is Monday next. I ask the Tánaiste to liaise with the Minister to ensure that the conditions are changed in order to accommodate - as was the case previously - those young farmers who are pursuing courses and make sure that they are given time to apply.

That is a very tight deadline. I assume there was a reason to change it.

I will ensure the Deputy's concerns on the matter are brought to the attention of the Minister today and I will ask him to link with the Deputy to discuss the matter.

I wish to raise an issue which came to my attention recently in my constituency office. I appreciate it does not come under the direct supervision of the Minister in her Department but she may be able to furnish us with some clarity. A person came to me whose business failed and they find themselves in mortgage arrears. The banks are moving on them. They are also in arrears with the Revenue Commissioners. The Revenue Commissioners have an attachment order on their bank accounts. Recently, in order to survive and subsist, the person applied for and was granted family income supplement. Upon receiving the first payment of the family income supplement and the arrears due from the application date, the Revenue reached into their bank account and took the payment. As I understand it, the payment is an income supplement for the family to allow them to live day to day. Through her good offices, could the Minister please get clarity on whether the Revenue Commissioners are allowed to take the family income supplement payment from a person's bank account in cases where they have an attachment order on the bank account?

I suggest that the Deputy would raise the issue with the Minister for Social Protection, but I will have it brought to his attention as well. I suggest also that Deputy Collins would inform the person who came to see him that it would be worthwhile contacting Abhaile given the financial support, information and advice that is available. It could well be that the person could get support for the situation they face and have such queries answered.

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