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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 4 May 2022

Vol. 1021 No. 4

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

The report of the Business Committee has been circulated. In accordance with Standing Order 35, I ask Deputy Ó Cathasaigh to move this week's Order of Business.

I move:

Wednesday's business shall be:

-Motions for Revised Estimates for Public Services 2022 [Votes 27, 28, 33, 35, 36 and 38] (to be moved together and decided without debate by one question)

-Motion re Referral to Committee of the Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2022 (without debate)

-Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions (without debate)

-Motion re Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council to enable Eurojust to collect, preserve and analyse evidence relating to war crimes in Ukraine (to conclude within 55 mins)

-Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022 (Report and Final Stages) (to conclude within 60 mins)

-Competition (Amendment) Bill 2022 (Report and Final Stages) (to conclude within 60 mins)

Private Members' Business shall be the Motion re Rising Rental Costs, selected by Sinn Féin.

Thursday's business shall be:

-Statements on Government's Response on Accommodation Needs to those Fleeing Ukraine (not to exceed 210 mins)

Private Members' Business shall be the Motion re Sale and Supply of Turf Regulations, selected by the Independent Group.

Proposed Arrangements for this week's business

In relation to Wednesday's business, it is proposed that:

1. the Motions for Revised Estimates for Public Services 2022 [Votes 27, 28, 33, 35, 36 and 38] shall be moved together and decided without debate by one question, which shall be put from the Chair;

2. the Motion re Referral to Committee of the Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2022 shall be taken without debate;

3. the Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions shall be taken without debate;

4. the Motion re Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council to enable Eurojust to collect, preserve and analyse evidence relating to war crimes in Ukraine, shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 55 minutes, and the following arrangements shall apply:

(i) the opening speech of a Minister or Minister of State shall be followed by a speech of a member of Sinn Féin, with those speeches not exceeding 10 minutes in each case;

(ii) the speeches of the members of the Labour Party, Social Democrats, People Before Profit-Solidarity, the Regional Group, the Rural Independent Group and the Independent Group, who shall be called upon in that order, shall not exceed 5 minutes in each case;

(iii) a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 5 minutes; and

(iv) members may share time;

5. the proceedings on the Report and Final Stages of the Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 60 minutes by one question which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Finance;

6. the proceedings on the Report and Final Stages of the Competition (Amendment) Bill 2022 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 60 minutes by one question which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment;

7. Private Members’ Business, the Motion re Rising Rental Costs, shall be taken on the conclusion of the Competition (Amendment) Bill 2022;

8. no oral Parliamentary Questions pursuant to Standing Order 46(1) to a member of the Government other than the Taoiseach shall be taken; and

9. notwithstanding the ordinary routine of business as contained in Schedule 3 to Standing Orders, topical issues shall be taken on the conclusion of Private Members' Business.

In relation to Thursday's business, it is proposed that:

1. notwithstanding the ordinary routine of business as contained in Schedule 3 to Standing Orders, the Dáil shall adjourn on the conclusion of topical issues pursuant to Standing Order 37, which shall be taken on the conclusion of private members' business pursuant to Standing Order 169;

2. the Statements on Government's Response on Accommodation Needs to those Fleeing Ukraine shall not exceed 210 minutes, with arrangements in accordance with those agreed by Order of the Dáil of 30th July 2020, for 200 minutes, following which a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes, and members may share time; and

3. no private member's Bill or motion for a Committee report pursuant to Standing Order 102 and Standing Order 160 shall be taken, and private members' business pursuant to Standing Order 169, the Motion re Sale and Supply of Turf Regulations, shall be taken on the conclusion of the Statements on Government's Response on Accommodation Needs to those Fleeing Ukraine.

The Government has allocated just 60 minutes for the Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022. This is an important Bill. A number of Opposition amendments have been tabled. Sinn Féin tabled amendments that would, for example, reverse the Government-imposed increase in the price of home heating oil that came into place last Sunday and, further, reduce it by €118. The amendments would also lead to a reduction in the cost of petrol, diesel and agri-diesel. These are important amendments and, regardless of whether the Taoiseach supports them, he will, I hope, agree it is important Deputies have an opportunity to discuss their various merits or otherwise. One hour is simply not good enough. We ask, in good faith, that the Government allocate additional time.

I totally concur with Deputy Carthy. As I indicated to Deputy Denis Naughten, who was deputising for the Ceann Comhairle at the meeting of the Business Committee last Thursday, we have been asking for several weeks for a proper debate on agriculture and the many issues relating to agriculture and food supply, such as the cost of fertilisers, oil and everything else. The Government last night announced some paltry, ha'penny scheme. We need something worthwhile. Is the Government so far removed from the land that it has dumped the wellingtons and is forgetting rural Ireland? It is all about the Pale, Cork city and other places and green projects, and to hell with farmers. To hell or to Connacht; the old slogan. We depend on the farming community. Every village, town and hamlet depends on them, as does our food supply. I want a meaningful debate. The Government Chief Whip could not indicate last week when the Government would give us time to debate the issue here. We need a full and comprehensive debate on farming issues and food supply.

I am conscious we have had an exchange on the national maternity hospital issue, but the key question is why we do not see it moving into public ownership if it is, indeed, to be in public ownership in all but name, given the 299-year lease. That question has not been satisfactorily answered. Might we amend the Order of Business to take some time to tease out that question and debate why we cannot look at a compulsory purchase order to see the State finally take effective and legal ownership of the site on which the hospital is to be built?

The Minister for Health has already made it clear that he is going to appear before the Joint Committee on Health. One would assume that the committees exist to interrogate these matters.

I am aware that the issue is going to the committee. The Minister should, however, make statement in the Dáil and all groups should have an opportunity to make statements and ask the Minister questions on the critical issue of the future of the national maternity hospital before any decision is made by the Cabinet because there is dispute over the so-called guarantees and the future of this absolutely critical facility for the delivery of the state-of-the-art healthcare we want for women in this country. That uncertainty has to be resolved. We need to get the hospital the women of this country deserve. The Minister should come in here and make a statement and we should have an opportunity to make statements and ask questions.

That is fine, but I again put it to the Deputy that during the Covid crisis, Members got fiercely excited about the centrality of the work of the committees and said that they should not be sidelined and should be allowed to do their work. It appears to me that this is part of the work they need to do.

I agree with the previous contributions. This is a €1 billion investment that the State will be making. It is incredibly important for the women of Ireland that this is done correctly. I welcome the fact that the documents were published last night. It would be worthwhile to provide some time to enable Members and the general public to take a look through them to see whether any issues arise. It is very important that we have a debate on this matter, if not this week, then next week. It is crucial that such a debate happen before the Minister brings the deal back to the Cabinet.

I am conscious that we have a day and half this week to get business done in the plenary session. Many items will be covered by the House today and tomorrow including: the finance legislation; the Sinn Féin Private Member's motion; the Topical Issue debates; oral questions to the Ministers for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and Housing, Local Government and Heritage; two sets of Leaders' Questions; statements on the Government's response to the accommodation needs of those fleeing Ukraine; and further Private Member's business from the Independent Group tomorrow evening. It is not going to be possible to accommodate further business this week but we could commit to a debate on agriculture next week. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine will be available to take such a debate next week and the Chief Whip has indicated a willingness to accommodate it. With regard to the issue of the national maternity hospital, we just discussed the matter during Leaders' Questions. The Minister for Health has published all of the documentation and has made it clear that he will go before the Joint Committee on Health to brief members and hear what they have to say in respect of the issue. Next week's business is a matter for the Business Committee but I do not see us being in a position to facilitate-----

On this week's business, an hour is not sufficient to discuss the Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022.

We are not in a position to facilitate a debate on the national maternity hospital this week.

Would it be feasible to have a debate here on the issue of the maternity hospital after the Minister has had his discussion with the Joint Committee on Health if there continues to be a desire for one?

I am open to it. I am not against debate but the Government-----

That would seem to address the concerns.

-----also has to take decisions.

If I may, the Ceann Comhairle suggested a good compromise.

You may not. The Deputy may only raise one matter. I am trying to facilitate Members.

Are we having a debate on agriculture next week?

There will be a debate on agriculture next week.

It is up to the House. The Minister is available for a debate on agriculture. The Deputy has been asking for one.

On Deputy Carthy's question about the-----

The Taoiseach regularly states that we need time for legislation. Today, there is a legislative Bill coming before the House to which several amendments have been proposed but only 60 minutes have been allowed to debate them. We will not get through the first amendment. We need to have time to discuss these things.

It is Report and Final Stages that are being taken.

It has gone through Committee Stage. There was an extensive debate on Committee Stage.

There was not. The debate was also guillotined.

Ah, come on.

There is a need for comprehensive debate.

The Taoiseach has answered the question. I must put the question.

It was not guillotined.

Question put: "That the proposal for dealing with this week's business be agreed to."
The Dáil divided: Tá, 72; Níl, 53; Staon, 0.

  • Berry, Cathal.
  • Brophy, Colm.
  • Browne, James.
  • Bruton, Richard.
  • Burke, Colm.
  • Butler, Mary.
  • Cahill, Jackie.
  • Calleary, Dara.
  • Cannon, Ciarán.
  • Carey, Joe.
  • Carroll MacNeill, Jennifer.
  • Chambers, Jack.
  • Collins, Niall.
  • Costello, Patrick.
  • Coveney, Simon.
  • Crowe, Cathal.
  • Devlin, Cormac.
  • Dillon, Alan.
  • Donnelly, Stephen.
  • Duffy, Francis Noel.
  • Durkan, Bernard J.
  • English, Damien.
  • Farrell, Alan.
  • Feighan, Frankie.
  • Fitzpatrick, Peter.
  • Flaherty, Joe.
  • Flanagan, Charles.
  • Fleming, Sean.
  • Grealish, Noel.
  • Griffin, Brendan.
  • Harris, Simon.
  • Haughey, Seán.
  • Higgins, Emer.
  • Humphreys, Heather.
  • Kehoe, Paul.
  • Lahart, John.
  • Leddin, Brian.
  • Lowry, Michael.
  • Madigan, Josepha.
  • Martin, Micheál.
  • Matthews, Steven.
  • McConalogue, Charlie.
  • McEntee, Helen.
  • McGrath, Michael.
  • Moynihan, Aindrias.
  • Moynihan, Michael.
  • Murnane O'Connor, Jennifer.
  • Naughten, Denis.
  • Naughton, Hildegarde.
  • Noonan, Malcolm.
  • O'Brien, Darragh.
  • O'Brien, Joe.
  • O'Callaghan, Jim.
  • O'Connor, James.
  • O'Dea, Willie.
  • O'Donnell, Kieran.
  • O'Donovan, Patrick.
  • O'Gorman, Roderic.
  • O'Sullivan, Christopher.
  • O'Sullivan, Pádraig.
  • Ó Cathasaigh, Marc.
  • Ó Cuív, Éamon.
  • Phelan, John Paul.
  • Rabbitte, Anne.
  • Richmond, Neale.
  • Ring, Michael.
  • Shanahan, Matt.
  • Smith, Brendan.
  • Smyth, Niamh.
  • Smyth, Ossian.
  • Troy, Robert.
  • Varadkar, Leo.

Níl

  • Andrews, Chris.
  • Bacik, Ivana.
  • Barry, Mick.
  • Boyd Barrett, Richard.
  • Brady, John.
  • Browne, Martin.
  • Buckley, Pat.
  • Cairns, Holly.
  • Canney, Seán.
  • Carthy, Matt.
  • Clarke, Sorca.
  • Collins, Michael.
  • Connolly, Catherine.
  • Cronin, Réada.
  • Crowe, Seán.
  • Cullinane, David.
  • Daly, Pa.
  • Donnelly, Paul.
  • Farrell, Mairéad.
  • Funchion, Kathleen.
  • Guirke, Johnny.
  • Harkin, Marian.
  • Healy-Rae, Danny.
  • Healy-Rae, Michael.
  • Howlin, Brendan.
  • Kerrane, Claire.
  • Mac Lochlainn, Pádraig.
  • McGrath, Mattie.
  • McNamara, Michael.
  • Mitchell, Denise.
  • Munster, Imelda.
  • Murphy, Catherine.
  • Murphy, Paul.
  • Murphy, Verona.
  • Mythen, Johnny.
  • Nash, Ged.
  • Nolan, Carol.
  • O'Callaghan, Cian.
  • O'Reilly, Louise.
  • O'Rourke, Darren.
  • Ó Broin, Eoin.
  • Ó Laoghaire, Donnchadh.
  • Ó Murchú, Ruairí.
  • Ó Ríordáin, Aodhán.
  • Ó Snodaigh, Aengus.
  • Pringle, Thomas.
  • Quinlivan, Maurice.
  • Ryan, Patricia.
  • Shortall, Róisín.
  • Stanley, Brian.
  • Tully, Pauline.
  • Ward, Mark.
  • Whitmore, Jennifer.

Staon

Tellers: Tá, Deputies Jack Chambers and Brendan Griffin; Níl, Deputies Pádraig Mac Lochlainn and Denise Mitchell.
Question declared carried.
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