It is proposed to take No. 11, motion on Local Government (Planning and Development) Bill, 1997, and No. 22, Finance Bill, 1998, Second Stage, resumed. It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that No. 11 shall be decided without debate and the proceedings on Second Stage of No. 22, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 6.45 p.m. today. Private Members' Business shall be No. 33, Trade Union Recognition Bill, 1998, Second Stage, resumed.
Order of Business.
Is the proposal for dealing with No. 11 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 22 agreed? Agreed.
What are the Government's plans regarding the ground rents Bill?
Examination of that legislation is at a very early stage and it will not be introduced this year.
I expect the Taoiseach will give the same answer in a year's time.
At 1 p.m. on Thursday the House will discuss the position in Iraq, which appears to have been somewhat resolved. Is it the Government's intention to address, on that occasion, the stopover at Shannon and matters relating thereto? Without anticipating the content of the debate, will the procedures involved in the issues raised in public at the weekend, which have not come to pass because of the success of Kofi Annan, be addressed by Government spokespersons in the course of statements on Thursday afternoon?
That seems a reasonable request. I will arrange that the position will be outlined.
We all welcome wholeheartedly the success of Kofi Annan in achieving a diplomatic solution to the crisis in the Middle East, thereby avoiding the prospect of what would have been a terrible war whose implications would have been far-reaching and worldwide. On behalf of my party, I congratulate Kofi Annan on his success.
Has the Deputy a question on the Order of Business?
Yes. On No. 9, the International War Crimes Tribunals Bill, when will that Bill be brought before the House. When will the debate, promised by the Minister for Foreign Affairs at Question Time some time ago, about Ireland's role in international relations, specifically in the context of European security architecture, take place?
I wish to put on record the Government's appreciation of the diplomatic achievement by the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, in securing an Iraqi undertaking to comply with UN Security Council resolutions. That matter will be debated on Thursday. The legislation on war crime tribunals is one of a range of Bills in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform which will be taken during the course of the year. On the debate referred to by the Deputy, that matter may be discussed at the Whips' meeting.
On No. 9, in the absence of that legislation, is Ireland precluded from cooperating with other EU states?
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
It has been reported by the National Association for Mentally Handicapped of Ireland that 1,000 people with a mental handicap are currently in residential care in psychiatric hospitals. When will that infringement of their human rights be ended?
That does not arise on the Order of Business. It is a matter for a parliamentary question.
Arising from an incident in Cork yesterday where a 15-year-old was sent to prison——
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
——and on the other hand a 14year-old was allowed to go free because of lack of spaces in detention centres, what will the Minister for zero tolerance do about the matter?
The Deputy should resume his seat when the Chair is on his feet.
If the Minister were on this side of the House he would be roaring and shouting about it.
The matter does not arise on the Order of Business.
It relates to promised legislation, the juvenile justice Bill.
What is the Minister doing about the provision of detention centres? It is scandalous that a district judge yesterday had to issue a public warning that the State would be liable if the Minister did not make a decision——
It is not in order on the Order of Business to go into detail on the matter. I will allow the question on when the legislation will be introduced.
Law and order is breaking down.
The Children Bill is awaiting Committee Stage.
Is the Taoiseach in a position to indicate when Second Stage of the Bill to give effect to the referendum to enact the Amsterdam Treaty will take place? When is it proposed to hold that referendum? Will it be before or after 1 May? When does the Tánaiste intend to introduce legislation to effect the amalgamation of Forbairt, An Bord Tráchtála and components of FÁS?
It is hoped the legislation on the Amsterdam Treaty will be debated the week after next, that the Bill will go through all Stages here and in the Seanad by 2 April and that the referendum will be held in mid-May. The other legislation to which the Deputy referred will be ready directly after Easter.
Will the Taoiseach provide time in the House to discuss the recent visit by the Minister for Agriculture and Food to the United Kingdom to ensure our meat is put back on the supermarket shelves? It is right and fitting——
I will allow the first part of the question. The matter was debated on the Adjournment last week.
In the context of the Amsterdam Treaty, there is no free trade——
The issue may not be debated now.
There is a case to be made for Ireland. The question must be answered as to why there is no free trade for our farmers.
The Deputy should resume his seat. I am calling Deputy Howlin.
Will time be made available for that matter, which is of vital national interest?
The Minister for Agriculture and Food yesterday met the UK retail chains, Sainsbury, Tesco and Safeways, with a view to protecting the £200 million beef market. The Minister will be glad to reply to a parliamentary question and give a detailed account of those discussions.
The Minister did not have a good day.
With regard to the Electoral (Amendment) Act, 1996, has the Government taken steps to ensure that polling stations in the two constituencies where by-elections are being held will be fully accessible to people in wheelchairs and those with impaired vision?
I will ask the Minister for the Environment and Local Government to restate to local returning officers the need to comply with the 1966 Act.
What is the current position of the Land Registry Bill, the purpose of which is to establish a semi-State body to deal more expeditiously with land and house registration? Is the Taoiseach aware that, under successive Governments, this legislation has been in preparation for some time? When does he expect the Bill to be introduced?
A date has not been set for the Bill's introduction which is designed to convert the Land Registry to a semi-State body. I am aware that a preliminary draft is in preparation and is currently being examined by the Department. I will inquire when the draft will be ready for publication.
In view of the benefits that will flow from the enactment of this Bill, will he consider giving the legislation priority for drafting?
I understand the deputy registrar of the Land Registry has been working on the preliminary draft. I will try to arrange a date for the Bill's introduction.
When will the urban renewal Bill be introduced? Does the Taoiseach expect the Department of the Environment and Local Government to enter discussions with the Dublin Docklands Authority to discuss the question of affordable housing in the docklands area before the Bill is introduced?
I understand the Bill will be introduced and debated in the House during the session after Easter.
Will discussions take place between the Department of the Environment and Local Government——
That matter is not appropriate to the Order of Business. The Taoiseach has already answered the Deputy's question.
The Committee on Procedure and Privileges has been examining Dáil reform for a number of years. When can a report be expected from the committee?
The committee's most recent report was debated in the House last autumn. I am not aware that further reports are expected. If I recall correctly, the committee's report on that occasion was quite comprehensive. Implementation of reforms of the committee structure, etc., occurred following the debate on that report.
Will the Government give priority to introducing the valuations Bill because penal commercial rates are being applied to small, family-run businesses?
The Department of Finance is working on the Bill and it has been circulated to other Departments for observations.
Is the Taoiseach aware that one of the reasons for the commitment to establish the social services inspectorate was that inquiries could be held and their findings published? Is he further aware that, in view of the number of abuse cases, there is a necessity for such a procedure and a certain urgency attached to proceeding with the establishment of the inspectorate?
I answered a question on this matter last week. The item was removed from the programme of legislation in view of the urgency of establishing the social services inspectorate. The inspectorate will be introduced on an administrative basis and located in the Department of Health and Children. The existing general powers of the Minister for Health and Children and the powers provided under the Childcare Act will underpin the administrative arrangements. In the long term it is expected that the inspectorate will need to be placed on a statutory footing. However, the administrative mechanism will enable it to commence operations in the short-term.
Will it be in a position to hold inquiries?
On a point of clarification for Members who wish to table questions, that Minister has responsibility for children, particularly those who——
That matter is not appropriate to the Order of Business. There are other ways to discover which is the appropriate Department.
I am merely asking a simple question.
There are other ways to obtain the information requested.
It is a simple question of procedure.
I agree. However, it is not appropriate to raise it on the Order of Business.