Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 1 Apr 1999

Vol. 503 No. 2

Order of Business.

The Tánaiste

It is proposed to take No. b6, motion re. Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Question; No. c6, motion re. Standing Order 61; No. d6, motion re. Standing Order 149; No. 32, Statements on European Summit; No. 33, Statements on Housing, Planning and Transportation and No. 33a, Statements on the early release of a person, to be taken at 4 p.m.

It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that: (1) Nos. b6, c6 and d6 shall be decided without debate; (2) the proceedings on No. 32, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion after 70 minutes and the statements shall be confined to the following Members who shall be called upon in the following sequence and the following arrangements shall apply: (i) the opening speech of the Minister for Finance and of the main spokespersons for the Fine Gael Party and the Labour Party, shall not exceed 20 minutes in each case; and (ii) a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed ten minutes; (3) the following arrangements shall apply in relation to No. 33: (i) the opening statement of a Minister or Minister of State and of the main spokespersons for the Fine Gael Party and the Labour Party shall not exceed 30 minutes in each case; (ii) the statement of each other Member called upon shall not exceed 20 minutes in each case; (iii) Members may share time; (iv) a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 15 minutes; and (4) the following arrangements shall apply in relation to No. 33a: (i) statements shall be confined to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the main spokespersons for the Fine Gael Party and the Labour Party whose statements shall not exceed five minutes in each case; (ii) following statements, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform shall take questions for a period not exceeding 25 minutes; (iii) following questions the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed five minutes; and (iv) the proceedings, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion after 45 minutes.

An Ceann Comhairle

There are four proposals to be put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with b6, c6 and d6 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 32 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 33 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 33a agreed? Agreed.

Mrs. Owen

Has the Government had discussions with the European partners on the growing crisis of refugees from Kosovo and whether Europe will involve itself in sharing the burden of dealing with them?

An Ceann Comhairle

A question has been tabled to the Minister for Defence for answer today on that subject. There will also be statements on the European Summit.

Mrs. Owen

The Minister for Defence does not have responsibility for refugees. Perhaps the Tánaiste will elaborate.

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy Howlin has a question on the same subject.

Mr. Howlin

No.

The Tánaiste

I do not have specific information. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Andrews, dealt with this matter on Question Time last Tuesday. The Government has always played its part in relation to refugees in situations of this kind. I do not know what contact the Minister has had with his colleagues in Europe. Clearly he has been engaged in the Northern Ireland talks during the past few days. The Government has given the Irish aid agencies involved an increased allocation of funding. Should I have any further information from the Minister I will keep the Deputy posted.

Mr. Howlin

Is the Tánaiste in a position to inform the House about the Northern talks which are at a delicate and crucial stage? Will she accept the support of all Members for the delicate efforts under way to implement the crucial final stages of the Agreement?

The Tánaiste

All sides of the House have been together in trying to resolve the ongoing difficulties in putting the Good Friday Agreement into effect. The parties have been in negotiations all night with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the Taoiseach. I am not in a position to inform the House of the situation because the negotiations are at a delicate and sensitive stage. In the course of this morning or today the Government will be in touch with the Opposition parties, which is the normal procedure. As soon as we have information we will be in contact with the Fine Gael Party, the Labour Party and the Green Party.

Mr. Finucane

I acknowledge the constructive approach of all sides to last night's Private Members' Bill on adventure centres.

The Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources said on 6 July last year that 11 people would be appointed to a seaweed forum. If the Minister is having difficulty filling the positions, I am willing to help him with regard to nominations.

An Ceann Comhairle

That does not arise on the Order of Business.

Mr. Howlin

I congratulate all those involved in ensuring that the Special Olympics will be held in Ireland in 2003. This will be a significant event for the country. The quick publication and enactment of the Equal Status Bill and the Disability Bill would be an appropriate recognition of the significance of the achievement. Will the Tánaiste indicate when those Bills will come before the Houses of the Oireachtas?

The Tánaiste

I thank Deputy Howlin for his comments. I commend my colleague, the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, who worked extremely hard on this matter. He succeeded in securing the Special Olympics for Ireland, which will be a prestigious event.

Deputy Howlin's point about the Bills is valid. The Equal Status Bill will be published after Easter and the disability Bill is further down the line. The Bills are necessary in any event but given that the Special Olympics will be held here, Deputy Howlin's remarks are fitting and we will try to expedite the disability Bill.

Mr. Higgins

(Mayo): Yesterday morning there was another gangland murder in Churchtown. A man who was due to receive £100,000 in a redundancy payment today was mown down in cold blood. This is one of a series of gangland killings. What measures, either legislative or administrative, are proposed to deal with this? When the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform was in Opposition, he promised he would set up a special unit to deal with complicated murder inquiries.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy should not continue with a statement.

Mr. Higgins

(Mayo): Whatever about complicated murders, there are many callous murders. There is a breakdown in the system. Will any special measures be included in the Criminal Justice Bill, which is on Committee Stage and which is being amended to deal with a number of issues, such as the intimidation of witnesses?

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy cannot inquire about the contents of the Bill.

Mr. Higgins

(Mayo): Are special measures proposed?

The Tánaiste

I am not certain that new legislation is required to deal with these matters. I share the Deputy's concern about the latest murder, which appears to be a gangland killing. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has introduced amendments to the Bill which is currently before the House in relation to the intimidation of witnesses. I am not certain if other amendments are necessary. If so, I am sure they will be forthcoming.

Mr. Gormley

Given that the Taoiseach stated yesterday that the bombings in Yugoslavia are making the situation in Kosovo worse, will the Government make its views known to the German Presidency?

An Ceann Comhairle

That does not arise on the Order of Business.

Mr. Gormley

It would be good to know.

Mrs. Owen

The legislation relating to insanity and the Mental Health Bill appear to be interlinked and may be delaying each other. There has been coverage in recent days of the case of a person who was found to be criminally insane and committed to Dundrum, but who is now out on day release.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy cannot elaborate on the matter.

Mrs. Owen

When will the two Bills come before the House? The legislation relating to insanity was well advanced two years ago but it appears to have receded.

Mr. Browne

(Carlow-Kilkenny): There has been no progress.

The Tánaiste

The Mental Health Bill will be published after Easter. The other Bill will be published subsequently. I do not have a specific date, but I think it will be later in the year.

Mrs. Owen

Are they being kept separate?

The Tánaiste

Yes.

Proinsias De Rossa

Is it intended to introduce a Supplementary Estimate to cover the £400,000 promised for humanitarian aid for the people of Kosovo?

An Ceann Comhairle

A Priority Question on that matter has been tabled.

Proinsias De Rossa

Is it intended to increase the amount because £400,000 is niggardly in the context of the enormous humanitarian catastrophe which has arisen? Is the Tánaiste concerned about the fact that NATO has started to bomb civil targets, such as water supplies, sewerage treatment plants and bridges? This is a direct attack on the people of Serbia as distinct from the military capacity of Mr. Milosevic.

An Ceann Comhairle

The matter is not appropriate to the Order of Business, but perhaps the Tánaiste wishes to make a brief comment.

The Tánaiste

The situation in Kosovo was discussed at the European summit and the debate later will give Deputies an opportunity to comment on it. If a Supplementary Estimate is required, it will be brought forward. I understand the total sum is £600,000. There are two different amounts, one of £400,000 and another of £200,000.

Mrs. T. Ahearn

When will the report of the monitoring committee on the implementation of the recommendations in the strategy for equality be available? The Minister promised that the report—

An Ceann Comhairle

Questions on reports are not in order on the Order of Business.

Mrs. T. Ahearn

The report is most important in view of the delay regarding the legislation for people with disabilities. The Minister promised that it would be available at the end of February.

The Tánaiste

I do not know when the report will be published. I will ask the Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Mary Wallace, to speak to the Deputy about it.

Mr. S. Ryan

Will the Tánaiste update the position regarding the national minimum wage Bill and the part-time workers directive Bill? These two Bills will have implications for discussions on future national understandings.

The Tánaiste

Deputy Rabbitte raised the national minimum wage Bill yesterday. The legislation is being drafted and will be available later this year. The Bill in relation to part-time workers will be available next year.

Mr. Browne

(Carlow-Kilkenny): Does the Tánaiste agree that the individuals who deal with people with disabilities deserve more compliments than the Minister for securing the Special Olympics for Ireland? I am not criticising the wonderful Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, but the individuals concerned fought valiantly and succeeded in ensuring that the Special Olympics will be held in Ireland. They also deserve credit.

The Tánaiste

I agree.

Mr. Howlin

The role of Deputy Spring should also be commended.

Mr. McCormack

Will the review of polling booths and the change in polling schemes, which have been with the Department of the Environment and Local Government for a number of months, be in operation for the local elections?

The Tánaiste

I will find out and inform the Deputy.

Mr. Sargent

I thank the Tánaiste for agreeing to a briefing on Northern Ireland. I reiterate the Green Party's support for a successful outcome.

Given that Easter marks the commencement of many activities involving the sea, will the Tánaiste indicate the position regarding the marine casualty investigation Bill and the marine emergency service Bill? When are they likely to be published?

The Tánaiste

The marine casualty investigation Bill will be published in the latter part of the year. The marine emergency Bill will be published in the middle of next year.

Mr. Allen

In response to a parliamentary question yesterday, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, while disclaiming any responsibility for the placement of refugees in Ireland, stated that—

An Ceann Comhairle

We cannot reopen parliamentary questions which were dealt with yesterday. The matter is not in order.

Mr. Finucane

The Deputy has a point.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy should come to it.

Mr. Allen

I want to ask about legislation.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy should put his question on legislation.

Mr. Allen

What are the Government's plans in arranging placements for refugees? The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform stated that the Eastern Health Board is arranging private accommodation in Cork and other areas for refugees.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy cannot elaborate on the matter. A number of other Deputies want to ask questions on the Order of Business. The Deputy will prevent his colleagues asking questions if he continues in a disorderly fashion.

Mr. Allen

In the absence of information, people are raising fears. I want information from the Tánaiste. Is the health board arranging accommodation nationwide? It is a serious issue.

An Ceann Comhairle

Is legislation promised?

The Tánaiste

We should not assist those who want to raise fears in this area.

Mr. Allen

The absence of information is raising fears. Some Government Deputies are raising fears.

The Tánaiste

The Deputy is aware that accommodation is being arranged in Cork so that some of the refugees can be accommodated in the area. I do not have specific details.

Mr. Allen

The Minister stated that the Eastern Health Board is arranging accommodation in Cork.

An Ceann Comhairle

We cannot discuss the matter. The Deputy is being disorderly and he should resume his seat.

Mr. Allen

I do not know how that will be done. There is a housing crisis in Cork. All we are looking for is information.

Mr. Belton

The Deputy will not get any.

Mr. Rabbitte

I noticed in this morning's newspapers that Deputy Healy-Rae is taking steps to reproduce himself down Kerry way. Does the Tánaiste have any view on how this impacts on the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform?

Mrs. Owen

Badly.

An Ceann Comhairle

I doubt that this relates to legislation.

Mr. Roche

There has recently been another report from the Ombudsman which outlines some woeful administrative failures. What progress has been made on the production of an administration Bill and when will we have an opportunity to discuss the Ombudsman's report?

Mr. Noonan

The Tánaiste should talk to her backbenchers.

The Tánaiste

In relation to administrative procedures, some amendments will be made to the Ombudsman's Bill which will be published later this year.

Mr. Roche

When will we have the opportunity to discuss the report?

The Tánaiste

As soon as the Whips can arrange it.