It is proposed to take No. 7, motion re Leave to introduce Supplementary Estimates [Votes 26, 27, 28, 29, 42 and 43]; No. 8, motion re Referral of Supplementary Estimates [Votes 26, 27, 28, 29, 42 and 43] to Select Committees; No. 9, motion re Fourth Protocol to the Treaty of Amsterdam (A proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) on Jurisdiction and the Recognition and Enforcement of Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters); and No. 32, National Beef Assurance Scheme Bill, 1999 [Seanad] – Second Stage (Resumed). It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that No. 7 and, subject to the agreement of No. 7, No. 8 and No. 9 shall be decided without debate and any divisions demanded on Nos. 7 and 8 shall be taken forthwith. Private Members' Business shall be No. 84, motion re Public Transport, which shall be taken today at 5. 30 p.m. and shall be brought to a conclusion at 8.30 p.m. tonight.
Order of Business.
Are the proposals for dealing with items Nos. 7, 8 and 9 agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with Private Members' Business agreed to? Agreed.
What is the present position regarding the Transport (Dublin Light Rail) Bill, in view of the considerable difficulties that exist concerning traffic in Dublin at present? The difficulties are being intensified by the fact that the Government has not been able to deliver on its promise to issue new taxi licences.
It will be the third Christmas with queues for taxis in Dublin.
Nothing has been done.
The heads of the Bill are expected in mid-2000 and the Bill is not expected until October next year.
My God.
It has gone underground.
This matter has become serious.
It is like Marie-Antoinette: "Let them eat cake".
The Telecommunications (Regulation) Bill provides for the extension of certain powers of the Director of Telecommunications Regulation and updating the regulatory framework in light of the forthcoming full liberalisation of the sector. According to this note from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment on the status of the legislation, preparatory work is under way on the Bill. In light of what has occurred over the past 48 hours, has the Government revised the scheduled timetable for this important legislation?
The Bill is still expected in June next year.
Nuair atá daoine amuigh ag caint mar gheall ar chúrsaí Aer Rianta agus probháidiú agus rudaí mar sin, ba mhaith liom a fháil amach cathain a bheidh an Air Navigation Euro Control Bill againn? Tá cúrsaí sábháltachta an-thábhachtach agus tá sé ráite anseo go bhfuil sé ag braith ar chás cúirte nó court proceedings. Cad díreach atá ag titim amach mar gheall ar sin, agus cathain a bheidh sé againn?
The Bill is expected in February, but there are court proceedings which will possibly not be until next summer, as I understand it. Therefore, the time-scale must depend upon the court proceedings.
Does the Taoiseach intend meeting the farmers who are picketing outside the gates of Leinster House?
That is not an appropriate matter for the Order of Business.
I understand your situation, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.
The Leas-Cheann Comhairle will be looking for votes in south Monaghan also.
I would point out to the Deputy that the farmers are not outside, they are in the Public Gallery.
The Taoiseach brought them in from the cold.
Is the Government planning to accelerate the preparation and publication of the Environmental Protection Agency (Amendment) Bill, which is currently in division C of the Government's legislative programme? That would allow the Minister for the Environment and Local Government to transfer responsibility for the certifying and approval of waste incinerators from his Department to the Environmental Protection Agency.
That is not appropriate to the Order of Business.
My question concerns the preparation and publication of the Bill.
There has been a big announcement about it today.
I understand the Minister for the Environment and Local Government will transfer this responsibility to the EPA. I want to know if the preparation of the Environmental Protection Agency (Amendment) Bill will be accelerated and thus published to allow the Minister to do that.
The heads of the Bill are expected in February or March and the expected publication date is the middle of next year.
(Dublin West): What legislation will the Government bring forward to prevent the telecommunications industry becoming a plaything for international speculators?
That matter has already been dealt with earlier today.
(Dublin West): The Taoiseach should be as anxious to answer this question as the one about the farmers. A major national asset is being handed to the speculators.
Mr. Hayes
Does the Government have new proposals to amend health and safety legislation following the disastrous record this year during which 15 people lost their lives on construction sites?
It is not appropriate to make a statement. Is legislation promised on health and safety?
Mr. Hayes
We have a crisis in the construction industry where every day serious injury is being caused to people as a result of standards being flouted by significant groups of employers within that industry.
On the Order of Business it is appropriate to ask a question about promised legislation but not to make a speech.
The Health and Safety Authority Bill, 1989, is the relevant legislation. Its enforcement has been helped by additional resources and further resources will be provided.
Last week I asked the Taoiseach if the Government Chief Whip was in a position to indicate when the 12 outstanding Bills will be published. The Taoiseach was not in a position to give a full reply but perhaps he has the information now. Secondly, the Statute of Limitations Bill, initiated by Deputy O'Sullivan, has now passed Committee Stage. The order for Report and Final Stages should take place between now and the end of this session. Can the Taoiseach indicate when that will happen?
I understand that Report and Final Stages of the Bill will be taken the week before the session ends.
Is that a commitment that the Bill will be taken at some stage between now and the end of the session?
Yes.
And the first matter I raised?
As regards the first part of the Deputy's question, promised Bills that have been published include the ICC Bank Bill, the Stamp Duty (Consolidation) Bill, the Children's Bill, the Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill, the Fisheries (Amendment) Bill and the Comhairle Bill. The annual Appropriation Bill will be published before the Christmas break. Promised legislation that is almost ready for publication, includes the Patents (Amendment) Bill, which I hope will be published on 6 December, and the Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Amendment) Bill which was cleared at the Cabinet meeting today and will be published in the next few days. Two other Bills which, I hope, will be cleared next week are: the Health (Amendment) Bill and the Mental Health Bill. The Marine Casualty Investigation Bill is expected to be cleared at the Cabinet meeting of 14 December.
I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. Will he, through the Government Chief Whip, inform the other Whips at their usual meeting tomorrow what the precise status and exact publication dates of those Bills are, going beyond 16 December when the House rises for the Christmas recess?
It is the intention of the Government Chief Whip to do that at tomorrow's meeting. I will ensure that happens.
The Tánaiste has indicated that the Mental Health Bill will be published after Easter, on 1 April. May I inquire which Easter the Tánaiste was referring to?
And what time-scale is the Taoiseach referring to?
The Mental Health Bill, which has 70 heads, will update provisions for the treatment of mentally disordered persons. The text of the Bill, hopefully, will be cleared next Tuesday.
Are the Taoiseach and the Government aware of the overcrowding that took place last weekend on the Sligo-Dublin train?
That is not appropriate to the Order of Business.
I understand that but we have heard so much about safety on trains—
Please Deputy Belton, it is not appropriate to proceed in this manner.
Does the Taoiseach intend to introduce any legislation concerning the local employment service, given that the Tánaiste seems to be making decisions and issuing diktats about the service without reference to the local partnership companies or to FÁS?
No legislation is promised. The partnership companies, the ADM companies and the various schemes are working very effectively.
Is the Prevention of Corruption Bill, the legislation to ratify EU and OECD conventions against corruption, ready?
They are still talking about it being ready before Christmas, although I do not know if it will make that date.
Which Christmas?
This one.