Vol. 523 No. 2
The Order of Business today shall be as follows: No. 45, the Aviation Regulation Bill, 2000 [Seanad] – Second Stage (resumed); No. 5, the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill, 2000 [Seanad] – Second Stage; and No. 46, Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill, 1999 – Second Stage (resumed).
Private Members' business shall be No. 102, motion re inflation (resumed) to conclude at 8.30 p.m.
There are no proposals to put to the House.
In regard to the Aviation Regulation Bill, 2000, does the Taoiseach agree that the aviation industry can only operate if airports are properly run and that there is a problem in regard to the management of our major airport where, for example, airlines are questioning the adequacy of the fire safety arrangements, a number of the check-in desks are not operational and visitors to this country, many of them for the first time, are experiencing a high level of frustration with this public service? They are also frustrated with the DART system for which a fortnight ago additional carriages were promised immediately but have not yet been introduced. All of these services have one thing in common – they are run by the Government.
This matter could be raised more appropriately by way of parliamentary question, but I will allow the Taoiseach to make a brief comment given that the Leader of the Opposition has raised the matter.
Thank you.
The Deputy stated there was a question about safety regulation. Dublin Airport has received safety regulation clearance from Fingal County Council and I do not think that matter arises. A large amount of construction work was under way at the airport and it is now finished. Most of the new areas are operational. We predicted in the House in 1994 that by 2007 10 million people would pass through Dublin Airport, but the airport is catering for more than 14 million people with 500 flights on most Saturdays throughout the summer.
They are all trying to get out.
That has created some difficulties. The Minister has introduced new changes and regulations regarding flights into Ireland, which have been operational since early September.
Given the massive increases in revenue accruing to the State, as reported in today's newspapers, is the Government prepared to bring in immediate legislation to compensate old age pensioners and others exclusively dependent on social welfare payments whose increases in the last budget have effectively been wiped out?
That matter is being debated on Private Members' business.
I am asking about legislative proposals. Such a change would require legislation. These people do not have the opportunity to see Dublin Airport and in light of the extraordinary increase in money that this Government has at its disposal and because of its failure to manage the economy properly, the benefits of the increases have been eroded. The Government has the cash.
This matter is not appropriate. It is being debated in Private Members' time.
Can the Government bring forward legislation to compensate these vulnerable people for increasing living costs over which they have no control?
There is no response.
The Deputy will have an opportunity to raise these matters during Private Members' business.
The debate on Private Members' business relates to incompetence in the management of the economy.
And social welfare.
I am asking about specific legislation to compensate pensioners with the excess money that the Government has.
Is there promised legislation?
No.
Given the number of deaths on the roads as a result of car accidents and the obvious concern of the Minister concerned, when is it intended to bring forward amending legislation on road traffic safety? Will it include provisions to require gardaí to wear their seat belts? Most of them seem to think they are compelled not to wear such belts.
The contents of legislation cannot be debated on the Order of Business.
It would give a good example to the public if they were to wear their seat belts except in operational need.
That matter is not in order.
When will the road traffic legislation be brought before the House so that Members will have an opportunity to discuss these matters?
When will the Taoiseach be wearing his safety belt?
The road traffic Bill is due this session and is to provide for changes in road traffic legislation to implement aspects of the road safety strategy and certain other measures.
Is it envisaged that the proposed courts and court officers Bill will encompass the remarks of the Chief Justice in relation to accountability by members of the Judiciary in future? When will that legislation be introduced?
Questions on what the Bill will contain are not in order.
The courts and court officers Bill is to be taken in this session. The matter raised by the Deputy is another question.
You have informed me this morning, a Cheann Comhairle, that the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands is not responsible for RTE's annual report. Is the Taoiseach aware of this, despite the fact that it accounts for £65 million of the television licence fee?
That is not appropriate to the Order of Business.
Will this matter be addressed in the Broadcasting Bill?
It is not in order to ask such questions now.
Is the Taoiseach aware, as I am, of the scientific view that weather patterns, particularly at sea, are becoming steadily worse? In view of the loss of life among the fishing community, will he act more urgently on such legislation as the Irish Energy Centre Bill which is supposed to deal with the rising levels of greenhouse gases? Why was that legislation put back to early 2001 given that the last legislative list stated it would be taken in late 2000? In May 1999, the Taoiseach said the heads of the Bill would be ready by July 1999. Why is this legislation being pushed back further and further when people are losing their lives and scientific opinion is pointing towards the need to curtail greenhouse gases?
As regards the legislation to establish the Irish Energy Centre under departmental aegis, the heads of the Bill were approved just before the summer recess. The legislation is being drafted as quickly as possible. We have had some tragic accidents at sea and I know that everybody in the House will join with me in extending their sympathy to the bereaved families. The Marine Institute has published some very good research on this issue and continues to undertake research on wave patterns and climatic changes in the Atlantic.
Following the report of the commission on the private rental sector, are there any plans to introduce legislation to give effect to its recommendations in view of the fact that many elderly people and students are being charged exorbitant rents? Is the Taoiseach happy to leave the status quo unchanged?
That report is being studied by the housing forum. There is no legislation as yet, but following that examination there might well be.
The Equal Status Bill was enacted by the Oireachtas in the last session and it was announced that it would be implemented on 1 October, yet that has not happened. When is it intended to bring the Equal Status Act into force?
I understand that it is to be implemented very shortly.
Why is it so late?
(Mayo): In view of the fact that safety seems to be very much in vogue, including safety at Dublin Airport and safety on our roads, I wish to ask the Taoiseach about legislation concerning rail safety. He will be aware that rail safety was one of the central issues in the rail strike during the summer, which cost Iarnród Éireann £10 million, paralysed the tourism industry and played havoc with the economy of rural areas.
The Deputy should ask a question on legislation. He is making a statement.
People in glass houses should not throw stones.
(Mayo): Why has the long promised Rail Safety Bill not been afforded greater priority in the Government's list of promised legislation?
It is in preparation and is due next year.
Will the Taoiseach contemplate whether separate legislative provision could not be made to devote moneys that have accrued so far from the DIRT inquiry, which amount to £153 million, to some purpose that would benefit the main losers during that decade of tax evasion? It should not be sucked into the general maw of the Exchequer.
Yes.
There is no promised legislation. The Deputy is making point about how the resources should be used and that can be looked at in other ways.
Will the Taoiseach indicate the Government's timetable for the main financial business to be conducted between now and Christmas? In particular, will he provide a date for the publication of the Book of Estimates and the budget?
Subject to correction, I think the Book of Estimates will be published on 16 November and the Budget Statement will be at 3.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 6 December.
Does the Taoiseach intend to correct the record of yesterday when I asked him about legislation in respect of victims of child abuse? Today we have not only heard the Minister promising legislation but also indicating that the Cabinet decided upon it yesterday. I am not so churlish as to decline to welcome this legislation, although it is very belated. Perhaps the Taoiseach will clarify that it is now intended to introduce legislation in this session.
I am forced to say to the Deputy that it is a pity the matter was not addressed many years ago when it first arose. I will not get into that, however, because it is an important matter.
The Taoiseach's party has been in office for 11 of the past 13 years.
The Deputy knows that those were not the years during which it arose. The heads of the child abuse Bill are being prepared. The decision to allow for a compensation tribunal was cleared at the Cabinet yesterday but the finalisation of the report will be completed over the next few weeks and the heads will then be cleared. We would hope to have the legislation in this session.
Yesterday and today the Taoiseach has suggested that legislation is not promised on the private rented housing sector. Last year, when I was asking questions about this matter, he indicated that legislation would follow the report of the commission on the private rented sector. When the report came out, the Minister of State, Deputy Molloy, said that proposals would be brought to Government in September. Will the Government introduce legislation to provide protection for tenants in the private rented sector following the report of the commission, which has been published since July? Has the Government decided to shelve that entirely or to kick it aside into another committee for another year?
(Dublin West): In response to questions both today and yesterday, it is obvious that the Taoiseach sees no urgency for legislation to protect tenants from exorbitant rents.
Will the Deputy please ask a question?
(Dublin West): Despite that and the fact that landlords in the Fianna Fáil Party obviously see no urgency for legislation to protect tenants either, can the Taoiseach provide a definitive timescale for legislation to end the grotesque exploitation of those dependent on private rented accommodation, to control rents and give security of tenure? We must have an answer today.
There are two aspects to that. The report itself, which came out at the end of July, is being considered by the Government. We also said that we would consult with the housing forum that has just been set up under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. When that is finished, which hopefully will not be too long, we will announce legislative action if that is necessary.
We had the commission all last year delaying legislation and now the Taoiseach has kicked it into another committee.
We must proceed with the Order of Business.
(Dublin West): Let us have a timescale now.
Yesterday, on the Order of Business, the Minister of State, Deputy Cullen, said the entire Labour and Fine Gael office blocks had phones. Will he now correct the record of the House because on my floor in my block we still have no phones, no faxes and no computer access?
And no policies, no sense of direction and no decency.
It was a deliberately untrue statement to make. While the Government can laugh about this, Deputies are entitled to basic facilities. It is a disgrace.
We cannot have a further debate on this matter today.
All this and Eircom shares too.
As I stated yesterday, we are trying to complete these matters as quickly as possible. Regarding the installation of phones and faxes, block A is now 95% complete and block B is 70% complete.
It is like the H-blocks.
The lifts are not working.
They hope to complete these matters as quickly as possible.
Arising from the debate we had on the Order of Business yesterday, I presume we can take that as an apology for the Minister of State, Deputy Cullen. The Minister promised an Electricity Bill for 2002.
There is ambition for you.
Lightening fast.
It is certainly forward looking.
One could look at it either way.
While the light bulbs are still lighting.
In view of the fact that the ESBOA has balloted for strike action and the lights are about to go out, can the legislation be brought forward? Will the Taoiseach make time available to debate the likelihood of power cuts throughout the country in the near future?
The question of a debate is a matter for the Whips, but the Taoiseach may reply with regard to the legislation.
Thankfully, there is no relationship between the strike and the Bill. The Electricity Bill will involve a long process because it will give effect to the restructured electricity industry and establish the ESB as a company under the Companies Acts. This will take some considerable time.
Are there any plans to deal with the strike?
That is a separate matter.
It has been widely reported that the Government is considering a new package of measures to deal with the dissident republican threat that exists to the peace process. Will the Taoiseach outline if legislation is likely to come before the House in connection with that package? Will he provide Government time for No. 117, which was tabled by my party and which deals with this issue?
The answer to the Deputy's first question is "no". Regarding the second matter, I will perhaps consider that later in the session.
Is it the case that the Government is not proposing any new legislation to deal with the republican and other paramilitary threats that currently exist? Is the Taoiseach confirming that position? If there is no legislation, it was a complete smokescreen in the newspapers last weekend.
The threatened difficulties with the teaching profession are symptomatic of a deep malaise within the profession. Has the Government considered this matter and has it opened any negotiations with the teacher unions with a view to staving off industrial action?
That is not appropriate to the Order of Business.
It appears that it will happen.
What is the reason for the delay in ratifying the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and International Co-operation in Respect of Inter-country Adoptions? I am referring to the convention of May 1993.
I do not have any information on that, but I will ask somebody to communicate with the Deputy.
Regarding Deputy Kenny's point, the Teaching Council Bill will be taken this session.
In view of recent reports from the Money Advice and Budgeting Service of the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs that an increasing number of families are finding themselves in severe levels of personal indebtedness, when will the promised legislation be introduced to place the Money Advice and Budgeting Service on a statutory basis? An explosion of personal debt is affecting many families at present.
That Bill is being prepared and it is hoped that it will be passed by next summer.
I wish to congratulate the Ceann Comhairle and the people of Kilkenny on winning the All-Ireland hurling final.
What about the football final?
It is a fine team.
Stop him now, a Cheann Comhairle.
To whom did the Ceann Comhairle give a lift home after the match?
Regarding the football replay on Saturday, will the usual taxi service from Cahirciveen operate?
