Yesterday insurance companies started the process of asking consumers looking for life assurance for genetic tests. Does the Taoiseach have any plans to ban such a process? It is banned in the US and in other European countries.
Order of Business (Resumed).
Perhaps the Deputy would table a parliamentary question.
It will create a genetic underclass if he allows this sort of process to continue.
That is not in order on the Order of Business. A parliamentary question is the correct procedure.
(Mayo): I have a question on promised legislation, relating particularly to the regulation of the telecommunications market. The unbundling of the local loop, which was to be the last chapter in the liberalisation of the market, has not happened. In the midlands, a company that provides mobile services to 20,000 consumers at competitive rates, is about to go to the wall because the ODTR says her powers are inadequate to enforce compliance. No. 27 on the Taoiseach's list of promised legislation is the Telecommunications Regulation Bill, which is to provide for the extension of certain powers to the Director of Telecommunications Regulation and to update the regulatory framework. Will he bring forward this legislation? It is extremely urgent. The publication date of mid-2001 means we will not see it before Christmas at the earliest. Will the Taoiseach make this a priority? The market is not being regulated or liberalised.
I will take it up with the Minister but the heads of the Bill were approved in March and the Bill is due for the autumn session.
The Taoiseach will be aware of concerns among the victims of institutional abuse at the delay in establishing the compensation tribunal. Many of those victims are now elderly and there are implications inherent in any delay in setting up that tribunal. The legislation has been promised for some time. Can the Taoiseach tell us the reason for the delay in producing it and when are we likely to see the Bill?
It is almost ready to be presented. The heads have been cleared. It will be this session.
On a point of order, a Cheann Comhairle, before the Easter recess you issued a yellow card to me. You threatened to put me out of the House because I raised the matter—
It is not a matter for discussion on the Order of Business.
Can I finish the sentence, a Cheann Comhairle?
Only if it is in order but, if it is not in order, the Deputy cannot proceed.
It is in order. It is a matter of public interest that you issued a yellow card to me and threatened to put me out of the House because I raised the matter of spending on health. Yesterday, in your absence, the matter was raised in a very serious manner.
That question is not in order.
A Cheann Comhairle, you may recall that I tabled the Active Centres (Young Persons' Water Safety) Bill in Private Members' time. The then Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Woods, accepted the Bill in principle. There are three hours of Second Stage of the Bill still to be taken. Considering we missed the summer deadline for this legislation last year, could I receive an assurance from the Taoiseach that it will be in place this summer? Before Easter he assured us it would be and I would like some concrete evidence that will happen.
I agree with Deputy Finucane. I did give that assurance. I asked yesterday when he raised it that this matter be dealt with quickly, particularly now that the summer has arrived.
Reference was made earlier to the final report of the DIRT committee. Can I ask the Taoiseach if his Government is contemplating legislation for a further tax amnesty? Could there be a further tax amnesty without legislation?
A parliamentary question might be appropriate.
No, Sir. It is—
It is not promised legislation.
I am asking if there is any legislation imminent in this regard.
Unless it is promised legislation it is not in order.
Sir, could you permit the Taoiseach to answer?
If the question is not in order, it is not in order for the Taoiseach to answer.
Is there promised legislation?
No. There is no promised legislation. I understand the Revenue Commissioners are to make statements on how they will deal with this issue arising from the inquiry by the Committee of Public Accounts but there is no new legislation promised.
Will it involve an amnesty?
I am not aware of their proposals. I understand they are to announce them in the next few days but there is no legislation or legislation amending any of the amnesty Acts being requested.
Would the Government support an amnesty?
We cannot have a discussion on it now.
The response to this is a matter now for the Revenue Commissioners but neither they nor the Department of Finance have requested any additional legislation on this matter. Therefore any response they propose will be under their existing powers and under the existing laws.
Arising from the difficulties in the Abbeylara inquiry, does the Government propose to introduce speedy legislation to amend the compellability Act or other relevant Acts?
The matter is being discussed at present but no decisions have been made.
Some time ago I raised the question of No. 76 on yesterday's Order Paper, which calls on Dáil Éireann to take note that 1998 is Human Rights Year. Three years later, I suggest to the Taoiseach that the Minister of State with responsibility in this area might either take this motion and use it as an opportunity to review our performance regarding our signing and ratification of the human rights convention or replace it with a motion which is not three years old.
I will ask the Whips to look at that suggestion.
That concludes the Order of Business.