It is proposed to take No. 1 the Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad] — Second Stage; and No. 15 the Driver Testing and Standards Authority Bill 2004 — Second Stage (Resumed).
Order of Business.
There are no proposals to put to the House.
Within the next half hour the International Monitoring Commission will publish its report. When will the Government give its official reaction to the report? I understand the Government has had advance sight of the report and the House would like to be party to whatever comments and reaction the Government might make in this regard.
Today will also see publication of a report into the sad death of Róisín Ruddle. The Order Paper contains a Nurses (Amendment) Bill. It is a sad reflection on our health service to plan for a known shortage in intensive care nursing. I understand the report will indicate that the Department of Health and Children was aware for years of this growing problem. What changes will be made to address these shortages? We read in the newspapers this week that the national task force on medical staffing has been abandoned by the Government. What does the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children propose to do to allow a proper debate on this matter in the context of greatly needed reform in the nursing area.
I call Deputy McManus on the second issue raised by Deputy Bruton.
We all feel great sympathy for the family of Róisín Ruddle on a terrible tragedy. I hope that at least some good can come of the matter. Will the Tánaiste finally recognise the serious deficiencies in the flow of nurses into our hospitals? We have a major problem in retaining nurses, particularly in the Dublin hospitals, even though a sufficient number of them is being trained. When the report is published will the Tánaiste allow a full debate in this House? We are all extremely concerned, particularly as no new nurses will graduate or qualify this year due to changes in the training scheme. I urge the Tánaiste to agree to a debate on the report and the issues relating to it in the House at the earliest opportunity.
Does the Tánaiste agree that the sad and tragic death of Róisín Ruddle is symptomatic of the crisis in our health service? We do not seek the world-class health service the Tánaiste has promised. Instead, we would like a simple assurance. Can she promise the House that she will speedily implement the health strategy? That is all we are looking for. We do not expect the fantastic health service the Tánaiste has promised at this stage, but simply a basic health service.
I raised issues relating to the death of Róisín Ruddle earlier under Standing Order 31. I join other Deputies in appealing to the Tánaiste, who is responsible for this area as Minister for Health and Children, to consider the report into the death of Róisín Ruddle, which will be published today, and subsequently to take a proactive approach to the critical needs within the acute hospital services system. I emphasise the importance of tackling the shortage of front-line health care workers.
Deputy Bruton asked about the report of the monitoring committee. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform will make a statement when the report is published.
Our thoughts today are with the parents of the late Róisín Ruddle, Helen and Ger Ruddle, who have had to come to terms with the tragedy of the unexpected death of their daughter at the age of two. The publication today of the report on her death will cause them to recall in stark detail the trauma they suffered at that time. We have to learn lessons from what happened in this case. Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin has taken corrective action on foot of many of the report's recommendations. Earlier this week, I met the new manager and director of nursing who have been appointed. A number of the report's recommendations on the management of the hospital have been taken on board. In particular, a person has been appointed to take charge of the recruitment and retention of nurses.
We are changing the requirements for entry into the nursing profession. Deputy McManus has acknowledged that a graduate programme is being put in place. Some 1,640 nursing students were recruited this year. We need to establish a graduate programme for midwifery and paediatrics to shorten the timeframe for training in such areas. It can take up to eight years to become an ICU paediatric nurse. There is a worldwide shortage of such workers. Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin has been given the resources to help it to engage in international recruitment. I discussed the hospital's plans to recruit overseas with its officials the other day.
There are more nurses in the Irish health service, proportionately, than in almost any other country in Europe. We have substantially more nurses than the UK. We need to ensure that the particular shortages of nurses in intensive care, paediatrics and other areas are addressed. There is substantial interest in the new education programme for nursing. The number of students who applied for nursing last year was eight times greater than the number of places. It is clear that we have to resolve some of the issues relating to retention. I have had discussions with the nursing authorities in that regard.
The simple solution is to make more training places available.
We have established 13 nursing schools in recent years.
All the nurses are emigrating.
We have invested capital expenditure of €240 million in the development of such schools.
It is not enough.
Everybody has acknowledged that it is a substantial amount of money. Most independent analysis supports that.
The nurses are going to the United States and Australia.
Nurses from Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom and many European countries are going overseas as well. The report into the death of Róisín Ruddle contains recommendations about gaps, particularly in ICU, which affect cardiac and other serious forms of surgery. We need to ensure that intensive care units are staffed at all times so they can deal with patients who require surgery.
On a point of clarification——
We cannot have a debate on the matter.
I am not asking for a debate. I would like clarification of the Tánaiste's comments.
The Chair has a dilemma.
I would like to ask about the international monitoring committee.
I allowed questions this morning that did not relate to the Order of Business.
I raised an issue and the Tánaiste responded.
That is correct.
We are entitled to know whether the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform will make a statement in the House, thereby giving Deputies an opportunity to participate in a debate.
Exactly.
The Tánaiste said that the Minister will make a statement and the House should hear that statement.
The Minister will not be shy anyway.
It is obvious that Deputies will be given copies of the report. I am sure they would like an opportunity to study it. Some of the issues raised in the report were discussed during the debate on the Private Members' motion tabled by Fine Gael this week. The Minister intends to issue a statement when the report is published.
Not in the House.
Not in the House today, no.
Why does he not make a statement in the House?
I assume Deputies would like an opportunity to study the report before it is discussed in the House. I would have thought that such an approach would be better.
I would not like to deprive him of the opportunity to have a press conference.
I asked a question that was not answered. It is important that there should be a debate in the House——
Deputy McManus——
It was not answered.
The Chair used its discretion this morning to allow a question that was not in order under Standing Order 26.
I appreciate that. I thanked the Ceann Comhairle at that time.
The Chair will not be in a position to do that in future if it develops into a wholesale debate.
I do not mean to be disorderly. I was very grateful to——
If I allow the Deputy to speak, everybody else will be entitled to speak on the matter.
I am seeking a simple answer.
I call Deputy Ring.
I asked the Tánaiste if we could have a debate on the nursing crisis. I hope the Tánaiste——
Is the debate promised?
——appreciates the importance of such a debate.
No debate is promised.
I hope the Tánaiste will agree to have a debate.
As no such debate is promised, the Deputy will have to find another way of raising the matter.
I understand there will be questions on the matter today. It is not correct to suggest that there is a nursing crisis.
The Tánaiste's failure to recognise the crisis is part of the problem.
The Deputy is the problem.
I call Deputy Ring.
The Deputies on the Government side do not see any evil.
I would like to raise two issues. Will the Údarás na Gaeltachta Bill be introduced in the House before the Údarás na Gaeltachta elections take place on 2 April next? When I walk in here every morning when the House is sitting, I look up to see the tricolour flying over Leinster House. As I was coming in this morning, however, I noticed that the flag was missing. Does the Tánaiste know anything about it? Does Deputy Ó Caoláin know anything about it?
Good man, Michael.
I understand that there was a difficulty with the rope used to suspend the flag. It is being attended to as a matter of urgency.
I take it that there will not be any hangings.
Does Deputy Ring have any evidence of Deputy Ó Caoláin's involvement?
It was not a matter of taking down the mast.
Perhaps Deputy Ó Caoláin or Deputy Ó Snodaigh had the rope.
It might be found with Deputy Ó Snodaigh's posters.
The heads of the Údarás na Gaeltachta Bill will be published later this year. I do not think they will be published before the elections in early April.
When the Tánaiste was Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, she promised that the employment permits Bill would be introduced. She confirmed to the House that it would provide for a change in procedures so that permits would accrue to individuals rather than to companies. Her successor, Deputy Martin, gave a different indication on "Morning Ireland" this morning. When will the Bill be published? If the Government has already approved the heads of the Bill, is it the case that there has been a change of policy since the Tánaiste left the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment?
The Bill will be published in this session.
Have the heads of the Bill been approved?
Yes.
The Tánaiste knows the content.
The Minister will bring the Bill back to the Cabinet.
He should read the Bill.
Has there been a change since the Tánaiste left?
I do not intend to anticipate the contents of the Bill.
The Tánaiste recently lifted the suspensions on two consultants at Cavan General Hospital. When will the saga at the hospital——
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
When will the health complaints Bill be introduced?
The Deputy should submit a question.
Many family law cases have been ongoing for two or three years. The family law Bill needs to be introduced as soon as possible. The Chief Whip said it is expected that the Bill will be published in 2005. Is it possible that the Bill will be introduced sooner than that?
The Bill will be published later this year. I will discuss it with the relevant Minister to see whether it can be introduced sooner.
When will the yellow pack medical cards partial alleviation of acute distress Bill be brought before the House?
They are the doctor-only medical cards. For somebody who was so critical, the Deputy seems very anxious about them. As I stated previously, in light of legal advice, legislation is required and it will be presented to the Cabinet on Tuesday week.
Why does it take so long?
Tuesday week. It was a tiny Bill that the Tánaiste talked about.
It is not.
For tiny medical cards.
I am delighted the Deputy is anxious to have them issued given that she was very critical of them at first.
I call on Deputy Coveney.
The idea is that they will be issued in April.
Allow Deputy Coveney to submit his question.
For the comfort card.
The Ceann Comhairle keeps interrupting the Tánaiste and we cannot hear what the she is saying.
The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has promised repeatedly that he will introduce an independent press council of sorts. Does this require legislation? If so, what is the timescale?
The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform tells me he will be ready to present the relevant legislation to Government in a couple of weeks.
The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (Amendment) Bill is listed for this session. Does the Tánaiste know the timescale?
I believe it is almost ready to go to Government and will be dealt with this session.
A few weeks ago, the Taoiseach assured the House that peace had broken out regarding the strategic national infrastructure Bill. It is good to see the Ministers for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Justice, Equality and Law Reform sitting side by side. Will the legislation contain references to incineration? The original idea was to fast-track incineration. Will it be dropped?
The Deputy cannot discuss the content of the legislation? I call Deputy Bruton.
When will the legislation come before the House?
It will not be in Wicklow anyway.
(Interruptions).
Two exclusion zones.
It will be in Wicklow but after the election.
Allow the Tánaiste without interruption.
The legislation will be introduced later this year.
Will it provide for incineration?
I will not comment on the content of the Bill. The Deputy will have to wait to see it.
We cannot discuss the content of the legislation. I call Deputy Bruton.
What are the respective positions of the Ministers for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Environment, Heritage and Local Government?
Deputy Gormley should allow Deputy Bruton without interruption.
(Interruptions).
Members from any rung of the ladder could get into that Government.
Everyone in this House will——
If one is in Government one can do something about it.
Everyone in this House will welcome the apology for the denigrating terms that were used in one of our national newspapers to describe lone parents. However, there are questions on this matter that require a legislative response. Do we genuinely seek to remove welfare traps from our welfare code? Will the Social Welfare Bill address this? Do we genuinely seek to maximise the chances that parents will raise children together in the context of enduring commitments to one another?
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
It does arise.
I suggest that the Deputy submit a question to the line Minister.
Clear issues arise in respect of the legislative programme. The Social Welfare Bill and the Finance Bill fail to address them.
I call Deputy Quinn.
That is the reality. We are failing to provide proper family support.
I suggest that the Deputy submit a question to the line Minister.
Will the House be presented with the Bill to ratify the constitutional treaty of the European Union before or after Easter? Given that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is beside the Tánaiste, will she ascertain from him the position on the building control Bill? Will it be presented to the House before the summer recess?
The Bill on the constitutional treaty will not be presented to the House before Easter. It will be after Easter and before the summer. The building control Bill will be introduced in autumn of this year.
With the permission of that Ceann Comhairle, can I, too, ask the Tánaiste if she will allow time today or use a mechanism to address the report into the death of Róisín Ruddle? Having been a friend of her family and a fellow parishioner all my life, I extend my sympathy to them on their tragedy.
That matter has already been dealt with.
I am sure the Tánaiste is aware that the National Aquatic Centre, which cost €70 million to build, had its roof blown off in high winds after Christmas. This has absolutely flummoxed engineering experts in Ireland and elsewhere in Europe. It involves a consortium——
Has the Deputy a question on legislation?
Yes, I have.
What legislation?
The fixing of roofs Bill.
A consortium is running the National Aquatic Centre. When does the Minister propose to introduce the Abbotstown sports campus development authority Bill? There is no legislation——
That question was dealt with on Tuesday this week.
——governing the spending of €70 million of taxpayers' money.
The Taoiseach indicated on Tuesday that legislation will be published this session.
The reason I ask is that the Ceann Comhairle sent me and my colleague Deputy Wall a letter indicating that he would not take questions on the National Aquatic Centre because it is not covered under any legislation. He relented subsequently and allowed to me an Adjournment debate, but my colleague Deputy Wall——
That does not arise on the Order of Business. I call Deputy Rabbitte.
——is still not being allowed to ask questions to the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, the Taoiseach or the Minister for Finance, who are the shareholders in the company.
We will hear Deputy Rabbitte.
Given that we have no legislation, we cannot obtain answers regarding what happened.
The Deputy will have to find another way to raise the matter. I call Deputy Rabbitte.
Will the Ceann Comhairle help me? It is a perfectly legitimate question pertaining to €70 million of taxpayers' money.
The Deputy should submit a question to the line Minister.
But they were refused.
Our questions were refused.
The Ceann Comhairle refused them.
That question was raised on the Adjournment.
The Ceann Comhairle refused them.
He allowed them after a long debate but he will still not allow——
It has already been raised in the House by Deputy Burton.
——my colleague Deputy Wall to——
The Deputy is being disorderly. We cannot have a debate on this matter.
We do not even know who the Minister is.
Allow Deputy Rabbitte.
Is the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism responsible——
The Deputy should allow the leader of her party to ask a question. He has been called.
——or is it the Minister for Finance or the Taoiseach?
Allow Deputy Rabbitte.
They are the shareholders in the company. The Progressive Democrats——
I ask Deputy Burton to resume her seat.
(Interruptions).
We did not take the roof off it.
We will move to No. 1 on the Order of Business if the Deputy does not want to allow her leader to contribute.
The roof is off the centre and it is closed.
We want to take the lid off it to see what is going on.
It is an outdoor pool now.
Why is the Social Welfare Bill on the agenda for next week but not yet published or available to Members of the House? Time and again, the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach have made commitments to the House to the effect that there would be a minimum of two weeks allowed to examine major legislation.
I understand the Bill will be published this week.
Three days before it is taken.
It is a shame.
It is to put into effect the budgetary provisions. All Members are aware of that.
On the company law consolidation and reform Bill, is it the Tánaiste's intention to disengage from Shannon Development and transfer it to the IDA and other national agencies for job creation, given that 70 jobs are to be lost in Shannon this morning?
I call the Tánaiste on the legislation.
The company law consolidation and reform Bill has nothing to do with Shannon Development, as the Deputy well knows. We will do whatever is in the best interest of the region.
Will the Tánaiste allow time to discuss the comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty in light of the differing approaches being taken in respect of Iran, for instance, and the news emerging from North Korea on the extension of its nuclear programme?
Time will be allowed later this year.