There is one proposal to put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 15, motion re establishment of a commission of investigation, agreed? Agreed.
Order of Business (Resumed).
Nos. 34 and 39 on the list of proposed legislation, the Bord Gáis Éireann Bill and the natural gas regulation Bill, are listed for 2006. Is there any update on when they will come before the House? When will the Government publish the report on the Shell proposal for the Corrib gas project? This is a Government backed report. Has it been received yet?
That report has been received. I will check with the Minister, but I believe he received it last week. I will ask my own office to inform the Deputy when it is to be published. The Bord Gáis Éireann Bill and the natural gas regulation Bill are due next year.
It would be appropriate if we in the House recorded our sympathies to the bereaved family following the fishing tragedy off Wexford. The skipper of the vessel is still missing. We also record our appreciation of the efforts of the rescue services and offer our condolences to the people and region affected by such terrible tragedy.
When does the Taoiseach envisage that the proposed Abbotstown Bill will be bought before the House?
I join with Deputy Rabbitte in recording our concern and sympathies. The search for Mr. Pat Colfer resumed this morning. Unfortunately, efforts to resuscitate Mr. Myler failed and he was pronounced dead at Wexford General Hospital at midnight. Although Mr. Ian Tierney is being treated for hypothermia, hopefully he will recover today. We send our concerns and sympathies to those who have been affected by this tragedy.
The Abbotstown sports campus development authority Bill will be published shortly.
I will call on Deputy Kehoe to express sympathy. I will then call on Deputies Gormley and Ó Caoláin, after which we will return to the Order of Business.
I also wish to extend my sympathies to the families involved in the tragedy at sea last night off County Wexford. We have seen this too often in County Wexford and no families want to be involved in such events.
I wish to add my voice to those sending messages of sympathy to my constituents in Wexford. Unfortunately, the seafaring people in the coastal areas of Kilmore, Fethard and Slade have all too often been visited by tragedy. I am familiar with the trauma that must now be endured. I wish every success to the rescue services in their efforts to recover Mr. Pat Colfer and I thank them. I wish the coastal crews well in their difficult task of combing the coast of Wexford.
I wish to extend the sympathy of the Green Party to the grieving families in Wexford this morning and to thank the rescue services for their hard work.
I wish, if I may, to move to promised legislation. This morning, motorists were once again——
The House has yet to hear from Deputy Ó Caoláin.
I asked the Chair about that.
I will call on the Deputy next.
I wish to join with colleagues in expressing sympathy to the families who have suffered bereavement as a result of the tragedy off the County Wexford coast. I extend that sympathy to all who, throughout the course of this year, have suffered bereavement as a result of coastal tragedies or loss of life at sea in all its various manifestations. All Members greatly appreciate the work of the emergency services, the lifeboat institute and all of the backup services during such tragic events.
As a Member from a coastal community, I also wish to extend my sympathy to the people involved in the County Wexford tragedy, particularly as this is the tenth year since the Carrickatine tragedy in my locality. Unfortunately, we see too many incidents like this. Hopefully, we can continually move towards a point where we have fewer tragedies at sea. I extend my sympathy to the families involved and to those who are still worried about their loved ones.
There were queues of motorists at the West Link bridge this morning due to a sweetheart deal between the Government and NTR. Basically, this was a licence to print money.
Does the Deputy have a question on the Order of Business?
I do. It concerns promised legislation. Can the Taoiseach confirm that the Government is now preparing the heads of a Bill for barrier-free tolling? When will this legislation be introduced?
Was this legislation promised?
No.
No legislation was promised. I call Deputy Hayes.
This morning on RTE radio, we were told——
Deputy, that is the answer. I suggest the Deputy submit a question directly to the line Minister. I call Deputy Hayes.
Is the information wrong? Is no legislation under preparation?
I call Deputy Hayes.
It was promised outside the House.
The Deputy should submit a question to the line Minister.
Is nothing being prepared?
There is nothing on my list.
Very well.
In view of the fact that 3,500 farming families and 1,500 people involved in the beet industry are about to lose their jobs——
Does the Deputy have a question appropriate to the Order of Business?
Yes. Legislation was introduced to this House some 80 years ago to set up the sugar factories.
On current legislation.
Will legislation be introduced, given that the Government and the Minister for Agriculture and Food have caved in and destroyed a whole industry——
I am sorry Deputy, but we must move on. I call Deputy Costello.
With 5,000 people involved in this industry——
The Deputy knows there are many other ways to raise this. The Order of Business is not one of them.
This is the first time since the establishment of this State——
I call Deputy Costello.
——that a Government has presided over——
I call Deputy Costello.
The Taoiseach should answer this.
I ask the Deputy to resume his seat.
The Government has——
The Deputy is being disorderly.
——presided over dissolving an entire sector.
The Taoiseach should answer the question.
I call on Deputy Costello.
I want to know——
It is out of order, and the Taoiseach cannot be out of order any more than the Deputy.
——whether time can be set aside. This issue should be discussed.
I call Deputy Costello. The Deputy knows how to raise this matter in the House and I ask him to resume his seat.
I take it the Chair will accommodate me later.
The Deputy knows the other methods for raising the matter
I do.
I call Deputy Costello.
I am sure the Taoiseach saw the recent "Prime Time" television programme describing anti-social behaviour. He would have recognised certain resonances with regard to the constituency which we share.
Does the Deputy have a question on legislation?
I do.
He should come to the question.
Eighteen months ago, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform produced what was to be a major crime-busting Bill, namely, the Criminal Justice Bill. He has provided Members with a raft of further proposals which is much larger than the original Bill, but has not published any amendments. He has spoken of anti-social behaviour and other matters. When will Members receive the amendments, which are much longer than the original Bill?
The amendments were announced because the Minister knew the television programme was to be broadcast. Hence, he announced these changes. The Government has had nine years to implement them.
We will hear from the Taoiseach.
I understand this Bill is awaiting Committee Stage in the House.
However, the amendments have not been published.
I seek clarification on this matter. While this Bill has passed Second Stage, we are unable to proceed to Committee Stage until the Minister produces the amendments. He has not done so.
He does not have time.
He has produced proposals. He stated that he has various headings about which he will take action. However, he has not produced the amendments.
The amendments are a matter for the committee. Perhaps the Deputy should submit a question directly to the line Minister.
He has spoken about them for the last 18 months. When will we get some indication in this respect?
I call Deputy Ó Caoláin.
I will raise it with the Minister.
The Minister may produce the amendments in between giving interviews.
Does the Taoiseach envisage the introduction of either domestic or EU legislation, or both, to comprehensively address the issues arising from the disgraceful conduct of the management of Irish Ferries?
Is legislation promised?
If not, will the Taoiseach press for a new European ferries directive?
There is no legislation promised. However, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources has already stated that he will retable the EU directive issue at next week's meeting.
Both RTE and the independent broadcasters are anxious to ascertain the current status of the proposed broadcasting Bill. Can the Taoiseach inform the House whether it will be introduced before or after the next general election? It would be of tremendous benefit to all concerned if this was known.
I believe this is on the same issue, although I will accept the Chair's guidance on the matter. Recently, when I was somewhat out of order during Taoiseach's Question Time, the Taoiseach kindly answered a question I asked of him on the proposed broadcasting Bill. I asked him whether he would attempt to persuade the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey, to bring forward the section of the Bill dealing with the provision of RTE's signals to Britain. He replied that he would. Has he had any luck with the Minister in this respect?
If the Taoiseach can find him.
I am aware of Deputy Stagg's long-term campaign on this matter, for which I have some sympathy. I have outlined that in the House. I have asked the Minister to bring forward the full Bill as soon as possible — that is probably the best way of proceeding. The Bill is due in 2006.
Will it be before or after the general election?
Will the Taoiseach explain why the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Bill 2005 is to be guillotined tomorrow, despite the fact that it has over 70 sections. There has been no consultation thereon, yet Report Stage is to be taken by 13 December. There is no imperative whatsoever to pass the Bill before Christmas. What is the reason for the urgency?
That is a question for the committee itself. It does not arise on the Order of Business.
The Bill is to be guillotined tomorrow. I ask the Taoiseach to lift it to allow consultation. It is a crucial Bill that will have a massive impact on the whole fishing industry. Why is it being rammed through the House in such a short timeframe?
The Bill will be debated tomorrow. I have heard what the Deputy has said.
The Bill will not be supported by Fine Gael and we will block it in every way possible. This is not good enough.
I call Deputy Cowley.
The Minister of State, Deputy Gallagher, has been shafted.
The Bill will be debated in the House tomorrow.
There is great unrest, even among Fianna Fáil backbenchers.
I appreciate that but the Deputy is out of order at this stage, as he knows.
The Minister of State, Deputy Gallagher——
I will certainly be out of order tomorrow.
He will have an opportunity to debate the matter tomorrow on Second Stage.
——came back from Europe and ended up with nothing.
I call Deputy Cowley.
Could the Whips discuss the matter raised by the two Deputies?
The Chair has no control over what they discuss.
Maybe the Taoiseach will say the Whips will discuss it.
In view of the underspend of over €3 billion in the BMW area and that Knock Airport is looking for €50 million to try to obtain category II status——
To what legislation is the Deputy referring?
I am anxious that the Taoiseach address this by introducing a capital envelope in the budget.
That does not arise on the Order of Business. There are other ways in which the Deputy can raise it. I call Deputy Burton.
I hope the Planning and Development (Strategic National Infrastructure) Bill will address these deficiencies because we cannot exist in the west without proper investment.
When will the Planning and Development (Strategic National Infrastructure) Bill be introduced?
Next year.
I want to ask the Taoiseach about newspaper reports that the heads of a Bill regarding the lifting of tolls at the toll bridge have been agreed between the Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, and National Toll Roads. Is this matter to be included in the transportation Bill or will it come under a separate Bill?
That question was already asked and answered this morning.
No, my question is on promised legislation——
I call Deputy Broughan.
——except that it is being prepared by a private firm that owns a toll road.
What legislation?
Will the Taoiseach comment?
Has the Deputy a question appropriate to the Order of Business?
Yesterday, the Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, launched two half trains for Dublin West.
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
A normal train has eight carriages.
We are moving on to the next item of business.
We got two four-carriage trains——
Deputy Broughan will be first tomorrow morning. We must move on.
——and they are going on only half the journey, to Connolly Station.
His colleague is being disorderly. We will proceed to No. 15.
On the other hand, he is not doing——
Deputy Burton is being disorderly.
Will the Taoiseach comment on the toll bridge?
I ask her to resume her seat and allow her colleague to contribute.
Will the Taoiseach comment on the gridlock in Dublin 15?
I call Deputy Broughan to ask a question appropriate to the Order of Business.
A young Irish Ferries worker, a family man with five years' experience, does not want to sell his job. He asked me to ask the Taoiseach two questions this morning on the Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) Act 1952, which the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Gallagher——
Has the Deputy a question appropriate to the Order of Business.
It is appropriate in that I refer to a review of the Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) Act 1952.
Is it promised?
The Irish Ferries worker asked me when the Taoiseach will protect marine workers, just as land-based workers are protected?
That does not arise on the Order of Business. The Deputy knows that matter was debated all day in the House yesterday.
What will the Taoiseach do about flagging?
I call Deputy Boyle.
I am addressing the Prime Minister of the country, whom we have not had a chance to ask about this issue.
The Deputy knows he is out of order and that there are other ways of raising the issue. The Deputy cannot abuse the House in this manner. I call Deputy Boyle.
Let us hear the Taoiseach's views in this House, not outside it.
The Taoiseach wants to answer.
The second report on this country's compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child has been placed before the House. Will there be a debate on its content?
Is a debate promised?
Will the report submitted to the European Environment Agency on Ireland's lamentable performance in terms of environmental protection be considered in the House?
The Whips can discuss it.