Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 4 Apr 2006

Vol. 617 No. 4

Order of Business.

The Taoiseach

It is proposed to take No. 9, Revised Estimate for Public Services 2006 — Vote 41, back from committee; No. 10, motion re withdrawal of Whistleblowers Protection Bill 1999; and No. 12, Road Safety Authority Bill 2004 — Order for Report, Report and Final Stages.

It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that No. 9 shall be decided without debate and any division demanded thereon shall be taken forthwith; the proceedings on No. 10 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 65 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply: the speeches shall be confined to a Minister or Minister of State and to the main spokespersons for the Fine Gael Party, the Labour Party and the Technical Group, who shall be called upon in that order and who may share their time, and speeches shall not exceed 15 minutes in each case; and a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed five minutes. Private Members' Business shall be No. 28, Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill 2006 — Second Stage, the proceedings on which shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 8.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 5 April 2006.

An Ceann Comhairle

There are three proposals to put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 9, Revised Estimate for Public Services 2006, without debate, agreed?

Mr. Kenny

This is Vote 41- Office of the Minister for Children — and is for a sum of €352.2 million. Was there a vote at the committee? Why is it back in the House?

The Taoiseach

It is the provision of the Estimate for the office of the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, who is now taking the combined duties relating to children.

Mr. Kenny

Thank you.

An Ceann Comhairle

The first proposal is agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 10, motion re withdrawal of Whistleblowers Protection Bill 1999, agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with Private Members' business agreed? Agreed.

Mr. Kenny

I was taken aback this morning when I heard the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, speak about the Garda Representative Association using intemperate language. I was going to ask the Taoiseach whether he agreed with him, in view of his recent outburst——

An Ceann Comhairle

That does not arise on the Order of Business.

Mr. Kenny

I know that.

Mr. Durkan

It is a serious issue.

Mr. Kenny

When does the Minister for Health and Children expect to introduce the regulations to which she referred in respect of embryonic stem cell research in view of activities reported in Cork? She indicated she would introduce regulations for the sector very shortly.

When can the House expect the carbon fund Bill, No. 47 on the list of proposed legislation? I understand the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey, is in the southern hemisphere on family-related business. Does the Taoiseach have news in respect of the publication of the safety report on the Corrib field?

The Taoiseach

As I have not discussed the matter with the Minister, I do not have a date on the publication of the report but I will raise the issue with him as soon as he returns. I have no information on regulations in the sector the Deputy mentioned. I will check with the Tánaiste's office. On the carbon fund Bill to provide for the purchase of carbon credits by the State and to meet our greenhouse gas emissions limitation target for the purpose of the Kyoto Protocol, the legislation is being drafted and will be ready later this year.

Mr. Rabbitte

The last time the Taoiseach was asked about the Barr report on the Abbeylara affair he indicated it might be taken by Government by the end of March. What is the current position? Can the report be laid before the House if the House is in recess when the Minister takes it?

Another ghoulish drugs murder took place just outside Clonmel at the weekend. I am informed by my colleague, Councillor Phil Prendergast, that there are only three gardaí dedicated to the drugs unit in the whole of County Tipperary. Is that the case?

An Ceann Comhairle

The matter does not arise on the Order of Business.

Mr. Rabbitte

Is legislation contemplated specifically to deal with the drugs menace? The security van robberies upon us again are part of the same circle. The money is poured into purchasing guns, drugs are imported and drugs gangs end up carrying out the kind of murder which occurred at the weekend.

An Ceann Comhairle

We cannot have a debate on the Order of Business. Is legislation promised?

The Taoiseach

No legislation is promised but Operation Anvil has a dedicated unit and operates nationwide. I have not heard anything new regarding the Barr report but I will check the position and inform the Deputy's office.

Mr. Sargent

I extend my sympathies to the family of the young County Offaly student killed in a tragic accident today and wish those injured a speedy recovery. Many people, including parents, teachers and students, will have been traumatised by the event.

On the Forfás report issued today, given that Ireland's oil dependency, the subject of the report, and the doubling of oil consumption here in the past 15 years are vital issues, will the Government arrange for a debate on the report?

An Ceann Comhairle

It is only appropriate to ask questions on promised debates.

Mr. Sargent

I believe the Government would be in favour of debating the issue to ensure the carbon fund alluded to by Deputy Kenny does not cost more than necessary. I ask that the Whips discuss arrangements for such a debate.

An Ceann Comhairle

That is a matter for the Whips.

Mr. Broughan

Deputy Sargent is right about the importance of the Forfás report. We have also received an Ernst & Young report on the Government's failure in the area of renewable technology.

An Ceann Comhairle

We cannot have a debate on the matter.

Mr. Broughan

Today, the European Commission announced it has taken action against Ireland on the issue of energy.

An Ceann Comhairle

As Deputy Sargent correctly pointed out, this issue is a matter for the Whips.

Mr. Broughan

On the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill which I understand has been scheduled to be taken in the House on Thursday. with two other energy Bills on the legislative programme, is it not time to draw up a comprehensive energy Bill and hold a proper debate on energy, perhaps after Easter?

The Taoiseach

In reply to Deputy Sargent, the question of holding a debate can be discussed among the Whips. The Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill will be before the House this week and a comprehensive Green Paper will be published later this year.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Will the Taoiseach advise the House as to the reason debate on Second Stage of the Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006, which opened last week, will not resume this week?

An Ceann Comhairle

That is a matter for the House.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

A number of speakers have not had an opportunity to contribute on this important legislation. Why is it not being taken this week in order that we can progress its passage through the House as all Members and parties would wish? People have waited a long time for repayments to issue.

We learned this week that, far from taking international drugs companies to court for providing infected products for haemophiliacs, the Department of Health and Children is further engaging with one such company with regard to the influenza vaccine.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy should submit a question to the Minister for Health and Children.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

When will the Hepatitis C and HIV Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill be taken? Can it be expedited to ensure it is taken before the summer?

The Taoiseach

It will be taken this session.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Will it be taken before the summer?

The Taoiseach

It will be taken this session.

Mr. Costello

Arising from large-scale robberies of cash-in-transit in the past two weeks, why are we still relying on the meaningless voluntary code agreed——

An Ceann Comhairle

The matter does not arise on the Order of Business.

Mr. Costello

It is partly related to legislation. The voluntary code was agreed between the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the banks and the security industry. The Private Security Services Act, which provides for the introduction of a statutory code, was passed a year and a half ago but no statutory code is in place. We hear the Minister on the airwaves blaming the security industry and banks and stating that the voluntary code is not working. The statutory code should have been in place by now.

The Taoiseach

The Minister has made clear that the arrangement he made a year ago has not been fully complied with and he is moving towards taking a different approach to the issue.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

On a point of order, the Taoiseach did not reply to my question on the Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill.

An Ceann Comhairle

That is not a point of order.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

When will Second Stage of the Bill resume?

The Taoiseach

That is a matter for the Whips.

Mr. Gilmore

Does the Government intend to withdraw the Water Services Bill 2003, which has been with the select committee for more than a year with no progress made?

The Taoiseach

I understand amendments are being drafted in the Department and it hopes to come back with them later in the year. I have already raised the matter with the Department.

Ms Burton

Will legislation be introduced to address Bus Éireann's practice of contracting taxi drivers to drive children with disabilities to school given that taxi drivers are not subject to vetting under current legislation?

An Ceann Comhairle

The matter does not arise on the Order of Business?

Ms Burton

It arises with regard to the register of persons who are considered unsafe to work with children. The children in question have no protection and parents are concerned.

An Ceann Comhairle

If the Deputy resumes her seat, I will call Deputy Howlin. If not, I will move on to the next item of business.

Ms Burton

The question relates to No. 40 on the list of proposed legislation.

The Taoiseach

No date has been set for taking the Bill in question.

Mr. Howlin

Last Thursday on the Order of Business I asked the Minister for Finance who was standing in for the Taoiseach whether Government policy had changed on the subsidy to Irish Ferries to dislodge workers. The Minister could not give me an answer, indicating that the reason was that the Taoiseach had responsibility to the Dáil for that matter. Has Government policy changed?

An Ceann Comhairle

I suggest the Deputy submit a question to the Taoiseach as it is not appropriate on the Order of Business.

Mr. Howlin

I have done so already and the question was transferred to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Chair has no control over that matter.

Mr. Howlin

The Taoiseach previously gave assurances to the House that the move to subsidise the dislodging of Irish workers would be resisted by the Government. Does that remain Government policy?

An Ceann Comhairle

The matter does not arise on the Order of Business. We must move on to the other business before the House.

Ms McManus

When will the human tissues Bill be published?

The Taoiseach

The Bill is not listed on the legislative programme.

Mr. Crawford

Last December, a guarantee was given in the House that the report into the death of Mr. Patrick Walsh at Monaghan General Hospital would be dealt with in eight weeks, yet it has still not been addressed.

An Ceann Comhairle

The matter does not arise on the Order of Business.

Mr. Crawford

Will it be eight months instead of eight weeks?

Mr. Neville

In February the Taoiseach promised that the building societies amendment Bill, to amend the Building Societies Act 1989, would be introduced before Easter. What is the up-to-date position with the Bill?

The Taoiseach

It is listed for this session. The heads of the Bill have been approved and the legislation was sent for drafting some time ago. We are waiting for it but it is still listed for before the summer.