It is proposed to take No. 11, motion re referral to select committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of Ireland's contribution to the International Development Association's multilateral debt relief initiative and to the International Development Association's 14th replenishment; No. 20, European Communities (Amendment) Bill 2006 — Order for Report, Report and Final Stages; No. 21, Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad] — Second Stage (resumed); No. 22, Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Bill 2005 [Seanad] — Second Stage (resumed); and No. 2, National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006 — Order for Second Stage and Second Stage. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that No. 11 shall be decided without debate. Private Members’ Business shall be No. 55, motion re Marty report on extraordinary rendition by the United States.
Order of Business.
Is the proposal for dealing with No. 11 agreed to?
It is not agreed. I welcome the decision to give €59 million towards the cost of debt cancellation. However, the requirement to debate it in the House is based on the fact that this sum is to be lumped with the overall figure for overseas development aid, which it clearly is not. It gives a false picture with regard to the Government living up to its commitment to reach the figure of 0.7% of GNP by 2007, which has now been put back to 2010. This is a serious matter because it falsifies the figures.
We cannot have a debate on the issue.
It is endeavouring to mislead not only the public but also the international community about our commitment in this area.
The Deputy is wrong. It is reckonable as ODA.
This should not be included in the ODA figure.
It is ODA.
What we are seeking is a commitment to pay——
Is the proposal for dealing with No. 11 agreed to?
Surely a Deputy is allowed to make a point.
We cannot have a debate on the matter now. The question is whether it should be referred to the committee.
It should not and I am making the argument why it should not.
In the Taoiseach's absence I raised a matter which had been raised by Deputies McGrath and McManus and me in respect of the National Rehabilitation Board and its former employees. It took six years for one person to get their due entitlements through the courts.
Does the Deputy have a question on legislation?
The Tánaiste undertook to revert to me about this matter. Will the Taoiseach follow up the issue and ascertain if the remaining almost 200 employees will receive their entitlements? For his information, this relates to the abolition of the National Rehabilitation Board some years ago and the rights that had accrued to its workers.
It does not arise on the Order of Business.
You allowed it three weeks ago, a Cheann Comhairle.
In a moment of weakness.
Let there be another quick moment.
It was not a moment of weakness on your behalf, a Cheann Comhairle. You have no moments of weakness.
I call Deputy Rabbitte.
You are as sharp as a razor all the time. I was in Monaghan last week where I was told as much.
There is an amendment to the Dáil schedule for Thursday, owing to the House rising because of the death of the former Taoiseach. One of the items listed for Thursday is the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006, which relates to whether the Defence Acts allow the Defence Forces to take part in missions not established by UN resolution. The Bill has not yet been published, although it was intended to deal with it on Thursday. This side of the House has repeatedly asked for time to discuss this matter. The Labour Party made the argument to the Minister, Deputy O'Dea, over a prolonged period——
We cannot have a debate on the issue. Does the Deputy have a question appropriate to today's Order of Business?
——and by letter, that this amendment to the Defence Acts would be necessary. He maintained it would not. As recently as today in the newspapers he claimed it was not necessary, yet this legislation was scheduled for Thursday. We were expected to respond to it but it has not yet been published.
A Cheann Comhairle, on the same matter——
There is nothing else to raise.
When will the Bill be published?
I will communicate with the Minister. Is it the Deputy's point that he wants the Bill published quickly in order that it can be dealt with next week?
Yes.
It is on the schedule for Thursday.
It will not be taken on Thursday.
If it were not for other events, it would have been taken on Thursday.
On a point of order, all the Deputies want is a copy of the legislation.
That is not a point of order. The Taoiseach will respond to Deputy Rabbitte.
The Taoiseach should ensure we receive a copy of the legislation as a matter of urgency.
I will discuss it with the Minister. I am not sure that it will be taken on Thursday but I will ask that it be circulated quickly.
On that point, it is listed for Committee Stage next week but it has not yet been published.
It does not arise on today's Order of Business.
It is promised legislation.
The Taoiseach has answered the only question that arises on today's Order of Business.
It is promised legislation. It still has not been published but Committee Stage is scheduled for next week.
We cannot debate it now.
The Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill was scheduled to be published in the middle of this year but is now scheduled to be published later. When is it intended to publish it? Will the Taoiseach give an assurance that it will be dealt with in the current session?
The heads of the Bill have been approved and the Bill is due to be published later this year. It will not be during this session.
What is the situation with regard to health? We have been summoned by the Health Service Executive——
I am sorry but that matter does not arise on the Order of Business. We must move to the next business.
——to attend a meeting tomorrow. Is the Minister in charge or not?
I will call the Deputy first tomorrow.
A Cheann Comhairle, I raised my hand to ask a question on the Order of Business.
That is correct. Many other Deputies did so too but as it is now almost 5.40 p.m., we must move on. The Deputy will be called first tomorrow after the leaders.