It is proposed to take No. 13, motion re the Book of Estimates, 2007, resumed; and No. 61, motion re housing, resumed. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. tonight and business shall be interrupted on the conclusion of Private Members' business, which shall be taken for 90 minutes at 7 p.m., or on the conclusion of No. 13, whichever is the later.
Order of Business.
There is one proposal to put to the House. Is the proposal for the late sitting agreed to? Agreed.
Pierre Gemayel, the Christian Lebanese Minister, was assassinated yesterday and it is feared this may lead to all-out civil war. Has the Government considered the serious implications for the 158 members of the First Southern Brigade who are serving in the region with the United Nations? The Defence Forces have a long history of serving in the Lebanon.
One of the greatest challenges facing the United Nations is the conflict in Darfur in Sudan. Will the Taoiseach indicate whether we will have a debate on the genocide in that region before the Christmas recess?
Are we to have the much-promised debate on the Harris report into the decline of spoken Irish, particularly in primary schools, before the Christmas recess?
The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has done a U-turn regarding his arrogant position on the register of electors; the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht affairs has done a U-turn in respect of his obstinacy over "Dingle Daingean Uí Chúis"——
Has the Deputy a question appropriate to the Order of Business?
——and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has done a U-turn in respect of his vanity on the home defence situation. In view of the Law Reform Commission's report and recommendation, will the Government make a single-line amendment to the relevant legislation so owners of property will not be required to retreat in the event of an invasion of their privacy or a break-in by would-be burglars? Single-line legislation would not cost anything and the issue is not a constitutional matter.
As I understand it, the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has promised legislation on that matter and it will come forward.
I understand a large number of debates have been promised and the Government Whip is more inclined to have the debate on Darfur in the Seanad. The Harris report will be debated in the Dáil, as I understand it.
On behalf of the Labour Party, Deputy Gilmore has been pressing the Government on the refurbishment of the register of electors. He published a Bill that would take into account the additional time necessary for this process. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government stated yesterday the changes he is now agreeing to would be facilitated by way of the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006. The deadline is Saturday, 25 November but the Bill is not listed for this week. Will the Taoiseach clarify how the Minister, Deputy Roche, will deal with the matter?
I wrote to my county manager asking him for the list of deletions from the register of electors. Such lists have been furnished widely to colleagues in the House. I got a letter back eventually——
That does not arise on the Order of Business.
Of course it does.
It is not appropriate to quote.
——stating the council has been advised by the data protection office that the data are personal and should not be disclosed to third parties.
What a load of rubbish.
It might be more appropriate to raise that when the Bill comes before the House.
Members from different constituencies have been furnished with the lists of deletions without asking for them.
We cannot have a debate on it. The Deputy had an opportunity to do so during Leaders' Questions. The Chair will facilitate the Deputy if he wants to raise it in another way but we cannot have a debate now. The Taoiseach, on the first question.
Perhaps the Taoiseach will comment on it.
The Minister, in his announcement yesterday, said he would deal with this matter through the Electoral (Amendment) Bill. As I understand it, that does not affect the changes he announced yesterday. There is an extension for the local authorities until 29 December and for the public until 9 December.
Will the Taoiseach ask the Minister to deal with the point I made?
Yes.
I cannot understand how one local authority——
That does not arise on the Order of Business. It would be better if the Deputy raised it in the appropriate way, in which case the Chair will facilitate the Deputy. I call Deputy Sargent.
I thank the Taoiseach for bringing it to the attention of the Minister. I cannot see why one local authority should be treated differently from the others.
We cannot have a debate on the matter.
When will the Coroners Bill be before the House, particularly given the concerns of the Stardust victims' families?
Will the Deputy confine his remarks to legislation?
A 122-day inquiry did not get to the bottom of what happened and, therefore, the Coroners Bill might at least provide an opportunity to determine whether lessons have been learned.
The Taoiseach, on the legislation.
The second Bill to which I wish to refer concerns the register of persons considered unsafe to work with children, which I asked about during questions to the Taoiseach. He stated he hoped an agreement would be signed in this regard next Monday. Does this mean the legislation will be published sooner? If so, what is the publication date? No date is specified at present.
The Coroners Bill is due in early 2007. I do not have a date for the publication of the Bill concerning the register of persons considered unsafe to work with children but, as I stated, the memorandum of understanding on the principles agreed by both sides will be signed next Monday.
Can the Taoiseach name a date?
The Taoiseach indicated in response to Deputy Kenny that the Government had done a U-turn on the commitment made to have a debate in this House on the conflict in Darfur. We surely owe the people of Darfur——
That does not arise on the Order of Business. I call Deputy O'Sullivan.
A debate was promised for this House and we are now told it is to be held in the Seanad. Surely we can afford to allow one hour——
We cannot go back over the matter. The question has been answered. I call Deputy O'Sullivan.
——to debate one of the most considerable humanitarian crises——
We cannot spend the whole morning on the Order of Business. I call Deputy O'Sullivan.
Surely the people of Darfur deserve one hour of our time.
The Minister for Education and Science said she hopes to have the student support Bill through both Houses by the end of the year, but there is no sign of its being published. When will it be published?
It will be published this session.
How can it be passed in both Houses by the end of the year if we are given such a vague answer?
That could be difficult, could it not?
The Minister said she wants it passed by the end of the year and she wants us to co-operate. We cannot co-operate on a Bill we have not got.
The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform said he would allow a full day to debate different reports from his Department.
The Tánaiste has agreed to it and it is therefore a matter for the Whips to agree the times.
Last Thursday I asked the Tánaiste about legislation promised to regulate fertility clinics and he stated he expected it to be introduced before the general election. Will the Taoiseach confirm this is the Government's plan?
It is not listed but I understand a Bill is in preparation in the Department.
That does not answer the question I asked. I asked whether the Government plans to deal with this legislation before the general election.
No heads of the Bill have yet been prepared. I have not seen even draft legislation and I cannot name a date until I do so.
The Taoiseach mentioned extending the date for getting the electoral registers right. Can he clarify whether there will also be an extension for postal votes, which had been due to close——
That does not arise on the Order of Business and I suggest that the Member raise it with the Minister.
I only seek clarification from the Taoiseach.
I refer again to the Government's decision to extract a section from the communications Bill and introduce a short Bill to enable RTE to broadcast television signals to the Irish in Britain. The Whips have discussed the matter and agreed to facilitate it. Is it likely that we will see the Bill before Christmas? Has that short Bill passed through the Government? What stage has it reached?
I understand that the Minister supports this move. Perhaps we can agree between us to allocate a short amount of time. The section has been prepared and it is merely a question of inserting it into a Bill. I would like to do it before Christmas.
I am afraid it will get caught in the red tape of bureaucracy.
I call Deputy Boyle.
What is the current status of the national monuments Bill?
Is the Taoiseach tired?
No. Why does the Deputy ask?
Please allow Deputy Boyle to speak without interruption.
Perhaps the Taoiseach did not catch my question since he may be overtired, but what is the current status of the national monuments Bill that the Government originally promised for 2003? Is it still the Government's intention to introduce one?
I had better stand up or people will think that I am the monument here. The Bill will be introduced next year.
I wish to raise two issues. In light of the major difficulties experienced by young farmers in receipt of the single payment owing to transfers of deeds and so on, when will the animal health Bill be brought before the House? Second, some weeks ago the Tánaiste promised that the Teamwork report would come before the House for debate. When will that happen?
The heads of the animal health Bill were agreed some time ago, but I do not yet have a date for the legislation. In the past five or six weeks, I have acceded to requests for several debates. The Whips will have to reach agreement on how much time they might allocate. There is not much point in me agreeing to them if we cannot fit them in.
We are open to a debate any time.
Please allow the Taoiseach to speak without interruption.
If we can agree on the time, we will have them.
It is urgent.
The next item is No. 13, the Estimates for Public Services 2007: Motion (Resumed).
The Ceann Comhairle forgot about me.
The Chair did not forget about the Deputy and points out that Leaders' Questions overran by 20 or 25 minutes.
Several Members who indicated their desire to speak after me were called.
The Deputy should speak to the leaders of the parties. He will be first tomorrow.
I strongly object.