It is proposed to take No. 10, motion re referral to select committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the terms of the agreement between the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Ireland concerning mutual legal assistance in criminal matters; No. 11, motion re leave to introduce Supplementary Estimates [Votes 7, 12 and 14]; No. 12, motion re referral of Supplementary Estimates [Votes 7 and 12] to select committee; No. 13, National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009 – Financial Resolution; No. 23, Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009 — Second Stage (resumed); and No. 4, European Union Bill 2009 — Order for Second Stage and Second Stage. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m., that business shall be interrupted on the adjournment of Private Members' business which shall be No. 67, motion re Government charges on business, which shall be taken for 90 minutes at 7 p.m. or on the conclusion of Supplementary Estimate, Vote 14, whichever is the later; Nos. 2, 10, 11, 13 and, subject to agreement on No. 11, No. 12, referral to committee, shall be decided without debate; that the Supplementary Estimate, Vote 14, shall be moved and the proceedings thereon shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 45 minutes, that any divisions demanded on Nos. 11 and 12 and the Supplementary Estimate, Vote 14, shall be taken forthwith. The following arrangements shall apply in relation to Supplementary Estimate, Vote 14 — the speeches shall be confined to a Minister or Minister of State and to the main spokespersons for the Fine Gael and Labour parties and Sinn Féin who shall be called upon in that order and who may share time which shall not exceed ten minutes in each case. The Minister or Minister of State shall make a speech in reply which shall not exceed five minutes.
Order of Business.
There are two proposals to be put to the House. Is the proposal that the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. tonight agreed to?
Before we agree the proposals, I would like clarification from the Taoiseach on the arrangements being made for Committee Stage of the National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009. As I understand from the Schedule——
Perhaps we could dispose of the proposals following which the Deputy can——
How the Taoiseach responds will determine my attitude to the first proposal. We had requested that Committee Stage of the NAMA Bill be taken in the House, by which we meant a meeting of the House in Committee Stage with normal business being conducted on the respective days. As I understand it, the Government is now proposing that the House will not meet in normal session this Thursday and that the Chamber will be used for a meeting of the Select Committee on Finance and the Public Service to consider Committee Stage of the NAMA Bill and, that instead of the House meeting as normal next week, as it has done for the past two years following the October bank holiday weekend, the select committee will again use the Chamber to consider Committee Stage of the NAMA Bill. This is unacceptable for a number of reasons. First, that is not what we sought in terms of Committee Stage of the NAMA Bill. We sought to have the matter dealt with by the House. Second, this means there will be no Order of Business this Thursday and that there will be no Order of Business, Leaders' Questions or Question Time on Wednesday or Thursday next week. This is not acceptable to the Labour Party. Perhaps the Taoiseach will say when the arrangements for Committee Stage of the NAMA Bill will be brought before the House given they are not included in the proposals being put before us today. When will the proposals to deal with the NAMA Bill be put before the House? Also, will he reconsider those arrangements, which make a mockery of the House? It is a bit of sleight of hand to pretend that because the select committee has the hire of the hall next week the House will somehow be in full session. It will not be.
I am disappointed with Deputy Gilmore's concluding remarks. The Government proposal is a compromise to the various suggestions floating around. The Select Committee on Finance and the Public Service will meet tomorrow at 2 p.m. to discuss the timing and processing of Committee Stage of the NAMA Bill. It is expected the committee will agree to meet at 10.30 a.m. on Thursday morning in the Dáil Chamber to begin debate on the amendments and that it will continue its debate on the amendments next week. That is the proposal we are putting to the House. We believe it is the best compromise in respect of all proposals put to the Whip. It is in the interests of getting agreement that this proposal is being put to the House. The select committee will allow other Members who wish to contribute in the House to do so. It will also give the Bill the prominence and time people expect.
Is the proposal that the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. tonight agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with Nos. 10, 11 and 13, without debate, agreed? Agreed.
We now move on to No. 10, motion re referral to the select committee of the proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the terms of the agreement between the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Ireland concerning mutual legal assistance in criminal matters. I call on the Minister of State to move the motion.
We have not completed the Order of Business.
The Ceann Comhairle will be aware it is usual for Members to ask questions on the Order of Business before moving on to the motions. I know it takes a little time for one to get used to a new position.
Nice try.
Yes. We have quite a few motions to get through.
We will get the Ceann Comhairle right after a while.
The entire country was overjoyed to hear of the release in Africa of the Goal worker, Sharon Commins. It is appropriate that we pay tribute and give credit to Sharon and her family for their consistent courage. I also want to recognise the efforts made by the Government, through the Minister and Department of Foreign Affairs and our embassy staff in dealing with the delicate negotiations on this sensitive matter.
On the meetings held recently between Northern Ireland parties, the First Minister, Deputy First Minister and British Prime Minister, is there any movement in respect of the establishment of the North-South Parliamentary Body? Has the Taoiseach had any contact or involvement in that regard? The Taoiseach will be aware this is part of the Good Friday Agreement. Perhaps he might update us on the position in this regard.
I agree with Deputy Kenny it was welcome news to hear at the weekend of the successful outcome of the negotiations to secure the safe return here of Sharon Commins and of Hilda Kawuki to her family in Kampala. I join with everyone in the House in welcoming that outcome. I also thank all of those people who worked so hard, skilfully and patiently over such a long time to achieve it. I recognise the people in the Sudanese Administration who were helpful and co-operated with our efforts in this regard. Finally, I pay tribute to the family of Sharon Commins who at all times, despite great distress and difficulty, showed a wonderful understanding and comprehension of the sensitivity of the situation and the need to enable those who were charged to do so to continue in their discussions and interactions with the authorities in that part of the world in an effort to return Sharon to safety. I was impressed by their fortitude and discretion during what was a very difficult time, despite the long time involved.
On the other matter raised, the Speaker of the Assembly, Mr. Hay, and the Ceann Comhairle's predecessor took a keen interest in developing relationships between the Oireachtas and the Assembly and used their respective positions of leadership as a means of advancing the base upon which trust and confidence could be built. We look forward to the establishment of the North-South parliamentary body in due course. A great deal of work and effort in this regard has been done by the Speaker and outgoing Ceann Comhairle. I am sure the current incumbent will continue this work.
I join Deputy Kenny and the Taoiseach in welcoming the release of Sharon Commins and her colleague. I express my admiration for the courage they showed throughout their ordeal and acknowledge the good work done by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the country's diplomatic staff in securing her release. I hope there will be good news in the not too distant future about Fr. Sinnott.
The High Court has now cleared the way for the publication of the report into the sexual abuse of children in the Dublin archdiocese. When does the Taoiseach expect the publication of that report?
We want to publish the report as soon as possible. There are still some legal issues to be determined between the DPP, the Attorney General and the Department. We must keep a balance between the need to publish as soon as possible and not doing anything to prejudice any prospective prosecutions or proceedings that may arise. This was a recent development and I assure the Deputy it is being dealt with in that way for that purpose.
Due to the problems facing the eel fishing sector, which faces extreme Government and EU regulation to the detriment of the industry, will the Taoiseach say when we can expect the publication of and a debate on the fisheries (consolidation) Bill.
There is no date for that.
We have just been told by the Department of Health and Children that 400,000 people here are at risk from swine flu. We have been waiting since last April to get a vaccine and that vaccine has now been produced. Could someone tell us when that vaccine will be made available to those at risk? The HSE tells us to ask the immunisation centre, which tells us to go the local GP, who then says he does not know when the vaccine will be delivered.
Could the Deputy relate this to some legislation?
There is no promised legislation, there is a promised vaccine.
It would help if it could be related.
I saw the Director of Public Health from the Health Service Executive, Dr. Doorley, interviewed on this subject yesterday evening. He brought to public attention the fact that the vaccine is now being distributed and that it would be two weeks before everything is in place. We need to ensure that adequate arrangements are put in place. That is the up to date position. It is a question of ensuring distribution takes place, that people are properly apprised of the situation and then it can be rolled out. It is important that it be done properly so I can only convey what I heard from the HSE personnel.
Is there a list in the HSE to tell us what GPs will receive supplies and when? Surely that is not beyond the bounds of possibility?
We must find another way to address this, by the Adjournment or a parliamentary question perhaps. There are several ways of dealing with this to elicit the information.
We have waited since last April. I listened to the Chief Medical Officer this morning when he clearly stated that the rate of infection is increasing and more people will die. We have a vaccine. Why can it not be delivered to the public?
I ask the Deputy to raise the issue through a parliamentary question or on the Adjournment.
That is in play at the moment. We made an early order for the vaccine and we have it and are proceeding with distribution. It is an operational matter at this stage for the HSE.
The term of office of the Grangegorman Development Board expires today. The Minister for Education and Science has indicated he has no intention of appointing a new board, even though he has a statutory obligation to do so. Already the agency is without a chief executive officer and now the Minister will not appoint a new board. Will the Taoiseach ensure that the Minister for Education and Science fulfils his statutory obligations without delay?
We must find an alternative way to get answers to these queries. The Order of Business is not the appropriate place.
This is a statutory matter and the Order of Business is for raising issues related to existing legislation or that the Government intends to amend or abolish. There is, however, a statutory obligation under the legislation to deal with the board. While the board is no longer in existence, the agency is rudderless.
Perhaps the Deputy could submit a parliamentary question on the matter.
I submitted it as matter for the Adjournment and it was not accepted.
Perhaps tomorrow it will be accepted.
As it is a statutory matter, the Taoiseach might like to answer.
In fairness to the Taoiseach, he would not have the required information immediately available.
Perhaps he could convince the Minister for Education and Science this is a matter that should be properly addressed immediately without leaving a vacuum.
We will revisit the matter tomorrow.
I have previously raised in the House the need to introduce legislation to provide for the collection and exchange of information related to the endangerment, sexual exploitation and sexual abuse or children or the risk of sexual abuse. In view of the horrendous details outlined on Newstalk radio station this afternoon, would the Taoiseach consider it expedient to bring this promised legislation before the House at the earliest possible date?
This legislation is due next year.
Might it be possible, in view of the urgent need to address this issue, to get an indication from the Taoiseach that there will be a degree of urgency attached to the progression of the legislation?
The heads of the Bill are being worked on. It is a complex area and we are proceeding as quickly as possible.