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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 5 May 2011

Vol. 731 No. 3

Order of Business

It is proposed to take No. a4, motion re establishment of Select Committee on Europe Day; No. b4, motion re arrangements to facilitate Europe Day; No. 7, Biological Weapons Bill 2010 — Order for Report, Report and Final Stages, to adjourn at 12.30 p.m. today, if not previously concluded; No. 6, statements on the EU-IMF Programme (resumed), to adjourn at 1.30 p.m. if not previously concluded; and No. 5, statements on suicide prevention (resumed). It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that Nos. a4 and b4 shall be decided without debate.

Is the proposal for dealing with Nos. a4 and b4, motions re establishment of Select Committee on Europe Day, and arrangements to facilitate Europe Day, without debate, agreed to? Agreed.

May I raise an issue on these matters?

No, because they are to be taken without debate and have been agreed to.

We will come back to the Deputy on the Order of Business.

Is the Tánaiste aware that five men are being held under the Terrorism Act in the UK, having been arrested close to Sellafield? Has either the Taoiseach or the Tánaiste raised the question of Sellafield in any of their contacts with the British Government since assuming office? Has a security briefing been given to the Taoiseach or the Tánaiste concerning these arrests, particularly in view of the horrendous consequences that would arise if there were to be a terrorist attack on Sellafield?

The Government has raised the issue of Sellafield with the British Government. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has been in touch with his British counterpart and has been in contact with the relevant authorities following the Fukushima episode in Japan. I am aware that five people have been arrested close to the Sellafield plant. I understand that they are still in detention and are being questioned. At this point, that is as much as we know about this matter.

It is not a matter for the Order of Business.

Did the Deputy hear me? It is not a matter for the Order of Business.

It is a very important issue.

I appreciate that, but will the Deputy please resume his seat? It is not a matter for the Order of Business.

Was any security briefing given to the Irish authorities by the British authorities concerning this matter?

Did the Deputy hear me?

It is ironic that we will have nearly a day-long debate on Europe Day in this House given the level of sovereignty that has been ceded by this State.

The Deputy is opposed to Europe.

Please give the Deputy a chance to speak.

In a sense, every day is Europe day. Can the Tánaiste enlighten us as to when the committees will be established? On the revised memorandum of understanding, the suggestion is to bring forward legislation to increase the current rate of carbon tax. I do not have to tell the Tánaiste or his colleagues about the issue of fuel poverty. More than 115,000 customers of Bord Gáis are behind in paying their bills.

That is not a matter for the Order of Business.

Families are struggling. Given that the Labour Party and Fine Gael were very strident on this matter in the last Dáil, when is it proposed to bring forward legislation on it?

I call the Tánaiste on promised legislation.

The Deputy has raised three matters. First, I thank her for welcoming the fact that the Dáil will have a dedicated debate on Europe on Monday, marking Europe Day. I look forward to the contributions during that debate.

Second, the Deputy asked about the committees and it is hoped that arrangements for their establishment will be finalised once the composition of the Seanad is completed. That will be done shortly.

Third, there is a commitment in the programme for Government on fuel poverty measures, which will be honoured and implemented by the Government.

The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government made a statement yesterday that will have serious legislative implications. For the first time we heard that a utility charge to pay for the installation of water meters in each home will be introduced.

I am sorry Deputy, but this is the Order of Business.

It is to do with legislation.

Is the Deputy asking about promised legislation?

Yes. Can the Tánaiste be precise and tell us the Government's legislative proposals with regard to the issue of a water tax? The Labour Party said it was opposed to it and that meters would be a waste of investment. Will the Tánaiste now renegue on all that and have a utility charge to add insult to the injury of taxation that is already being levied on people?

Is legislation promised in this regard?

Legislation on this matter has not been prepared or brought to Government. When legislation is considered by the Government it will be introduced in the House. The commitment on water charges is in the programme for Government, which makes clear that water metering will be introduced, but there will be a free household allowance. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is progressing those proposals and when they have been completed they will be brought before the House.

It is a complete negation of everything the Labour Party promised during the election.

Two weeks ago, my colleague Deputy Sandra McLellan put a question to the Tánaiste concerning his brief as Minister for Foreign Affairs. In reply, he said that responsibility for answering the question lay with the Minister for Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation. Will the Tánaiste please clarify his role? Is he responsible for trade, including imports and exports, as was the previous Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment?

That is a matter for a parliamentary question.

Will he clarify the future role of his Department?

The Deputy should table a parliamentary question.

While he is officially called the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade he has no responsibility for trade as far as I can see.

If the Deputy tables a parliamentary question he will get a reply.

This concerns upcoming legislation.

It is not upcoming legislation.

With respect, the Ceann Comhairle should hear me out. The Taoiseach has called the Tánaiste the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.

That is correct.

There will be legislation to put in place his responsibilities. I want to clarify his responsibilities.

It is not a matter for legislation.

It is a matter for division——

His remit and responsibilities——-

If the Deputy resumes his seat, I might——

When will he take up his portfolio?

Will the Deputy resume his seat?

Is the Tánaiste Minister for Foreign Affairs then?

Will the Deputy resume his seat please?

Can I get an answer to my question?

No, the Deputy will resume his seat first.

Can I get an answer to my question?

The Deputy will resume his seat first.

Can I get an answer to my question?

The Deputy will resume his seat first.

Can I get an answer to my question?

The Deputy will resume his seat first.

Can I get an answer to my question?

The Deputy will resume his seat first.

Can I get an answer to my question?

No, the Deputy will resume his seat first. I thank the Deputy.

Can I get an answer to my question?

Is legislation necessary in respect of this matter? "Yes" or "No"?

No legislation is required.

I thank the Tánaiste. We move on. I call Deputy Healy.

When does the Tánaiste become Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade? Why do his colleagues not take questions? Why are two Ministers without portfolios at present?

This is not a shouting match.

Why are Ministers not answering questions in the House?

If the Deputy is orderly, and indicates that he wishes to speak, I will call him. I have called him and now I call Deputy Healy.

I have received no answer to my question.

I would appreciate the Deputy's co-operation. He will get an answer.

What is the responsibility of these Ministers? When do they assume their portfolios? I want clarity on this.

Where was the Deputy yesterday?

The Deputy was not in the House yesterday. He was canvassing.

I call Deputy Healy.

I need an answer to this question. We have Ministers without portfolios getting paid big salaries but not doing their jobs. This is a nonsense.

Will the Deputy please recognise the Chair?

This is a farce. We have Ministers who have titles who have not assumed responsibilities.

I will ask the Deputy to leave the Chamber in a moment if he is not careful.

The National Asset Management Agency is a highly secretive organisation and its procedures and processes do not appear to be amenable to this House. Currently, its dismissive attitude to workers and their rights is putting——

Is legislation promised in this regard?

I will come to that if the Ceann Comhairle allows me to finish.

The Deputy will come to it now because numerous Deputies are indicating.

I will come to that——

We do not have speeches on the Order of Business. The Deputy should ask if legislation is promised——

This matter is appropriate to the Order of Business. With regard to the dismissive attitude of NAMA to workers' rights, 128 jobs are at risk in viable businesses in counties Tipperary and Kilkenny.

The Deputy should table a parliamentary question.

A commitment in the programme for Government states, "We will insist on the highest standards of transparency in the operation of NAMA". What proposals has the Government to implement that commitment? When will they be brought before the House?

The Deputy should table a parliamentary question and he will get an answer to that. That matter is not related to promised legislation. The Deputy should resume his seat.

This is a legislative matter, which is dealt with in the programme for Government.

If the Deputy tables a parliamentary question, he will get an answer.

The question refers to a commitment in the programme for Government. Will the Tánaiste answer the question?

This is not Question Time.

Legislation is clearly promised in the programme for Government. Will the Tánaiste not answer the question?

No. I call Deputy O'Dea.

When will we have transparency?

Will the Deputy resume his seat?

Is legislation necessary to accompany the jobs initiative? If so, when can we expect it?

The jobs initiative will be announced next Tuesday and any Bill, motion or resolution required will be outlined as part of the announcement.

When will the mental capacity Bill, which takes into account the Law Reform Commission report on vulnerable adults, be published? It is significant legislation, which is included in the Government's legislative programme. I would appreciate it if the Tánaiste could inform the House when it will be brought forward.

The text of the Bill is being drafted and it is expected to be published later this year.

I call Deputy Catherine Murphy.

I was going to ask the same question.

Is the Deputy happy with the reply?

I thank the Deputy. I call Deputy Ó Cuív.

We all agree job creation is vital. The Government will announce its jobs budget next week. Why is it proposed that questions will only be taken by the Minister for Finance? Why will the Ministers for Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation and Social Protection not also take questions on this issue, as they have central roles in job creation?

That is a matter for the Whips to discuss.

It was discussed by the Whips. The Government Chief Whip gave a negative answer. Ordering of business in the House is a matter for the Government, not the Whips.

That is correct.

I am sure the Tánaiste will whip his Whip into line on this.

I am sure the Tánaiste has noted the Deputy's request.

The arrangements, as I understand it, for next week provide an opportunity throughout the week to discuss the announcement on Tuesday of the jobs initiative. There is provision for questions to be put to the Minister for Finance as part of the debate. If Members would like the opportunity to raise questions with the Ministers for Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation and Social Protection, I am sure that can be arranged through the Whips.

I thank the Tánaiste.

When is it proposed to bring forward legislation to establish a judicial council to provide a mechanism for dealing with complaints against judges, as promised in the programme for Government?

Does the Labour Party not have parliamentary party meetings?

Does Fianna Fáil?

It is easy for us.

It is intended to bring forward the legislation later this year.

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