It is proposed to take No. 22, financial motions by the Minister for Finance [2014], motion No. 3 (resumed). It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the following arrangements shall apply to the resumed debate on No. 22: that the speech of the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the leaders of Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and the Technical Group, or persons nominated in their stead, who shall be called on in that order, shall not exceed 30 minutes in each case; that such Members may share their time; that the speech of each other Member called on, who may share his or her time, shall not exceed 20 minutes in each case; that the suspension of the sitting under Standing Order 23 shall take place at the conclusion of the leaders' speeches for one hour; and that tomorrow’s business after oral questions shall be No. 23, European Stability Mechanism (Amendment) Bill 2014 - Order for Report Stage and Report and Final Stages; and No. 24, Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 - Order for Report Stage and Report and Final Stages.
Order of Business
There are two proposals to be put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 22, financial motions by the Minister for Finance, agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with the suspension of the sitting today agreed to? Agreed.
There is €35 million allocated in the budget for mental health services, but that is approximately €15 million short of what should be in place by now if programme for Government commitments had been honoured. The relevant Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, indicated last year that she had a promise from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform that the €15 million cut from the budget for mental health services in 2014 would be reinstated in 2015. She said she had received a telephone call to say he would give it the following year. I have the quote here. As that has not happened, I would appreciate clarification.
When can we expect publication of the health insurance (amendment) Bill and will it provide for the quicker settlement of hospital bills by health insurers, which seems to be a key part of the budget of the Minister for Health, Deputy Leo Varadkar?
There is another serious matter relating to the Official Secrets Acts and Freedom of Information Acts. I have had to go to great lengths to obtain information on policy from the Taoiseach's office by utilising the Freedom of Information Act. It seems that information on private citizens can come from that office at the drop of a hat, with serious implications for Deputies or anybody who crosses or goes against the Taoiseach in any way. It is a serious matter and citizens would like to think they could write to the Taoiseach's office in confidence.
I am afraid that is not relevant on the Order of Business.
This suggests a sinister turn in politics and there has been a pattern in the Government's behaviour in this regard. It is whether it concerned Deputy Mick Wallace and the former Minister, Deputy Alan Shatter-----
Bully boy tactics.
-----or the hospital chief executive officers who wrote to the Government and subsequently saw details of pay in the media and the public domain.
We should get back to the Order of Business.
A hatchet job.
Now a Deputy from the Taoiseach's party who commented on the McNulty appointment-----
The Deputy is not listening. This is the Order of Business.
There are details on the front of a newspaper, but from where did they come? How did they get into the public domain? It is sinister.
The Deputy is really stretching it.
It is a very serious matter. Across society people are afraid to speak out against the Government.
It may be a serious matter, but it is not appropriate to the Order of Business. The Deputy had Leaders' Questions to air the issue.
In the health service, people are afraid to speak out.
The new SDLP.
The Minister of State should stop his trivial, infantile interjections. This is a serious matter.
There is nothing trivial about making accusations.
Deputy Martin, please.
It has been a tough day for the Deputy.
There should be an inquiry, as people want to be able to write to the Taoiseach's office with a degree of certainty that the issues would be confidential. It is a very sinister development.
The Deputy opposite should not cross him or he will get the bullet also.
Simon would not spend that kind of money on a ring.
There is an extra €35 million allocated for mental health services next year. The health insurance Bill is due to be published this session. Freedom of information requests to the Department of the Taoiseach and every other Department are handled completely independently by public servants. I never see the requests and have nothing to do with them. I reject completely any assertion of the deliberate leaking of any information from the Department of the Taoiseach.
Who leaked it then?
Therefore, a public servant leaked it in his or her own interests - my God.
We will not go there.
Blame the civil and public servants - appalling.
I want to be clear-----
The Taoiseach should check it out.
I would go back on that one, if I were him.
I did not know that Deputy Micheál Martin had become a private investigator.
Who leaked it?
We extended the freedom of information process.
Tá daoine buartha faoi thodhchaí na Gaeilge.
I would-----
Iarraim ar an Taoiseach bheith ciúin agus éisteacht liom.
Gabh mo leithscéal.
Tá daoine buartha faoi thodhchaí na Gaeilge agus táim ag lorg dáta le haghaidh Bille na dteangacha oifigiúla. Cén uair a bheidh an Bille seo linn sa Dáil? The Taoiseach knows that Irish language enthusiasts and communities throughout the entire island are relying on the outcome of this review in order to plan for the future. As he also knows, the language does not belong to the Government or any political party or group; it belongs to all of the people. The Gaeltacht is in grave danger and people, including those in the North, are relying on the outcome of the review. When will Bille na dteangacha oifigiúla be brought before the Dáil?
With regard to a proposed Bill to give legal recognition to transgender people, the Taoiseach knows that in 2008 the High Court declared that the State was in breach of its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights. There is no process to give legal protection to transgender people in their preferred gender. In May the Minister for Social Protection committed to bringing the recommendations of the joint committee on the general scheme of gender recognition before the Cabinet. Will the Taoiseach confirm if this has been done and when the legislation will be published?
Yesterday, the Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform were both absent during the period in which Opposition spokespersons responded to the Budget Statements. Is there any protocol to compel Ministers to be present during these discussions and respond with respect?
Beidh Acht na dteangacha oifigiúla ag teacht isteach roimh deireadh an seisiúin seo. The gender recognition Bill has been through the pre-legislative stage and is progressing very well. I am informed that we expect it to be brought before the House before the end of this session. No compulsion can be imposed on Members to attend the Chamber. We cannot require the Deputy to be here, for example, and Members watch proceedings on monitors. They have other duties to attend to also.
The first issue relates to climate change legislation.
Will that legislation be published in conjunction with the sectoral plans or will those plans precede it? When is the legislation likely to be published and when is it hoped it will be enacted?
The legislation associated with Construction 2020 is due this session. There are, however, two other Bills on the C list, the first of which relates to the regulation of builders and the second to consumer protection, and I am seeking to discover whether it is likely that their introduction will be brought forward. If we are going to accelerate activity in the area of construction, then at the very least there should be a different set of standards in place. Is it likely that the introduction of the two Bills to which I refer will be expedited?
The climate action and low carbon development Bill is a serious piece of work. An important meeting of the European Council is due to take place at the end of October at which the issues of emissions and climate change will be dealt with. Unfortunately, the analysis that was carried out in this country has left us in a very difficult position in the context of negotiations. The Bill will be published this session. The planning and development (No. 1) Bill will also be published during this session.
What about the planning and development (No. 2) Bill and the other legislation relating to standards, both of which are on the C list?
A great deal of work is being done on both. They are not expected this session.
The programme for Government, as published in 2011, provided for €35 million in ring-fenced funding for the recruitment of specialist staff to facilitate the successful implementation of the policy document A Vision for Change. As the Taoiseach is aware, that commitment was rowed back on in 2012 and 2013. The expenditure involved was current in nature and its removal has resulted in a cumulative underspend of €280 million in the context of the implementation of the policy in question. Last year, the commitment was rowed back on even further when another €15 million cut was imposed. The Minister of State with responsibility for mental health services, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, indicated that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform had given her a verbal commitment to the effect that the money involved would be restored this year. The latter has not proven to be the case. In light of the fact that there has been an underspend of €280 million in respect of the implementation of mental health policy, does the Government still intend to faithfully honour the commitments made in A Vision for Change?
An additional €25 million is being provided in respect of this area for next year in the Estimates. In the Deputy's party's pre-budget submission, this amount was capped at €10 million.
That is not the answer to the question I asked.
It is true, though.
Where is the money?
I suggest that the Deputy table a parliamentary question in respect of the matter.
The Taoiseach should answer my original question.
Fianna Fáil only made provision for an additional €10 million in its pre-budget submission.
That is not true.
It is true.
It is not true.
The purchase of distressed loan books by unregulated third parties has taken place.
Deputy Keaveney should read his party's pre-budget submission.
The Government took money away from mental health services.
This has been a cause of some concern as a result of the activity of certain of the purchasers and its impact on the market. The extent to which these entities are pressurising-----
It is shameful. The Government took the money from the most vulnerable and lined the pockets of the rich.
According to the its document, Fianna Fáil would spend €50 million less on health.
The Minister should go and cover up his predecessor's dirty tricks.
Deputy Keaveney should recognise the fact that Deputy Durkan is speaking.
What about the Minister?
Deputy Keaveney should show Deputy Durkan the same respect he was afforded while making his contribution.
Is the Ceann Comhairle going to caution the Minister?
In light of the extent to which individual householders are being pressurised by the purchasers of these loan books, will the Taoiseach indicate if it is intended to bring the sale of loan books to unregulated third parties Bill before the House as a matter of urgency in order to ensure that the activities of the entities to which I refer will not infect the entire market?
When is the criminal law (sexual offences) Bill likely to be introduced? Have the heads of this legislation been cleared by the Cabinet?
Both Bills are due this session.
Would it be possible for some steps to be taken in the meantime to alert the people who have purchased such loans of the fact that the legislation is imminent?
A public consultation process was held. Groups which bought the loan books in question voluntarily agreed to adhere to the code of conduct set out by the Central Bank.