It is proposed to take No. a17, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the draft Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related matters) Order, 2015 (resumed); and No. 47, Workplace Relations Bill 2014 - Report and Final Stages (resumed). It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that in the event a division is in progress at the time fixed for taking Private Members’ business, the Dáil shall sit later than 9 p.m. tonight and Private Members' business, which shall be No. 187, motion re junior certificate exam structures (resumed), shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 90 minutes; and notwithstanding the order of the Dáil of yesterday, the resumed proceedings on No. a17 shall, if not previously concluded, adjourn at 4 p.m. today. Tomorrow's business after Oral Questions shall be No. 47, Workplace Relations Bill 2014 - Report and Final Stages (resumed); and No. 48 Garda Síochána (Amendment)(No. 3) Bill 2014 - Second Stage (resumed).
Order of Business
Is the proposal for dealing with the late sitting agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. a17 agreed to?
It is not agreed. We were given an Order of Business earlier today and the Taoiseach read out a revised Order of Business, which we received only a moment ago. This is regarding a very important issue, the commission of investigation into mother and baby homes and certain related matters. We have consistently raised these issues with the Taoiseach. Na Teachtaí Ó Caoláin, McLellan and McDonald raised these issues this morning and we put down a comprehensive amendment to the Government's proposition. Did the Government change the Order of Business because it cannot fill the speaking slots? We will fill the slots, as will others here. For how long is it to be adjourned and why is it to be adjourned? It is not a good way to do business to give us the Order of Business and then revise it without any explanation.
The people involved are mostly women, although some men are involved and many of them were children at the time. They are hanging on, waiting for the Government to do the right thing, to fulfil the apology the Taoiseach made here on behalf of the citizens of the State. We strenuously object to the cack-handed way the Taoiseach is dealing with the issue and the way he has revised the Taoiseach's programme without any explanation whatsoever. He did not even explain it when he was on his feet. Sinn Féin is prepared to fill the speaking slots, if that is the problem. I am sure other Teachtaí would be happy to come and speak on the matter.
We have filled our slots for the debate before this change. If the Government wants to continue the debate next week, we have no difficulty with it. Clarification is important. Is the Government not in a position to fill the slots today?
There are Deputies out campaigning for elections.
Does it lack speakers? There is much talk over on the Government side about elections. They have been at it since the beginning of the year so-----
Where is the Minister, Deputy Coveney?
I do not know whether there is a flight to the constituencies or whatever among the backbenchers but clarification is needed as to the rationale behind it.
There is no difficulty about this. As Deputies Adams and Martin have raised, it is an important matter. It is important that people who wish to speak on it should be given time. The Chief Whip has informed me that he has another list of Members who wish to speak - I did not have a contribution to speak on it myself - so the explanation is that there are more speakers who wish to contribute to this important issue. The intention then is to adjourn today at 4 p.m. and bring it back in next week in order that everyone who wishes to speak will have the opportunity to so do. It is an important issue and I accept the claims from Deputies opposite on many occasions that more time should be given. That is what this is about and more time will be given.
Why not allow it continue until 5.30 p.m.?
The Government is shortening the time today.
I will put the question.
I am not great at maths-----
We know that.
Deputies
We know that.
Sorry Deputy-----
I am not great at maths but-----
We heard the Deputy last Sunday. It was voodoo economics.
The Deputy is not great at maths.
----- it strikes me that while the Taoiseach states the Government wishes to give more time to more speakers, it does this by cutting an hour and a half off the time allocated. It is supposed to go on until 5.30 p.m.
Thank you Deputy, I think you have made your point on that issue.
It now is being stopped at 4 p.m.
Thank you.
For all of the frivolity from the amadáns in the backbenches-----
It was not frivolous.
Who is the Deputy talking about?
----- this is an important issue-----
Thank you. I think you have made the point.
----- and I am sure those watching in will see how it is being trivialised by some of the hecklers on the back and front benches.
We are not trivialising it at all.
I am putting the question.
Yes, the Deputies opposite are trivialising it.
This is a false row and Deputies will have more than one and a half hours next week.
Tá
- Breen, Pat.
- Bruton, Richard.
- Butler, Ray.
- Buttimer, Jerry.
- Byrne, Eric.
- Calleary, Dara.
- Carey, Joe.
- Coffey, Paudie.
- Collins, Áine.
- Collins, Niall.
- Conaghan, Michael.
- Coonan, Noel.
- Costello, Joe.
- Coveney, Simon.
- Cowen, Barry.
- Creed, Michael.
- Daly, Jim.
- Deasy, John.
- Deering, Pat.
- Doherty, Regina.
- Donnelly, Stephen S.
- Donohoe, Paschal.
- Dooley, Timmy.
- Dowds, Robert.
- Durkan, Bernard J.
- Farrell, Alan.
- Feighan, Frank.
- Ferris, Anne.
- Fitzgerald, Frances.
- Fitzmaurice, Michael.
- Flanagan, Terence.
- Fleming, Sean.
- Gilmore, Eamon.
- Grealish, Noel.
- Griffin, Brendan.
- Hannigan, Dominic.
- Harrington, Noel.
- Hayes, Tom.
- Healy-Rae, Michael.
- Howlin, Brendan.
- Humphreys, Kevin.
- Keating, Derek.
- Keaveney, Colm.
- Kehoe, Paul.
- Kelleher, Billy.
- Kenny, Enda.
- Kenny, Seán.
- Kirk, Seamus.
- Kitt, Michael P.
- Kyne, Seán.
- Lawlor, Anthony.
- Lynch, Kathleen.
- McCarthy, Michael.
- McConalogue, Charlie.
- McEntee, Helen.
- McFadden, Gabrielle.
- McGinley, Dinny.
- McGrath, Finian.
- McGuinness, John.
- McHugh, Joe.
- McLoughlin, Tony.
- McNamara, Michael.
- Martin, Micheál.
- Mitchell, Olivia.
- Mitchell O'Connor, Mary.
- Mulherin, Michelle.
- Nash, Gerald.
- Neville, Dan.
- Nolan, Derek.
- Ó Fearghaíl, Seán.
- O'Dea, Willie.
- O'Donovan, Patrick.
- O'Dowd, Fergus.
- O'Mahony, John.
- O'Reilly, Joe.
- O'Sullivan, Maureen.
- Penrose, Willie.
- Perry, John.
- Quinn, Ruairí.
- Rabbitte, Pat.
- Reilly, James.
- Ring, Michael.
- Ryan, Brendan.
- Smith, Brendan.
- Spring, Arthur.
- Stagg, Emmet.
- Stanton, David.
- Timmins, Billy.
- Troy, Robert.
- Tuffy, Joanna.
- Twomey, Liam.
- Wall, Jack.
- Walsh, Brian.
Níl
- Adams, Gerry.
- Boyd Barrett, Richard.
- Broughan, Thomas P.
- Colreavy, Michael.
- Coppinger, Ruth.
- Crowe, Seán.
- Daly, Clare.
- Ferris, Martin.
- Fleming, Tom.
- Halligan, John.
- Healy, Seamus.
- McDonald, Mary Lou.
- McLellan, Sandra.
- Mathews, Peter.
- Moynihan, Michael.
- Murphy, Catherine.
- Ó Caoláin, Caoimhghín.
- Ó Snodaigh, Aengus.
- O'Brien, Jonathan.
- Pringle, Thomas.
- Ross, Shane.
- Shortall, Róisín.
- Stanley, Brian.
- Tóibín, Peadar.
- Wallace, Mick.
There are only ten minutes remaining on the Order of Business.
The Taoiseach will be aware that the price of oil has decreased dramatically in the past few months. However, the consumer, on a range of levels, has yet to receive the proportionate reduction in the price of oil or petrol and the view of the regulator appears to be that he has no role in terms of pricing. It is a serious issue that when prices increase the consumer feels it very quickly but the same does not happen when prices decrease. As I said, oil prices have decreased dramatically. When will the Road Transport Bill and Public Transport Bill come before the House?
Furthermore, rent prices across Dublin have increased, on average, by 20%, which is a substantial increase. This is having a huge impact on those who rent their homes, including many families. This extraordinary increase in rents when combined with the type of accommodation which people can access under the terms of the rent supplement scheme is having a devastating impact on low income families, leaving many in poor housing or facing eviction and homelessness. When will the landlords and tenants Bill be introduced?
Yesterday, I asked the Taoiseach about a number of pieces of legislation in the health area. Section C of the legislative programme for the spring-summer session includes 12 Bills in the health area, the status of the majority of which is, "Publication Expected - Not possible to indicate at this stage". I am speaking in this regard about the health reform Bill, which is to put in place the new structures for the health service; the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (amendment) Bill, which is to amend the functions and membership of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board and the New Children's Hospital Establishment Bill, which is to establish a statutory body to provide paediatric acute services in Dublin. In all cases, the status is "Not possible to indicate at this stage". The status of the nursing home support scheme (Amendment) Bill, an important issue in terms of the Lourdes hospital redress scheme is "Publication Expected - 2015". In regard to the public health (retail licensing of tobacco products) Bill, which deals with a licensing system and other measures in relation to the sale of tobacco products and non-medicinal nicotine delivery systems, including e-cigarettes, the status is "Publication Expected - Not possible to indicate at this stage". While licensing of any new drug goes through a lengthy process in terms of FDA, Irish Medicines Board and European Medicines Agency approval and new foods are regulated by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, e-cigarettes-----
The Deputy cannot debate that issue now as we are a little short on time.
-----have been made available to the consumer without, it seems to me, any quality vetting. The public health (retail licensing of tobacco products) Bill is listed No. 106 in the legislative programme.
Are the e-cigarettes any good?
I do not know. They may or may not be but the point is that a range of products have to go through extraordinary leaps and hurdles to get licensed but they do not.
It might be due to the influence of certain people. When is the Bill expected? Will the Taoiseach give me a timeline for the other Bills to which I have referred? Is it the case that none of them will see the light of the day during the lifetime of the Government?
For the information of the House, today the Government made an historic decision in approving the wording of the thirty-fourth amendment to the Constitution Bill which will allow the people to decide the question of equality of marriage which, in turn, will allow for the right of two people to marry, irrespective of their sexual orientation. This is the first time a people’s constitutional convention has made a recommendation that has been accepted by a Government. Once the Bill passes through the House, the issue will be put to the people for their decision. In that sense, it is an historic day.
The Deputy raised the issue of energy prices and the energy regulator. I am glad that the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Alex White, will meet the energy companies. He will support the opportunity for energy companies to pass on the reduction in the cost of oil and so forth to consumers. The regulator has also spoken about this.
The road transport Bill will be published in the second half of the year.
I do not have a date for publication of the landlord and tenant Bill. The question of rent caps will be dealt with when the supply of housing is adequate to meet demand. That is why the Government has prioritised not only putting up money for but also incentivising opportunities to get the construction sector going. Deputy Micheál Martin can shake his head, but that is a fact.
I am shaking my head because the people continue to suffer.
The Deputy referred to several health Bills. The Minister for Health, Deputy Leo Varadkar, is working on a range of them. The priority is to have the doctor visit card legislation agreed to and get it through. This will require much consultation. I will get the Minister and the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy on the Bills to which he referred as to their state of preparation.
Tá cúpla ceist agam ar Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003, the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill and the health Bill. Dúirt an tAire, an Teachta Heather Humphreys, seachtain ó shin go mbeidh Bille foilsithe i gceann cúpla seachtain. An féidir leis an Taoiseach a chinntiú go dtarlóidh sé seo? Tá plean an Rialtais chun níos mó Gaeilgeoirí a fhostú sa Státseirbhís ina phraiseach anois. Tá sé scannalach go bhfuil sé ráite ag ochtar Airí, ina measc an tAire rialtais áitiúil, an Teachta Alan Kelly, nach bhfuil gá le daoine le Gaeilge ina Ranna. Is léir nach bhfuil an Taoiseach ná an Rialtas dáiríre faoin nGaeilge. Cén uair a bheidh an Bille ag teacht roimh an Dáil?
Tá ceist an-tábhachtach eile agam. Yesterday I raised the matter of the lack of a guiding timeframe for the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015. Will the Taoiseach give a commitment to accept Opposition amendments on the remaining Stages of the Bill?
Recently I referred to a letter from HIQA, Health Information and Quality Authority, and recommendations it had made about health services in Drogheda but which had not been implemented by the Minister for Health or the HSE. I have written to the Minister about this matter, but I have not received an answer from him. I got back in touch with HIQA which informed me that recommendations made about national emergency departments which had not been implemented included the issues of emergency department services, emergency department clinical governance and emergency department management performance and information. It is not much of a surprise that we have such a crisis in the health service which has been exacerbated by the cut in the number of nurses. Is there a health (amendment) Bill pending to deal with these serious failings?
The climate change Bill was published last week and will be taken in the second week of February. The Deputy will have more than adequate time to give his views on it.
Tá a fhios ag an Teachta go bhfuil an reachtaíocht i dtaobh stádas oifigiúil na Gaeilge agus úsáid na Gaeilge anseo ar an gcéad liosta don seisiún seo. Ní ró-fhada a bheidh an tAire ag tabhairt an Bhille isteach. Tabharfaidh mé dáta cinnte don Teachta nuair a bheidh a fhios agam féin faoi. Tá an Bille curtha síos chun teacht isteach sa seisiún seo.
The hospital in Drogheda did put an action plan in place following HIQA’s 2012 report. It did bring about an improvement in the emergency department's performance in 2013. Clearly, there are significant problems in Drogheda in community services, but there are plans to address these. I spoke to the services and the Deputy will receive a response on the letter he received from HIQA.
I am afraid the time allowed has expired. I will pass the list of Members who indicated they wanted to raise matters today to the Leas-Cheann Comhairle who will be taking the Order of Business tomorrow. Perhaps he might give them priority.
Is it possible to give backbenchers on all sides an opportunity to raise matters on the Order of Business? There are a good few of us who wanted to raise matters today. Leaders of political parties-----
We normally do, but there was a division on the Order of Business today.
Leaders of political parties and significant groupings have four opportunities to raise issues in the morning. Several of us came into the Chamber to raise issues, but we were not given the chance to do so. Will the Ceann Comhairle examine the matter at the Committee on Procedure and Privileges?
Half an hour is allocated for the Order of Business. On the odd occasion there can be a division which uses up the time.
Yes, but the same Members keep being given opportunities to raise issues. We all have the same mandate in this House.
There are 166 of us. This is not a party chatroom but a Parliament.
Yes, I know that.
Yet the parties are dominating it, which plainly is wrong.
You left us.
You threw me out, Jerry, under threat. The party leader said anyone who disagreed would not be a candidate in any election in the future. How about that?
Deputy Brian Walsh is back.
The microphones are off which is why I have to project my voice.