It is proposed to take No. 9, Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015 - Second Stage (resumed), and No. 42, Roads Bill 2014 - Order for Report, Report and Final Stages. 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. 186 – motion re income and living conditions (resumed), shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 90 minutes. Tomorrow’s business after Oral Questions shall be No. 9, Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015 - Second Stage (resumed); No. 42, Roads Bill 2014 - Order for Report, Report and Final Stages; No. 45, Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2014 [Seanad] - Order for Report, Report and Final Stages; and No. 43, Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015 - Second Stage (resumed).
Order of Business
There is one proposal to be put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with the late sitting agreed to? Agreed.
This morning, the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, announced that the review of the fair deal scheme was on the desk of the Secretary General of the Department. Is it intended to publish that review? Will a debate on it be scheduled?
Second, the Taoiseach announced on the television some nights ago that the referendum on marriage equality will be held on 22 May. Will the legislation to establish the referendum commission be introduced before the end of this session? Will the Taoiseach also confirm that the second referendum will take place on 22 May? Finally, will that also be the date for the by-election in Carlow-Kilkenny?
Yes, the by-election will be held on the same date, 22 May, as the referendum. The Bill will be introduced on time in accordance with the timescale. Also, it is intended to publish the fair deal scheme review and to have a debate on it in the House.
When?
In the next couple of weeks.
Maidir leis an cheist chéanna, the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, said this morning that the review of the fair deal scheme is on the Secretary General's desk. Can we have a more definitive timeframe for when it will be published? Will the Government allocate time to debate it?
Tá ceist eile agam faoin tuarascáil seo. Ba mhaith liom ceist a chur faoin tuarascáil ón gcomhchoiste maidir le Bille na dteangacha oifigiúla. Foilsíodh an tuarascáil inné agus chuir Sinn Féin fáilte roimpi. Is rud an-mhaith í an tuarascáil seo. Tá 34 moladh ann a chuireann béim ar sheirbhísí do phobal na Gaeilge a chur ar fáil agus a chosaint. An nglacfaidh an Taoiseach agus an tAire leis na moltaí seo? Níos tábhachtaí fós, an bhfuil an Taoiseach sásta díospóireacht a chur ar siúl ar an ábhar seo anseo sa Dáil le linn Sheachtain na Gaeilge? Cathain a bheidh an Bille foilsithe ina iomlán agus os comhair na Dála? An mbeidh an Bille linn do bhliain na Gaeilge 2016?
Tá mo cheist dheireanach faoin communications regulation (postal services) (amendment) Bill. This Bill will put in place data protection measures in respect of the postcode system, Eircode, which has been years in planning. I have some concerns about the cost of it and also the threat to local placenames, which must be protected. The system is supposed to be ready for the summer. If this timeframe is feasible, when will the communications regulation (postal services) (amendment) Bill be introduced? Is the Taoiseach confident of having it passed by the Oireachtas in time for the summer start?
Thug mé freagra don Teachta Mac Giolla Laoire faoin gceist a chur sé orm. Beidh sé sin foilsithe. Tá sé ar bhord an Rúnaí Ginearálta faoi láthair. Sílim go dtiocfaidh sé chuig an Aire go luath agus faoi cheann coícíse nó mar sin beidh sé foilsithe agus beidh díospóireacht ar siúl anseo.
Maidir leis an gceist a chuireadh orm faoi Bhille na dteangacha oifigiúla, sílim go mbeadh sé oiriúnach dá mbeadh díospóireacht anseo i rith Sheachtain na Gaeilge. Beidh mé ag caint leis an bPríomhaoire faoi sin. Foilseofar an Bille sin sa seisiún seo freisin.
Ó thaobh na ceiste a chur an Teachta orm faoi chúrsaí poist, glacadh le ceannlínte an Bhille sin ar an 3 Feabhra seo caite. Tá obair ar siúl faoi láthair chun an Bille sin a thabhairt ar ais os comhair an Choiste agus os comhair an Rialtais. Sílim go mbeidh na logainmeacha thart timpeall na tíre cosanta sa Bhille seo-----
Caithfimid é sin a dhéanamh.
-----agus tá súil againn go mbeidh sé ar cumas an Rialtais an Bille a chur i gcrích sula n-éiríonn an Dáil don samhradh.
Maith thú. Go raibh míle.
No. 126 on the legislative programme is the St. Patrick's Institution (closing) Bill, which will provide for closing St. Patrick's Institution and will remove children who come into conflict with the law from our prison system. What is the current status of that Bill?
I cannot give the Deputy a date for the Bill, but work is being finalised on the completion of the Oberstown facility. The Bill will probably be ready in the next number of months but I cannot give an accurate date.
It is almost a year since the Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012 was debated on Committee Stage in the justice committee. Meanwhile, many individuals among the public wish to avail of the provisions of this positive Bill. When can we expect the Order for Report Stage?
We are awaiting amendments for that Bill from the Parliamentary Counsel. It is expected that the Bill will be finalised during this session. The Minister is anxious to give it priority.
My question relates to a number of points raised by Deputy Tom Fleming about legislation already passed by this House regarding mortgages and the provision of funding from the banks to the SME sector. Will the Taoiseach consider reviewing legislation and regulations to allow credit unions to enter the market? They have almost €7 billion which they could make available for mortgages and the SME sector. Is that not a less bureaucratic way of getting money directly to the small businesses that need it, including some of those in the retail sector which the Taoiseach mentioned earlier?
Will the Government look at the regulations of the Central Bank and the legislation governing this area to determine if it is possible to reduce the level of bureaucracy applied to small loans?
Officials in the Department of Finance met a group promoting the establishment of a public banking system similar to the model in Germany. The people who operate that banking system in Germany have been to Ireland promoting the idea and have met Department officials. Will the Taoiseach allow this matter to be debated? This system supports the SME sector very successfully and was not affected by the banking collapse. Will the Government allow this type of system to be introduced and bring forward legislation to allow it to happen?
Hear, hear.
In regard to funding for SMEs, there probably has never been as much facility as there is now for access to credit at low interest rates which currently apply following the setting up and the implementation of the strategic banking corporation.
They cannot get it.
That is in theory but not in practice.
It is only open for business in the past ten days. It was set up within 12 months and is financed by our reserves, the KfW bank and the European Investment Bank-----
Did the Government's posse get grants?
-----and there will be leverage for up to €4 billion in loans between two and ten years at lower interest rates for small and medium enterprises, which is very important.
Where do they go for it?
There is considerable interest in the non-banking sector providing access for credit. Many multinationals acquire banking licences for companies which use their facilities and products. This has been serious growth in this area. I accept that officials were here and spoke to officials from the Department of Finance. I cannot comment on the outcome of those discussions-----
Show me the money.
-----but I am quite sure it would require legislation, if the Minister for Finance feels that it is necessary or worthy of following through. Any such legislation would be discussed in this House.
In respect of the credit unions, the Deputy will be aware that the Central Bank regulates the credit unions. This issue has been around for some time now. We will wait and see how the discussions evolve, but the Central Bank is the regulator and not the Minister.
When will the credit guarantee (amendment) Bill be published? I understand it is on the A list. In that context, will the Taoiseach consider having the Central Statistics Office's national household survey findings for the end of 2014 debated in this House in the near future?
The Bill is scheduled for this session. I would be very happy to have the figures discussed in this House. There is a real momentum building at the moment as shown in the figures published by the CSO this morning. The figures show that unemployment has dropped from 15.2% just a few years ago to 10.3% for January 2015. Some 90,000 jobs have been created since 2012. There has been particularly strong growth in the construction and transportation sectors as well as a strong growth in the number of full-time jobs. I am happy for the Whips to have a discussion on this at the request of the Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.
The Garda Síochána (compensation for malicious injuries) Bill has been promised. Have the heads of the Bill been discussed or agreed at Cabinet? When is the Bill expected to come before the House?
The Irish Aviation Authority (amendment) Bill will have considerable implications for issues being discussed currently and will affect economic regulation in the aviation industry. Will the Bill be brought forward in the current year? Is it likely to be brought into the House before the end of this session, given that it will affect other issues in the aviation industry being discussed currently?
I take the Deputy's point. The Bill is not on the A list for this session. I cannot indicate when it will be cleared and produced. The Garda Síochána (compensation for malicious injuries) Bill is due later this year. Work is ongoing on it.
Will the Taoiseach make a statement on the very important autism Bill?
Which Bill is this?
This legislation was listed in the programme for Government and was discussed in this House.
What legislation is the Deputy talking about?
It is on autism.
Is it a health Bill?
This is part of the programme under the Department of Education and Skills and other services. I am not sure what legislation the Deputy is talking about. Autism is personal and spans a broad spectrum. It falls within the remit of the Department of Education and Skills, the Department of Health and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.
Is there not a Bill coming forward to deal with it or aspects of it?
I am not sure what legislation the Deputy is talking about. There are services currently available for people who are diagnosed with autism, and rightly so.
Perhaps the Deputy will check it out and revert to me.
I compliment Senator Coghlan and the British-Irish Parliamentary Association which recently produced a report on cross-Border smuggling and illicit trade. I compliment it on its work and the report and wish it well on the occasion of its 25th plenary session which was held at the weekend. On the proceeds of crime (amendment) Bill, when is the Criminal Assets Bureau going to be given the powers to deal with the ongoing plundering of our finances, damage to our environment and reckless behaviour? We see in the report that people are carrying on with impunity in Border areas. This is a huge drain on our economy. People's lives, families and incomes are affected and people are being threatened and intimidated. This issue has to be tackled. When will the legislation, giving more powers to CAB and an Garda Síochána, be introduced?
On the marriage equality referendum Bill, will the Taoiseach guarantee that the Government will not misappropriate the finances which were appropriated by this House for the referendum commission? On the previous occasion, the Government was found by the Supreme Court to have misspent €1.1 million. What guarantee will the Minister for Justice and Equality give us this time round?
We will find out about the Bill first.
It is very important that when moneys are appropriated to the independent commission that they are spent fairly and not hijacked by the Government and used for its own purposes.
The Deputy can rest assured that the Government will comply fully with the findings of the Supreme Court.
It did not during the previous one. It never debated it.
Of course this will apply and the referendum commission will be able to carry out its responsibilities completely independently
We will wait and see.
In respect of Senator Coghlan's report, I addressed the British-Irish Parliamentary Association in the Seanad on Monday. It is an excellent report which points out various proposals. These will be considered by the Government. The Deputy is aware that there is close co-operation between the customs agencies on either side.
Give them the money and the resources.
This is also the case between the PSNI and An Garda Síochána.
Give the Garda the resources.
The question is what is the best way to tackle petrol stretching and fuel laundering. Is it to set up an individual specialised task force or to expand the resources which are currently very successful in intercepting and dealing with criminal activity at the moment?
This morning the Central Bank revealed figures for County Longford where one in five mortgages are in serious arrears. We are all aware of special court sittings which are held every month throughout the country to deal with home repossessions. The banks are buoyed up given rising property prices.
What legislation is the Deputy referring to?
My party has proposed the Family Home Mortgage Settlement Arrangement Bill which would remove the banks' veto on sustainable solutions put forward by personal insolvency practitioners representing people in mortgage arrears. This Bill would help eliminate the possibility of a wave of repossessions. Will the Government consider allocating time to consider the Family Home Mortgage Settlement Arrangement Bill and help give some hope to people in mortgage arrears?
Is this a Private Members' Bill?
On the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012, the Taoiseach stated last week that he was unable to answer why the commencement order was not signed despite the fact that this legislation was passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas two years ago or so. The Taoiseach was to write to me. This never happened. Will he confirm today why this has not happened and when the order will be signed?
I am not sure where the letter went but it is on its way to the Deputy. In respect of his question on the mortgages Bill, this is a Private Members' Bill but the Deputy is using this opportunity to speak on it. I will make a point to Deputy Troy.
His party was central to the collapse of the construction sector.
Here we go again.
It lured thousands of young people into circumstances with which-----
The Taoiseach has left the banks in control.
-----they will have to deal for the rest of their lives.
There are monthly court sittings in Mullingar, Athlone, Longford, Trim and Navan.
Let me make a point.
Some 40 or 50 families appear in court and the banks seek to repossess their houses. What is the Taoiseach going to do to protect people in mortgage arrears?
Hands-free banking.
What is the Taoiseach going to do to protect people in mortgage arrears?
The point has been made.
Deputy Troy's own party was central to the destruction of our economy and hundreds of thousands-----
What is the Taoiseach going to do? He is in power four years today. What is he going to do?
The Deputy should take all he wants.
Go back to Donie and he will tell you.
I do not need to go to Donie. I am here on my own merit. I did not get in on the crest of a wave like the Deputy opposite did.
The Government reduced the term for bankruptcy from 12 years to three years. It introduced the Personal Insolvency Bill.
One hundred and ninety-nine cases.
We are not having a debate on this.
It is no coincidence that the banks responded with an accelerated process-----
To repossess.
-----of reaching satisfactory conclusions regarding mortgage distress-----
And repossessions.
The figure is down from in excess of 115,000 to 64,000.
Not on the Order of Business.
There is a solution to all of these but it is not what the Deputy is talking about.
On the quarterly figures from the Central Statistics Office, as raised earlier-----
We will not go there. This is about legislation.
This is related to promised legislation and job creation measures. In the past fortnight, an additional 29,100 people gained employment. One job creation measure in my constituency that I have raised here on a number of occasions concerns the maritime area and foreshore (amendment) Bill, which is aimed at making it easier for people who wish to create employment in port and coastal areas to gain access to the planning laws and to obtain planning permission. To grow the figure of 29,100 and reduce the number unemployed, which has today dropped below 10% for the first time in recent years, could the Taoiseach indicate when the Bill, which will assist with job creation measures in many coastal locations, such as Foynes in County Limerick, will be brought before the House?
The Deputy is correct. The legislation is being drafted in the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and the intention is to have it enacted before the end of the session.
There is great joy, excitement and celebration in north County Dublin and many other parts of the island of Ireland, both North and South, at present. I ask that the Taoiseach join me in congratulating the Irish cricket team, which has just won its second match in the World Cup.
We all join the Deputy.
The team has done us proud again. I ask the Taoiseach to acknowledge that on the floor of the House.
Hear, hear.
That is not really a matter for the Order of Business.
The team is trying to get 279 in sunny Brisbane. We wish the team good luck.
Hear, hear.
To follow up on what Deputy Troy mentioned-----
We do not have follow-ups on the Order of Business.
It is in connection with legislation.
It could be related.
The Ceann Comhairle is so quick, it is incredible.
I have to keep order. What is the legislation?
He is razor sharp, in fairness to him.
He is like a fast bowler in cricket.
To what legislation is the Deputy referring? We normally do not have follow-up comments.
We had the helpful input of Professor Ashoka Mody as director of the IMF team, or as part of the troika.
He is a recent convert.
He said recently and also two years ago — I gave the Taoiseach the information as a first snippet out of the newspapers, as he will remember-----
Very well. I have it on my wall.
He said we fell very far short and very limp in our representation on behalf of the people-----
It is nearly dinner time.
-----in negotiations for a resolution to the financing problem of this country.
Where are we going with this?
It is not good enough.
What legislation is the Deputy talking about?
Some new legislation that could help with this, and help the 40,000-----
We have a few minutes left.
No, we do not.
I can explain.
This is on the Order of Business.
Yes.
We have to stick to the normal rules.
Yes.
If the Deputy wants me to read them to him, I will.
On promised legislation.
What promised legislation?
In the programme for Government, the Government promised that it was going to sort out the financial sector.
The Deputy voted for it.
This is related to that.
As Deputy Mathews is well aware, the Government has saved the taxpayer, by negotiation and constructive engagement, a sum in the order of €50 billion.
The Taoiseach should not mention that figure of €50 billion. He has fallen short by €50 billion.
Public finances are coming very much under control, and the Minister for Finance has a slow and steady hand on that tiller.
For whose benefit?
It is taking shape very strongly, and even the Deputy recognised that. He told me so himself.
For whose benefit? Not for the benefit of the people. Some 40,000 mortgages are in deep distress. That is 140,000-----
There are other ways of raising this, such as a Topical Issue matter.
Deputy Mathews said he was not great at maths.
If statistics are correct, some are certain to take their own lives.
Deputy Mathews said he was not great at maths.