Order of Business

The Taoiseach

It is proposed to take No. 35, statements on the European Council meeting of 19 and 20 March; No. 6, Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015 - Second and Remaining Stages (resumed); No. a11, motion re statement for information of voters in relation to the Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015, to be taken at the conclusion of No. 6; and No. 34, statements on the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language.

It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil shall sit later than 9 p.m. tonight and shall adjourn on the conclusion of Private Members' business, which shall be No. 70, Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Presidential Voting) Bill 2014 - Second Stage. No. 35 shall be taken immediately following the Order of Business and the proceedings thereon shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 65 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply: statements shall be made by the Taoiseach and by the main spokespersons for Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and the Technical Group, who shall be called upon in that order and who may share their time, which shall not exceed 15 minutes in each case, and a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed five minutes, following which the Dáil will suspend for 60 minutes under Standing Order 23(1); and the following arrangements shall apply in respect of No. 34: the opening statement of a Minister or Minister of State and of the main spokespersons for Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and the Technical Group, who shall be called upon in that order, shall not exceed 15 minutes in each case, and such Members may share their time, the statement of each Member called upon shall not exceed ten minutes in each case, and such Members may share their time, and a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply, which shall not exceed five minutes.

Tomorrow's business after Oral Questions shall be No. 36, Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015 - Order for Report, Report and Final Stages.

An Ceann Comhairle

For the information of the House, No. 6, the Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015 - Second and Remaining Stages has already concluded.

There are three proposals to be put to the House. Is the proposal for the late sitting agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 35 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 34 agreed? Agreed.

Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Tá dhá cheist agam don Taoiseach. In ainneoin go bhfuil ceannaireacht léirithe aige le linn Cheisteanna na gCeannairí, níl mórán ar an gclár Rialtais i dtaobh na Gaeilge. Is é ceann de na gnéithe atá luaite ann ná go bhfuil an Rialtas chun athbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar an nGaeilge mar ábhar don ardteistiméireacht. An bhfuil an t-athbhreithniú sin déanta? Má tá cad atá ar intinn aige agus an bhfuil moladh ar bith ag an Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna nó ag an Rialtas?

I wish to raise a second issue in the context of the criminal justice Bill. We all recall the appalling story of Maíria Cahill, which moved us all last year, and the moving debate that took place in this House. Last night on the "Spotlight" programme we heard Paudie McGahon's account of having been raped and subsequently threatened by the IRA. We have heard stories of the cover-up by Sinn Féin of these happenings and are aware that the kangaroo court involved in this particular case took place in 2002, four years after the Good Friday Agreement. It was only 13 years ago; it is not ancient history. In light of what has been emerging and what we believe will continue to emerge over time, and in order to stop the drip-drip of information, would the Taoiseach and his Government consider establishing an independent statutory inquiry to examine these accusations of sexual and other abuse carried out by members of the IRA?

The Taoiseach

The official languages (amendment) Bill is due for publication this session.

I listened this morning to the interview given by the president of Sinn Féin, Deputy Adams, and found it quite incredible. If this happened to the leader of any other party down here-----

Deputy Robert Dowds

He would be gone.

The Taoiseach

The interviewer was actually bullied and told to read out particular items on the national airwaves. This is an issue that is so serious that there can be no hiding place. If a similar situation were to arise for the leader of Fianna Fáil, myself or the leader of the Labour Party, we would be expected not only to ask the relevant questions but to find out who ordered the kangaroo court, who attended it and where they are now. If a member of any branch of Fine Gael around the country was exiled, I would find him or her in ten minutes.

There is a duty on Deputy Adams to clear up a lot of questions about this latest revelation of a kangaroo court which occurred in this jurisdiction after the Good Friday Agreement.

We spoke previously about an investigation in respect of the Cahill case, which can be quite complex with two different jurisdictions. This happened down here in County Louth, the area represented by Deputy Adams. I believe there are some very serious questions that need to answered. I cannot answer them but Deputy Adams can.

Deputy Gerry Adams

Tá dhá cheist agam don Taoiseach. Baineann mo chéad cheist leis an gclár Rialtais agus sláinte go háirithe. Sa bhliain 2011 gheall Fine Gael agus Páirtí an Lucht Oibre go mbeadh córas sláinte againn a bheadh bunaithe ar riachtanas amháin, seachas ar airgead. Níor tharla sé seo. Tá éigeandáil sna ranna éigeandála. Níl aon acmhainní ann agus tá na dochtúirí féin ag rá an méid seo leis an Taoiseach go poiblí. Cathain a chomhlíonfaidh an Taoiseach agus a Rialtas an gealltanas tábhachtach seo?

Gheall an tAire Comhshaoil, Pobail agus Rialtas Áitiúil an tseachtain seo caite go dtabharfadh sé reachtaíocht isteach chun cíosanna arda san earnáil príobháideach a smachtú le haghaidh dhá bhliain agus chun tabhairt faoi na harduithe cíosa. Cathain a foilseofar an reachtaíocht seo? An mbeidh sé mar dhlí roimh an gcéad olltoghchán eile?

Táim cinnte go ndeachaigh scéal Paudie McGahon go mór i bhfeidhm ar gach duine a bhí ag breathnú ar aréir. Dúirt an Teachta Ó Fearghaíl go raibh "cover up" ann le Sinn Féin. Ní raibh ar chor ar bith. Dúirt an Taoiseach go mbeadh ceisteanna le freagairt ag Sinn Féin. D'fhreagair mé na ceisteanna seo. Táim fíorchinnte go raibh baill Fhianna Fáil tríd na cúirteanna, agus daoine ó Fhine Gael fosta. Is í sin an fhírinne. Táimid fíorshásta nach raibh aon duine a dhein an drochúsáid ghnéasach ar Paudie á dhéanamh i m'ainmse, in ainm Shinn Féin nó in ainm na bpoblachtach. Má tá eolas ag éinne ar bith - faic ar bith, scéal ar bith ag dinnéar ar bith - caithfidh siad an t-eolas sin a thabhairt don Gharda Síochána nó do na póilíní sa Tuaisceart. Níor fhreagair an Taoiseach faic ar bith le Máirtín Mac Aonghusa faoi scéim a chur ar aghaidh chun taca a thabhairt do na daoine seo.

The Taoiseach

Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Tá roinnt ceisteanna agam maidir le reachtaíocht atá fógartha. Cathain a bheidh an t-athrú nó an cur i leathtaobh d'Údarás Forbartha Duganna Bhaile Átha Cliath foilsithe agus á phlé sa Teach. Cathain a bhfoilseofar an reachtaíocht chun an Digital Hub a aistriú ón seasamh neamhspleách atá aige fé láthair lastigh do chúram an Chomhairle Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath. Ní fheicim é ar an gclár reachtaíochta. Bhí sé ann nuair a tháinig an Rialtas i gcumhacht. Bhí sé ann ar feadh dhá bhliain. Anois tá an cuma air go bhfuil sé imithe.

Deputy Thomas P. Broughan

My question relates to the Planning and Development (No. 1) Bill and the Planning and Development (No. 2) Bill. Last week, something like 40 homeless families presented to the homeless unit in Parkgate Street but there was no accommodation for them. We are now heading into the St Patrick's Day weekend when hotels and guesthouses are full. There are hundreds of homeless families in this city. The Taoiseach is going abroad to represent us yet this incredible problem and suffering, particularly for children-----

An Ceann Comhairle

We cannot debate the matter on the Order of Business.

Deputy Thomas P. Broughan

Will the Taoiseach and the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government bring forward an emergency programme to address this problem, particularly in view of the fact that it is giving rise to intolerable suffering among children? Will the Taoiseach ensure that action is taken today before he leaves the country?

The Taoiseach

Deputy Broughan is aware that the Government has a €4 billion programme for social housing which is due to run until 2020.

Deputy Thomas P. Broughan

What does the Taoiseach propose to do today?

Deputy Dessie Ellis

Tá géarchéim ann.

The Taoiseach

We are moving forward with NAMA and money is being provided to renovate void units in Dublin in order to make them suitable for habitation. It is our intention to get on with that business, which is already under way. The planning and development (No. 1) Bill is due this session.

Deputy Paul Kehoe

It is a pity Deputy Ellis was not so talkative regarding the "Spotlight" programme.

Deputy Ray Butler

When is it expected that the criminal records information system Bill, the purpose of which is to provide for the exchange of criminal records information with other states and implement Council Framework Decision 2009/315/JHA, will be published? I ask this question in light of the spate of violent robberies carried out here prior to Christmas by people from outside the State.

The Taoiseach

That Bill is due later in the year.

Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick

Our general landlord and tenancy legislation dates back to the middle of the 19th century and is in dire need of reform in order to make it fit for the 21st century. There has been a great deal of discussion with regard to upward-only rents and what needs to be done in this regard in order to assist the economic recovery. When will the landlord and tenant Bill be published?

The Taoiseach

There is no date for the publication of that complicated Bill, the heads of which have not yet been cleared by Government. I will advise the Deputy on progress as it is made.

Deputy James Bannon

Lá Fhéile Pádraig is approaching and while I do not want to be a spoilsport, alcohol-related harm claims three lives each day in this country. It is estimated that the annual cost of such harm to the State is €3.7 billion. This problem is placing a particular strain on our already over-burdened health service, with over 2,000 beds occupied by people with alcohol-related illnesses every day.

An Ceann Comhairle

To what Bill is the Deputy referring?

Deputy James Bannon

The problem is having an impact on families and communities. When will the sale of alcohol Bill, which has been on the clár for some time, be published?

The Taoiseach

The sale of alcohol Bill is due later this year. The other matters relating to alcohol to which the Deputy refers are the subject of pre-legislative hearings before the relevant committee this week.

Deputy Willie O'Dea

The Taoiseach stated yesterday that he intends to bring forward proposals to modify the insolvency regime next month. Will these be legislative or non-legislative proposals? If they are going to be non-legislative, will he give a commitment to the effect that the House will be given an opportunity to discuss them before they are proceeded with?

The Taoiseach

Deputy Brendan Griffin

An bhfuil sé ar intinn ag an Taoiseach an Massacre at Wounded Knee, a tharla sa bhliain 1890, a phlé le Uachtarán Obama an tseachtain seo chugainn? An mbeidh seans aige a leithéid a dhéanamh? Fuair na saighdiúrí a ghlac páirt sa dhúnmharú boinn onóir ag an am. Tá a lán daoine ag iarraidh é sin a athrú anois.

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht - Wednesday, 11 Mar 2015

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 11 Mar 2015