Order of Business

The Taoiseach

It is proposed to take No. 1, Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 - amendments from the Seanad (resumed); No. 34, Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2015 - Order for Report, Report and Final Stages; No. 35, Harbours Bill 2015 - Order for Report, Report and Final Stages; and No. 36, Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013 [Seanad] - Committee, Report and Final Stages.

It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that: (1) the Dáil shall sit later than 9 p.m. tonight and shall adjourn on the conclusion of Private Members’ business; (2) the proceedings on No. 1 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 4.30 p.m. today and any amendments from the Seanad not disposed of shall be decided by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall, in relation to amendments to the Seanad amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government; (3) Report and Final Stages of No. 34 shall be taken today and the proceedings thereon shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 6 p.m. by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Health; (4) Report and Final Stages of No. 35 shall be taken today and the proceedings thereon shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 7.30 p.m. by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport; (5) Committee, Report and Final Stages of No. 36 shall be taken today and the proceedings thereon shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 9 p.m. by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Justice and Equality; and (6) Private Members’ business which shall be No. 71, Rent Certainty and Prevention of Homelessness Bill 2015 - Second Stage (resumed), shall be taken on the conclusion of No. 36 and shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 90 minutes.

Tomorrow’s business after Oral Questions shall be No. 2, Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015 - amendments from the Seanad; No. 37, Dublin Docklands Development Authority (Dissolution) Bill 2015 - Order for Report, Report and Final Stages; and No. 38, Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2015 [Seanad] - Committee, Report and Final Stages.

An Ceann Comhairle

There are six proposals to be put to the House. Is the proposal for the late sitting agreed to? Agreed.

Is the proposal for dealing with No.1, Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012, amendments from the Seanad, agreed to?

Deputy Micheál Martin

No, it is not agreed. We have objected strongly to the proposals from the Government on today’s business. Yesterday on Question Time, when I put it to the Taoiseach, he, unbelievably, said no guillotines would be put to the House today. It brings to mind what I said recently about what the Taoiseach says. Language means nothing to him. With a straight face he told us yesterday that there would be no guillotines today. I said to him yesterday that our Whip had received correspondence from the Government Chief Whip to the effect that all legislation would be guillotined today. It is unacceptable.

The Dáil only met for five days in September, ten in October. We are now in a scenario where, in the last week or two before Christmas, everything will be rammed through without debate. On the residential tenancies Bill and the health insurance Bill-----

Deputy Brendan Griffin

Would Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin do it differently if they were in power together?

Deputy Micheál Martin

There will be no debate on the health insurance Bill, despite the fact the Government has abandoned universal health insurance, the cornerstone of its health policy.

An Ceann Comhairle

We are just dealing with No. 1.

Deputy Micheál Martin

Yes, but it will be the same points for Nos. 3 to 6, inclusive.

It is unacceptable the Taoiseach is ramming all of this legislation, four Bills, through in the one day, along with a Private Members’ Bill and other business of the House. It makes a mockery of the House. It demeans the House and illustrates the ongoing lack of any respect the Executive has for Dáil Éireann. It is very shoddy and typical of how the Government from day one abandoned its commitment and promise of a democratic revolution. It has been anything but that.

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

There was a democratic revolution.

Deputy Gerry Adams

The residential tenancies Bill is critically important legislation, dealing with aspects of the current housing crisis. It should not be guillotined. Sinn Féin is opposed in principle to the use of the guillotine. The Taoiseach is allowing one hour and a half for each of these Bills. It may be that the time will not be used and that is fair enough. However, what the Government is doing is pushing through legislation before the recess which it should have dealt with over the past period. We object strongly to the guillotining of these four Bills and will be calling for a vote on No. 1.

The Taoiseach

Last week, we had a situation where Opposition Members were prepared to accept the times set out if we dropped a guillotine.

Deputy Micheál Martin

No. These are new proposals.

The Taoiseach

They did. The Opposition said if we abide by that time, they would not push it to a vote. I am offering the same today, if Deputy Martin is anxious, as we all are, to deal with housing matters, health insurance, the harbours Bill and the equality Bill. The Deputy can play games if he wants.

Deputy Micheál Martin

I am not playing games.

The Taoiseach

He can use all the words he likes about respect, integrity and all the rest of it. He is now into a position where he wants to obstruct these Bills.

Deputy Adams’s deputy leader sat on the other side of the House for four hours on one occasion, holding up the business of the House. During the 45 months the Fianna Fáil-Green Party-Progressive Democrats Government was in office, the Oireachtas sat for 349 days, an average of 93 days a year. This Government has been in office 56 months, in which the Dáil has sat 576 days, an average of 124 days a year.

Deputies

On Fridays. Come off it.

Deputy Micheál Martin

Friday sittings with only ten members in the Chamber.

The Taoiseach

Deputies opposite might not like it but those are the facts. We have important legislation to deal with, such as bankruptcy, legal services and other matters, before the Dáil rises for the Christmas recess. As I said before, if Deputy Martin is prepared to accept the times set out here and finish the business within that time, then there is no need to have a vote. It is important that these-----

Deputy Micheál Martin

These are guillotines. Do not dress them up as anything else.

The Taoiseach

All Deputy Martin is interested in is being able to say the Dáil is obstructing business and cutting people short.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

It is.

Deputy Micheál Martin

It is.

The Taoiseach

Does Deputy Martin want to go all night for the remainder of the session?

Deputy Micheál Martin

The Government has managed it badly.

The Taoiseach

The Government has important legislation to get through. Deputy Martin said he would be constructive and would support necessary Bills.

Deputy Micheál Martin

No, we did not.

The Taoiseach

Here is an indication of four of them but all Deputy Martin wants to do now is delay matters by calling for a vote on the proposed guillotine.

Deputy Billy Kelleher

It is called democracy. It is called parliamentary democracy.

Deputy Brendan Griffin

The last time Fianna Fáil was up all night it did not do a great job.

Deputy Micheál Martin

Does the Taoiseach not think the Opposition should be able to vote?

The Taoiseach

Deputy Martin should do as he did last week and accept the timescale set out here. He can end the votes and stop wasting time but that is not his intention.

Deputy Micheál Martin

Is the Taoiseach saying the Opposition should not be allowed vote?

Deputy Paudie Coffey

Deputy Martin is playing games.

The Taoiseach

He is now lined up with Sinn Féin. Perhaps he is cosying up with Sinn Féin because he wants something from it. I do not know.

Deputy Micheál Martin

Is the Taoiseach saying we should not vote?

Deputy Joan Collins

That we are only a nuisance?

Deputy Micheál Martin

Perhaps the Taoiseach should abolish the Dáil altogether.

Question put: "That the proposal for dealing with No. 1 be agreed to."

The Dáil divided: Tá, 68; Níl, 46.

Tá

Bannon, James.
Breen, Pat.
Butler, Ray.
Buttimer, Jerry.
Byrne, Catherine.
Byrne, Eric.
Cannon, Ciarán.
Carey, Joe.
Coffey, Paudie.
Conaghan, Michael.
Connaughton, Paul J.
Conway, Ciara.
Coonan, Noel.
Corcoran Kennedy, Marcella.
Costello, Joe.
Creed, Michael.
Deasy, John.
Deenihan, Jimmy.
Deering, Pat.
Doherty, Regina.
Dowds, Robert.
Durkan, Bernard J.
English, Damien.
Farrell, Alan.
Feighan, Frank.
Flanagan, Charles.
Griffin, Brendan.
Hannigan, Dominic.
Harrington, Noel.
Harris, Simon.
Heydon, Martin.
Humphreys, Heather.
Keating, Derek.
Kenny, Enda.
Kenny, Seán.
Kyne, Seán.
Lawlor, Anthony.
Lynch, Kathleen.
McCarthy, Michael.
McEntee, Helen.
McGinley, Dinny.
McHugh, Joe.
McLoughlin, Tony.
McNamara, Michael.
Mitchell, Olivia.
Mitchell O'Connor, Mary.
Mulherin, Michelle.
Murphy, Dara.
Neville, Dan.
Nolan, Derek.
Ó Ríordáin, Aodhán.
O'Donovan, Patrick.
O'Dowd, Fergus.
O'Mahony, John.
O'Reilly, Joe.
Penrose, Willie.
Perry, John.
Rabbitte, Pat.
Reilly, James.
Ring, Michael.
Ryan, Brendan.
Shatter, Alan.
Spring, Arthur.
Stagg, Emmet.
Tuffy, Joanna.
Twomey, Liam.
Wall, Jack.
White, Alex.

Níl

Adams, Gerry.
Aylward, Bobby.
Boyd Barrett, Richard.
Browne, John.
Calleary, Dara.
Collins, Joan.
Collins, Niall.
Colreavy, Michael.
Coppinger, Ruth.
Cowen, Barry.
Crowe, Seán.
Dooley, Timmy.
Ellis, Dessie.
Ferris, Martin.
Fitzmaurice, Michael.
Flanagan, Terence.
Fleming, Sean.
Fleming, Tom.
Grealish, Noel.
Halligan, John.
Healy, Seamus.
Healy-Rae, Michael.
Kelleher, Billy.
Kitt, Michael P.
Mac Lochlainn, Pádraig.
McGrath, Finian.
McGrath, Mattie.
McGrath, Michael.
McGuinness, John.
McLellan, Sandra.
Martin, Micheál.
Mathews, Peter.
Moynihan, Michael.
Murphy, Catherine.
Murphy, Paul.
Naughten, Denis.
Ó Caoláin, Caoimhghín.
Ó Fearghaíl, Seán.
Ó Snodaigh, Aengus.
O'Dea, Willie.
Pringle, Thomas.
Ross, Shane.
Shortall, Róisín.
Stanley, Brian.
Timmins, Billy.
Tóibín, Peadar.

Tellers: Tá, Deputies Emmet Stagg and Joe Carey; Níl, Deputies Aengus Ó Snodaigh and Seán Ó Fearghaíl.

Question declared carried.

Question, "That the proposals for dealing with No. 34, Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2015 - Order for Report Stage and Report and Final Stages, be agreed to," put and declared carried.

Question put: "That the proposals for dealing with No. 35, Harbours Bill 2015 - Order for Report Stage and Report and Final Stages, be agreed to."

The Dáil divided: Tá, 66; Níl, 44.

Tá

Bannon, James.
Breen, Pat.
Butler, Ray.
Buttimer, Jerry.
Byrne, Catherine.
Cannon, Ciarán.
Carey, Joe.
Coffey, Paudie.
Conaghan, Michael.
Connaughton, Paul J.
Conway, Ciara.
Coonan, Noel.
Corcoran Kennedy, Marcella.
Costello, Joe.
Creed, Michael.
Deasy, John.
Deenihan, Jimmy.
Deering, Pat.
Doherty, Regina.
Dowds, Robert.
Durkan, Bernard J.
English, Damien.
Farrell, Alan.
Feighan, Frank.
Flanagan, Charles.
Griffin, Brendan.
Hannigan, Dominic.
Harrington, Noel.
Harris, Simon.
Heydon, Martin.
Humphreys, Heather.
Keating, Derek.
Kenny, Enda.
Kenny, Seán.
Kyne, Seán.
Lawlor, Anthony.
Lynch, Kathleen.
McCarthy, Michael.
McEntee, Helen.
McGinley, Dinny.
McHugh, Joe.
McLoughlin, Tony.
McNamara, Michael.
Mitchell, Olivia.
Mitchell O'Connor, Mary.
Murphy, Dara.
Neville, Dan.
Nolan, Derek.
Ó Ríordáin, Aodhán.
O'Donovan, Patrick.
O'Dowd, Fergus.
O'Mahony, John.
O'Reilly, Joe.
Penrose, Willie.
Perry, John.
Rabbitte, Pat.
Reilly, James.
Ring, Michael.
Ryan, Brendan.
Shatter, Alan.
Spring, Arthur.
Stagg, Emmet.
Tuffy, Joanna.
Twomey, Liam.
Wall, Jack.
White, Alex.

Níl

Adams, Gerry.
Aylward, Bobby.
Boyd Barrett, Richard.
Browne, John.
Calleary, Dara.
Colreavy, Michael.
Coppinger, Ruth.
Cowen, Barry.
Crowe, Seán.
Dooley, Timmy.
Ellis, Dessie.
Ferris, Martin.
Fitzmaurice, Michael.
Flanagan, Terence.
Fleming, Sean.
Fleming, Tom.
Grealish, Noel.
Halligan, John.
Healy, Seamus.
Healy-Rae, Michael.
Keaveney, Colm.
Kelleher, Billy.
Kitt, Michael P.
Mac Lochlainn, Pádraig.
McGrath, Finian.
McGrath, Mattie.
McGrath, Michael.
McGuinness, John.
McLellan, Sandra.
Mathews, Peter.
Moynihan, Michael.
Murphy, Catherine.
Murphy, Paul.
Naughten, Denis.
Ó Caoláin, Caoimhghín.
Ó Fearghaíl, Seán.
Ó Snodaigh, Aengus.
O'Dea, Willie.
Pringle, Thomas.
Ross, Shane.
Shortall, Róisín.
Stanley, Brian.
Timmins, Billy.
Tóibín, Peadar.

Tellers: Tá, Deputies Emmet Stagg and Joe Carey; Níl, Deputies Aengus Ó Snodaigh and Seán Ó Fearghaíl.

Question declared carried.

An Ceann Comhairle

Is the proposal for dealing with No. 36, Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013 [Seanad] - Committee and Remaining Stages, agreed to?

Deputies

No.

Question, "That the proposal for dealing with No. 36, Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013 [Seanad] - Committee and Remaining Stages, be agreed to," put and declared carried.

An Ceann Comhairle

Is the proposal for dealing with Private Members' business agreed to? Agreed.

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht - Wednesday, 2 Dec 2015