SELECT COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE díospóireacht -
Thursday, 18 Nov 2004

Council of Europe Development Bank Bill 2004: Committee Stage.

Chairman

On behalf of the select committee, I welcome as a new member, Deputy John Cregan, who was appointed by the Dáil on 16 November in substitution for Deputy Conor Lenihan.

The purpose of the meeting is to consider the Council of Europe Development Bank Bill 2004 which was referred to the select committee by Dáil Éireann on 16 November. I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Parlon, and his officials. There is a list of proposed groupings of amendments. It was suggested that a number of amendments be grouped but as the Deputy concerned is not here, we will deal with them one by one. Members should not make Second Stage speeches but stick strictly to the section under consideration.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Will the Chair clarify if, in the absence of Deputy Burton, another member can move amendments in her name to facilitate matters?

Chairman

A member can move an amendment on behalf of an absent member.

Mr. R. Bruton

Will I move amendment No. 1?

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

That would be a mark of neighbourliness and respect for hard work.

SECTION 1.

Mr. R. Bruton

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 3, line 14, after "text" to insert "in the English language".

Minister of State at the Department of the Finance (Mr. Parlon)

I oppose the amendment. I am disappointed Deputy Burton is not present because I do not fully understand from where she is coming with this amendment. I consider her proposal to insert the words "in the English language" unnecessary. I am not sure what her intention is in tabling the amendment but if it is to emphasise that the text is in English and French, the amendment is not necessary because the text referred to is in English. If her intention is to indicate that the text is not in Irish, the Bill, as drafted, will facilitate the translation of the official text of the agreement into Irish. The amendment would mean that when the Bill came to be translated, the only text which could be used would be the English text. For this reason I cannot understand from where the Deputy is coming. As we deem the amendment unnecessary, I cannot accept it.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

In the light of what the Minister of State said, will he indicate the reality in regard to our wish to see a simultaneous translation of all legislation presented? Have we reached this point? Will the Irish language text — the first language — be available in tandem with the English language version?

Mr. Parlon

Does the Deputy mean in the normal course of events or in the case of European legislation?

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

In the normal course of events. There is a considerable backlog. What is the current status? Where does new legislation stand as regards the facilitation of the simultaneous production of English-Irish and Irish-English text?

Mr. Parlon

I do not know exactly, although I can revert to this question later. In this context, the amendment seeks to have the words "in the English language" included in the text.

Chairman

Deputy Ó Caoláin will agree that translation facilities are a matter for the Houses of the Oireachtas, not the Minister of State or an individual Department.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

It is pertinent to what Deputy Burton is seeking to address. Perhaps the clerk to the committee will establish the answer to my question and circulate it to members as soon as possible.

Chairman

We will do so.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Thank you.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Section 1 agreed to.

SECTION 2.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

I move amendment No. 2:

In page 3, lines 22 and 23, to delete all words from and including "(which" in line 22 down to and including "Act)" in line 23.

Mr. Parlon

I oppose this amendment. The language referred to in the amendment is a matter of style. I am satisfied the drafting is appropriate.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr. McHugh

I move amendment No. 3:

In page 3, line 23, after "and" to insert "of".

Mr. Parlon

In terms of style, the drafting is appropriate. The amendment would not make any difference.

Chairman

It is a matter of style.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr. R. Bruton

I move amendment No. 4:

In page 3, line 24, to delete "which" and substitute the following:

"the text in the English language of which".

Mr. Parlon

The amendment seeks to add the words "the English language" to the text but it is unnecessary to do this. As with amendment No. 1, I oppose this amendment also.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Section 2 agreed to.

Section 3 agreed to.

SECTION 4.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

I move amendment No. 5:

In page 4, paragraph (a)(i), line 9, after “text” to insert “in the English language”.

Mr. Parlon

Again, this amendment seeks to insert the words "in the English language" in the text, although it is not necessary to do this. I oppose the amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr. McHugh

I move amendment No. 6:

In page 4, paragraph (a)(ii), line 16, to delete “as” and substitute the following:

"the text in the English language of which is".

Mr. Parlon

I give the same response. The amendment is not necessary.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Section 4 agreed to.

Section 5 agreed to.

Schedules 1 and 2 agreed to.

Title agreed to.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

The former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Cowen, promised this Bill would pass through all Stages in 2002. I wonder if the Minister of State would care to share with us his view on why we are only addressing the Bill now at the end of 2004. I have never received a full and credible explanation for what has been an unnecessary and undue delay in dealing with what is straightforward, simple and important legislation that I both welcome and support.

Mr. Parlon

On Second Stage I referred to the delay. The Bill was placed on the Order Paper a number of times this year and while I was ready to take it, for various reasons, other seemingly more important legislation was taken ahead of it. There were, however, some technical delays in 2003 in drafting it. I am anxious and determined that we will finish the remaining Stages next week.

Chairman

The select committee has completed its consideration of the Bill. I thank the Minister of State and his officials for attending.