Micheál Martin
Ceist:1 Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach when details of the legislative priorities for the current Dáil session will be published. [5915/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 12 April 2011
Ceisteanna (1, 2)
Micheál Martin
Ceist:2 Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he will provide a list of the Bills that have been restored. [6851/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí ó Béal (49 píosaí cainte)
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.
The Government's legislative priorities up to the summer session are set out in the legislative programme published on Tuesday, 5 April. A motion restoring a number of Bills from the last Dáil to the Order Paper was passed on 23 March. I will send a list to the Deputy today.
I congratulate Ministers on their ingenuity in finding ways not to acknowledge the work of those who actually prepared most of the legislation being published. It takes creativity to praise one's own radicalism——
Does the Deputy have a question?
I do. It takes creativity to praise one's own radicalism while at the same time introducing legislation published by one's predecessor.
One of the major questions is whether the legislative programme actually reflects the legislation we are likely to be debating for the rest of the year. No constitutional amendments have been included. Will the Taoiseach tell us whether he has a list of items such as the referendum on children's rights and the abolition of the Seanad not currently included in the legislative programme but which he expects to include within the next few months?
There is no praise involved here. As the Deputy is aware, for years at the beginning of every Dáil session the Government of the day published lists, A — Bills expected to be published; B — Bills for which the heads have been agreed and are being drafted; and C — Bills for which the heads have yet to be approved, with lists A and B being given priority and to be published in that session. However, the commitment was never lived up to, as the Deputy well knows. In the last session, the Government of which the Deputy was a member published three sessional programmes comprising 20, 14 and 23 Bills on the A, B and C lists and managed to get to only seven, ten and 11 on each list. On this occasion, I told Ministers that when they spoke to the Secretary General in the Department, they were to see to it that whatever Bills they brought forward were able to be published and dealt with in this session. This will bring a sense of reality to it rather than having a long list that might not see the light of day during the session.
The question of constitutional amendments has been spoken about extensively. The Government did not commit to holding any constitutional referendum in tandem with a presidential election. However, quite a number of comments have been made by groups such as children's advocacy groups suggesting it might be possible to deal with it that way. Obviously, the Government mentioned a number of other areas including accountability in respect of the question on the Abbeylara decision and in respect of giving protection to people who might inform public representatives as public or private citizens on issues which should be made known. These matters are being given consideration also.
The Deputy is well aware that to hold any constitutional referendum, let us say in the context of a presidential election whenever that might be, it is necessary to bring forward a Bill to set up a referendum commission and the Government is giving consideration to this. I have written formally to the Attorney General to start the process in respect of the preparation of work on the question to be asked about the abolition of the Seanad which, as the Deputy is aware, cannot be abolished without the imprimatur of the people. All references to the Seanad in the Constitution will have to be taken into account and I have advised the Attorney General formally of this.
Does the Taoiseach expect to bring proposals to the House in the coming months to include in the legislative programme substantive amendments to the Constitution? I am aware that some months in advance of the election, Fine Gael gave categoric commitments that there would be a referendum within the first 12 months if not in the autumn to abolish the Seanad and other referendums. Legislation is required to prepare to hold such referendums. Can the Taoiseach can give a timeline on the referendums to which he has committed in the programme for Government?
No. The Government has not decided formally on holding any constitutional referendum this year. The Government is considering whether it is feasible to hold any constitutional referendum this year, possibly in conjunction with a presidential election that might be held. For our part in Fine Gael, we set out a programme to allow for a series of constitutional amendments to be decided on what we called "Constitution day", to be held within 12 months of the new Government being formed, including a complex question on the abolition of the Seanad. As the lead Department putting together the structure for a constitutional convention, my Department is working on this and I hope to bring proposals to Government on the structure of a constitutional convention which would allow citizens to engage in a number of areas in which constitutional referendums might be held. This might be separate from matters on which the Government might decide as a matter of priority to hold a referendum.
On the second question——
Which one is that?
It is about the list of Bills that have been restored to the Order Paper, which the Taoiseach is due to circulate. The point I was making is that there is no acknowledgement of the work of previous Ministers in building up that legislation.
I would have thought the Deputy would not want us to acknowledge what his party did to the country.
We are dealing with questions now.
Yes, on the legislative programme. It is becoming unclear as to when those referenda will take place, and the Seanad one appears to be becoming more complex as the weeks go by. "Complex" is a word that is becoming more common in the Taoiseach's rhetoric.
The Taoiseach should acknowledge what the last Government did to the country.
Can we stick to Question Time please?
The Taoiseach does not need to be prompted by the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte.
I acknowledge the fact that the Deputy's party in government ran the economy onto the rocks and has left this Government with an almighty legacy to resolve. We will have to do that without fear or favour and with a sense of fairness and courage. I also acknowledge that legislative measures were prepared during the Deputy's time in government which did not see the light of day. I have asked Ministers to reflect as accurately as possible on what can be produced in this session. As the Deputy is aware, the Dáil will sit for longer than it did previously to deal with these matters. It will return on the day after bank holidays, sit for longer periods and take a shorter break at Easter to deal with the legislative programme we have set down.
I acknowledge the fact that the Deputy's party ran the country onto the rocks and that legislation was produced during its term of office. We have not decided formally on holding a constitutional referendum this year but we are committed to following through with regard to the constitutional convention and keeping the House informed about issues that might require legislation in the context of a referendum being held.
I agree the last Government ran the country onto the rocks, but that is no excuse for this Government to do it again.
Will the Deputy put a question to the Taoiseach?
One of the Bills promised for the summer session is the electoral commission Bill. The last Government also promised to establish an independent electoral commission. An mbeidh an coimisiún seo freagrach as vótóirí a chlárú? An nglacann an Taoiseach leis go bhfuil an córas clárúcháin lochtach agus go bhfuil gá ann chun é a leasú? Will the Taoiseach clarify whether this will be new legislation or the old Fianna Fáil-Green Party Bill? Does he agree with the Sinn Féin proposition that people should be automatically registered as they become eligible to vote by using personal public service, PPS, numbers? Will the new electoral commission be in place in time for the presidential election?
Before the Taoiseach replies, will the Deputy please refer to the questions on the Order Paper? They are about when details of the legislative priorities of the current Dáil will be published and if the Taoiseach will provide a list of the Bills that have been restored to the Order Paper. Stick to the questions, please. This is not a general debate. The Taoiseach should reply in accordance with the question put to him.
The Deputy has a point in that there was an item in the published legislative programme dealing with an electoral commission Bill, which was to give immediate effect to something that will take a longer period of time. It was the Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill. Obviously, that is being given priority, and the party opposite has published its own proposals in this regard. The constitutional convention and the electoral commission will allow citizens to give their input on a series of matters such as the reduction in the voting age, whether people who live abroad should be entitled to vote in presidential elections, the issue of greater involvement and participation by women in politics as candidates and elected members, and with regard to the electoral system. It is important to involve citizens in giving their views before these matters are finalised.
I call Deputy Boyd Barrett on this question. He has a question coming up on another matter. The reason I am being a stickler is that there are 29 questions for the Taoiseach and if we deal with only three or four of them, we will not get through them all. I intend to be fairly strict. The Deputy must stick to the question before us.
The question relates to legislative priorities. In light of the projected growth forecast of the International Monetary Fund, IMF——
That is not in order.
——and the reduced——
Will the Deputy resume his seat? That is not in order.
It is a question on legislative priorities.
That is not a legislative priority.
The worse growth prospects put forward by the IMF and the outcome of Iceland's referendum——
Would Deputy Boyd Barrett resume his seat?
A Cheann Comhairle, this is about legislative priorities.
What legislative priority are you talking about?
If you let me finish the question, I will explain.
Respect the Chair.
The result of the Iceland referendum, where the people in that country voted "No" to the bank bailout——
It is not on the list.
(Interruptions).
I am moving on.
Would the Taoiseach consider it——
Would Deputy Boyd Barrett please resume his seat?
——a legislative priority——
Did Deputy Boyd Barrett not hear me?
A Deputy
Boring.
——to bring forward legislation for a similar referendum to the one in Iceland?
Did you not hear me? That is not in order.
It is.
It is not in order. I am moving on to Question No. 3 in the name of Deputy Boyd Barrett.
Deputy Boyd Barrett is not in transition year now.
(Interruptions).
Deputy Buttimer thinks he is in first class.