Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It is proposed to take No. 17, Companies Bill 2012 - 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. and Private Members' business shall, if not previously concluded, adjourn after 90 minutes; and that Private Members' business, which shall be No. 47, Restorative Justice (Reparation of Victims) Bill 2013 - Second Stage, shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, 26 March 2014. Tomorrow's business after Oral Questions shall be No. 17, Companies Bill 2012 - Report Stage (resumed).

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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There are two proposals to be put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with Private Members' business today agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with Private Members' business tomorrow agreed to? Agreed.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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A growing scandal is emerging relating to the administration of justice, and a range of issues are evident regarding the penalty points saga, the undermining of whistleblowers and the Garda inspectorate report contrasting very starkly with the O'Mahoney report on the penalty points issue. The bugging inquiry was established to consider occurrences at the office of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC. There have been attempts by the Minister for Justice and Equality to undermine GSOC and its chairman. He almost had them under the spotlight because of his general adversarial response to issues of this kind. The Minister has had a fundamental inability to respond properly to the issue of the status of whistleblowers. To top this off, for the first time in three decades we have had the resignation of a Garda Commissioner, following a very serious statement from the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar.

It was a very considered and detailed statement in which he said the whistleblowers were distinguished and so on. That was followed by the Tánaiste and almost all the Labour Party Ministers. We tabled a private notice question asking the Minister for Justice and Equality about the resignation of the Garda Commissioner and were told it did not meet the criteria. I believe it is a matter of national importance that the Garda Commissioner has resigned in these circumstances. There have been revelations today-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Where is the Deputy going?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am going to ask a question. These are very serious issues.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that, but this is the Order of Business.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have a lot of experience in the House. It beggars belief that there is no statement in the House - that the Minister for Justice and Equality has not come before the House to comment on the resignation of the Garda Commissioner following the statements of a succession of Ministers about the Commissioner's comments to the Committee on Public Accounts, and about the Minister’s position. It is absolutely extraordinary that the Government has not made time available today for the Minister for Justice and Equality to come in and answer questions.

The Taoiseach asked me and the Leader of Sinn Féin to meet him approximately 20 minutes before Leaders' Questions and briefed us on another emerging issue that goes to the heart of the administration of justice. It is incomprehensible that the Taoiseach thinks it is okay to mark all of that with absolute silence in the House today-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy will have to sit down.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

-----and that no formal mechanism is provided for the Minister for Justice and Equality to come in to answer basic questions about why the Commissioner is resigning now. He left certain things in the air in his briefing with me on the most recent issue. The Taoiseach suggested it would do on Thursday, but the statements on Thursday are on the Garda inspectorate's report on the fixed charge processing system, which was published on the last day before the week-long recess for St. Patrick’s Day. One could be cynical and say this was deliberate. I understand the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport was not at the Cabinet meeting when that was discussed, even though the Minister had had it since January.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy will have to sit down.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This is the Order of Business.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There is a lot of cynical stuff going on here. The only way the Taoiseach can cut through that is by making this House relevant to the issues of the day.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There are procedures to be followed to do that.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Deputy Adams is correct. This was all fed to the media. That is fine. The Government does that all the time. We are becoming-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Would the Deputy also respect the Chair?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That is fine. Surely the Taoiseach agrees that in any other Dáil – I have been here – the Minister would have come in here on the day? Will the Taoiseach make time available today?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Martin is as hypocritical as ever. I asked him to come to Government Buildings to brief him and Deputy Adams on an issue that is of considerable importance to security and justice in the State and so on. The Garda Press Office issued its statement, as I said to the Deputy-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

About what?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

-----at 12.17 p.m.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am talking about the Garda Commissioner’s resignation.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I will tell the Deputy what the issue was. Deputy Martin never listens.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I do listen.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The first sentence of the statement is “In the best interests of An Garda Síochána and my family I have decided to retire”. The word is "retire".

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

What is the Taoiseach saying?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Deputy Martin is talking about resignations. The Garda Commissioner-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That is semantics.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Every radio programme in the country is saying the Commissioner resigned.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Garda Commissioner-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Minister for Justice and Equality should come in here.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There is plenty of time now.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Garda Commissioner made his own decision and issued a statement through the Garda Press Office.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach will make the situation clear and that is it.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I remind Deputy Martin that last week we decided that there would be statements and questions and answers on the Garda inspectorate report on Thursday. I have responded to Deputy Martin in the House already.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach is being cynical. He has not responded to me.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I said the Minister for Justice and Equality would deal with the issue that Deputy Martin raised.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Deputy Martin should respect the Chair.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Deputy Martin never listens. I already said to him-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This is appalling.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

-----in respect of the other issue I raised - and Deputy Martin never listens-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I listen.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

-----as the information comes to us about a new issue there could be statements in the House tomorrow on that issue, if the Deputy wanted that. I offered that to the Leaders of the Opposition.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach did not ask us.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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On Thursday the Deputy will have all day – and I hope he sits here – on the Garda Inspectorate Report on penalty points. The Minister for Justice and Equality will deal with the matter the Deputy raises. I have already said that, but of course Deputy Martin never accepts anybody’s word.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We have raised a point-----

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In times gone by Ministers of the Deputy’s Government rejected all of this-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----and the Taoiseach has refused it. The Taoiseach has not said where he stands on this issue. He is the one member of the Cabinet who has not said where he stands on this issue.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I will suspend the sitting if the Deputy does not sit down.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Does the Taoiseach believe the Minister for Justice and Equality is correct? Does he believe the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar, is correct?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I will suspend the sitting if the Deputy does not sit down.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Taoiseach has not responded to any of the questions I asked him in three weeks on this issue. He has ducked and dived on it all the time. He owes it to the country and he owes it to the Dáil and to the State-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is an ex-Minister and a long-serving Deputy. Would he please respect the Chair?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is because I am long-serving that I know a private notice question would have been accepted in any other Dáil before today. There would have been a private notice question.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There are things called Standing Orders. If the Deputy wishes to come to my office afterwards-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I have asked a very simple question.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It should have been allowed.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

If the Deputy comes to my office afterwards I will explain the situation to him. There are Standing Orders and if the Deputy had learned them he would know about them.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

With the greatest respect, I have asked a very simple question.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy should sit down and stay quiet.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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We put in a Standing Order 32 request in order to have a discussion on this matter. I made the point earlier that the Taoiseach should have come into the Dáil to make a statement. I welcome the fact that we were briefed. I was telling the Taoiseach that on my way to see him a journalist told me the gist of what he told me. This has nothing to do with the Garda Commissioner’s-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We are on the Order of Business. Would the Deputy please adhere to the rules of the House?

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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My point is that the Dáil has to be treated with respect by everyone, especially the Government, because it is not every day that a Commissioner resigns. We do not even know whether he was aware of this morning’s revelations before his retirement. That is the point the Taoiseach is grandstanding on. Rather than face up to the reality that we are playing catch-up, some other revelation will be fed out and we will play catch-up again.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Would the Deputy please put his question on the Order of Business?

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Will the Taoiseach not allow special time on this issue to have proper discussions so that all of the people who respect the Garda Síochána can have confidence that the administration of that service is being conducted properly?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The answer is "No." I already offered on Leaders' Questions the opportunity for statements in the House tomorrow on the emerging situation on which I briefed Deputies Adams and Martin. When I met the Deputy he said he had met a journalist who said there was another issue, but did not point out what it was.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I did.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Actually, the Deputy did not. Whether the journalist knew is no business of mine. If he or she had information to that effect it did not come from Government, because we had only concluded the Cabinet meeting making decisions about this matter very shortly before that. I note the statement from the Garda Press Office was issued at 12.17 p.m.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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That is a different statement.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Whether Deputy Adams likes it or not, the senior counsel Mr. Guerin and Mr. Justice Cooke have been appointed to inquire into sensitive issues, the report of the Garda inspectorate is due for debate and question and answer on Thursday, the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality is dealing with the terms of reference, and the status of the whistleblowers has been referred to many times. I have already acknowledged that these changes would not be taking place but for the fact that this information was brought into the public domain by whistleblowers, which provides us with an opportunity----

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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That is why the Minister for Justice and Equality vilified them. Their characters were assassinated.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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-----to follow through on the decision made today by the Government to work towards the setting up of an independent authority suitable for this Republic, with An Garda Síochána, where there is still political accountability to the Oireachtas. That serious body of work is going on and the Minister for Justice and Equality is conducting and overseeing it.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That is the problem.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

All the Opposition wants in here - particularly Deputy Martin, who never listens to anything but only follows through with his false anger-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I only want to know whether the Taoiseach agrees with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar. That is all.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I can remember time and again when Ministers of Deputy Martin’s ilk refused to answer any questions or to have any debate-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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We did not.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach learnt that lesson well.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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-----or statements with questions and answers, but went around the country with a condescending arrogance that was breathtaking to behold.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I agree with the Tánaiste and with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar, and many other Ministers.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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That is a lot of agreement altogether.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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The programme for Government referred to new thinking and new approaches to politics. A feature of past Governments has been a very centralised, managed approach to matters.

Today the Taoiseach organised a briefing for the leaders of Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin. The Technical Group comprises one third of the Opposition. We have made it easy for the Taoiseach and Ministers to make a telephone call to arrange for someone to attend such briefings. We need to know why we were excluded. Was a decision made to exclude us deliberately? It is not right that we are told to rely on newspapers or Twitter to get information when the rest of the Opposition parties are briefed. What was the thinking behind excluding us?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I assure Deputies Richard Boyd Barrett, John Halligan, Thomas Pringle, Joan Collins and Catherine Murphy that I am prepared to brief any one of them, but I need to know from the Technical Group who its spokesperson is.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach knows.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Who is its spokesperson?

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach has done it before.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Should we call the Deputy?

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The people outside got the information quicker than those who had gone in.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Please, Deputy.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I must object because we notified all Departments and have been briefed in the past by the Department of the Taoiseach. They know that one telephone call needs to be made to my office which will co-ordinate the rest of the Technical Group.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy has made her point.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We deliberately made it that easy.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I take the Deputy's point and thank her for reaffirming it. Briefings that take place in the future will include the Technical Group and the telephone call will be made to the Deputy's office. She will decide whether Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan or whoever else will turn up.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There is no need for the dig.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach referred to the security of the State. I put it to him that what is at stake with the resignation of the Garda Commissioner is not the security of the State but democracy and the accountability of the State to its citizens.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am sorry, Deputy, but we have been through that issue.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is unacceptable in the aftermath of the Commissioner's resignation and on foot of a litany of scandals-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Will the Deputy please resume his seat?

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

-----that the Taoiseach excluded one third of the Opposition from the briefing and refused to facilitate the making of statements in the House. The statements that will be taken later this week pertain solely to the penalty points issue. We need a statement from the Taoiseach on the resignation of the Garda Commissioner-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I ask the Deputy to please resume his seat.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

-----and an end to discrimination against one third of the Opposition.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Is the Deputy part of the Technical Group? If so, his spokesperson has just made that point. Is Deputy Joan Collins raising a separate issue? We are not going to go through this issue again.

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is very important.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I know it is.

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Technical Group was excluded from the briefing today.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Deputy Catherine Murphy made that point on behalf of the Technical Group. We are not going to have another discussion on it.

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Had we attended the briefing, we would have pointed out that the statements arranged for this week pertained to the penalty points issue rather than resignations, or retirements as the Taoiseach put it.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Please arrange the debate with the Whips. I call Deputy Joe Higgins on a different issue - I hope.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I want to ask a question about legislation. However, the Taoiseach should stop digging.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Just ask the question.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

He must be the only person in the country who has the neck to say the Garda Commissioner retired as opposed to resigning, as if the events of the last three or six months never happened.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Please ask a question.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach should stop digging; he is still in denial.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy can speak to the Taoiseach outside the Chamber.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Can I ask about legislation?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Yes, of course.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

When will the Taoiseach bring forward the workplace relations Bill and the industrial relations (No. 2) Bill? Is it Government policy to use the courts to break the democratic right of workers to engage in industrial action, as Aer Lingus, in which the Government has a major shareholding, is doing? That company is pursuing an individual representative in order to bankrupt him. Is that Government policy, with the Labour Party on board?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy has made his point.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The courts struck down the legislation. The two Bills to which Deputy Joe Higgins referred, the workplace relations Bill and the industrial relations (No. 2) Bill, are due for publication this session.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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On promised legislation, what is the status of the climate action and low carbon development Bill which may become more important as fuel concerns increase? The international tax agreements Bill may be similarly important, given that the issues arising caused some discussion in recent times. To what extent have these Bills been agreed to by the Cabinet and made ready for publication?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The low carbon development Bill and the international tax agreement Bill are due for publication later this year.

Ray Butler (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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In the light of media reports on the number of people out on bail, when is the Bill to consolidate and amend the bail laws due to be published?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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A lot of work has been done on the Bill in the Department, but I do not have a date for its publication. Deputy Durkan has raised the issue on around 20 occasions already.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Is that why it is not being done?

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Given that the Minister for Health is in the House, I acknowledge the progress made for the people who suffered in the Magdalen laundries and from symphysiotomies. There are only 32 survivors of thalidomide, who are represented by two organisations. The programme for Government made a firm commitment in this regard. Has the Minister met the two organisations and are we advancing towards a solution to the problem for the 32 individuals in question?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Minister has not met them recently, but I understand the matter is before the courts.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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On the Central Bank (consolidation) Bill, when will we have something on the banks? Obviously, they are not adhering to the code of conduct. ACC Bank, which is owned by Rabobank, is trying to evict a family from a house in Kildare. When will we see action taken? All we have had are empty promises.

When will the Government hold a debate on the Children First Bill and the money misappropriated during the referendum proposed by our wonderful Minister for Justice and Equality?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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We will check it out.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Children First Bill is due this session. I do not have a date of publication for the Central Bank (consolidation) Bill. It is a serious piece of work.

Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Fine Gael)
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The housing (miscellaneous provisions) Bill aims to expand and strengthen the regulatory framework for social housing and provide a new system for housing assistance payments. Every day in my clinic I encounter husbands or wives whose marriages have broken down. One ex-partner will remain in the house with the family, while the other has to leave but is not entitled to social housing or housing payments. When is the aforementioned Bill due to be brought before the House?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The heads of the Bill were cleared last December and the Bill is due for publication this session, prior to the summer.