Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I thank the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. What arrangements will be made to debate the report in the House?

Issues relating to the recent floods were raised by Deputy Kenny. In the House yesterday, the Taoiseach declined to acknowledge the inadequacy of the €12 million relief fund. When I put it to him that the Government needs to talk to insurance companies, he seemed reluctant to consider that suggestion. I am glad he held a press conference yesterday at which he acknowledged the fund's inadequacy and said that insurance companies are being talked to. I raised a number of issues related to the flooding and the difficulties people are experiencing in coping with it. Will time be made available next week for Ministers to give the House an up-to-date report and for a discussion of the situation?

Five of the seven items on today's Order Paper relate to Europe. The Lisbon treaty will come into effect next Tuesday, 1 December, introducing a number of reforms in the way in which European legislation is dealt with. From that date, all proposals for European legislation must come to the national parliaments in addition to the European Parliament and the European Council. To my knowledge, the House has not made arrangements to deal with this reform, although I know the committees with responsibility for European affairs have discussed it. What proposals has the Government made to enable the Dáil to deal with these significant new powers and functions? European legislation may be referred back to the Commission and if nine parliaments do this the legislation in question will be, effectively, blocked. National parliaments have been given significant new powers under the Lisbon treaty and they come into effect on Tuesday next. What arrangements is the Government making to deal with this?

Yesterday, the Taoiseach informed the House that talks are resuming between Government and the public service unions on the public service pay bill. I hope they succeed because another strike is threatened for this day week. Yesterday, IBEC announced it is pulling out of the national pay agreement. This action and its timing is provocative and unhelpful. The Tánaiste is the Minister with responsibility in this area. Did IBEC inform her of its intention to open up a pay free-for-all? Where does this leave those public service bodies which are members of IBEC and are, apparently, parties to the talks between the public service unions and the Government?

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