Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is proposed to take No. 18, motion re referral to joint committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2004; No. 19, motion re referral to joint committee of the proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the draft order entitled Adoptive Leave Act 1995 (Extension of Periods of Leave) Order 2004; No. 20, motion re referral to joint committee of the proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002 (Additional Institutions) Order 2004; and No. 1, Water Services Bill 2003 [Seanad] — Second Stage.

It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that Nos. 18, 19 and 20 shall be decided without debate and Private Members' business shall be No. 38, motion re carers.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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There is one proposal to put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with Nos. 18, 19 and 20 without debate agreed?

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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It is not agreed.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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With regard to Nos. 18, 19 and 20, will there be time for discussion in the House when these matters come back from committee? This is a proposal to refer these matters to various committees. It may be necessary to have a discussion in the House when they come back.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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If the Taoiseach cannot give a commitment that he will roster No. 18 for discussion here, I oppose its being taken now without debate. This concerns the ring-fencing of betting tax for the horse and greyhound racing industry, although the tax was reduced from 5% to 2% in 2002. The result is that we have been paying out €56 million each year since then and the Taoiseach intends to provide an additional €325 million over the next four years.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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We cannot debate the content of the motion. The motion is whether this matter should be referred to committee.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I am not debating the content. I am explaining why I am opposing the taking of it without debate. It is a matter of the most profound significance. It is virtually the only earmarked tax in the country and we are pouring out hundreds of millions to support this industry, not from betting tax, as was intended, but from the Exchequer at a time when 101,000 people are losing their entitlement to medical cards. This is a major issue which requires debate in the House. It is one of the legacies of the old regime which was designed to look after the lads in the racing industry by the former Minister for Finance, Deputy McCreevy, and the other emeritus Minister, Deputy Walsh.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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The Green Party also wants this matter to be debated in the House. I ask the Ceann Comhairle to take people's concerns into account. Public moneys are at stake here and there has been some discussion about the ethical use thereof. This is a matter which also relates to ethics. Racing greyhounds must be registered with the Irish Coursing Club and there are many in the House, of whom I am one, who would be unhappy with that club being seen as the custodian of public moneys. The ethics of coursing would not be in line with many people's personal ethics. This matter should be debated in the House because public moneys are in question here and a great deal of such moneys have been invested in upholding a so-called sport which to many people is repugnant.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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This matter should be dealt with in the House in the first instance rather than being referred to committee at this stage. What is at stake here is an additional €300 million over the next four years. In effect, this amounts to multi-annual ring-fencing of public money. This would not happen in the case of funding for cancer care or for the needs of those coping with disabilities. However, we are being asked to allow this matter to be referred to the committee without debate. While I sympathise with the points made by the previous speakers, the pattern has always been that when something of this nature is returned to the House, there is no further time or opportunity to dissect or scrutinise it properly as should be the case. It should not fall only to the committee to consider this matter because far too much is involved. It is as if Santa Claus McCreevy could not make it to Christmas and he offered an early "Adieu, adieu, to you and you and you". He had all of his friends picked out in advance.

While I wish both the horse and greyhound racing industries well, we need to know the detail in respect of the management of this fund, how it will be disbursed and how it will be operated. Will the fund relate only to specific areas within both industries? Will smaller areas throughout the country benefit from it? What are the details? There is no information in anything that has been provided on the Order Paper. All the relevant details should be presented to Members in advance of taking a decision as to whether the matter should be referred to committee without debate. We need to know the facts. I oppose its being referred to committee at this stage without debate.

Johnny Brady (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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How much did the Deputy get for Shergar?

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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The Government must surely have him by now. Perhaps Deputy McCreevy knows more about that matter. Perhaps Shergar is in County Meath, I have no idea.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Allow the Taoiseach speak without interruption.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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It has been requested that this matter go before committee where it and all of the surrounding issues can be debated. The regulations are designed to increase the aggregate limit of the fund. The money in the fund is reinvested in the industry to develop its infrastructure. There are 25,000 jobs in this industry. I have no difficulty with the report being brought back to the House for debate. Whatever people think about the sport or greyhound racing, it is now a sophisticated industry which is responsible for the livelihoods of a substantial number of people. As regards how the money is spent, the transparency and regulation of the fund, etc., such matters will be dealt with by the committee and, as normal, it will send its report to the House, at which point it can be debated. The Whips can work out the details in that regard.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is the proposal agreed?

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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No.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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I must put the question.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The Committee of Public Accounts established that there are 11,000 and not 25,000 people involved in the industry.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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That matter does not arise. I must put the question.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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On the Order of Business, I call Deputy Kenny.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Having listened to what Deputy Rabbitte said about the Cabinet, it seems that the Teflon Taoiseach has become the Tipp-Ex Taoiseach.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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That does not arise.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I know it does not arise; it is awipeout. Have dates been fixed for the publication of the Book of Estimates and the introduction of the budget?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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For ten years or more it has been the practice to publish the Book of Estimates on the third Thursday of the month of November. The position will remain the same this year, whatever date that may be. The budget will be introduced on the first Wednesday of December.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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In light of reports that the new Minister for Finance has a bulging bag, is it reasonable to expect that some of the matters referred to in recent days will be dealt with?

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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That does not arise.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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When will the Bill to give effect to the referendum on citizenship be brought before the House?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Government passed the Bill a week ago but I do not believe it has been published yet. If it has not yet been published, it will be in the near future.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Will it come before the House as a matter of priority?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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Yes.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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I do not know if the Taoiseach had the opportunity to read the Irish Examiner today, but the requirement for urgency in respect of a number of energy Bills should be more apparent when he has been brought up to date with the need for Ireland to make the transition to a post-petroleum economy and the need to make preparations for that eventuality. When will the electricity Bill — in respect of which there is not yet a date for publication — the energy (miscellaneous provisions) Bill and the national oil reserves agency Bill fast-tracked to indicate urgency on the part of the Government in respect of the matter to which I refer?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The heads of the energy Bill, which deals with the regulatory restructuring issues relating to the industry and the conversion of the ESB into a plc under the Companies Acts, have been approved. However, I do not have a final date for publication because a considerable amount of work remains to be done on the legislation. The heads of the Bord Gáis Éireann Bill, which is designed to restructure Bord Gáis, are expected shortly after Christmas and the legislation should be ready thereafter. The national oil reserves agency Bill will be ready early in 2005.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Will the building societies (amendment) Bill be published this session? Will the Taoiseach also indicate when the legislation to bring the recommendations of the boundaries commission into effect will be published?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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A number of issues have been discussed in respect of the building societies (amendment) Bill. Those discussions are ongoing but I understand that the Bill will be ready this session.

The Deputy, as did Deputy Rabbitte last week, also raised the issue of the boundaries commission Bill. I have asked for it to be brought forward and I am informed that this will probably not happen until after Christmas. There is, as I said, no change in it.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Grangegorman Development Agency Bill will be taken in the House in this session. Consultation is taking place between the Department and the relevant stakeholders on the third level student support Bill. I understand they hope to come to an agreement and we want to conclude those consultations before the Bill comes forward. I do not have a date for its publication but it will not be this session.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Given that more cases have presented and that more evidence is offering, has the Government considered or will it now consider extending the Residential Institutions Redress Act to address the abuses that day attendees had to suffer at a number of such institutions? In terms of the extended number of institutions, we referred this to committee. The Taoiseach must be aware of the number of people involved as day attendees.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Does the Deputy have a question on the legislation?

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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We simply cannot ignore this matter and sweep it under the carpet.

On another matter, I ask the Taoiseach to outline the programme for the introduction and passage of the Disability Bill 2004.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is a matter for the House.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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On the first matter, on today's Order of Business is a motion to refer the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002 (Additional Institutions) Order 2004 to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Science. This order outlines the areas to which the remit of the Act will be extended. I am not sure if there are any more extensions, but the idea of moving it to all day schools is not envisaged.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Why is it not envisaged?

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy should allow the Taoiseach to reply without interruption.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I hope we will be ready to take the Disability Bill in the House shortly.

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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In light of the recent report that 100,000 foreign workers will be needed to deal with the boom, when will the employment permits Bill come before the House? In the interest of addressing complaints procedures, when will the health Bill come before the House?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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Both Bills will be published this session.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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The health and social care professionals regulatory Bill is due to be published this session. However, a statutory instrument has just been laid before the House regarding emergency medical technicians or practitioners. Would it not be better for the contents of this statutory instrument to be included in the Bill? I am very concerned that we are now dealing with changes affecting emergency medical practitioners without having an opportunity to discuss or debate issues on registration and fitness to practice, which are contained in the statutory instrument but are not part of the health and social care professionals regulatory Bill. Would it not be better practice and lead to better legislation to have this incorporated into the Bill so that it can be debated in due course? This is a relatively important issue relating to the Hanly report.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The health and social care professionals regulatory Bill is due this session. It will provide for the statutory registration of health and social care professionals for the purpose of ensuring a quality service for the public. The Deputy is suggesting that the regulations to be put to the committee would be better as part of the Bill.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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The statutory instrument has been laid before the House and unless the Taoiseach is willing to allow time to debate it, we will not have the opportunity to debate the amendments that relate to emergency medical practitioners, essentially ambulance staff. As we need to discuss these issues, the Taoiseach should include them in the Bill as part of the normal process.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I will check what the Deputy is saying. However, as I understand it the Bill has nothing to do with that statutory instrument.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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That is my point and I am concerned.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The statutory instrument is separate from the Bill. The Deputy has made her point and I will refer the matter to the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children. I believe they are separate issues.

Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Does the Taoiseach have any plans to extend to those appointed to public bodies the remit of regulations on the acceptance and declaration of gifts as they currently apply to elected representatives in light of the report that the outgoing representatives of Aer Rianta have received gifts to the value of €9,000?

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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That does not arise. The Deputy should table a question to the appropriate Minister.

Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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The central question arises. Does the Government have plans to change the regulations and extend the remit?

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is legislation in that area promised?

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Someone has to keep a watching brief.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have sympathy with the Deputy's point. If I receive, as I do in my position, a gift to the value of more than €600 I must give it up. All of us in this House work hard and none of us could receive such a gift. Quite frankly I do not believe it is appropriate.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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They must be checking their watches.

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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When will the House debate Second Stage of the Disability Bill?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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As soon as possible.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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In view of the ever-increasing drugs problem, when will the drug offenders Bill be before the House? Is it likely to be prioritised in view of its importance?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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As the Bill is only at a preliminary stage, I do not have a date at this stage.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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I wish to ask about two transport Bills. The Railway Safety Bill stalled on Committee Stage in July 2003 and has been held up for the past 15 months. What is the problem with that Bill? Has the Department of Transport finalised its thinking on the Bill? When will the Bill come before us again? It provides a legal framework to address rail accidents, including those involving the Luas, so it is very much needed and overdue.

The Road Traffic Bill is intended to sort out the mess that the penalty points system has become. That Bill was stalled before the summer. It was postponed when priority was given instead to the State Airports Bill. As the number of road fatalities has soared during the summer months, it is urgently needed to sort out the penalty points system. When will it be taken?

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy should keep her questions to the legislation.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is correct. Both these Bills have been listed for some time, one for the past ten months and the other for a few years. I will ask the Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, when he will bring them back to the House.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Given the obvious interest in the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2004 and the proposed changes to the Curragh Racecourse and its hinterland by the Irish Racing Board, when will the Curragh of Kildare Bill be introduced?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The heads of the Curragh of Kildare Bill have been approved and the Bill is being drafted, but it is likely to be the middle of next year before the Bill is ready.