Dáil debates
Tuesday, 9 May 2006
Order of Business.
2:30 pm
Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is proposed to take No. 11, motion re ministerial rota for parliamentary questions; No. 12, motion re referral to select committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the terms of the treaty concerning the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union; No. 19, the International Criminal Court Bill 2003 — Order for Report, Report and Final Stages; and No. 20, Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006 — Second Stage, resumed. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that Nos. 11 and 12 shall be decided without debate. Private Members' business shall be No. 57, motion re Ireland's energy sector.
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. 11 and 12 without debate agreed? Agreed.
5:00 pm
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Given that there has been a huge increase in the various invasive weeds in the lakes of the country, which will literally wipe out coarse and trout angling in the next 15 years if something is not done to address this problem, when is the national inland fisheries authority Bill likely to be published in order that an authority might be put in place to deal with this problem which will have a detrimental effect on local economies?
Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The legislation is due this year.
Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Are we likely to see that Bill?
Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The heads have not yet been approved. It is listed for this year.
Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism received the Dalton report four weeks ago but did not bring it to the Cabinet until this morning. I am completely bemused about the delay. What is in the report? When will the Taoiseach give it to the rest of us?
Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister did not quite bring it to the Cabinet this morning.
Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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He did not come out of the traps.
Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister has received legal advice that, in line with due process, he should give the report to a number of the individuals who are named in it. After the Deputy raised this matter last week, I asked how long the process should take. It is considered the people in question will need two or three weeks to consider the report.
Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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There will be a few High Court judgments along the way, just like after the Gama Construction report was published.
Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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As there are enough problems in the health service, I do not wish to add to them. Can I ask about the health Bill, given there is now a new dimension to that whole area? No human health studies have been carried out on genetically modified foods. Some studies have been carried out on rats, but they were not very promising.
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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When will the legislation be introduced?
Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Will the health Bill address the new dimension to our problems?
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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I call Deputy Stanton.
David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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The Minister for Social and Family Affairs interviewed Pat Kenny during "The Séamus Brennan Hour" this morning.
Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy.
David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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The Minister promised he would introduce legislation relating to lone parents, the cohabitation rule and the need to make absent fathers pay more, but there is no sign of it in the legislative programme. Can the Taoiseach tell the House when the legislation will see the light of day? What will the Bill be called?
Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The report has been prepared.
Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Who is on the Minister's programme tomorrow?
Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister published the report approximately two weeks ago as part of the national debate on this issue. All the organisations which are involved in this area have been asked to make some comments on it. That is where it is at present.
David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Where is the legislation?
Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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We have to have the debate first.
David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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The Minister promised legislation this morning on the radio.
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Taoiseach has answered the Deputy's question.
David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I want to know whether it is intended to introduce legislation in this regard.
Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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We will have to wait until we have received the comments on the report.
Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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This morning's broadcast made a change from "The Michael McDowell Hour" anyway. It was a pleasure to listen to the Minister for Social and Family Affairs for a change.
Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Willie is on tomorrow morning.
Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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I received a very distressing letter this morning from the Irish Haemophilia Society, which represents a community that has been ravaged by HIV and conditions which have destroyed lives.
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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To what legislation does the Deputy refer?
Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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It has suffered more than any other community. It has been waiting for nine years for legislation that will provide the people in question with an insurance scheme.
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is legislation promised?
Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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According to the letter I received, the Tánaiste has broken her word, which she gave to the society when she promised it that a draft Bill would be available on 6 April. The legislation in question is not complicated; it is very simple.
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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I ask the Deputy to allow the Taoiseach to answer her question.
Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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It has been overdue for nine years.
Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The heads of the Bill have been approved. The Bill is being drafted and will be introduced this session.
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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I call Deputy Ó Caoláin.
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I will pass, a Cheann Comhairle, thank you.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Can I ask the Taoiseach whether it is possible to arrange for an early debate in the House about the closure of the power station in Shannonbridge? The power station has been closed, with obvious job losses, as a result of health and safety requirements.
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is a debate promised?
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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It cost over €200 million.
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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There are other ways of raising the issue.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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The Taoiseach might like to comment on it at this stage. Perhaps he will arrange a debate in the House on the matter.
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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I call Deputy Quinn.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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It cost €240 million.
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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We cannot have discussions or debates in the House unless they are promised.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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It has been in operation for just a year and a half.
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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I call Deputy Quinn.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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A serious health and safety problem at the power station has caused it to be closed.
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy can raise the matter in other ways.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Perhaps the Taoiseach will indicate when it might be possible to have a debate in the House.
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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We cannot allow that type of question unless a debate is promised——
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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It is an urgent issue.
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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——because if we were to do so, every Deputy on every side of the House would be asking about some issue every day.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Can I ask that the minerals development Bill be brought to the House as a matter of urgency? Perhaps it might be possible to arrange an urgent debate on this matter in that context.
Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Bill will be brought to the House next year. The Deputy should take the Ceann Comhairle's advice.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I hope the Government will do something about the pipeline before then.
Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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We will need to have statements on the matter sooner than that.
Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government undertook to take Committee Stage of the Building Control Bill 2005 on 25 May next. However, my office has been informed that this tentative arrangement has been changed and that instead, the Minister intends to introduce the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006, which has just been passed by the Seanad, in this House. Can the Taoiseach or the Chief Whip indicate why it is necessary to postpone Committee Stage of one Bill to take another Bill that has already been considered by the Seanad and, therefore, has been substantially debated? Will the Taoiseach indicate specifically when the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 will be brought to this House? What are the arrangements for referring the Building Control Bill 2005 to the select committee again?
Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Minister, Deputy McDowell, is able to deal with six Bills at a time.
Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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He can do the Pat Kenny show at the same time.
Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I do not have the arrangements for the debate in this House on the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006, which was formerly known as the strategic national infrastructure Bill. I will ask the Government Chief Whip to check.
Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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The disgusting trafficking into Ireland of young women from parts of eastern Europe for enslavement and prostitution was highlighted on RTE's "Prime Time Investigates" last night. The most urgent action possible is needed to stop this barbarism——
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Does the Deputy have a question on legislation?
Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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——and to take the barbarians out of our society.
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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To what legislation does the Deputy refer?
Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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I am asking the Taoiseach to tell me and the Dáil when legislation to outlaw——
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is legislation promised?
Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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——this criminal trafficking, which is a modern form of slavery, will be introduced. Why has the Government been so laggardly on this issue so far?
Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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To the best of my knowledge, legislation is already in place to deal with the issue of trafficking. The Garda National Immigration Bureau has been working to deal with a number of gangs. It has arrested a number of people and broken up some of the gangs which are involved in this activity. I do not think any other legislation is proposed.
Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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We need clarification.
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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We cannot have a debate on it. The Taoiseach has answered the Deputy's question. I suggest that the Deputy should find another way of raising the matter.
Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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I am not debating the issue.
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy can raise the matter in many other ways.
Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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I am sorry, but the Taoiseach's comments were misinformed.
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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We cannot debate what the Taoiseach said.
Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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There is legislation banning the trafficking of children, but there is no legislation specifically banning the trafficking of young women into this country for prostitution.
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy cannot discuss the matter now. I suggest that he raise it in one of the many ways in which Deputies can raise such matters.
Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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On a point of order, this is very important. I am entitled to ask about legislation.
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy can ask about promised legislation.
Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Yes. The Minister for Finance said on "Questions and Answers" on RTE last night that legislation would be introduced in this regard.
Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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When will it be introduced?
Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I could give a longer answer, but the problem is that we are dealing with promised legislation, rather than with Leaders' Questions. I will give it. Although the offence of trafficking is not explicitly provided for in Irish law at present, a range of offences which can be prosecuted under current legislation are involved in any trafficking activity. Offences such as assault, sexual assault and false imprisonment, which were highlighted in last night's programme, can be dealt with under current legislation. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is preparing to create a specific offence of trafficking in human beings. Such an offence is not provided for in legislation at present. The preparation of the legislation, which will make the trafficking of people in or out of Ireland for the purposes of sexual and labour exploitation an offence, is at an advanced stage. The provisions needed to comply with two specific EU laws — the framework decisions on trafficking — are also at an advanced stage of preparation. They will take account of several other United Nations and Council of Europe measures. The enacting provisions in question are already in Council of Europe laws and EU laws. They are under preparation. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is also considering how forthcoming legislation on immigration and residence can assist in dealing with this issue. I am sorry for breaking the rules by making this statement, a Cheann Comhairle, but I wanted to give a full answer.
Shane McEntee (Meath, Fine Gael)
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In the past nine days, 14 people have been killed on our roads. Despite the measures we have been taking over the last three months, nothing is working. I asked a question last week as regards the new road traffic Bill. I wonder whether we are looking at all the reasons as to why these people are being killed. It is crucial we have a debate and that this matter is brought forward since 14 people have died in nine days and the numbers are rising. We have the worst record in Europe as and from today and people are being killed on minor roads that are not capable of carrying such a level of traffic. I also believe the signs——
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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We cannot have a debate on this matter now.
Shane McEntee (Meath, Fine Gael)
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It has gone beyond a joke and too many people are being killed on our roads, which are not fit for the traffic——
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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I must ask the Deputy to allow the Taoiseach to answer his question.
Shane McEntee (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Will the Taoiseach guarantee that legislation will be brought forward this session?
Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The heads of the Bill have been approved and it is gone for urgent drafting. We hope to have the Bill within a few weeks and it will be debated in the House in this session. We should very much like to have it passed by both Houses before the summer session.
Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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I want to raise two items. One concerns last night's "Prime Time" programme. Can the Taoiseach confirm that sections of the Children's Act which have yet to be brought into force, could comprise elements as regards how the Government should be dealing with this problem? Will he give a commitment to the House that all sections of the Children's Act that have yet to be enforced will be immediately enabled?
Can the Strategic Infrastructure Bill be brought before the House? The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has issued a leaflet in his constituency which says that mass burn incineration is not in line——
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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That matter does not arise. The first question is on secondary legislation.
Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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It has significant implications for the legislation. This has to do with whether the published legislation remains valid because the statement by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform indicates he is not following Government policy. It has to do with mass burn incineration and whether he is prepared to support the building of a particular incinerator. I would like to know the implications as regards the Bill that has been published and whether it will be presented in the House.
Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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As regards the second question raised by the Deputy, that Bill is currently down for debate in the Seanad and it will come to this House. On his first question, I have given a comprehensive answer to Deputy Joe Higgins. As regards the Children's Act, there are some sections that have not been fully enabled as yet. Perhaps the Deputy will get the details if he puts down a question for the Minister for Health and Children.
Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Taoiseach may be aware that many churches have had to cancel broadcasting services to the public due to requests from the Irish Aviation Authority, perhaps, or ComReg. I ask the Taoiseach to request the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to investigate this issue so the problems may be overcome.
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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I suggest the Deputy submits a parliamentary question on that matter.
Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Will the Taoiseach say when the broadcasting authority Bill will be published?