Dáil debates
Tuesday, 20 June 2006
Order of Business.
5:00 pm
Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is proposed to take No. 12, Revised Estimates for Public Services 2006, Votes 1 to 40, back from committee; No. 1, Road Traffic Bill 2006 [Seanad] — Second Stage. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. and business shall be interrupted not later than 10 p.m. The Revised Estimates for Public Services 2006 shall be moved together and shall be decided without debate by one question, which shall be put from the Chair and any division demanded thereon shall be taken forthwith. Private Members' business is No. 54, motion re waste management.
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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There are two proposals to be put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with the late sitting agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 12, motion re Revised Estimates for the Public Service 2006 without debate agreed? Agreed.
I call Deputy Kenny on the Order of Business.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Is the Bill that is before the Seanad at present in respect of home defence a Government Bill, or is it a Bill from the Government's junior party?
I have raised the matter of SI 170 of 2000 and SI 171 of 2000 on three previous occasions. They deal with the transfer of property rights and liabilities Order of 2000 for the National Rehabilitation Board. A total of 184 staff were employed there and pension rights were due to them.
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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That does not arise on the Order of Business.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It arises under the statutory instrument which came from the primary legislation. It took one of these individuals six years to get his rights through the courts.
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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We cannot discuss what is in the primary legislation.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Perhaps the Taoiseach might be able to send a report to me as to the status of the other 104 claims.
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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It does not arise on the Order of Business.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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When is it expected that the Harris report, which was sent to Galway for translation a number of months ago, is likely to be produced here? I find it absolutely astonishing that the public service, which has served this country so well——
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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We cannot have a debate on it at this stage.
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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I will allow the last question. The first question referred to a Bill before the Seanad which is not appropriate to the Order of Business in this House.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I asked the Taoiseach when can we expect to have this report published. It used to be done in-house by the public service but not now. It deals with the competency of spoken Irish in primary schools.
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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We cannot have a debate on it.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I do not seek a debate on it. I seek a debate on when it will be published.
Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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Subject to correction, my belief is that it is due shortly. I will confirm that for Deputy Kenny. I was told it was almost ready two or three weeks ago. The other Bill is a Private Members' Bill of an individual Senator. It is not a Government Bill.
Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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On that point, does the Taoiseach know whether the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform had anything to do with the paternity of that Bill?
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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It does not arise on the Order of Business.
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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No Deputy, indeed not.
Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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It arises in the PDs I hear.
For almost two months I have raised the matter of the Dalton report. Everyone, including the media, has received this report except Members of this House. I keep being told by the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste that it will be out soon. Whatever is going on, two months later one cannot get a look at the report.
Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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Regarding the Dalton report I understand the due process based on the accusations and allegations is almost complete and it should be with the Government next week.
Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Will the Comhairle (Amendment) Bill 2004 be re-introduced as new legislation? It seems to be stuck. If the name of Comhairle changes and other changes are considered, will a new Bill be introduced? For a Bill which deals with information, it seems to be full of mystery. I wonder whether it should be called the faoi rún Bill rather than the Comhairle (Amendment) Bill. It must come before the House unless a new Bill is planned.
Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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This refers to a disability advocacy Bill which has cleared Cabinet and should be published in approximately a week.
Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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We will rip up the old one.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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When is it intended to publish the Deloitte & Touche report available to the Government and the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources for some time but not to anybody else? Since it is likely to have a major impact——
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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That issue was debated last week.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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——on the single electricity Bill that will come before the House——
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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It is not appropriate to raise reports unless they are promised to the House.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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This is promised. The publication of the report was promised so many times that I almost believe it. Perhaps the Taoiseach will give an indication as to when it will be published.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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There is not much time left.
Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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In the matter of secondary legislation, when will the Minister for Education and Science make the necessary ministerial order bringing sections of the legislation on the education of persons with special needs from 2004 into effect? It would require the mandatory introduction of individual educational programmes for children with learning difficulties, including dyslexia. Early intervention is absolutely essential in these cases. Schools do not implement the Act even though it is departmental policy without the order being made by the Minister. We are waiting two years for it.
Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I will communicate with the Deputy.
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Given the ever-spiralling house prices, the increasing interest rates now applying and 44,000 family units on local authority waiting lists, has the Government any proposals to bring forward the housing miscellaneous provisions Bill——
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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It does not arise. It is a question for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Does the Government intend to bring forward the housing miscellaneous provisions Bill from its scheduled date?
Regarding publication of the cancer strategy, will the Government indicate its willingness to allow for a proper debate before——
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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It does not arise on the Order of Business.
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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It certainly does. Whether the Government will allow——
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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There are other ways in which the Deputy can raise the matter.
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Can we have a debate on the cancer strategy announced last week?
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy can ask a question to the Minister. Unless a debate is promised, every Member on each side of the House would want to ask to have a debate on any issue.
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I do not know if it has been promised. I asked the Taoiseach whether it is promised. Surely the Taoiseach can clarify it.
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Timmins has a question on housing legislation.
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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How will we know whether the Minister for Health and Children promised it if she has not told us?
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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I suggest the Deputy submits a question to the Minister. There are many other ways the Deputy could raise this issue.
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I have been doing so but one waits four months because everything is kicked to the HSE.
Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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On the first part of Deputy Ó Caoláin's request, this Government has presided over an average house price increase of 270% over ten years.
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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On legislation.
Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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That is the national average. In my county of Wicklow the increase was 310%, which is outrageous.
Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Will the Taoiseach bring forward to this session the housing (miscellaneous provisions) Bill, due to be published in 2007, so people in the House have an opportunity to examine the lack of movement by this Government on the serious house prices faced by many young people who cannot afford to purchase a house, particularly in the greater Dublin area?
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Allow the Taoiseach to answer the question.
Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The heads of the Bill are expected soon. It will provide for a rental accommodation scheme, a revised tenant purchase scheme allowing for the sale of flats and will strengthen local authority powers to deal with anti-social behaviour.
Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Did the Taoiseach indicate when the housing miscellaneous provisions Bill will be published?
Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The heads of the Bill are expected soon. It will be some time before it is drafted.
Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Anyone who expects to buy his or her flat can kiss it goodbye until next year.
Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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Having been in process for at least 25 years, at least it is coming through.
Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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It was never promised.
Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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When do we expect legislation to provide for the sell-off of Aer Lingus? Is additional legislation necessary?
Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is already passed.
Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Will additional legislation be necessary to deal with pensions?
Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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In view of the fact the liaison person appointed by the Government in charge of Irish Vietnamese adoptions was found to be a convicted criminal and payments were made to her in her own name——
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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It does not arise on the Order of Business. Does the Deputy have another issue appropriate to the Order of Business?
Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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I would have thought it was appropriate. It is an extremely serious issue.
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy knows there are many ways in which he could raise the issue which would be in order.
Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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I am raising the matter of a review of the Adoption Act. This is extremely serious.
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Does the Deputy have a question that is in order?
Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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I thought that was in order.
When will the compensation scheme for nurses assaulted at work come onstream? I presume it will be under the Nurses Act.
Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The adoption Bill is for later this year. I am not aware of a nurses assault Bill.
Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Legislation on assaults on nurses was promised over the years.
Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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The child care amendment Bill will allow for adoption in certain circumstances. During a recent Order of Business the Tánaiste stated it is likely to be a priority. The Government gave a commitment it will be published before the start of the next session at the end of September. Will the Taoiseach give a further commitment that it will be published before then? When are we likely to have a Second Stage debate? Does the Government have an end post in sight for when this legislation will be processed?
Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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This session. Our definition of "this session" is up to the start of the next session.