Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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It is proposed to take No. 14, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of Ireland's contribution to the International Development Association's multilateral debt relief initiative, back from committee; No. 15, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of Ireland's contribution to the International Development Association's 14th replenishment, back from committee; No. 20, Institutes of Technology Bill 2006 — Order for Report, Report and Final Stages; and No. 2, Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006 — Order for Second Stage and Second Stage, to be taken not later than 12.30 p.m. today and the order shall not resume thereafter.

It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil shall sit later than 4.45 p.m. today and business shall be interrupted not later than 8 p.m; the sitting shall be suspended from 4.45 p.m. to 5.45 p.m.; Nos. 14 and 15 shall be decided without debate.

The Dáil shall sit tomorrow at 10.30 a.m. and shall adjourn not later than 4.30 p.m., there shall be no Order of Business, within the meaning of Standing Order 26, and accordingly, the following business shall be transacted: No. 2, Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006 — Second Stage (resumed) and the proceedings on the Second Stage thereon shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 3 p.m. on that day; Committee and Remaining Stages shall be taken immediately thereafter and the proceedings thereon shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 4.30 p.m. by one question which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall in regard to amendments include only those set down or accepted by the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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There are three proposals to put to the House. Is the proposal on the late sitting agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with Nos. 14 and 15 without debate, motions re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal on the sitting and business of the Dáil tomorrow 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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The proposal is that the Dáil shall sit tomorrow to deal with the Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006. What has transpired here is a massive political own goal of gargantuan proportions which shows absolute insensitivity by the Government in respect of approximately 100 women in whose cases the virus may have been cleared but in whom the impact and effect of hepatitis may now just be becoming evident. These women were given to understand that the issue of compensation for medical care and insurance would be dealt with in their interests and that, specifically in the area of insurance, they would not lose benefits while this matter was being dealt with.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The proposal before us is about tomorrow's sitting. We cannot go into detail on the content of the Bill.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I am not going to make a speech on it, a Cheann Comhairle.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy should only make a brief comment.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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This matter affects approximately 100 women who have to live with this every day. The Tánaiste has not even extended the courtesy to them of telling them that this would be included in sections 1, 2 and 6 of the Bill——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy has made his point.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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——after negotiating with them for the past 18 months or so.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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We cannot discuss the contents of the Bill at this stage.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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This is disgraceful and insensitive treatment of a vulnerable and sensitive group and I do not think the Tánaiste should do this. I object to the House taking part in this.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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I oppose the taking of this Bill. I seek that the Government withdraws the Bill and comes back having excised the offending sections. This is a betrayal of a small, blighted minority who suffer sickness and stigma as a result of being poisoned by the State through contaminated blood products. That is what we are talking about here. It is a dishonest Bill because consultation took place with the four organisations which are affected and the understanding all the way along that process was that this Bill would be about insurance, because these people cannot get insurance except at a very high rate. That is what this Bill was supposed to be about.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy should return to the proposal before us. We cannot debate the contents of the Bill.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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It is also discriminatory against young people who have suffered from the conditions that were caused by negligence on the part of the State. What the Tánaiste is doing is adding to that betrayal and bringing shame to this House by introducing legislation that will take away rights and entitlements from a tiny group of approximately 100 people who are vulnerable. The Finlay report indicated that 74 people are involved. There is no excuse for what the Tánaiste is doing.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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We cannot discuss the contents of the Bill.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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I urge the Tánaiste, if the Government has not totally lost connection with the people——

Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Withdraw it.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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——and with the idea that there is such a thing as humanity when it comes to treating——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy has made her point.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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I urge the Tánaiste to withdraw the Bill and make clear where she stands as many people still trust her and understand that she has some conception of what is happening here.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy has made her point. I call Deputy Sargent.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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I will end on this point, a Cheann Comhairle. What is happening here is that people have been fooled and deceived, but more importantly, they will be denied rights that were hard fought for——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy has made her point.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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——and were granted to them by this House.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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There will be an opportunity to discuss these matters when the debate on the Bill takes place.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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I urge the Tánaiste not to bring shame on this House when dealing with such a tiny minority of people who have suffered so much.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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We cannot have a full debate until Second Stage. I invite Deputy Sargent to make a brief comment.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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On behalf of the Green Party, my colleague, Deputy Gormley, has met with the women and with a number of groups dealing with the situation in regard to haemophilia, including the Irish Haemophilia Society. The Government should take the opportunity today to reflect on the unwise way in which it is approaching this issue, given that it has been in discussions for nine years but has received clear information stating that there will be a number of people, whether it be 40 on a database or 100, who will certainly be effectively discriminated against because of the proposed legislation.

Given that we are under pressure in terms of legislation in many areas I urge the Government not to proceed with the Bill and to go back to the original understanding that this would be stand-alone legislation dealing with the medical care and insurance issues, not a Bill to set up a compensation tribunal. As the Tánaiste is also Minister for Health and Children, I ask her to reflect on what is being said by all parties, as it is being put to us clearly by the women involved that this is a retrograde step and——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy's contribution is more appropriate to a Second or Committee Stage debate.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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——to delete sections 1, 2 and 6 would be acceptable. I ask that the Government would take the opportunity to amend the damage now.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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I invite Deputy Ó Caoláin to make a brief comment.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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After years of campaigning and lobbying by the Irish Haemophilia Society, the Irish Kidney Association, Positive Action and Transfusion Positive, we find that representatives of these organisations had to come here yesterday, on the eve of the introduction of this Bill, to make representations and to appeal to Members of all parties to seek the withdrawal of this proposal. After all the years of hard work and co-operation by these groups we find a proposal coming before this House today and tomorrow, to be guillotined tomorrow evening, that will impose conditions on them with such a deleterious effect on their interests. Albeit a small number, where there is one, it is one too many.

The reality is that it is in the gift of the Tánaiste to withdraw the offending sections to ensure this Bill lives up to the rightful expectation of those who have campaigned so long and so hard. I join with colleagues in appealing to the Tánaiste to withdraw this Bill now and to guarantee to this House that she will present a Bill that is truly reflective of the needs of all who should be encompassed within its measures. I ask the Tánaiste to take the opportunity to do so now and not to follow in the footsteps of a former Minister for Health——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy has made his point.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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——whose shameful disposition towards these victims of State neglect was always to be his epitaph.

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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What the Opposition has said is totally and utterly untrue. As Deputy Kenny well knows, there is no question whatever of withdrawing anything from the 70 or 100 women. It is a fact that Positive Action and the liver consultants, as part of the expert group on hepatitis C, agreed that the basis on which a health card should be given should be the ELISA test. That was agreed by the representatives of Positive Action and the liver experts in this country. That has been accepted for some time. That is the basis on which we are going to proceed with the insurance and with the compensation. We will have a single, internationally accepted scientific test.

When a Bill was proposed on behalf of the groups ten years ago, the senior counsel who drafted that Bill, Mr. John Rogers, proposed at that time that the ELISA test should be used and it was not accepted then because it was not as developed as it is today. I do not want the Opposition playing politics with something.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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We are not playing politics.

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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It is not a fact——

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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In that case, why are the women concerned?

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Tánaiste should be allowed to speak without interruption.

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Nothing is being withdrawn from anybody. On the contrary, insurance is being extended to these people who suffered so much——

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Not all of them.

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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——as a result of the administration of blood products in this State in the 1970s and 1990s.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Tánaiste is being misled.

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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That is a fact.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Tánaiste should be allowed to speak without interruption.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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The Tánaiste should listen to the people who are suffering.

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I have listened to the people who are suffering.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Tánaiste should be allowed to speak without interruption.

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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As everybody knows, no person who has made an application to the tribunal where it may have not been determined yet, or who has taken action in the courts where it may not have been determined yet, is affected by anything that is happening here. Nor would I stand over anyone being so affected. The Government seeks to introduce a comprehensive insurance scheme for life assurance, mortgage protection and travel insurance.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Government is doing more than that.

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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If the relationship began post-diagnosis, consortia can be lost and that should be compensated for. If a second or third relationship is in question, it is not reasonable that the loss of consortia be provided for.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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What of consortia for children who are born into this situation? The Tánaiste is not providing for them.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Ó Caoláin will have an opportunity to speak on the Bill.

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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We provide for loss of earnings, for distress, for partners or people in relationships and for loss of consortia where it has been established after the relationship began. That is not challenged.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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We are being misled.

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Most people would agree it is not reasonable to expect further compensation, if one is in a second or third relationship, having already been compensated for consortia.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Yesterday the Taoiseach wrote to me in respect of the numbers of persons who were charged under section 1(1) and section 2(1) of the Criminal Law (Amendment Act) 1935. That followed on repeated requests, on seven different occasions, for the information, which really only came to light when myself and Deputy Rabbitte sent a joint letter to the Director of Public Prosecutions. Does the Tánaiste know when the Government sought that information or when it was made available to it?

The Taoiseach commented yesterday on proposals to give speaking rights to Westminster MPs elected in Northern Ireland. He blamed the Opposition parties for not endorsing a deal he did with Sinn Féin and claimed that an all-party Committee on the Constitution had agreed these proposals. Will the Tánaiste confirm, as leader of the Progressive Democrats and as Tánaiste——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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That does not arise on the Order of Business.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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It should do.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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——that her party rejected the Taoiseach's proposal. It was clear that the all-party recommendations were predicated on cross-community participation which is not possible at present.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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That does not arise on the Order of Business. The Deputy will have to find another way of raising the matter.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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When is it expected that the defamation Bill will be published?

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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With regard to the Deputy's first question, I understand the information was sought at the beginning of June from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and some information was made available at that time. The definitive information the Taoiseach used yesterday was made available on Tuesday of this week.

The defamation Bill will be published in this session. The Government hopes to deal with it within the next fortnight.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I have been raising for some time with the Taoiseach the question of a number of reports it appears the Government has deliberately contrived not to publish before the Dáil goes into recess to avoid a debate on them.

What is the problem with publishing the Dalton report, which the Minister has had in his possession since 5 April? What conceivable reason could there be for the delay, given the promises that were made that it would take two or three weeks to allow parties to have sight of the report as it affects them? There is still no sign of the report although journalists have it in part.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The matter has already been raised this week and dealt with, so I ask the Deputy to be brief.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The shooting of Mr. John Carthy happened in 2000, the Barr tribunal hearings in 2004 and still the report has not been published. It was due to go to the printers, according to the tribunal, five weeks ago. In any event, it is not credible in 2006 that a delay with the printer is the reason the report has not been laid before the House. The O'Sullivan report into the statutory rape affair and what went wrong in the Office of the Attorney General was promised within weeks but again the Government will contrive to publish it as soon as the House rises. There will be no opportunity to debate it, although we now know that a note was sent for the attention of the Attorney General. Whether he ever set eyes upon it, we do not know. However, we know that it exists and that it went up the line to him. Similarly, three reports have been held up in the case of the Morris tribunal. Regarding the Tánaiste's remit as Minister for Health and Children, last October she promised to publish the report on the Pat Joe Walsh case within eight weeks. It is now June.

I am afraid it suggests a deliberate Government plan to keep such reports under covers until the House has risen. It shows disrespect to the House and to democracy and fails to indicate the due regard in which such publications ought to be held.

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The fact is that, due to the principle of natural justice, any report drawing adverse conclusions regarding individuals who can be identified, even if not named, must be issued to them to allow them an opportunity to respond. That is the opinion of the Attorney General and has been the relevant legal advice for many years. In that context, the Dalton report has not yet been published, but I understand the Minister intends to bring it to the Cabinet next Tuesday. The Barr report is not yet with the Government, but we expect it tomorrow. The intention is to publish it as quickly as possible. I do not know when the O'Sullivan report is expected, but it will be within a matter of weeks.

I had hoped we might have had the report on the late Pat Joe Walsh in eight weeks. However, in the first instance, we had to go outside this jurisdiction to find people to carry out the inquiry. They have now completed their work and the draft conclusions have been sent to those in respect of whom the findings were adverse for a response. I very much regret that parts of the report appear to have been leaked today, since it has never been submitted to the Department of Health and Children and I have not seen it. It appears to have been leaked to a journalist in a prominent newspaper this morning, and I know it has caused great upset to the family of the deceased to whom we spoke last night. They have been kept fully informed at each stage of writing the report. We certainly hope the legal process can be concluded quickly.

I do not know the position on the Morris tribunal. As the Deputy is aware, several tribunals are ongoing in the State, and much as we would wish to see them conclude more quickly, the process sometimes takes longer than anticipated. However, that is a matter for the tribunal and not something the Government or Oireachtas can influence.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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On the subject of legislation that has been promised but not published, with one week remaining, will the Government reconsider the priority given to the various Bills it proposes to enact before the recess? The Building Societies (Amendment) Bill 2006, for example, strikes me as not being as urgent as the citizens' information legislation the Minister must pass to address advocacy for those with disabilities. Is the Government reflecting on priorities and can it state why it would choose the Building Societies (Amendment) Bill 2006 over that dealing with disabilities and citizens' information? I view the Building Societies (Amendment) Bill 2006 as benefitting one building society and several very high-up people in it.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy has made his point.

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Obviously, Ministers will have different priorities, depending on their area of responsibility. Each decides what the priorities are. However, I understand that the Whips agreed to take that Bill next week.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The legislation governing any sale of Aer Lingus requires that a motion first come before the Dáil for discussion and approval outlining the general principles that will underpin its circumstances. Since the sale is planned for September, will the Tánaiste state when that motion will come before the Dáil?

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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It will be next week.

Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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When will the eligibility for health and personal social services Bill be brought before the House?

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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We are working hard on that at the Department of Health and Children, and I hope to bring the heads of the Bill to the Government in the autumn, meaning that the full Bill will be next year.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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While accepting the vote that has already taken place, it is still within the Tánaiste's gift regarding the promised Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy cannot raise that matter again.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I appeal to the Tánaiste at this late stage before the commencement of the first debate——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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That matter has already been discussed and the House has decided on it.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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That is true, but as promised legislation——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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I call Deputy Jim O'Keeffe.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I am not finished; I have a second question. The Tánaiste still has time to intervene, and that is permissible.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy is finished now, since I am calling Deputy Jim O'Keeffe.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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The Tánaiste can still——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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I will call the Deputy again on his other question. I call Deputy Jim O'Keeffe.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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No. On the second question——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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I will call the Deputy again on his second question. I have already called Deputy Jim O'Keeffe. We must have order.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Why should my contribution be broken?

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is the procedure I have followed in the Chair for the past ten years.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Only regarding specific Deputies in this House.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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I will call the Deputy again on his second question. I call Deputy Jim O'Keeffe.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I assure the Ceann Comhairle that this will not go unnoticed.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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In the context of immigration legislation, perhaps I might raise with the Tánaiste the failure on the part of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to provide information on the number of non-national prisoners released from prison whom he did or did not consider for deportation after their release. A new Bill has been promised, and I would like to raise the difficulty under present legislation whereby the Minister has either refused or failed to disclose information I have requested in the Dáil on six occasions in the past two months.

I know that the Tánaiste has had difficulty with the same Minister. Getting information from him is like trying to extract teeth from a hen.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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I call the Tánaiste on the legislation.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Does the Tánaiste have any control over that Minister? Does she not accept that he has an obligation to the Dáil to provide information requested in Dáil questions? Some six times, he has failed to do so.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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That does not arise on the Order of Business. I call the Tánaiste.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Returning to the legislation and the rules, is the Tánaiste aware there is an Immigration Bill, No. 70 on the Order Paper? Will there be a provision to require the Minister to comply with his duty to the Dáil to give information when a Deputy requests it?

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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I ask the Deputy to desist.

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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That legislation is planned for later this year. The Minister is considering extraditing to Ireland the persons responsible for the incident with Deputy Kenny in Kenya, so he may have to rethink the legislation to deal with that.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Cathain a bheidh an reachtaíocht i leith fheidhmeanna agus chumhachtaí Údarás na Gaeltachta ag teacht os comhair an Tí? What is the current position of the Bill promised for 2007 dealing with the powers and functions of Údarás na Gaeltachta? Have the heads of the Bill come before the Cabinet?

Have the heads of national monuments legislation come before the Cabinet, and will we see it within the lifetime of the present Dáil?

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I understand that the heads of the Bill in both cases are expected later this year.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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The country is still reeling from the terrifying image of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, brandishing a poker as a callow youth.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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That does not arise on the Order of Business.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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I thought he might have used a silver spoon instead. Since he was apparently trying to protect what he regarded as his, was any poker brandished during his recent duels with the Tánaiste? Would she like to share that with us?

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Has the Deputy a question appropriate to the Order of Business?

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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I would like a very specific answer from the Tánaiste regarding the matter raised by Deputy Rabbitte. Next Thursday, 6 July, Bord na gCon is scheduled to appear before the Committee of Public Accounts.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Has the Deputy a question appropriate to the Order of Business?

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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This is appropriate to the Order of Business.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Then we will hear it.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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The point is that the Dalton report would have been in our hands. Will we have that report for the meeting of the Committee of Public Accounts next Thursday? The Tánaiste has a special insight into this. It was reported in today's newspapers that Gama Construction will receive an additional payment of €15 million to finish off the Ennis bypass, €6 million of which curiously comes under some labour laws heading.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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This matter does not arise on the Order of Business.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Is Gama now being rewarded on foot of using slave labour?

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy must find other ways of raising this matter.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Gama had to pay the full rate out of this amount. Is it now being compensated for the additional money it had to pay out?

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy must allow the Tánaiste to answer his question.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Is this what is going on in this State?

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Government hopes to consider the Dalton report next Tuesday. If this is the case, I imagine that the report will be published on either Tuesday or Wednesday so Deputies will obtain copies of it if this happens.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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What about Gama?

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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There is no legislation promised.

Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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In view of the deterioration in the health services and the fact that 60 beds have been closed at University College Hospital in Galway, will the Tánaiste tell us when the Health Bill will come before the Dáil?

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Bill will come before the Dáil later this year.

Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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How much later will it be?

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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In respect of the Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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That issue does not arise on the Order of Business.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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My question is very specific. Is it normal that a Bill is published without an explanatory memorandum because this is what has happened in the case of this Bill? Is it proposed to circulate an explanatory memorandum?

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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I ask Deputy Lynch to allow the Tánaiste to answer the question.

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I understand this Bill is accompanied by an exploratory memorandum.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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That is not the case.

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I will check this matter and come back to the Deputy on it.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Under the relevant Standing Orders, is it legitimate to bring this Bill before the Dáil if it does not have an explanatory memorandum? I am not as familiar with Standing Orders as is the Ceann Comhairle.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Under Standing Orders, it is legitimate to bring the Bill before the House.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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What does the Tánaiste intend to do in respect of the Carey report into the tragic death of Pat Joe Walsh, to which she referred earlier, following the leaking of this report? The front page of today's edition of The Irish Times carries the banner headline "Patient death inquiry finds hospital practice at fault". Is it the case that there will be a drip feed of the information contained in the report or does the Tánaiste intend to publish it?

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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This report has already been discussed. I ask Deputy Ó Caoláin to allow the Tánaiste to reply.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Will the report be brought before the Cabinet? What is the situation regarding the family of Mr. Walsh? It is unacceptable that his family is completely at a remove from all deliberations on this matter. It is not enough for the Tánaiste to say this morning that she regrets it.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Ó Caoláin cannot have a debate on this matter.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I am not seeking a debate. I am merely asking questions.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Ó Caoláin is not asking questions; he is making a statement.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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What does the Tánaiste intend to do about this report? Most worryingly of all, does she not note that at the very least, the extract from the report referred to clearly seeks to scapegoat rather than assign responsibility where it properly belongs, namely, the policy the Tánaiste and her Government has pursued in respect of the health services.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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We will not debate this newspaper report.

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I do not have the report and I have never had the report. I have not seen the report; it is not in the Department of Health and Children.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Will the Tánaiste look for the report, because we can read it in the newspapers?

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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I ask Deputy Ó Caoláin to allow the Tánaiste to continue.

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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As I stated earlier, it is part of a legal process which I am unable to influence. However, I understand that the Health Service Executive wishes to publish the report as quickly as possible. I, along with the executive and my Department, have been in contact with the family of Mr. Walsh in respect of this matter in recent months, including last night.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Will the Tánaiste address the leaking of extracts from the report?

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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I ask Deputy Ó Caoláin to allow the Tánaiste to continue.

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I wish I could, because such leaks do not help Mr. Walsh's family.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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She should do something about it.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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The single electricity market Bill was promised in this session. Will the Tánaiste indicate on which of the remaining days in this session it is intended to publish this Bill? Given that a few days ago, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources launched a new geological map of Ireland, could she tell us whether it is intended to reinstate the geological survey of Ireland Bill, previous legislation in respect of which goes back to 1845 and is due for an update?

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The answer to Deputy Durkan's second question is "No". The single electricity market Bill is due to come before the Cabinet within the next month.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Is it not proposed to introduce the geological survey of Ireland Bill? Legislation in this area dates back to 1845.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Will sections 55 to 72 of the Local Government Act 2001 be enacted within the lifetime of this Government? These sections deal with the setting up of an independent commission to deal with applications from local authorities in respect of boundary extensions. This obviously affects my area because Waterford city urgently requires a boundary extension.

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Unfortunately, I do not know the answer to this question but I will ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to contact Deputy O'Shea.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The Government's draft social partnership agreement includes a commitment that a consultation paper on the review of the climate change strategy will be published in June 2006. When does the Tánaiste expect this consultation paper to be published and will she outline the purpose of a consultation paper on a review process?

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I do not know when this consultation paper will be published.

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I too am angry at the leaking of the report into the death of Pat Joe Walsh. Will the Tánaiste make every effort to ensure that the family of Mr. Walsh receives the report as soon as possible?

In light of the fact that credit unions must now invest massive sums of their money in international organisations because of laws that prevent them from giving money to their members on a long-term basis, can the Tánaiste tell us when the Financial Services Modernisation and Consolidation Bill will be put before the House? Can the Minister for Finance change the regulations without bringing a Bill before this House?

Will the Tánaiste become actively involved in the decisions regarding which services will be removed or suspended in Mullingar Hospital? The Tánaiste has a role to play. She represents us when it comes to the funding of the health services.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Crawford's second question is in order.

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Bill will be brought before the Dáil next year.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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In respect of the matter raised by Deputy Lynch, which concerned the non-appearance of an explanatory memorandum for the Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006, is it reasonable to anticipate that the circumstances of a group of less than 100 people who do not have the hepatitis C virus but suffer symptoms of the disease would have come to the attention of all Members of the House and outside if the explanatory memorandum had been distributed? The Tánaiste may well be getting——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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This point might be better made on Second Stage of the Bill. We cannot have a debate on it now. It is not appropriate to the Order of Business.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I fear that the Tánaiste may be getting a bum steer on this matter. The number of people affected is less than 100.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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We will not go down this route again.

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I assure Deputy Rabbitte that these people are not adversely affected by this legislation.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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They are.

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Deputy Lynch knows that they are not adversely affected.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I welcome the Tánaiste's assurance if it——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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We will not have a debate on this matter. The Chair has called Deputy Rabbitte a second time in good faith. On a number of occasions, Deputy Rabbitte has totally ignored Standing Orders on the Order of Business when he has been called a second time. I ask him to allow Deputy O'Dowd to speak.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I welcome the Tánaiste's assurance. I hope it turns out to be so.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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If that is the case, I ask Deputy Rabbitte to resume his seat and allow Deputy O'Dowd to speak.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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However, we have received legal advice to the contrary.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Given that the report by Professor Des O'Neill on Leas Cross Nursing Home has not yet been published, the fact that it is almost one year since Professor O'Neill's investigation into the 95 deaths at the nursing home and the lack of legislation aimed at vindicating the rights of elderly people in nursing homes, can the Tánaiste tell us when Professor O'Neill's report will be published? Will she insist that it be brought before the Dáil because it should be debated here when it is published? Can she give such a commitment? When does she propose to vindicate the rights of people in nursing homes who are not legally protected as we speak? I receive continuing complaints about people dying in appalling circumstances. These people are not being protected by this Government or legislation.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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I ask Deputy O'Dowd to resume his seat and allow the Tánaiste to speak.

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I have raised the O'Neill report with the Health Service Executive and will discuss the matter with Professor Brendan Drumm today. If adverse conclusions are drawn from the O'Neill report, our Constitution provides entitlements under natural justice, which I believe everyone would regard as reasonable.

The social services inspectorate will be part of the health information and quality authority legislation, which will appear later this year. I agree with Deputy O'Dowd that ProfessorO'Neill's report should be published.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Will the report be published?

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Of course, the report should be published.

Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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As a foreign warship lies anchored in Dublin Bay——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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That matter does not arise on the Order of Business.

Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Will promised legislation, that is, the comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty Bill, be published before the end of this session?

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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It will be in this session.