Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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It is proposed to take No. 14, statements on the seventh report on the high levels of suicide in Irish society; and No. 2, Citizens Information Bill 2006 — Second Stage, resumed. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the following arrangements shall apply in relation to No. 14, that the statements of a Minister or Minister of State and of the main spokespersons for the Fine Gael Party, the Labour Party and the Technical Group, who shall be called upon in that order, shall not exceed 15 minutes in each case, the statements of each other Member called upon shall not exceed ten minutes in each case and Members may share time. The Dáil on its rising today shall adjourn until 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 1 November 2006.

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 No. 14, statements on the seventh report on the high levels of suicide in Irish society, agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with the adjournment of the Dáil until 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 1 November 2006 agreed? Agreed. I call Deputy Kenny on the Order of Business.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I note that an edited version of the O'Neill report on Leas Cross has been published by a magazine. When is it expected that the report will be published officially? Can the Tánaiste confirm that the families of those who suffered and died in Leas Cross have been contacted by the Department?

When are we likely to see the independent inspectorate Bill? It is included under the health Bill 2007, but the Minister for Health and Children was unclear last week regarding when it might be published.

What operation will be put in place next week to enforce criminal law relating to fireworks? This week fire crackers have been thrown at petrol stations and at cars.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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This does not arise on the Order of Business and I suggest the Deputy finds another way of raising the matter.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Garda has made valiant efforts but this matter relates to the enforcement of existing laws. This is important given the potential gravity of such attacks and the fear engendered, particularly in the elderly.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Has the Minister received legal advice regarding the publication of the report on Leas Cross nursing home?

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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This does not arise on the Order of Business. Deputy Kenny has asked a question and we cannot have a debate on the matter now.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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This is on the same issue. Will the Tánaiste indicate why the Minister for Health and Children has not used her powers under the Health Act 2004 to have the report published long before now?

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Tánaiste will answer Deputy Kenny's question.

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The Minister for Health and Children has been anxious to publish the report on Leas Cross nursing home. Problems with the legal advice given to the Health Service Executive have delayed its publication. I note that a magazine today carries excerpts from the report under the headline: "This is the report the Government does not want to publish." That is not true. The Government fully supports its publication as soon as the HSE resolves the legal issues in the matter and I understand that this will happen in the coming weeks.

As I indicated last week, the health Bill will be published in 2007 and it will put the inspectorate on a statutory basis. That inspectorate is operating, resources are being supplied to the area and new people are being recruited to carry out functions protecting the elderly from abuse. The absence of a statutory basis is not inhibiting the social service inspectorate from getting on with its work.

No legislation is needed on fireworks, but I echo the Deputy's remarks that the law is the law and must be respected. People are queuing up north of the border with the intention of bringing them south. If a customs officer stops them, which I hope happens, there will be a criminal prosecution and their cars are liable to be confiscated. I warn people that the law is tougher than it was and the consequences of breaking it are serious.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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It did not seem that way last week.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I have a transcript of the press conference given by the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government with special responsibility for housing and urban renewal, Deputy Noel Ahern, on 30 August. He said that property speculators "should be taxed out of existence" and that they should play the commodities market on the London stock exchange in oil, cocoa beans or whatever else, rather than houses. Will the Government bring forward proposals to tax property speculators out of existence?

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

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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While I am dealing with the populist wing of Fianna Fáil, may I ask the Tánaiste about the announcement made to Ursula Halligan last Sunday by the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Brennan, that he had discovered money lenders were operating in our society and that he would introduce legislation to cap interest rates?

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The only wealth tax promise made was that given by the Deputy to the readers of The Irish Times. We have promised no such legislation. The Deputy will have the opportunity, on the occasion of the Finance Bill next year, to table his amendments relating to increases in capital gains tax, which he also raised in a separate snippet in The Irish Times last year.

Regarding the remarks on property speculation, it should be noted there is more than one socialist in this House.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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That is right; we are over here.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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The Tánaiste is not one of them.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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We did not recognise the Tánaiste.

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

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I had the opportunity in Kenmare to clarify that the Tánaiste's press clipping service is not always reliable.

Will the Government advance legislation to cap interest rates applied by money lenders?

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

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I heard the statement with my own ears and saw it with my own eyes.

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The Labour Party did not speak up for the victims of money lenders.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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There is no point equivocating at this point. The Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Brennan, is very adept at releasing statements every weekend and he is rarely pursued in this regard. We can exchange banter all day. Is legislation to cap money lending rates on the way?

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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As the Deputy knows, the Consumer Credit Act 1995 deals with this area and there is no proposal before Government at present to alter that position. However, the Deputy can be reassured that the Government always keeps its legislation under review and if there is a practical way to improve that legislation with a view to protecting people from loan sharks, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs will bring proposals before Cabinet.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Will the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Brennan, allow the Tánaiste to say this? He has been debunked. Will he do anything about this issue?

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I will get back to the Deputy on that.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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I wish to raise another aspect of the black hole that is promised legislation. We have been promised the tribunals of inquiry Bill, although there was a hiccup recently with exchanges between the Tánaiste and Taoiseach. Is it back on track? Is it promised or has it been withdrawn? Mr. Frank McBrearty would look forward to legal representation and we may well have a debate on the matter if this legislation is put in place.

The Building Control Bill 2005 reached Committee Stage and was to come before this House on Report Stage but seems to have also gone into a black hole. Can we have an indication of when we will see that Bill in the Dáil?

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The Bill in question is ordered for Second Stage. The Deputy may be suffering from amnesia as it was members of the Opposition who demanded it not proceed recently.

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Has the Tánaiste done any more regarding the attachment of fines Bill? He said it was not right when it was brought in by Fine Gael, but that he would deal with it shortly. It is now on the agenda as the enforcement of fines Bill.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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That was raised by the Deputy's colleague yesterday.

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Work is proceeding on that Bill in the Office of the Attorney General. It is not possible to say when it will be published but work is proceeding on the legislation.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Legislation on fireworks in this jurisdiction is diametrically opposed to legislation in Northern Ireland. New penalties have been introduced in the Criminal Justice Act 2006 regarding the possession and use of fireworks, but they are likely to be ineffective without an effort to co-ordinate the legislation on both sides of the Border. Does the Tánaiste have any proposals in that regard?

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

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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No legislation is promised. Legislation north of the Border is a matter for authorities in that jurisdiction.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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What of the Good Friday Agreement?

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I appreciate the Good Friday Agreement and a single regime for both parts of this island would be my preference. I am not yet in a position to legislate for Northern Ireland.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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At least I can agree with the Tánaiste on that latter point. I refer to two Bills that have been signalled for publication in the autumn session. They are the medical practitioners Bill and the national development finance agency Bill. Can the Tánaiste advise if they will be brought before the House this session?

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Both Bills are listed for publication this session.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Will they be brought before the House this session?

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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That is a matter for agreement among the Whips. The Bills will be published.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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When will we see a fresh strategy statement from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform? Will it deal explicitly with the issue of re-offending rates? A recent report from St. Patrick's Institution shows that re-offending rates are alarming. While that report was disputed, we have seen no data from the Department on the issue. Will the Minister produce a strategy statement that will include targets on re-offending and detection rates? The levels of both are alarming.

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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No legislation is promised.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Surely there is an obligation on the Minister to report to the Dáil on a strategy statement.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Can the Tánaiste give information on whether the pharmacy (No. 2) Bill, which is urgently and anxiously awaited by the profession, might be brought forward at an earlier date than currently indicated?

The postal miscellaneous services Bill was promised this time last year but was suddenly and mysteriously removed from the Order Paper. Will the Tánaiste carry out an investigation to determine where it might have landed, and whether it might be restored to the Order Paper before all the post offices are allowed to drift and die on the vine?

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The pharmacy (No. 1) Bill will be published this session but it is not possible to say when the second one will be published. The postal miscellaneous services Bill is no longer promised legislation and is no longer on any list.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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It was promised a year ago. Surely the Tánaiste's memory goes back that far — high office cannot have expelled it from his memory.

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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It is unpromised now.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Would the Tánaiste like to promise it again? He is in a magnanimous mood.

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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No.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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It has been de-promised.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Much media attention has recently focused on a particular celebrity inter-country adoption. Can the Tánaiste tell us when the adoption (Hague Convention, Adoption Authority) Bill will be produced? It keeps turning up on the legislative programme but we never actually see it.

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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It is intended to publish this early next year.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Has the Tánaiste any intention of introducing the sale of alcohol Bill before the general election? There are a number of important Bills in the Minister's portfolio——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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This was dealt with yesterday.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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There is no harm in raising it again.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Unfortunately, I was not here yesterday. Has the Tánaiste any strategy for bringing forward key legislation?

When will the single energy market Bill for electricity be introduced? Energy consultants McKinnon and Clarke have this morning told us that Ireland has the third highest electricity prices in Europe.

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

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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The Tánaiste is supposed to be interested in competitiveness — it is something he often talks about. We are becoming distinctly uncompetitive under this Progressive Democrats Tánaiste.

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The single energy market legislation on electricity will be published this session. The sale of alcohol legislation which will codify the entire licensing law is expected in early 2007.