Dáil debates
Wednesday, 22 October 2008
Order of Business
11:00 am
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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It is proposed to take No. 9a, motion re ministerial rota for parliamentary questions; No. 16, statements on Morris tribunal reports; and No. 15, Financial Motions by the Minister for Finance [2008] (motion 15, resumed). It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that No. 9a shall be decided without debate, the proceedings on No. 16 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 7 p.m. tonight and the following arrangements shall apply: the statements of a Minister or Minister of State and of the main spokespersons for the Fine Gael Party, the Labour Party and Sinn Féin, 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; Members may share time; and immediately following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall take questions for a period not exceeding 30 minutes. Private Members' Business shall be No. 44, motion re medical cards (resumed), to conclude at 8.30 p.m., if not previously concluded.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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There are two proposals to be put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 9a without debate, motion re ministerial rota for parliamentary questions, agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 16, statements on the Morris tribunal reports agreed? Agreed.
Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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There are three matters I wish to raise with the Tánaiste on the Order of Business. First, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, announced some time ago that he would introduce legislation to put a cap on spending by candidates in the local elections. I asked the Taoiseach about this two weeks or so ago, but he did not appear to know a great deal about it and undertook to come back to me on it. I appreciate he has probably had a lot on his plate over the past two weeks, but will the Tánaiste tell me when the legislation will be introduced to put a cap on spending by candidates in local elections? Has the Government considered the suggestion I made to use the opportunity of the Electoral Bill, which is before the House, to bring in the measure?
Second, in his budget speech the Minister for Finance announced the amalgamation of 31 State agencies. By my calculations, that would require amendment to approximately 15 Acts. Is it intended to do the amalgamation through one Bill or is it intended to have separate Bills? When will we see the legislation before the House to provide for the amalgamation of the State agencies concerned? Third, when will the writ be moved for the Dublin South by-election?
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The issue of the cap on spending in local elections has not come before the Cabinet yet, but I will ask the Minister to revert directly to the Deputy on it. New legislation is required for the amalgamation of the 31 agencies and we are currently considering whether it will be possible to have omnibus legislation or whether individual Bills will be required. That has not been finalised and we await the consideration of the Attorney General on the matter. With regard to the writ for the by-election, no date has been decided.
Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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On the matter of capping spending limits for local elections, do I understand from the Tánaiste's reply the Government has not yet made a decision to bring forward legislation on that? If it has not been brought to Government, has a memorandum on the issue been brought to Government?
Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Therefore, the Government has not made a decision to bring forward legislation.
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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It may be the Minister's intention to bring it forward but, as the Deputy knows, although we may make public pronouncements on new legislation to be introduced, it takes time to bring the matter to Government. It has not been brought to Government yet.
Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Minister needs an extra gear on his bicycle.
Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The local elections will take place in June 2009 and the Minister sounded serious about introducing it.
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I am sure he is. I will get back to the Deputy on the issue today.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I seek clarity on the issue of legislation. Yesterday, we were given to understand the Social Welfare Bill will be published in the first week of November. Will the Minister for Health and Children deal with the element of that Bill that deals with the automatic right to medical cards. Is it the case that the Bill will be taken by the Minister for Social and Family Affairs but that part of it will be taken by the Minister for Health and Children?
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It is reported in today's papers that the proposal to have a 2% levy on income for persons earning over €100,000 may now be applied to lower thresholds to pay for the cost of removing the 1% levy from those earning below the minimum wage.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy knows that is not in order now. He must find another way of raising that.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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It is my job to make those decisions.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The decision does not apply to the Ceann Comhairle as he is caught for the 2% anyway. Will the Tánaiste clarify whether the Government is considering lowering the threshold for the 2% income levy? It is important to know this as it will affect thousands of people.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We cannot go into that now.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Tánaiste is a person who likes clarity. On the day the final report of the Morris tribunal was published I listened to an interview the Tánaiste gave and wrote down what she said, "The fundamentals of the report are being rejuvenated in the force."
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is all very interesting, but the Morris tribunal report will be discussed later. However, we will never get to it unless we move on.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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As the Tánaiste says, "in the context of the methodology", this is the background against which we are having the discussion. I would like to know what she meant by what she said.
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I am delighted the Leader of the Opposition has nothing better to do except listen to what I have to say on radio. I am charmed.
On the legislation dealing with medical cards, it will be dealt with in the Social Welfare Bill and the Minister for Health and Children will deal with the part relating to medical cards. The reports in the newspapers on the 2% are mere speculation. The issue will be dealt with in the context of the Finance Bill.
On the third matter, it is not my intention to make any public pronouncement regarding the Morris tribunal, given my personal circumstances.
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Except in the context of what is before the House.
Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise this matter. The budget proposes to increase the age at which people can claim disability allowance, which will ensure that these people will lose €14,000 per person each year. With regard to the Interpretation Act, will it be necessary to introduce legislation, similar to that for dealing with removing the medical cards from over 70s, to remove the disability allowance from people with disabilities?
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy is being very creative.
Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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May I explain? This concerns promised legislation because the issue must be covered in the Social Welfare Bill when it comes before the House.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is legislation promised in this area?
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The issue will be dealt with in the Social Welfare Bill.
Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The issue cannot be dealt with in the Social Welfare Bill. As Deputy Gilmore pointed out, under the Interpretation Act, the Government cannot remove a benefit that has previously been bestowed through legislation.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy has had her run. I cannot go further with this. I call Deputy Charles Flanagan.
Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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We are dealing with disability, a Cheann Comhairle.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy has made her point.
Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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With regard to legislation due to be published this session, I understand No. 13, the Criminal Justice (Forensic Sampling and Evidence) Bill, is to be published shortly. In that context, is the Tánaiste aware of a public statement this morning from the Director of Public Prosecutions who has given a chilling warning to the effect that he will not be able to run his office in an effective and efficient manner from next year due to budgetary cutbacks?
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is not in order, Deputy.
Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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In the context of promised legislation, I put it to the Tánaiste that legislation promised, processed and enacted is futile if the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions is not sufficiently resourced to deal with the matter.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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No, I cannot allow that.
Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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This man is the chief public prosecutor in the State and has issued a warning. What is the Government doing about it?
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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There are other ways of raising that matter. I call Deputy Crawford.
Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I take it the response is one of silence from the Government.
Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy should talk to the Department if he wants a reply.
James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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The Tánaiste is on her feet.
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The legislation will be available this session and the Minister has provided €18 million for its implementation.
Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I wish to raise three matters. When will the planning and development Bill be introduced in light of issues regarding the spatial strategy and hub status? I ask about the industrial development Bill in the context of the 200 personnel to be removed from jobs in Monaghan Army barracks. We need some jobs created in recompense. Third, and by no means least, I am sure the Tánaiste is aware the former Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, and the Taoiseach have declared that Monaghan General Hospital should be closed.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Not at all, no.
Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The meeting to do that will take place tomorrow.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I cannot do anything about that.
Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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We were assured that nothing would be done unless——
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I call the Tánaiste on the legislation.
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The planning and development Bill will be introduced in 2009.
Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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When will the health information Bill be introduced to tell us the truth on that?
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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What about the health information Bill?
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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On the health information Bill, I thought a spurious question was being asked. We are not sure when that legislation will be available.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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What about the planning and development Bill?
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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That will be introduced next year.
Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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What about the industrial development Bill, which comes under the remit of the Tánaiste's Department?
James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Does the Tánaiste have a date for the landlord and tenant Bill to implement the Law Reform Commission's report?
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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We are not in a position to indicate that as of yet.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I believe Deputy Crawford asked a question about the industrial development Bill.
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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It will not be introduced in this session.
Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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There is no urgency on it.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Given the ongoing attempts by estate management companies to extort payments from residents, what action has taken place? Has the Attorney General given an indication as to when the legislation will be brought to the House to address that problem which is causing serious anxiety in estates throughout the country?
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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To which legislation does the Deputy refer?
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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The legislation to control estate management companies. The next one is the social welfare lone parent and other low income families reform Bill, which is promised legislation. In the present environment, is it intended to withdraw that Bill to recalibrate it in some fashion, or is it intended to introduce it as a matter of urgency to encompass within it some of the Government's proposed changes announced in the budget?
The last one is the Bill to dissolve the National Council on Ageing and Older People and transfer the staff to the Department of Health and Children, and to subsume the National Cancer Screening Service Board and the National Cancer Registry of Ireland into the HSE. Is it intended to bring those bodies into the Department of Health and Children or to continue as was proposed? Is the Bill likely to be altered again as a result of recent developments?
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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We will have the social welfare Bill. The other issue the Deputy raised related to multi-unit developments. We hope to put that legislation together as quickly as possible. Further work is being done by the relevant Departments to put together the new legislation necessary to deal with those important issues. The final issue is the one based on an amalgamation. If legislation is required, as I adverted to the Labour Party Deputy, it has not been decided whether it will be omnibus legislation or single legislation. Where no legislation is required it will be an amalgamation with the respective Departments.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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It is No. 60 on the list of promised legislation.
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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If the Deputy knows the answers, what is the point in asking?
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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There is no sense in asking unless one knows the answer. It is always good to get it.
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Regarding No. 60——
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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That is the one I said.
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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——work on the heads of the National Council on Ageing and Older People Bill is ongoing. The Bill will include the provision to remove age limits for travel insurance provided under the Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Act 2006 and it is intended to publish it in 2009.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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An Oireachtas sub-committee is working to ascertain how to deal with the failure to have the Lisbon treaty passed. It appears that nothing has been done to improve our communications with the public regarding what is happening in Europe. Two documents relating to proposals for Council regulations regarding fishing have been laid before the Dáil. In addition, there is a proposal for a Council regulation amending a regulation on the financing of the Common Agricultural Policy. These are EU proposals that are never debated on the floor of this House.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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How do we expect the public to understand what is happening in Europe if documents are just laid before the Dáil and never discussed publicly in this Chamber? Are we serious about communicating with the electorate? When will time be made available on a regular basis for all these proposals to be debated in this Chamber, where they should be debated? These matters eventually become law, but we do not know anything about them. We do not have the details and know nothing about them.
To bring that across to the electorate, when is it proposed to bring the televising of the Dáil and its committees to the public by way of broadcasting directly from these Chambers?
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is a different question. I call the Tánaiste on the first one.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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That is a second question and it is very important.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I know it is and the Deputy can table a parliamentary question to the relevant Minister.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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We need to communicate on a regular basis what is happening in the Dáil Chamber and its committees.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I call the Tánaiste on the issue of the debates of European legislation.
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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On EU legislation, I have been advised by the Whip that, subject to agreement, which I hope we will get, the report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Scrutiny will be discussed once a month in the Dáil, which should address the Deputy's concerns. The other issue is one for a line Minister.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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What about the televising of the Dáil?
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Barrett knows there is another way to raise that matter.
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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No legislation is required.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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It is not a legislative proposal at the moment.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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It is a matter of deep concern for the public in the context of the Lisbon treaty.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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It would make an excellent question to table to the relevant Minister.
James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The oft-promised fair deal legislation has recently been published. When will it come before the House? Will the Tánaiste ensure we will have sufficient time to debate it and get it into law before Christmas as the elderly have been dealt a number of cruel blows by the Government recently and the last thing they need is a further delay in this matter. When will the health information Bill be introduced? Will HIQA be given the teeth to censure hospitals that do not meet standards it has set?
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We cannot go into the detail of the legislation. I call the Tánaiste on the two Bills.
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I know everyone is anxious to get the fair deal legislation through the House. We hope to order that very quickly with a view to having it enacted as quickly as possible. We are not in a position to indicate when the health information Bill will be introduced. Public consultation has been completed and is being assessed.
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I apologise if the Tánaiste has already indicated this. When will the social welfare Bill come before the House? Will that legislation facilitate the various changes contained in the budget, including those relating to jobseeker's benefit and the extension of the number of months——
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We cannot discuss the contents of the legislation this morning.
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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——of continuous contribution required to qualify? Does it also address the abolition of child benefit for the over 18s? When will the legislation come before the House? Almost daily we learn of new legislation required as part of the outworking of the Government's budget of last week. Does the Government have other legislative proposals in preparation as part of the entire package to implement the measures contained in the Minister for Finance's announcement last week?
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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All matters pertaining to social welfare will be dealt with in the social welfare Bill, which will be available in the first week of November.
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Will there be other legislation?
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Not that I am aware of.
12:00 pm
John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Last June I raised the issue of a sixfold increase in the number of licensed handguns in the State. A number of court cases have liberalised the ownership of such guns. The last response from the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in June indicated he would implement the remaining Parts of the Criminal Justice Act as quickly as possible and he said he would bring forward technical amendments to enable their commencement in the criminal justice (miscellaneous provisions) Bill, which he said at the time would be "published in the coming weeks". It has not been published yet. Since then I have been contacted unprompted by senior gardaí in Waterford about this. The Minister is not taking this seriously enough. If he says he will publish legislation on an issue as grave as this, he should do so and he should take it seriously.
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the Minister that he is actively considering this matter. There is existing legislation and he can revert to the Deputy and keep him briefed.
Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I have two questions. Following the summer recess, the Government announced that the assets of pensions funds of public bodies would be transferred into Government accounts via the National Treasury Management Agency. A brief statement issued on the matter, which was signed by both the Ministers for Finance and Social and Family Affairs. We have had no word since and no clarification on whether this measure requires legislation. The announcement dealt with the assets of the pensions of public bodies and it did not address the liabilities. What is the situation?
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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If legislation is not promised in this area, the Deputy must address this by way of a parliamentary question. Is legislation promised?
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Not that I am aware.
Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Will the Tánaiste undertake to find out and come back to the House?
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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This is like a clinic.
Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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It is a major issue involving €2.5 billion in the pension funds of all the universities.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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It is not in order. It is not a legislative proposal or promise.
Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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It is an important matter for many public servants.
My second question is unfortunately being asked out on the street today and, hopefully, the Tánaiste can being some clarity. As a former Minister for Social and Family Affairs, she will be aware the Christmas bonus is a discretionary payment.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We cannot discuss that now. No legislation is promised in this regard.
Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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It is a discretionary payment by the Department of Social and Family Affairs. Will the Tánaiste confirm it will be paid at the same rate and on time as previously? Given the doubt that has been cast, will she clarify this?
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy has been in the House for some time and she will be aware she can table a parliamentary question on that, if she so wishes.
Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Tánaiste is a former Minister in the Department and she knows the arrangements for the scheme.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy should table a parliamentary question and I am absolutely sure she will be answered.
Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Will the Tánaiste take the opportunity to clarify this because people are worried about this discretionary payment?
Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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When the Government voted down the Labour Party's Civil Unions Bill, an undertaking was given that it would publish its own legislation sooner rather than later in this regard. When will the civil partnership Bill be published?
Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Can the Tánaiste give us a date?
Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Can I have a more precise reply than "next year"?
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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We are not in a position to give anything more precise.
Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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What about couples who cannot regularise their relationships?
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We cannot have a discussion on it now.
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Early 2009. Significant issues must be addressed and it will be brought forward in 2009.
Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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The Government gave a commitment.
Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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On a procedural matter, since you became Ceann Comhairle, Sir, one of your initiatives has been to improve access to the House and it has been a success for which you deserve credit. However, it has been brought to my attention that many schools intending to visit the House have had to cancel their visits planned for next year because of the Government's decision to get rid of substitution. Could you, Sir, make available to me the total number of schools that visited the House over the past number of years because schools are cancelling their visits next year as a result of the Government's decision to get rid of substitution from 1 January 2009?
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We can have a chat about that but not here.
Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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You, Sir, as somebody who has taken a huge interest in this, have a responsibility to inform Members as to the cutbacks and the difference it will make to the House.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I cannot go into that now.
David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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When Deputy Noel Dempsey was Minister for Education and Science, he passed the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 with our help. We were recently told its implementation would be deferred. As it is statutory, what legislation will be required to defer this Act, which was passed by the House a number of years ago to look after children with special educational needs in our schools and elsewhere?
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I am not aware of further legislation.
David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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It was announced in the budget. Will the Tánaiste arrange for this to be looked into and to inform us what will happen regarding the Act, the implementation of which is being deferred?
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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It is 12.05 p.m. I have been asked——
David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I have asked a question. I know the time. Give us the answer to the question.
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I can facilitate the Deputy. I will have a clinic afterwards and I will find out the answer for him.
David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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The Tánaiste is very clever.
Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy should table a parliamentary question.
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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A sum of €10 million has been provided for the legislation and I will revert to the Deputy on the issue.
David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I asked a serious question and if the Tánaiste cannot give a serious answer——
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy should table a parliamentary question. He is here long enough to know how to do that.
David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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The Tánaiste does not know the answer and she is bluffing.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Do not go there. That begs the question why people do not attend her clinics.
Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Does the Government intend to bring forward legislation to reintroduce the young farmer installation aid and the EU farm retirement pension schemes, which were abolished in the budget last week?
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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That is not a legislative matter.
Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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The Government will have a bigger crowd outside the gates this time next week.