Dáil debates
Wednesday, 26 November 2008
Order of Business
10:30 am
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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It is proposed to take No. 2, Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008 — Second Stage (resumed).
It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. and business shall be interrupted not later than 10 p.m.; and the proceedings on the resumed Second Stage of No. 2 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 10 p.m. Private Members' business shall be No. 57, motion re small and medium enterprises (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 that the Dáil should later than 8.30 p.m. agreed to?
Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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No. The Labour Party will not agree any Order of Business because of the way in which the Government proposes to abolish the Combat Poverty Agency. As I said yesterday, the Government has done this in the sneakiest and the most underhand way by including it as an amendment to the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. The agency is being dissolved and taken back into the social inclusion unit in the Department of Social and Family Affairs. This same unit poverty proofed the budget and gave the green light to all the cuts being implemented in the same Bill. As outlined by Deputy Shortall, 12 different measures provided for in the Bill will impact severely on the poorest people in this country. The Government has decided to close the only independent body established to examine poverty issues and to bring its staff back into the social inclusion unit where they will not be able to bark.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The only issue at the present time is whether the House should sit later than 8.30 p.m.
Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Many issues come before the House and when Members or members of the press or people with considerable power and influence or people who are well organised identify with them, there is a great racket about them but not many people in or around the Chamber have experience of poverty and perhaps do not identify as much with it as they should. If an agency dealing with any other area of life was closed down in this manner, there would be a racket about it. However, this agency deals with poverty and the needs of people who are largely not given the voice they should be given. The Labour Party will not allow this to happen unchallenged. I challenge the Order of Business because the Government is trying to slip this measure in under the door in the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. It is a retrograde step. There are 12 cuts in the Bill and the Government is clearing the decks for more down the line.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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It is a matter which can of course be debated when the Bill comes before the House.
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I wish to briefly——
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy should be brief because only brief interventions are allowed at this time. The proposal before the House is that the Dáil should sit later than8.30 p.m. tonight.
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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The Sinn Féin Deputies supported Deputy Gilmore and the Labour Party in their opposition to the Order Paper as presented yesterday morning on this same issue and we do so again today. They have clearly identified a mechanism to challenge Government's clear intent to silence, to censor and to set aside what it regards as a thorn in its side. The Combat Poverty Agency is a body which has spoken the truth. We spoke earlier about honesty. This is a time for honesty. The Combat Poverty Agency has served the interests of the least well-off and the marginalised of this State over the years of its operation.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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That can be debated when the Bill comes before the House. Only brief comments are allowed.
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Unquestionably, the arguments presented by Deputy Gilmore deserve the support of all in this House who wish to see an end to poverty in our society.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The issue is whether the Dáil should sit later than 8.30 p.m. tonight. I call the Taoiseach.
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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We will again support the Labour Party today.
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I do not accept the contentions made in respect of the matters raised by the Deputies. The question of the elimination of poverty in the past ten years has been very successfully dealt with in many respects, although unfortunately the concept is still with us. The social partnership process has been instrumental in devising policies which have been most helpful to people who have been socially or economically deprived. That process should not be underestimated in terms of the continuing contribution it will make to safeguard to the greatest extent possible many of the advances we have made in this whole area.
While I respect the agency concerned and it will be brought into the Office for Social Inclusion, it is not the only body where advocates for poverty are located.
Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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It is the destruction of advocacy.
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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There are many who advocate on this——
Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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The Taoiseach is wiping it out because it was challengingclientelism.
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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No. I would not accept that at all.
Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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The Taoiseach has been opposed to the Combat Poverty Agency since it was set up.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy should allow the Taoiseach to finish.
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I would not accept the Deputy's contentions. He is misrepresenting my position. With regard to the policy of poverty proofing budgets or other measures, while it is claimed that in some way the Office for Social Inclusion failed in that matter, it simply poverty proofed the decisions that were taken by Government.
Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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It has obviously failed in that.
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The budget documentation will show——
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The previous budgets in which I was involved compare very favourably with a predecessor in the Deputy's party. We have been far better at providing for the lower income groups and dealing with poverty proofing than was the case when they had the opportunity themselves. The budget documentation confirms that.
Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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The Taoiseach's party was against the Combat Poverty Agency since the day it was founded.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I must put the question.
The Dail Divided:
For the motion: 66 (Michael Ahern, Noel Ahern, Barry Andrews, Chris Andrews, Seán Ardagh, Bobby Aylward, Niall Blaney, Áine Brady, Cyprian Brady, Johnny Brady, John Browne, Thomas Byrne, Dara Calleary, Pat Carey, Niall Collins, Margaret Conlon, Seán Connick, Brian Cowen, John Cregan, Martin Cullen, John Curran, Noel Dempsey, Timmy Dooley, Michael Fitzpatrick, Beverley Flynn, Paul Gogarty, John Gormley, Mary Hanafin, Mary Harney, Jackie Healy-Rae, Máire Hoctor, Billy Kelleher, Peter Kelly, Brendan Kenneally, Michael Kennedy, Tony Killeen, Séamus Kirk, Michael Kitt, Tom Kitt, Martin Mansergh, Tom McEllistrim, Michael McGrath, John Moloney, Michael Moynihan, Michael Mulcahy, M J Nolan, Éamon Ó Cuív, Seán Ó Fearghaíl, Darragh O'Brien, Charlie O'Connor, Willie O'Dea, Rory O'Hanlon, Batt O'Keeffe, Ned O'Keeffe, Mary O'Rourke, Christy O'Sullivan, Peter Power, Seán Power, Dick Roche, Eamon Ryan, Eamon Scanlon, Brendan Smith, Noel Treacy, Mary Wallace, Mary White, Michael Woods)
Against the motion: 63 (Bernard Allen, Seán Barrett, Tommy Broughan, Ulick Burke, Joan Burton, Deirdre Clune, Paul Connaughton, Noel Coonan, Joe Costello, Simon Coveney, Seymour Crawford, Michael Creed, Lucinda Creighton, Michael D'Arcy, Jimmy Deenihan, Andrew Doyle, Bernard Durkan, Damien English, Olwyn Enright, Frank Feighan, Martin Ferris, Charles Flanagan, Terence Flanagan, Eamon Gilmore, Brian Hayes, Tom Hayes, Michael D Higgins, Phil Hogan, Brendan Howlin, Paul Kehoe, Enda Kenny, Ciarán Lynch, Kathleen Lynch, Pádraic McCormack, Shane McEntee, Joe McHugh, Liz McManus, Olivia Mitchell, Arthur Morgan, Dan Neville, Michael Noonan, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, Aengus Ó Snodaigh, Fergus O'Dowd, Jim O'Keeffe, John O'Mahony, Brian O'Shea, Jan O'Sullivan, Willie Penrose, John Perry, Ruairi Quinn, Pat Rabbitte, James Reilly, Michael Ring, Tom Sheahan, P J Sheehan, Seán Sherlock, Róisín Shortall, Emmet Stagg, David Stanton, Billy Timmins, Joanna Tuffy, Mary Upton)
Tellers: Tá, Deputies Pat Carey and John Cregan; Níl, Deputies Paul Kehoe and Emmet Stagg.
Question declared carried.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is the proposal for dealing with No. 2, Second Stage of the Finance (No. 2) Bill, agreed to?
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Does Deputy Kenny wish to speak on the proposal on the Finance (No. 2) Bill?
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I have made my point on this previously. I do not agree with the principle of guillotines and I object to this proposal.
Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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On the guillotining of the Finance (No. 2) Bill, we are probably at the most perilous stage of this nation's economic life. A decision will probably be made to sell some of our banks——
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We cannot deal with that now.
Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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——to private equity investors. The Government must allow a full debate on the Finance (No. 2) Bill before we have another Eircom disaster where private equity comes in——
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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That can be raised during the course of the debate.
Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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——and picks us off like vultures. Closing down debate is not what we need now. We need a detailed debate on the Government's strategy.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Burton has made her point. Does Deputy Ó Caoláin object to this also?
Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I hope the Minister of State, Deputy Kelleher, feels like this when thousands of people in the banks lose their jobs.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Burton can have a chat with him later. I call Deputy Ó Caoláin.
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I object to the imposition of the guillotine on the Second Stage of the Finance (No. 2) Bill. All Deputies should have the opportunity to contribute to this important legislation at any time but particularly at this time of economic woes.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Does the Taoiseach wish to speak?
The Dail Divided:
For the motion: 67 (Michael Ahern, Noel Ahern, Barry Andrews, Chris Andrews, Seán Ardagh, Bobby Aylward, Niall Blaney, Áine Brady, Cyprian Brady, Johnny Brady, John Browne, Thomas Byrne, Dara Calleary, Pat Carey, Niall Collins, Margaret Conlon, Seán Connick, Brian Cowen, John Cregan, Martin Cullen, John Curran, Noel Dempsey, Timmy Dooley, Michael Fitzpatrick, Beverley Flynn, Paul Gogarty, John Gormley, Mary Hanafin, Mary Harney, Seán Haughey, Jackie Healy-Rae, Máire Hoctor, Billy Kelleher, Peter Kelly, Brendan Kenneally, Michael Kennedy, Tony Killeen, Séamus Kirk, Michael Kitt, Tom Kitt, Tom McEllistrim, Michael McGrath, Martin Mansergh, John Moloney, Michael Moynihan, Michael Mulcahy, M J Nolan, Éamon Ó Cuív, Seán Ó Fearghaíl, Darragh O'Brien, Charlie O'Connor, Willie O'Dea, Rory O'Hanlon, Batt O'Keeffe, Ned O'Keeffe, Mary O'Rourke, Christy O'Sullivan, Peter Power, Seán Power, Dick Roche, Eamon Ryan, Eamon Scanlon, Brendan Smith, Noel Treacy, Mary Wallace, Mary White, Michael Woods)
Against the motion: 64 (Bernard Allen, James Bannon, Seán Barrett, Tommy Broughan, Ulick Burke, Joan Burton, Catherine Byrne, Joe Carey, Deirdre Clune, Paul Connaughton, Noel Coonan, Joe Costello, Simon Coveney, Michael Creed, Lucinda Creighton, Michael D'Arcy, Jimmy Deenihan, Andrew Doyle, Bernard Durkan, Damien English, Olwyn Enright, Frank Feighan, Martin Ferris, Charles Flanagan, Terence Flanagan, Eamon Gilmore, Brian Hayes, Tom Hayes, Michael D Higgins, Phil Hogan, Brendan Howlin, Paul Kehoe, Enda Kenny, Ciarán Lynch, Kathleen Lynch, Pádraic McCormack, Shane McEntee, Finian McGrath, Joe McHugh, Liz McManus, Olivia Mitchell, Arthur Morgan, Dan Neville, Michael Noonan, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, Aengus Ó Snodaigh, Fergus O'Dowd, Jim O'Keeffe, Brian O'Shea, Jan O'Sullivan, Willie Penrose, John Perry, Ruairi Quinn, Pat Rabbitte, James Reilly, Michael Ring, P J Sheehan, Seán Sherlock, Róisín Shortall, Emmet Stagg, David Stanton, Billy Timmins, Joanna Tuffy, Mary Upton)
Tellers: Tá, Deputies Pat Carey and John Cregan; Níl, Deputies Paul Kehoe and Emmet Stagg.
Question declared carried.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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There are only some ten Dáil sitting days remaining before the end of the year. Will the Taoiseach say when we will see the legislation giving effect to the Government's decision to change the regulations for medical cards for older people, which were given to these people as a right and withdrawn in part by the decision in the budget?
Given the discussion this morning on good governance, has the Taoiseach reflected on the High Court decision this morning of Mr. Justice Feeney, who proposes to impose a restriction on a person by the name of Mr. Joe Burke of J & H Burke & Sons Limited?
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Enough of that now, Deputy Kenny, we are on the Order of Business. I cannot allow a discussion of High Court actions.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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This is a consequence of his actions as a company director in 2005 and 2006. The person involved is the chairman of the Dublin Port Company. Does the Taoiseach wish to reflect on this?
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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We hope to have the relevant legislation before Christmas in this session.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Fine Gael produced a transparency in public office Bill which may be of assistance to the Taoiseach in dealing with this matter.
Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I wish to pursue the issue raised by Deputy Kenny, namely, the matter of the Bill which will result in the withdrawal of the medical card from pensioners.
Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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We cannot hear the Deputy.
Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Bill has not yet been published and we have not been told when it will be published.
Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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It will be before the end of the year.
Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I thank the Minister for Transport; that is very helpful. I understand the Government also intends to have the legislation enacted before Christmas. Including tomorrow, some ten Dáil sitting days remain until Christmas. It is clear what the Government intends to do and we know its form. It will try to introduce this legislation at the last minute, slip it through and then guillotine it because it is a controversial measure. This is not acceptable.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Gilmore is entitled to ask the question, but he is not entitled to answer it.
Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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It defeats the entire purpose.
12:00 pm
Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I will come at it in a different way. They say one should never ask a question in the Dáil unless one already knows the answer. I wish to know the Government's plans to introduce the Bill to the House. When will Second and Committee Stages take place? Will the Government publish a schedule of business for the remainder of this session, up to Christmas time? There are three Dáil sitting weeks remaining and we wish to know the legislative plans for the remaining three weeks. What will the timetable look like between now and Christmas? We need to plan our diaries.
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I always wonder what goes on at Whips' meetings.
Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Only what the Taoiseach allows.
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy has often made a fair effort to penetrate that cover. This Bill has yet to be published and considered. As soon as that happens, it is a matter for the Whips to decide when it is taken in the House. Hopefully, with the co-operation of the House, we can introduce it before the end of this year. I look forward to the Deputy's co-operation in achieving that.
Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Taoiseach knows very well he will not have co-operation, because we do not want it.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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He can only answer the question.
Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Here we are, with three weeks to go, and the legislation is not published.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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He can only answer the question on the legislation.
Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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He has not answered it. He did not say when it would be published. The last I heard was that it was to be before the end of the month.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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It is the best I can do.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Now that the decision has been taken to guillotine the Finance Bill, for such important legislation, will the Taoiseach consider taking all Stages in this Chamber? These Bills are being sent over to committees. I am on the Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service, and nobody knows what is going on. There is no coverage. Nobody sits in. With such an important Bill, this really makes a joke of democracy. I am asking in the interest of proper procedure that we debate all Stages of that Bill in the House.
Second, will we have a package of Dáil reform when we come back after Christmas?
Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Will we come back after Christmas?
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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It is a matter for the Deputy himself.
Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy said he was retiring before the last election and he did not.
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I would hate to think the Deputy might be missed.
Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Fianna Fáil Deputies will all be made to retire after the next election.
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Finance Bill is taken in committee, as Deputies know, and it is open to any Member of the House to attend that committee for the purpose of contributing to it.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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It is buried. Nobody knows what is going on.
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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That is not a reflection on those who attend the committee. I have been there many times and have had some interesting debates. I agree it is a matter of such importance that perhaps people will be able to find some time to cover it. However, that is a matter for others, not for Members of this House.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The debate should take place in this Chamber.
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The question of Dáil reform is a matter for the Whips in due course. Getting agreement on Dáil reform is usually a matter of whether the Government is prepared to give further concessions to the Opposition. For the good order of the House, the fact that we are still here on the Order of Business at almost dinner time——
Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Taoiseach is getting hungry.
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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——does not reflect well on the House.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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It is only two days a week.
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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If people wanted to engage in realistic arrangements which would be far more sensible I would always be open to them, but the prospect of getting agreement has never been great.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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In view of the fact that the Taoiseach will be in Opposition after the next election, I suggest it is in his interest, as well as of this side of the House, to have reasonable procedures in place.
Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Will he be here after the next election?
Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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For the information of the Taoiseach, in case he is not aware of it, all parties in the House, including Fianna Fáil, have agreed a package of Dáil reforms which are with the Taoiseach for him to sign off on.
Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Some of them are agreed — not all of them.
Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Taoiseach did not get his way on everything.
Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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We have a package agreed between all parties.
Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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It does not work like that.
Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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It is with the Taoiseach's office waiting to be signed off. The Taoiseach should not blame anybody else.
James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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In order to give weight to the commitment of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to stamp out begging by way of penalties, which has been sought by this side of the House for some time, I ask the Taoiseach when we can expect the criminal justice (public order) (amendment) Bill. Strangely, this will be the first legislative update of such measures since the Famine.
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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As I said yesterday morning, that Bill is expected next year.
Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Minister for Finance announced the appointment of four wise men to An Bord Snip Nua. Will this give rise to a need for legislation in the context of allowing people to transfer between the Civil Service and State bodies? Why are the appointees all men over 50——
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I would love to have a discussion on that but we cannot.
Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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——with no women and no young people from the business world with a knowledge of IT?
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We cannot have a chat on that.
Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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What insights are they supposed to have over and above that of people actually working in the area?
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is legislation promised in this area?
Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Will it require legislation?
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I ask the Taoiseach whether legislation is promised.
Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Taoiseach was talking about debates in the Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Legislation is not promised in that area.
Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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He said he was in favour of women's participation.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy will have plenty of opportunities to discuss all that.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Not two hours into the morning when it is not in order.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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There is another way of raising that. The Taoiseach said legislation was not promised.
Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I think the Taoiseach wants to answer. Maybe he is going to appoint women to this task force.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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There are other ways of raising that. I am sure the Deputy will be able to do so.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Given that the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources shared his thoughts on future energy requirements this morning on the radio and that he is not here at the moment, I ask the Taoiseach whether any agreement has been reached on the heads of the electricity (transfer of transmission assets) Bill. In view of the urgent——
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The heads are not agreed.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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They are not agreed. That is it.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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They are under discussion at the moment.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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They are not agreed anyway.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Legislation is proposed to enable ratification of the protocols to the 1957 European Convention on Extradition. In view of the ongoing occurrence of serious, violent, drug-related crimes, would it be possible to have the heads of that Bill discussed and agreed as soon as possible with a view to bringing the Bill to the House? In this way we can confront organised crime in a realistic fashion.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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When is that legislation planned?
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The draft heads of the Bill are in preparation.
Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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There is another item of legislation linked to the legislation to remove medical cards from the over 70s. This relates to the fact that the Government wants to be able to talk to the IMO about the terms and conditions under which its members are paid. I refer to amending the Competition Act 2002. Some of the professional organisations seemed to think it might have been dealt with in the Finance Bill, but it is not in the Bill. Is the Taoiseach proposing legislation to amend the Competition Act?
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The statement to which the Deputy refers mentioned that we would undertake to introduce proposals consistent with EU law. I refer the Deputy to the statement made on the day.
Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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There will be legislation?
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I said I refer the Deputy to the statement on the day.
Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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I heard that. I do not know whether it means legislation.
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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What it means is what it says.
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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It means what it says.
Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Taoiseach will be aware there is a——
Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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We will ask the Tánaiste tomorrow. She might know.
Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Send us a circular. The Government is good at circulars. Circles of circulars.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We will give Deputy Hogan a break.
Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Taoiseach will be aware that the planning and development (amendment) Bill is on the Order Paper.
Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Taoiseach should cheer up.
Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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In the context of the recent cases in the High Court involving the Dublin Docklands Development Authority, which are now subject to the advice of the Attorney General, will the Taoiseach be introducing this Bill in order to reflect the regularisation that is required with regard to the serious planning issues that have been brought to the courts in recent times?
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I understand the Bill is planned for next year but the heads are still to be confirmed.
James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I am going to try for third time lucky. Deputy Gilmore and Deputy Kenny have already asked the Taoiseach about the legislation to remove medical cards from the over 70s. There are only three weeks left in the session. Can the Taoiseach tell us whether this legislation is to be introduced next week, the week after or the following week?
Is legislation proposed to deal with the levies and changes in health insurance? Could the Taoiseach tell us why the Minister, when she was explaining the fair deal scheme, was able to give several examples of how it would apply, but we get no examples under this new proposal for tax relief and levies with regard to health insurance?
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I have ruled before that Deputies cannot fish for legislation on the Order of Business.
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I have already answered the question about medical cards.
Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Taoiseach did not answer it. That is the problem.
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Government would have to consider it, approve it, publish it and bring it to the House. It is normal procedure.
Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Is there legislation, a Cheann Comhairle?
David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I want to return to the issue of Dáil reform. When will the Government introduce——
James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Taoiseach did not answer the question about legislation on medical cards.
Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Yes, he did not answer.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Legislation is not promised in that area, Deputy Reilly.
Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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That is what we are asking. Is it promised?
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is legislation promised in that area?
James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Then there is no legislation necessary for this. I understood the Finance Bill and the health Bill would come through.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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They have been promised.
David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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When will the Government introduce motions to the House to enable us to enact changes to the way in which we do business? I agree with the Taoiseach that this is a most inefficient way of doing business in the House. The ball is in the Taoiseach's court now. We put forward our proposals. We want to engage. We are not looking for advantage on this. We want to make the House more efficient. Will the Taoiseach please engage with us and bring forward his own suggestions? We have seen nothing from him yet. We will all engage with him to make this House more efficient. It is up to him.
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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As I said, we look into these matters on a continuing basis.
Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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When will the animal welfare Bill be published? Has the consultation period ended yet?
I support the request made last week for a debate in the House on the implications of the CAP health check, which will have far-reaching effects on Irish agriculture and the way we do business within the rural economy.
With regard to the mental capacity Bill, the Law Reform Commission report has been in existence since 2006. When will the Bill be published? The Taoiseach has previously said it will be introduced in mid-2009. I ask that it be published forthwith.
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that the proposed mental capacity Bill cannot be introduced any sooner than mid-2009, unfortunately. The process of consultation on the proposed animal welfare Bill was completed earlier this autumn. The submissions that were received are being examined before we go any further with the matter. The possibility of a debate on the CAP health check is a matter for the Whips.