Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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It is proposed to take No. b10, motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions; No. 23, Statements on European Council, Brussels; No. 10, Revised Estimates for Public Services 2009 [Votes 1 to 41] (back from committee); No. 24, Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009 - Order for Report and Report and Final Stages; and No. 25, Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009 - Order for Report and Report and Final Stages.

It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. tonight and business shall be interrupted not later than 10 p.m. No. b10 shall be decided without debate. The proceedings on No. 23 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 85 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply: the statements shall be confined to the Taoiseach and to the main spokespersons for the Fine Gael Party, the Labour Party and Sinn Féin, who shall be called upon in that order, who may share their time, and which shall not exceed 15 minutes in each case; a Minister or Minister of State shall take questions for a period not exceeding 20 minutes; and a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed five minutes. The suspension of sitting under Standing Order 23(1) shall take place at 1.30 p.m., or on the conclusion of No. 23, whichever is the later, until 2.30 p.m. The proceedings on No. 10 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 45 minutes and shall be moved together and decided by one question which shall be put from the Chair and any division demanded thereon shall be taken forthwith and the following arrangements shall apply: the speeches shall be confined to a Minister or Minister of State and to the main spokespersons for the Fine Gael Party, the Labour Party and Sinn Féin, who shall be called upon in that order, who may share their time, and which shall not exceed ten minutes in each case and a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed five minutes. The proceedings on the Report and Final Stages of No. 24 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 6 p.m. by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall, in respect of amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Health and Children. In the event a division is in progress at the time fixed for taking Private Members' business, which shall be No. 75 – motion re Childrens Hospital Funding (resumed), Standing Order 117 (3) shall not apply and Private Members' business shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 90 minutes.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Seven proposals have been put to the House. Is the proposal that the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. tonight agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. b10 without debate, motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 23, Statements on European Council, Brussels agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal regarding the suspension of the Dáil under Standing Order 23(1) agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 10, Revised Estimates for Public Services 2009 agreed to?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I do not agree. We are putting through approximately €45 billion in 45 minutes. This represents €1 billion per minute and ten minutes speaking time for each party. I realise this was discussed or referred to in committee. In his response to the matter of Crumlin hospital this morning, the Taoiseach made the valid point, which I accept, that we should discuss matters of efficiency and so on here. The Estimate for the Department of Health and Children is €11.632 billion. The Taoiseach made a comment about increased service in Galway in the cancer area, which I accept. In some cases there, patients are being driven from the front door of the hospital to the back door by taxi for additional treatment.

Let us consider the Estimate of €10.917 billion allocated to the Department of Social and Family Affairs. The best answer to matters of social welfare is to create employment. Last night the Taoiseach held discussions on social partnership dealing with subsidies for employers, which does not go far enough in the context of the €11 billion stimulus that the Fine Gael Party proposed for job protection and creation. We should discuss these matters.

I refer to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for which there is a €1.599 billion Estimate to deal with expenses, salaries of the office of the Minister but also costs associated with the Irish Land Commission, which was abolished many years ago. I am unsure of the role of the remnants of the organisation now. The allocation for the Garda Síochána includes a €1.48 billion payment for certain witnesses expenses and payment of grants-in-aid. We should discuss these matters in the House and I do not believe it is appropriate to allow 45 minutes for a discussion when almost €45 billion, or €1 billion per minute, is being put through, which is phenomenal. For this reason I object to the allocation of time. It is not sufficient and in the interests of that to which the Taoiseach referred, there are opportunities for the House to suggest areas in which money could be saved and to point out where efficiencies could take place.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The purpose of the committee system is to enable a detailed examination of all these issues away from the plenary proceedings of the House, during which legislation and other issues are dealt with and major debates take place. The use of the committee system has enabled all of these votes to be scrutinised. Parties can hold a view on procedures and processes and revert to plenary session to confirm the adoption of estimates and to provide for general points to be made. The detail, remit and efficacy of the spend on all Estimates has been examined thoroughly on an all-party basis. Rigorous questioning of Ministers has taken place. I recognise people hold views on how to reform systems and so on but to suggest we only allocated 45 minutes to such a level of expenditure is not an accurate reflection of the work that has been done at committee.

Question put: "That the proposal for dealing with No. 10 be agreed to."

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is the proposal for dealing with No. 24, Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Order for Report, Report and Final Stages agreed to?

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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It is not agreed to. This Bill will be introduced late in the afternoon and is to be guillotined at 6 p.m. Apart from objecting to the guillotine, a totally new section has been introduced into the Bill which amends the Mental Health Act 2001. This new section has nothing to do with the rest of the Bill. It deals with the removal of persons to authorised centres and with authorising people other than staff of a centre to remove persons.

Human rights issues may attach to this measure. The date of these amendments is yesterday and we are expected to deal with them in a guillotined fashion. We may not even reach this section, the content of which is totally different from the rest of the Bill. We object to the guillotine.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I call Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Forgive me, a Cheann Comhairle. I was dealing with an application for membership.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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The Taoiseach will be glad to hear we rejected it.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Ó Caoláin does not realise how devastating that is.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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The Taoiseach will not get the application either.

We also object to the proposition that a guillotine apply to the passage of the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009. As has been already indicated by Deputy O'Sullivan, the legislation contains a new element which warrants independent address. The idea of a guillotine applying to this legislation is unacceptable, as is the series of guillotines which have been applied to legislation as a matter of course in recent weeks. We ask the Taoiseach to lift the guillotine to allow the House to debate properly all of the content of the Bill now presenting.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I also support the objection. It is unacceptable that extra legislation is slipped in at this stage. This Bill relates to people's personal freedom and to how they are transported from one place to another. I fully support the Labour Party move.

Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Does Deputy Reilly know to what he is objecting?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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A recent judgment in the High Court presents difficulties in relation to the operation of an assisted admissions service for seriously ill psychiatric patients and a legislative solution is required to ensure the continued operation of that service. For that reason, an urgent amendment must be brought forward in the context of this Bill.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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All the more reason to debate the measure.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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It is proposed to amend sections 13 and 27 of the Mental Health Act 2001 to provide that a clinical director can arrange for a person to be removed or returned to an approved centre by members of staff of the approved centre or by authorised persons. The amendment will provide that the registered proprietor may enter into a contract for the purpose of arranging externally assisted admissions. Persons who are employed by the external agency will be then authorised in writing by the clinical director to provide assisted admissions to his or her approved centre.

This issue arose as a result of judicial review proceedings as to what constitutes "staff of the approved centre". The issue needs to be resolved.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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And debated.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Why did the Taoiseach not provide a briefing on the matter?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Of a total of 2,004 involuntary admissions in 2008, some 604 were assisted. This is an important matter which needs to be put on a proper statutory footing.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Surely this is all the more reason not to have a guillotine. We need to debate this issue.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is the proposal for dealing with Private Members' business agreed to? Agreed.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Is the Taoiseach aware of the difficulty that will arise, due to a lacuna in legislation, when the Government establishes the National Asset Management Agency, whereby the agency will have serious difficulty acquiring assets in cases where the developers who have taken out loans have involved one or more persons in the ownership and title of some of the assets concerned? Does the Taoiseach intend to deal with that by way of legislation?

I am not sure if the Taoiseach has had time to turn his thoughts to other electoral contests but has he given consideration to the possibility of holding the Donegal South-West by-election on the referendum date in October? I see the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Micheál Martin, does not want that.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Very brave.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Minister would not wish the issue to be confused.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy should give himself a break. He is having a serious rush of adrenalin. He should calm down.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I take it that it has been ruled out. The vote will be on the Lisbon treaty alone. Fair enough, I accept that.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The legislation on the National Asset Management Agency will be brought forward. Obviously, all these issues will be dealt with in the legislation.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Can the Taoiseach confirm the date on which the Dáil will rise for the summer recess? Will he outline what legislation the Government intends to put through the House between now and the recess? Alternatively, will he enable the Government Chief Whip to inform the party Whips at the meeting this evening what legislative measures the Government intends to have dealt with before the summer recess?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Chief Whip will be happy to assist his colleagues in ordering the House's business for the remaining two weeks. It is expected that the Dáil will rise on 10 July.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Last Thursday on the Order of Business I raised the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 and the time that would be allocated to it in the House this week. At that stage the draft schedule for this week's business was in place and the Bill was due to be debated this evening and tomorrow. However, the final schedule allocates four hours for debate before the guillotine comes down. There are 149 proposed amendments to the Bill to be discussed over four hours. By my reckoning, that means one amendment to be read, debated and voted on in one minute and 20 seconds. I have heard of "speed dating" but not of "speed debating", which will happen in this House tomorrow afternoon according to this schedule.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy has heard about it now.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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It cannot be debated now.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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This Bill has being doing the rounds of the Houses for more than a year. Significant provisions have been inserted into it in the last week or two, so four hours for debate is not sufficient given the intent of the Bill and the direction it will give to the housing sector in future years.

Does the Government intend to bring legislation forward to deal with the protection of deposits paid by home buyers? This relates to a story in The Irish Times this morning which reports that Laragan Development Ltd. has gone broke and left 100 depositors high and dry. Anglo Irish Bank is one of the stakeholders in this development for €3.5 million, so the State, as the new owner of Anglo Irish Bank, also has a stakeholding.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I know about the story but we cannot deal with it now. I call the Taoiseach on the housing Bill.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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There is a major difficulty here, a Cheann Comhairle. If people who intend to purchase a house do not believe their deposit is protected, why would they opt to buy a house after this?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy can discuss that somewhere else. I call the Taoiseach on the housing Bill.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The housing Bill is being taken before the Dáil rises and these matters can be dealt with. There is a contraction in the amount of time available to debate these issues but it is necessary that the Bill be enacted.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Apropos the issue my colleague, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan, raised earlier regarding security in a military installation, what is the position with the explosives Bill? Would it not be appropriate to introduce it and air the issue in the House? It is a matter that resonates with many people, particularly the criminal fraternity.

On a different matter, is it intended to deal with the legislation to ensure good governance of property management companies and to provide for the resolution of disputes arising in this area before the end of this session?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Yes.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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It will be concluded before the end.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I call on Deputy McManus.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I refer to the estate management legislation.

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Multi-Unit Development Bill.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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It is currently before the Seanad.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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My question was whether it would be concluded in this House.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is in the hands of the House.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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It will be in the House in due course.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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No-----

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The legislation is before the Seanad and will not come back to this House before the break.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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It will not come back.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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No.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Taoiseach for answering my question. It required an extraction to get an answer but we got it eventually.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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We live in a world where the issue of energy security is becoming more critical. I do not know whether the Taoiseach is aware that the European Commission has found Ireland is not compliant with the directive relating to energy security. We are compliant in the sense that we allow for 90 days of oil stocks but because we are facilitating the stocks we use as collateral we are in contravention of the EU directive. If we do not do something about this we will end up in the courts.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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What is your question, Deputy McManus?

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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My question concerns the legislation to amend the National Oil Reserves Agency Act although I do not believe it provides for this issue. When will this Bill be introduced in the House? Will the Taoiseach ensure that we make Ireland compliant with the EU directive?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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On the legislation, Taoiseach.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) Bill is due later this year. If issues arise in addition to what was originally contemplated I shall communicate with the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Ryan, to ensure they can be provided for, or whether it is the policy of the Government to so provide at this time. I shall check with him.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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As I understood the Taoiseach this morning when he replied to the leader of the Fine Gael Party, he suggested we should have a debate on health funding. Will he make time for such a debate, particularly in the context of Crumlin hospital-----

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is a matter for the Whips. We cannot go into that now.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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-----where such a crude measure as a 3% cut has been applied?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is for Private Members' business.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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The hospital has taken on new work such as sickle cell disease and there is no provision for funding for that. Can we have a debate on this matter?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I presume it is a matter for the Whips, Taoiseach.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I made the general point that if we are to have a debate on these issues we should at least have some consistency of approach. We all recognise that budgets are finite and we need to find more efficiencies. Despite the reduction in budget of 3% this year over last year, activity levels and service plan levels are higher this year. This indicates that-----

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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That is because they provided the efficiencies.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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-----with co-operation between everybody involved, the clinical leadership that can be provided, and the new reforms regarding how a clinical director will pull together all the activities in the hospital, these practices can be improved. The HSE has sought to discover which scoliosis procedures can be completed between now and the end of the year. It is better for the House to address the wider policy issue, namely, to ensure that paediatrics are brought together, in this city and on a national basis, and that we get the best output for the very considerable resources we are providing. The sum this year is over €250 million.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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The wider policy issue is how funding is allocated.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We cannot have a discussion on that now, as Deputy O'Sullivan knows well.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Le tamall fada anois, bhí reachtaíocht ar chlár oibre an Rialtais faoi chúrsaí a bhaineann le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta - Bille Údarás na Gaeltachta. - ach níl sé ann anois. Nach bhfuil sé in am é a thógáil ar ais ar an liosta gearr-thréimhseach ionnas go mbeidh seans ag Údarás na Gaeltachta cabhair a thabhairt do Foinse toisc go bhfuil an nuachtán ar tí dúnadh?

Second, I understand that after completion of the substantial Broadcasting Act, the Minister has power to make directions in respect of protection of diversity. Given the collapse of the right of Irish people to enjoy sport, and the near-monopoly conditions emerging in sporting rights and their allocation, what is the status of those ministerial orders which the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources is entitled to make in order to protect diversity and the right of free-to-air broadcasting?

My first question dealt with the disappearance of the Údarás na Gaeltachta Act. It was there for years as a kind of ghost. Nobody knew why it was there. It was an up-the-airy-mountain kind of legislation. Foinse is now on the point of closing. Now is the time, if the Údarás were interested in extending its remit into publication, to ensure at least a newspaper in the Irish language.

My other question is much more serious. I was in a minority in this House in holding the view there was a danger, when Mr. Murdoch said he would use sporting rights as the battering ram to achieve monopoly in broadcasting. I was assured there was no danger. I understand there is a capacity in the Act which has just been passed for the Minister to act to protect the right of the Irish people to have a certain amount of free-to-air access to sporting events, in order to prevent monopoly. I understand that is also in compliance with European thinking. Do we just sit back and let the monopoly roll over us? Is that the broadcasting policy?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The questions concern Bille Údarás na Gaeltachta and directives pursuant to the Broadcasting Act, Taoiseach.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Níl aon dáta agam don Bhille a bhaineann le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta. Tá pointe an Teachta tábhachtach - cónas a bheimid in ann foilseachán Gaeilge a choimeád do phobal na Gaeilge agus do phobal na Gaeltachta? Ba mhaith liom go mbeimid in ann an fhadhb sin a réiteach. Ní bheidh sin furasta ach beidh mé féin ag fíosrú le fáil amach cad é is féidir linn a dhéanamh chun cabhrú a thabhairt.

Regarding the Broadcasting Act, I am not aware of the specifics the Deputy raised. He had a ministerial responsibility in this area in the past. I recall when Deputy Dermot Ahern was the relevant Minister that an effort was made at the time to retain the right to broadcast events of national importance.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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That is right - the sporting rights.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I shall ask for an update from the present incumbent concerning the position and whether anything can be done.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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I thank the Taoiseach.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Given the increasing number of cases of cruelty to animals, particularly in non-farm incidents, when can we expect the publication of the Bill on animal health and welfare? It is not acceptable that this much needed legislation should be delayed unduly.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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No date has been arranged.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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In view of the increasing number of traffic accidents recently, when will the road traffic Bill be introduced in the House?

It is over a year since a preferred tenderer was identified for the roll-out of speed safety cameras. The Government is still considering that tender. Will the Taoiseach give any indication today-----

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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He cannot do that now. That is for the line Minister-----

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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-----when the preferred tenderer will be directed to go ahead with this project?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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-----or as a matter for the Adjournment.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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As the Government dithers people are being killed on the roads because of the absence of road safety cameras.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We cannot deal with that now. That concerns the road safety Bill.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Road Traffic Bill will be taken during the next session. I am aware that the other issue mentioned by the Deputy is being discussed at ministerial level at present to see how it can be advanced.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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In the wake of the publication of the Ryan report, the Taoiseach and a number of his colleagues met with the religious congregations. A date was set for 24 June - today - for the religious congregations to return to the Taoiseach-----

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I cannot deal with that now, Deputy Hayes.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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As today is the deadline for the congregations to report to Government, how does the Taoiseach propose to inform the House regarding the outcome of those discussions, in the context-----

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I cannot deal with that now.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I shall conclude on this point. It is a serious issue and there was unanimity on both sides. This is not a contentious matter. How will the House hear of the latest propositions from the congregations in respect of a future settlement in the context of potential future legislation?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Strictly speaking, that is not in order. I cannot deal with it now.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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The Ceann Comhairle could do so.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I cannot anticipate the outcome of a meeting yet to be held. As the Deputy knows, the Minister of State with responsibility for children and youth affairs, Deputy Andrews, has been given the task, on behalf of the Government, of coming forward with the response of Government to the detailed recommendations in the Ryan report. The separate issue regarding the moral obligation on congregations to come forward further to meet the responsibilities is an ongoing matter, one that I have outlined by way of statement. A clear, unanimous motion of the House informs that debate. While today may not be a deadline, I expect progress to be made on the issue.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Am I right in saying that today-----

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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This is not in order.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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-----was the date set for which the congregations must revert to the Government-----

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I cannot go into that now.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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-----regarding a potential further settlement that they would make?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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My statement of the first meeting accurately reflects the situation, which was that they would come back to me to see what progress is being made so that the Government could make an assessment in due course as soon as possible. Based on the full information being provided to us, we can make an assessment as to where we will go from here with regard to it. The overall objective has been clear, transparent and unanimous in the House.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Will the House have a chance to debate it?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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In due course, but there are a lot of legislative issues to be dealt with between now and the recess. This is a matter that can be attended to and returned to anytime, subject to the agreement of the Whips.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Will the Taoiseach confirm that we will have what was normal custom, namely, the Adjournment debate at the end of the session? Will he confirm that the final day will be given over to such a debate, as was always normal practice? One would have the opportunity to review the performance of the Government over a 12-month period and give the Government an opportunity to respond to the various points made during the course of the debate.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is an Adjournment debate promised?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will recall, we just had a motion of confidence a couple of weeks ago in relation to this matter.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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No, that is a different issue.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware that it is a different issue.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It is a terminal debate.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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It is not normal, as was the case during Deputy Barrett's time as Whip, that Adjournment debates are given.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The provision was there for donkeys' years-----

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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It was indeed, but not in recent times.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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-----until people like the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs scrapped it. It should never have been scrapped.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Fadó, fadó.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The debate was meant to be terminal.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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It was there for donkey's years.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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It is a matter of opinion.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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It would be an opportunity for the Taoiseach to stand up and give an account of himself for the preceding 12 months.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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No, we cannot have a debate on this now.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Sorry, Deputy. I am aware of his views on the matter. I had a confidence debate on this matter, which was decided on by the House only two weeks ago.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I am not talking about confidence.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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It is substantively on the same issue.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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It is not.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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It is indeed.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Broughan now. Members can have a discussion on this matter afterwards.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Is the Taoiseach saying that we will not have an Adjournment debate?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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We will have more substance this time.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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We will not have an Adjournment debate.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Having listened to the Taoiseach's recent answer on health matters, I must ask about what planet he is living on. Last week, one of my constituents-----

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The planet on which the Taoiseach is living is not in order. We cannot go into that.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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We all seem to be living on "Planet Biffo" now.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Ask questions that are in order.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Come on. Hold it up. Is Strumpet Street back?

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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We were on "Planet Bertie", but we seem to have been transferred.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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This is not on at all.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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That will get Deputy Broughan a line.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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One of my constituents-----

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy must ask a question that is in order.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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-----was waiting three hours for an ambulance last Tuesday because the accident and emergency units at the Mater and Beaumont hospitals almost collapsed.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Come on.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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That was not the question that I wanted to ask.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Broughan must ask a question that is in order, please.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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I wish to ask a question raised by the leader of Fine Gael on the national recovery plan. Will we have an opportunity to debate it? By the way, the amount of money involved seems to be derived from-----

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is a matter for the Whips.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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I am asking the Leader of the House whether we will have an opportunity to debate the matter. Some 800 SR Technics workers are still awaiting-----

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We cannot go into that matter now.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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-----a Government initiative to return them to work.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is the question of a debate not a matter for the Whips?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Yes.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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May I raise a point of order? Is it in order to ask a question referring to an item on the Order Paper at this time?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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It is.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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No. 83 on the Order Paper asks for a change in Standing Orders to allow people to ask supplementary questions on Adjournment debates. Such questions were allowed previously, but that is no longer the case. Will the Government give time to allow the motion to be debated? Making this small procedural change would only take five minutes. Failing that, the Government has been promising changes to Standing Orders to reform the workings of the Dáil for some time. Will we see such proposals before the end of the session?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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It will be before the next session, certainly. In relation to the first point, these are matters for the Whips to decide whether they can be taken.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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My question was on whether the Government will use its time. It was a "Yes" or "No" question.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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No. It is a Fine Gael motion.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I want to ask the Taoiseach about two Bills. At the time of the last budget, it was announced that the National Consumer Agency, NCA, and the Competition Authority were to merge in a marriage of quangos. Last weekend, the Minister for Finance indicated that the consumer side of the regulator's office, the one investigating matters such as bank overcharging and that is regarded as being one of the regulator's better sides, if there are any, will be included in the NCA. This seems strange. The Taoiseach had some pithy comments about the performance of the NCA.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy should just ask about the legislation so that we can move on.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Now it is to take over the functions of a regulator that everyone-----

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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What is the Deputy asking about exactly? We must move on.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Are the media reports true? When is the NAMA legislation likely to be before the House and will the heads of the Bill or the Bill itself be published before the recess on 10 July or during the summer?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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In relation to the NAMA legislation, the Minister has said on a number of occasions that he is seeking to bring it forward as quickly as possible. It is likely to be debated in the House in the next session. It may occur that we would have it before the next session by having an early return of the House.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Will it be holiday reading? We could take it home.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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For some, I am sure. Others will be sunning themselves somewhere and leaving it to others to do the work.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Seaside reading.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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People like me do a lot of reading by the beach. The Taoiseach probably does, too.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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He was kidding.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I was not including Deputy Burton.

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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He could read it in the caravan.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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He could stay behind and bring NAMA with him.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Her assiduousness is legendary. I would not be including her. I would be looking at Deputy Broughan in that respect.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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That is terrible.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Taoiseach's favourite-----

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I do not know on what planet he is taking holidays, but we hope he is going somewhere.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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He might be advertising Fáilte Ireland.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I meant that in the nicest possible way, Deputy Broughan.

In relation to the earlier question on improving the regulatory and supervisory arrangements, ensuring that consumer issues that are presently dealt with by the Financial Regulator are dealt with will, of course, be outlined by the Minister, Deputy Brian Lenihan, when he brings the legislation to the House.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is for other legislation. Preambles cannot be too long. In fact, they are completely forbidden.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I cannot go into that now.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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He is out of order.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The contents of legislation may not be discussed now. This is the problem.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The contents of the legislation cannot be discussed now. All that can be asked is when will the legislation be introduced.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The content of the legislation cannot be pursued now.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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As I said, the consumer and competition Bill is later this year. Discussion can take place on Second Stage, including I am sure a contribution from the Deputy, as to the adequacy of the new arrangements and how it has been able to protect consumer interests. The Financial Regulator had a remit and built up a reasonably good reputation in that area in terms of consumer protection.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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And now the Government is abolishing it.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The question arising is about financial regulation, the role of the Central Bank and the establishment of the new central banking commission. A serious change must take place. There is no question but lessons must be learnt. The Financial Services Ombudsman has also been an effective advocate for consumer rights in this area. He has had sufficient statutory powers not only to make a recommendation but to obtain settlements in favour of those who were wrongly treated by financial institutions. He has been successful in that effort.

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Does the Taoiseach plan to introduce any legislation to deal with the conflict of interest that arises in connection with the solicitors' firm, Arthur Cox, which advises the Department of the Taoiseach, and a number of Ministers?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I am afraid the Deputy has gone beyond all boundaries there.

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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We heard in recent days that it will advise NAMA, in addition to a variety of developers who are involved in that circle.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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No legislation is promised in that area. The Deputy will have to table a question to find out about the matter.

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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If it was in any other jurisdiction it would be illegal and people would be put in prison for it.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy will have to table a question.

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Is there a proposal to deal with the matter?