Dáil debates
Tuesday, 6 October 2009
Order of Business
4:00 pm
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Order of Business is as follows: No. 12, motion re ministerial rota for parliamentary questions; No. 13, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the terms of the convention on the European Forest Institute, back from committee; No. 21, the National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009, Second Stage (resumed). It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that Nos. 12 and 13 shall be decided without debate. Private Members' business shall be No. 66 — motion re FÁS.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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There is one proposal to put to the House today. Is the proposal for dealing with Nos. 12 and 13 without debate agreed to?
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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It is not. Before agreeing to take the motion on the ministerial rota for parliamentary questions, I seek a commitment from the Taoiseach on the accountability of all Ministers, Ministers of State and high officeholders in this Dáil, and more important, not only in the Dáil, to the Dáil but to the people. That is what is critically missing at this point.
Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Ó Caoláin is accountable to the people himself. He should not be lecturing us.
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Ministers come to the Dáil to make themselves accountable to the elected representatives of the people but the people have never had, and we have to face up to this fact, less confidence not only in people in ministerial office but in politics right across the board. We must all be regretful of that.
To help restore public confidence in politics, will the Taoiseach commit to a totally new approach to all expenses claims, including claims by Ministers and Ministers of State, where all such expenses are vouched, published and fully open to public scrutiny? Will he ensure that that same regime applies to State agencies and boards? Will he show that he is serious and that we are all serious about accountability and transparency by beginning that process with a call on the Ceann Comhairle to step down from his position, which in the view of many, including many in this House of varying views — let us make no mistake about it — has become untenable? This is a crucial test that must be faced up to if we are to restore public confidence in politics and the democratic process itself. I put it to the Taoiseach that he should accede to the requests I have made, which I believe also reflect the views of many in his own party's number in the Chamber at this time. If he does not, I will call a vote on this matter.
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I have made it clear in previous interventions today that as far as I am concerned that it is in the interests of this House, the parties in government and the parties opposite that we have a system in place that has public confidence in all respects. I have always believed that should happen in respect of the issues Deputy Ó Caoláin has raised. As far as I am concerned that can and should be done.
On the other matter raised by the Deputy, the purpose of the Government is to ensure that we get on with the job of doing what now needs to be done in the aftermath of what we have seen in the referendum where people are asking that we get on with ensuring that we bring a stability to our public finances. We will bring forward proposals in the coming months in that regard.
As to the specific issues that were raised today, I am not in the business of impugning integrity nor saying things that might meet the populist view of the day on a specific individual. My job is to ensure that we do what is right in respect of those agencies and organisations that are under our aegis. That is what we sought to do. We have to do so lawfully and the contention that we would do otherwise would have risked even greater expense on the taxpayer were we not to do so properly.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is the proposal agreed to?
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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It is not agreed.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Will the Deputies claiming a division please rise?
Deputies Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, Aengus Ó Snodaigh, Martin Ferris and Finian McGrath rose.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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As fewer than ten Membershave risen I declare the question carried. In accordance with Standing Order 70 the names of the Deputies dissenting will be recorded in the Journal of the Proceedings of the Dáil.
Question declared carried.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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On a point of order, changing the rota for parliamentary questions affects Deputies with regard to the day on which the questions were supposed to be answered. We should at least be given an explanation as to why the date is being changed. Parliamentary questions are a matter for the House. I ask the Ceann Comhairle to ensure in future that if there is an alteration of the rota, Members are given an explanation for it.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy can discuss that at the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. I call Deputy Kenny on the Order of Business.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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We are in an unusual situation. Perhaps the Taoiseach will indicate, given the difficulties he faces with his Government and confidence, whether he intends to seek a full mandate from the people? In the meantime, is it likely that Committee Stage of the National Asset Management Bill, if we get that far, will be taken in the Chamber?
Arising from the vote of confidence given by the people on the Lisbon treaty question last Friday and given that other countries are moving swiftly to make their nominations for commissionerships, has the Government or Taoiseach considered the nomination of a person of suitable calibre to be presented to Commission President Barroso to guarantee this country a priority and high profile commissionership?
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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While the question on NAMA is relevant, I am not so sure about the remaining questions.
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Committee Stage of the legislation will be taken in the normal way and will be dealt with efficiently. On the second question raised by the Deputy, that is a matter for the Government to decide upon. A Commission cannot be formed until a High Representative is appointed by the European Council because the High Representative will be a vice-chairperson of the Commission. The President of the Commission made this clear to me in a discussion I had at the weekend.
Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I have two questions for the Taoiseach. Has the Government decided on the date for the budget and, if so, what is it? On the appointment of a Commissioner, does the Taoiseach intend to consult the leaders of the Opposition parties about the choice of nominee for Commissioner?
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I understand from the past position that the choice of commissionership is dealt with by the Government and is done on the nomination of the Government. If the Deputy wishes us to consider names, we will do so.
On the date for the budget, it will be in December. We are having a discussion on a budgetary strategy beginning tomorrow. We will deal with those matters then and give an exact date.
Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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On promised legislation, the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill is purportedly to ensure funding to the Oireachtas for the three year period from 2010-12. Is it intended that this legislation will ensure value for money and accountability for this funding? Furthermore, will it include measures to control the expenses regime for the Office of the Ceann Comhairle?
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Bill is for this session. I cannot give more detail than that.
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I seek clarification. Two motions have been circulated on one sheet this afternoon. The first of which is a motion from the Minister for Foreign Affairs seeking Dáil approval of the treaty of Lisbon. It is not clear from the circulated text when it will be taken. When will the motion be taken and will it be taken with or without debate? I urge debate if that is permissible.
I am putting the Taoiseach and House on notice that the second motion, tabled by Sinn Féin, is on the position of the Ceann Comhairle.
Given that the people of Donegal resoundingly rejected the campaign for a "Yes" vote created by the political parties in last Friday's referendum, does the Taoiseach intend to make an early announcement on the by-election for Donegal South-West?
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The resolution to which the Deputy refers is consequent to the decision of the people on Friday last and will be taken without debate on Thursday morning. There are no plans at the moment in regard to the by-election writ being moved.
John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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In recent days, an issue has arisen regarding the imposition of PRSI on the redundancy payments of former Waterford Crystal workers. I believe the Department of Social and Family Affairs made a mistake in defining the workers' redundancy payments as income when it should have been considered a termination lump sum payment. The result has been that the workers have been landed with a PRSI bill because the receiver at Waterford Crystal has refused to pay their previous employer's PRSI bill. The workers have lost almost the total value of their pensions, not to speak of having lost their jobs. I ask the Taoiseach, as a former Minister for Finance, to have his office look into the matter.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The question is whether the Taoiseach can be helpful in this matter, which is not in order.
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Perhaps it could be taken up directly with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. I do not have prior knowledge of the details.
John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Social and Family Affairs is the Department involved.
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment would also be involved in respect of the insolvency fund.
Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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A plethora of anomalies has been raised regarding non-principal private residences, including, for example, the position of parish priests who have bought retirement homes but whose primary residence is the parochial house. Advice has been sought on this matter from the Attorney General who is working flat out providing information on the matter. Given the large number of anomalies arising from the recently enacted legislation, does the Government intend to introduce an amending Bill?
Many of those who live abroad, having left Ireland in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, have an ancestral home in their county to which they return for perhaps one or two weeks every year. Are such persons liable to the levy on second homes? Will amending legislation be introduced to address these and other anomalies?
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is legislation promised?
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I am not aware of any promised legislation. Perhaps the Deputy will table a question to the Minister for Finance.
5:00 pm
James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Given that Ireland, with 5,500 new cases per annum, has the highest incidence of skin cancer per head of population in Europe and in light of the Health Service Executive's sham practice of issuing bogus appointments for the dermatology unit at Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar, a practice which may also have occurred elsewhere, will the public health sunbeds Bill be published as a matter of urgency for the purpose of prevention rather than cure?
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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On the public health sunbeds Bill, Taoiseach.
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I understand public consultation has just finished in regard to the preparation of legislation in that respect.
P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Under promised legislation, will the Taoiseach indicate to the House the date for publication of the long-promised Forestry Bill to update the Forestry Acts from 1947 to 1988, which was first to be published in 2005, according to the legislative programme in 2004. It was promised in 2006, according to the legislative programme for that year. It was again promised in 2007, according to the legislative programme in spring 2007. It was again promised in 2008, according to the legislative programme in autumn 2008. In this year's spring legislative programme it was stated that publication was expected, but that it was not possible at that stage to indicate when. In this year's summer legislative programme the same was stated and in this year's autumn legislative programme, which was published three weeks ago, it reappears as "publication expected 2010". Can the Taoiseach give a definite date as to when the new Forestry Bill will be debated in Dáil Éireann?
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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It sounds like a lot of acorns have fallen.
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I am not in a position to give that commitment to the Deputy because, as he said, it is a question of the Bill being ready. It is unlikely to be ready before the end of this year. The best thing we can do is ask the relevant Minister to communicate directly with the Deputy as to what progress or preparation is being made.
Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I wish to ask the Taoiseach how the talks are going with "na glasraí".
Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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What did the Taoiseach say?
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Ar fheabhas ar fad.
Joan Burton
Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Given the proliferation of dangerous dog breeds around the country, when can we expect the control of dogs legislation?
Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Will the animal welfare Bill be published within the lifetime of this Government?
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I have no date at the moment for that Bill.