Dáil debates
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
Adjournment Debate Matters
4:00 pm
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 21 and the name of the Member in each case: (1) Deputy Joe McHugh - hospice services in Donegal; (2) Deputy John O'Mahony - the loss of jobs at a company in County Mayo (details supplied); (3) Deputy Paul Connaughton - the failure of the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and his Department in not paying the correct single farm payment and area-based payment to thousands of farmers over the past month, five farmers were not contacted much earlier in the year about alleged mapping errors, given that the applications were in his Department as long ago as last April, and if he will state why some farmers received letters outlining problems that did not exist, why it has taken the private company which is re-digitising the maps in question so long to complete the exercise and if the Minister is aware of the huge number of farmers who have bank commitments to meet and who are now in grave financial circumstances as a result of this bureaucratic mess; (4) Deputy Michael Moynihan - issues in funding for an association (details supplied); (5) Deputy James Bannon - the need for the Minister for Health and Children to explain why a teenage girl should suffer and her health deteriorate while essential funding to allow vital spinal surgery is not available although timely surgical treatment is essential; (6) Deputy Dan Neville - the need for mental health resources to be protected under budget 2011; (7) Deputy Terence Flanagan - the need for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to provide an update on his plans to eliminate long-term homelessness by the end of the year; (8) Deputy Michael D'Arcy - that the NRA does not construct a motorway services area at Inch, Gorey, County Wexford on the M11; (9) Deputy Joe Costello - the need for the Minister to provide replacement training facilities for the unemployed in north west and north inner city Dublin following the closure of Jervis Street and Cabra FÁS training centres.
The matters raised by Deputies Joe McHugh, Dan Neville, Michael Moynihan and John O'Mahony have been selected for discussion.
Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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On a point of order, is the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government going to make a statement on the by-election and the court judgment?
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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We are moving on to the Local Government (Mayor and Regional Authority of Dublin) Bill 2010 - Order for Second Stage. I call on the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley-----
Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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On a point of order-----
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Chair is speaking. The Deputy should resume his seat.
Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Minister has shown total contempt for this House in the past hour. He was hiding outside the door, frightened to come in to address an issue within his area of ministerial responsibility.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Shatter should resume his seat.
Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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He was frightened to come in but now he appears.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Minister should move Second Stage now and get it agreed.
Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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He was hiding outside waiting until the discussion on the by-election was over.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Minister should move the motion that the Bill be now read a Second Time.
Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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That is a shameful and embarrassing performance by a Minister.
John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Could I just-----
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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Could the Minister formally move that Second Stage be taken now?
Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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It is disgraceful. He was treating this House with contempt. This is the Green Party version of Oireachtas and Dáil reform.
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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On a point of order-----
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Ó Caoláin should resume his seat please.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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He is seriously interrupting the business of the House. We are moving on to Second Stage of a Bill.
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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If that is what you want to do, I have no intention of preventing you, a Cheann Comhairle. I wish to simply establish the facts very quickly. The Bill is to establish a mayor for Dublin. What in heaven's name prevented the Minister, Deputy Gormley, from coming to the House to address the Donegal South-West by-election issue?
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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This is not appropriate. The Deputy should resume his seat.
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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The questions were all addressed to the Minister.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy should resume his seat. The Minister should be allowed to continue.
Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister was hiding outside.
Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Minister is more interested in his novelty project than in democracy and protecting the Constitution.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Minister should be allowed to continue.
John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I am happy to answer Deputy Ó Caoláin's question. The writ for Donegal must be moved by the Government Chief Whip. That is a fact.
Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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But the response to the Dáil question was the Minister's responsibility.
John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The most appropriate person to respond to the debate on this occasion was the Government Chief Whip.
Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Minister, Deputy Gormley, hid outside the door.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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We will continue with the Second Stage reading.
Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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We have a former Taoiseach jumping out of cupboards and the Minister hiding behind doors. What a farce.
John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I would like to answer the question but I cannot answer it.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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I will have to suspend the House if the Deputies do not co-operate and allow the Minister to continue.
John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I cannot answer the questions.
Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Minister should address the legislation.
John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I am happy to do that.