Dáil debates
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
Order of Business
11:00 am
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It is proposed to take No. 17, statements on the pre-European Council meeting of 23 October; and No. 18, Central Bank and Credit Institutions (Resolution) (No. 2) Bill 2011 - Order for Report, Report and Final Stages. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil shall sit later than 9 p.m. tonight and shall adjourn on the conclusion of Private Members' business, which shall be No. 29, motion re community and voluntary sector (resumed), which shall be taken at 7.30 p.m. or on the conclusion of No. 18, whichever is the later, and shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 90 minutes; the proceedings in relation to No. 17 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 65 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply: the statement of the Taoiseach and of the main spokespersons for Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and the Technical Group, who shall be called upon in that order and who may share time, shall not exceed 15 minutes in each case and a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply, which shall not exceed five minutes; and the Report and Final Stages of No. 18 shall be taken today and the proceedings thereon shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 7.30 p.m. by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall in relation to amendments include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Finance.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is the proposal that the Dáil shall later than 9 p.m. tonight agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 17 agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 18 agreed to? Agreed.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am disturbed by trends emanating from the Government regarding social welfare recipients, from the comments on lifestyle choice by the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton to today's comments by the Taoiseach on scams. It must be reiterated that the majority of social welfare recipients are not scammers and are in a difficult position because of the economic crisis. Headlines about €1 billion cuts in the welfare budget and so on are not good enough.
Will the Taoiseach give a clear timetable for the publication of the comprehensive spending review? We are reading about it every day in the newspapers. The House deserves an opportunity to debate this independent review. When is the social welfare Bill expected to be published?
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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As normal, the social welfare Bill will be published after the budget. The process concerning the comprehensive spending review will come before the Government next week and then the dates will be laid out. I can give the Deputy an exact timetable next week if he raises it again.
Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Will we have the review in advance of the budget?
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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What about the presidential election?
Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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That will be before the budget.
Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The election that Deputy Martin's party does not care about.
Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Neither does Fine Gael judging by its choice of candidate.
Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The presidential election will be before the budget.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I meant how the publication of the review will fit in with the presidential election.
Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Thank you, gentlemen.
I understand we will have sight of the Keane report some time around now.
Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Deputy McDonald cannot wait to get her hands on it.
Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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The 100,000 people, both in families and individually, in mortgage distress need to know the Taoiseach will do much more than simply issue guidelines for the banks. I hope this report's recommendations will be ambitious and creative.
Earlier, the Taoiseach said two days would be assigned for a debate on this report next week. How much time will be given over those two days?
Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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As much time as Deputy McDonald wants.
Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Will the Minister for Finance be available throughout all the debate and participate in a question-and-answer session?
Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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How much time would Deputy McDonald like?
Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Two days would be a start.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The economic management council established the Keane group to examine the issue of mortgage distress and repayment difficulties. It was requested that its report would contain recommendations as distinct from theories as to how to deal with these issues. The Deputy can read the report in a few minutes.
As I already said, this report will not be the repository of all wisdom on this issue. The debate will take place next Tuesday and Thursday and the House will sit late on both occasions. We will accede to further requests for more time. I want every Member to have his or her say about cases involving constituents because each circumstance will be different. Every Member is aware of the distress and the anxiety for those caught in this bind. We want to ensure the debate is as comprehensive and as inclusive as possible.
I have asked the Chief Whip to be as flúirseach with his time as is possible. We will have a comprehensive debate on Tuesday and, again, on Thursday with the House sitting late on both occasions. Taking into account Deputy Michael McGrath's Debt Settlement and Mortgage Resolution Office Bill, every Member will have his or her say on this matter.
Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Will the Minister for Finance be present for the debate?
Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Several Ministers will be present.
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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When will the Construction Contracts Bill 2010 be introduced in the House? I am disappointed it was not introduced by the previous Government. It is never more needed than it is now, however. Today, south Tipperary lost a company, Jer Ryan Electrical Contractors Limited, with the loss of 142 jobs in Clonmel.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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There is no need for the Deputy to expand on his question about legislation.
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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This company employed 300 people during the height of the boom. It was concerned about the passage of the Bill. When will it be brought before the House?
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Brian Hayes, is working on this Bill. It is hoped to take Second Stage during this session.
Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Those under 25 years of age in receipt of the maximum rate of jobseeker's allowance for their age are being refused medical cards because it is not the same as the maximum rate for those who are over 25. There is a need to amend the ministerial order to remove the anomaly contained in the 2009 medical card-GP visit card national assessment guidelines. Will the Taoiseach direct the Minister for Health to amend those guidelines and remove that anomaly?
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy cannot raise that on the Order of Business.
Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Yes, I can because the Order of Business covers ministerial orders.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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This is secondary legislation.
Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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A ministerial order is within the terms of the Order of Business.
Regarding No. 82 on the legislative programme, the health (miscellaneous provisions) Bill, over 50 patients are on hospital trolleys in Galway University Hospital awaiting admission. At the same time, inpatients at the hospital from County Roscommon will not be transferred back for treatment to Roscommon County Hospital at which there are vacant beds.
Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Will the Taoiseach ask the Minister for Health to intervene directly to transfer those Roscommon patients back to Roscommon hospital and, by doing so, alleviate the overcrowding in Galway?
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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What legislation are we talking about?
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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There is no legislation in this regard.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Then we cannot deal with it.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I will ask the Minister for Health to respond to the Deputy's query about this matter.
On yesterday's Order of Business, Deputy Naughten raised a question about an announcement on slurry spreading which is of considerable importance to the agricultural sector at this time. The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government will make an announcement on this matter today.
Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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We hope it will be positive.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Is this a case of looking after Deputy Naughten?
Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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It is about looking after everyone.
Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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When will the legislation for a temporary credit guarantee scheme be introduced?
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I expect it will be introduced in this session.
Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Having briefly read the Keane report, many people will be disappointed with the lack of urgency in its recommendations. Many of them leave it to the banks to deal with those matters between lenders and the Central Bank. Some will go some length in addressing concerns such as split mortgages, however.
The Minister for Finance has already given a commitment that the necessary legislation to give effect to the Keane report's recommendations will be introduced before December. Is the Government committed to introduce the necessary legislation before the Christmas recess, so some of those 90,000 mortgage holders can benefit from some of the report's recommendations?
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Pearse Doherty must be the Speedy Gonzales of the House if he can read the Keane report in seven minutes. I suggest he read it again.
Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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I have had a copy of the report longer than that.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The report contains a series of recommendations on which the Government intends to act quickly. There will be a two-day debate on the report next week, during which we can hear the Deputy's views. Whatever necessary legislation arising from the Government's decisions in this regard will be enacted as quickly as possible.
Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister made a commitment that it would be before Christmas, however.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The legislation will be implemented as quickly as possible.
Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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We look forward to Deputy Doherty's suggestions.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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We already have a Bill ready in this area.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Those affected by mortgage distress cannot afford to wait. We want to act as comprehensively, as quickly, as responsibly and as effectively as we can. That is why we do not have a moment to lose.
Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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It is urgent yet the Government has already had eight months to deal with the issue and still has done nothing.
Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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Is the Taoiseach aware of this morning's announcement by Aer Arann that it will withdraw its services from Galway Airport, resulting in the loss of 180 jobs? Will the Taoiseach ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to intervene in this matter?
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I suggest that the Deputy apply for a Topical Issue debate on this matter.
Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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These job losses will cost the Exchequer approximately €20 million in social welfare payments.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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This is not on the Order of Business.
Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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The State granted the airport approximately €2 million, yet the Minister has refused to fund the airport from the end of this year.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy will need to find another way to raise this matter. It is not on the Order of Business.
Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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Will the Taoiseach ask the Minister to intervene in some other way to save the jobs of 180 people at Galway Airport? Will the Taoiseach intervene?
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The matter is out of order. I call Deputy Bannon. If Deputy Grealish applies to have it raised as a Topical Issue, I will consider it.
James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Noise pollution is an increasing threat to rural and urban peace. When will the noise nuisance Bill be before the House? I welcome the Taoiseach's statement that there will be a commonsensical approach to farming in terms of the spreading of slurry.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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There is a lot of noise around these days.
Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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There is no noise in Mullingar Barracks now.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I do not have a date for the noise pollution Bill but I hope Deputy Bannon will be pleased when he hears the announcement regarding slurry by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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So we will need to legislate for another matter.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I call Deputy Durkan.
Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Who said that?
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I am sorry for keeping the Deputies opposite in expectation. On promised legislation, what progress is there on the heads of the judicial council Bill?
The previous Administration promised, faithfully for many years, the mental capacity Bill, which it deemed important. The Bill will incorporate into law the Law Reform Commission's report on vulnerable adults and the law.
The previous Government considered another matter for a long time and achieved nothing, namely, the housing Bill to provide for the rationalisation of housing agencies and to strengthen the regulatory framework for social housing, an aspect the previous Administration forgot about. Have the heads of these Bills been discussed and, if they are to be progressed, when will that be?
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The heads of the judicial council Bill were approved in July 2010. It is expected to be published early next year. The heads of the mental capacity Bill were approved in September 2008 and it is expected to be published early next year also. The heads of the housing Bill have not yet been approved.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Taoiseach.