Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It is proposed to take No. 5, Finance Bill 2012 - Order for Second Stage and Second Stage. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil shall sit later than 9 p.m. tonight and shall adjourn on the adjournment of Private Members' business which shall be No. 39, motion re stroke costs in Ireland, which shall take place on the conclusion of the opening speeches of No. 5 or at 7.30 p.m. whichever is the later, and adjourn after 90 minutes.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I understand that order is to allow the main spokespersons to have their say.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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In what?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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On the Finance Bill. For today, that is the way it is put.

A Deputy:

Deputy Higgins can speak tomorrow.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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We are not having a debate. I am only clarifying that each spokesperson will be guaranteed that his or her contribution will be today and we are delaying Private Members' time until that happens. Is that okay?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Just for the opening slots.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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May I share time?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Yes, that is usual. Is the proposal that the Dáil shall sit later than 9 p.m. tonight agreed to? Agreed.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Family-friendly hours. It is St. Valentine's Day all right. The Government is really up for it.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Martin on the Order of Business.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Would the Taoiseach outline to the House the legislative requirements that will be in order to implement the various commitments in the employment action plan, specifically, when the credit guarantee scheme Bill required will be published, and also whether the abolition of county and city enterprise boards will necessitate legislation and when we can expect that legislation to be brought before the House?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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In respect of the loan credit guarantee scheme, the Minister has done quite a deal of work on the Bill itself. They have designed the model and tender for it, and an operator has been determined.

I cannot give Deputy Martin an exact date as to when he will bring it in here. Maybe I will get the Minister to give a more accurate fix on this. If I give the Deputy a date, I may be wrong. I would say eight to ten weeks. I might be a little off on that, but that is what I would expect.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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This has been announced for approximately a year. Eight or ten weeks means one is looking at six months before this will be activated. It seems incredible that an operator has been identified but the House has not even had wind of anything. Also, the Minister might comment on the enterprise boards.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It is not an easy situation to get right given the range of businesses that are out there and the circumstances that apply in each case. The Minister has had to start from scratch here and devise a system that will cater for this. For every €100 million that will be leveraged through this credit scheme, 1,200 businesses will be enabled to do their business. That is my assumption. When I speak to the Minister and get a more accurate fix on it, I will let Deputy Martin know.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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What of the country enterprise boards?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The position there is being conducted by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. There will be an enterprise desk in each local authority. The funding for that will be still ring-fenced from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and that will continue for some time to see exactly how this works.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Will there be legislation to abolish the existing boards?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The legislation is being worked on by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. I ask Deputy Martin not to ask me when the Minister will bring it into the House; I will let the Deputy know.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Seo ceist faoi reachtaíocht atá fógraithe. Legislation is required in order for the Government to ratify the treaty establishing the European stability mechanism. When does the Taoiseach expect this to be published, when will it come before the Dáil and does it have to be sent to the Attorney General for further legal advice?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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This is being drafted. Clearly, there is a deal of work to be done in respect of the fiscal responsibility Bill which would give effect to Articles in the treaty and work is under way on that Bill. It is complex enough and we will report progress to Deputy Adams as it is being completed.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Is there a date set?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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No.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Taoiseach.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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In the Garda Síochána regulations it is stated that a Garda cannot become insolvent. Has the Government any proposed legislation, perhaps in the Legal Services Bill 2011, to address this in law, as many new young gardaí, like many others in society, are in negative equity and are in difficulty with mortgages etc.?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is a matter for a parliamentary question, not promised legislation.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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I am asking if there is promised legislation.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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It is not promised legislation.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Is the Ceann Comhairle sure-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I am certain about it.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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-----that it is not in the Legal Services Bill 2011?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Legal Services Bill 2011 is going through the Dáil. How can that be promised legislation? Are we codding each other here? Hold on a second.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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If there is not promised legislation, there should be-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Maybe there should.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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-----because it is a serious matter for the force.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is why I suggest Deputy Healy-Rae table a parliamentary question.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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That was unfair.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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There is a proposition to bring in a Bill on this, but it will be the latter part of the year.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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The sea-fisheries and maritime jurisdiction (amendment) Bill, as the Taoiseach might remember, is a Bill to introduce administrative penalties for alleged offences at sea. When will that be introduced?

I heard the Taoiseach give a lengthy reply earlier this afternoon to Deputy Martin on Priory Hall. On Sunday last, 600 or 700 people were praying for the Taoiseach out in Donaghmede and asking him to urgently intervene, and for him to take responsibility to arrange a comprehensive settlement,-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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We dealt with that matter earlier.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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-----as Deputy Martin stated earlier, to re-house these people. I ask the Taoiseach again.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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A topical issue.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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I promise to ask the Taoiseach every day from now on about Priory Hall.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Broughan will not be allowed.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Will the Taoiseach bring this horrendous situation of people being refugees in their own country to an end once and for all in the coming days?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The latter question is out of order. It is a matter for a topical issue or a parliamentary question.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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We have done a good few of those.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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One can go again. We must be in order here. The first question was in order. It was about promised legislation.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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There is no date fixed for that fines Bill in respect of fisheries; it will be later in the year. Deputy Broughan can convey my thanks to the people for their prayers. God knows, these days I need them.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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The Taoiseach must deliver.

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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I ask the Taoiseach about the promised legislation on Irish water. On Saturday last, the Irish Farmers' Journal carried a quotation from the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, reporting him stating that Irish Water "will oversee everything to do with water and septic tanks across the country". I want the Taoiseach to clarify whether the Government has now decided that Irish Water will have a role in overseeing the legislation and regulation of septic tanks.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Stanley will have to put down a parliamentary question.

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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If the Government does that to the Irish Water, there will be the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, the EPA, the river basin management committees and local authorities. The Taoiseach will be aware that that will be a bureaucratic nightmare stretching the whole way from the Customs House to Belmullet.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Would Deputy Stanley resume his seat and I will get him an answer?

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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It is on forthcoming legislation. Will Irish Water have a role in overseeing,-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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That relates to content and we do not deal with that on the Order of Business.

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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-----as the Minister stated, according to the Irish Farmers' Journal, in the implementation-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Stanley has made his point.

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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-----of standards of septic tanks-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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When is the legislation on Irish Water due?

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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-----because that would involve five separate bodies?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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On the legislation in respect of Irish Water, that will be its remit in terms of the provision of proper clean and safe water at affordable prices.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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On something on the same basis,-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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No.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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It is about the Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 and enactment of same. When will we get the guidelines?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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On the Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011,-----

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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When will the Minister give us the guidelines?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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-----Deputy Mattie McGrath can go to the committee and deal with the Committee Stage.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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The Minister promised to give them to us in Tipperary last week but he failed to do so.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy McGrath should not mind that.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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When will the Minister give us the guidelines?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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This is the Order of Business in the Dáil. We are not in Tipperary.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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I did not say that, but I am asking about promised legislation, the water services legislation. When will the Minister give us the standards?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Taoiseach is after telling the House about the water services.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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He did not.

A Deputy:

He did.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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He did not.

When will he tell us the standards by which the Bill will be implemented?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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When is the water services Bill due?

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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The regulations.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Minister is working on that and we have not yet set a date for publication. It is a far-ranging and important Bill.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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The Taoiseach is straying into grey areas with grey water.

Ray Butler (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Regarding the gambling Bill, which is proposed legislation, in light of the recent "Prime Time" documentary on unregulated online activities, serious consideration must be given to-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Butler can ask when the Bill is due, not give a statement.

Ray Butler (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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I want to raise this issue-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Then Deputy Butler should table a parliamentary question.

Ray Butler (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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I am going to finish now.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I must be fair to everyone.

Ray Butler (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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When will the gambling Bill come before the House? This is a serious problem.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The heads of the Bill have not come before the Government yet so I do not have a date for its publication. Once the heads of the Bill have come to Government and been circulated, I will be in a better position to give the Deputy a true indication of the time.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I refer to promised legislation on the DNA database system. This is of particular importance in tracking crimes that were committed some years ago. Unfortunately, we do not have that system set up here. Has the Bill been discussed in Cabinet and have the heads of the Bill been agreed? To what extent has it been advanced and when will it come before the House?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It has been discussed at Cabinet and I can confirm that considerable drafting has been done but I expect it will be the middle of the year before it is finalised.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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We are almost in a situation of crisis in the HSE in that no one is quite sure who is in charge. When will the Bill to restructure the HSE come before the Dáil? Everyone seems to be passing the buck, the Secretary General of the Department is the chair of the board and the Minister claims he is in charge yet all queries are referred to the HSE. This is a crisis point and we want to know who is in charge and when legislation will be brought before the Dáil so that we can have a serious debate on the restructuring of the HSE, a central tenet and plank of the Government's commitments prior to the election.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The HSE governance Bill will come before the House this session. We know who is in charge.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Who?

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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We do not know.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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We will have a chat about that later.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Taoiseach is smiling, he does not seem to know.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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When can we expect to see the legislation underpinning the NewERA proposal, on which the Taoiseach's party was voluble in previous times? We had information yesterday on the jobs initiative and there seems to be a drastic lack of information on the opportunities to be provided by NewERA and the 100,000 jobs associated with it. If we had legislation before the House we would be able to establish if there is duplicity or if these are the same jobs. People are still expecting the creation of 100,000 jobs from NewERA and I can only assume that what was announced yesterday is in addition to the proposal that went before the people.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Dooley's leader wants to go to dinner. It is Valentine's night.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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NewERA operates under the NTMA and has a specific responsibility and remit for carrying out evaluations in respect of the potential sale of the State assets the Government will consider disposing of at an appropriate time, for appropriate remuneration and in accordance with the memorandum of understanding with the troika. When the Government decides to fix on the assets it will dispose of, NewERA will carry out evaluations on behalf of the Government and the implications for new jobs are very clear.