Dáil debates
Wednesday, 15 February 2012
Order of Business
11:00 am
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It is proposed to take No. 5, Finance Bill 2012 - Second Stage (resumed), and Private Members' business shall be No. 39, motion re stroke costs in Ireland (resumed) to conclude after 90 minutes if not previously concluded.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The action plan for jobs involves a significant amount of legislation. The Taoiseach was unclear yesterday about the timetable for the credit guarantee scheme given its centrality to the small and medium sized enterprise sector and the creation of jobs in that sector. I would appreciate a more definitive timetable for that legislation, not only for when it is expected to come before the House but when it will be implemented.
I am also asking about the legislation that will be required to abolish the county and city enterprise boards. This issue is causing heated debate across the country about whether it is the wisest move to encourage small enterprise. I would appreciate if the Taoiseach would indicate when he expects the legislation to abolish the enterprise boards to be introduced.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I expect the partial loan credit guarantee scheme legislation to be introduced during this session. I said yesterday it would take two to two and a half months. A lot of work has been done on it to get the structure right.
In respect of legislation to address county enterprise boards, I have written to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to get his responses on the timeline for the production of legislation. Clearly there are regulatory issues that must be considered at local level. The Minister will respond directly to Deputy Martin on that.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Surely the Taoiseach had all this sorted out when he published the action plan? It is unbelievable he is now writing to a Minister about a central part of the action plan.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The action plan has 270 proposals.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I know that but the Taoiseach is now writing to the Minister. Does he not talk to him?
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The first meeting about that takes place this morning.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Does the Taoiseach not have Cabinet meetings?
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy asked me a day and date for legislation and I will respond formally.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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That is what I am asking for. There was great fanfare; this was not announced in the Dáil, it was announced outside the Dáil so the Taoiseach cannot come in here and say he has no date for important legislation.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy can table a parliamentary question if he is not satisfied with the answer.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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We did not have great fanfare; we did not have the event at the cost of €100,000 in the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, like Deputy Martin did in government.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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With the greatest of respect, the Taoiseach should stop all the old blather. I asked a specific question and the Taoiseach comes in here and says he is writing to a Minister.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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This was in a working environment in an Irish company that employs 8,500 people worldwide. The announcement was made with no great hype and it is a really solid action plan.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Taoiseach did not even know yesterday if it needed legislation.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy asked about legislation and I will respond to the question through the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I expect the Taoiseach to know the answer to the question and not to have to write to the Minister.
Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Maidir le reachtaíocht a fógraíodh, does the Government intend to bring forward new legislation to facilitate the sell off of State assets or will he provide time for a debate on the sell off? All the time we hear scéalta through the media. We have a strong view that State control of strategic assets such as ESB or Bord Gáis is central to the future of the economy. Those of us with a different view from the Government must be involved in the debate on the issue so are there any plans for that?
Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Deputy was so helpful with State assets for years.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I am intrigued by the Deputy's newfound interest in State assets; he certainly did a lot to help them over the years.
Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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A lot more that Fine Gael ever did.
Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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How many times did he blow up the railway line?
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Could we get back to legislation please?
Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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The Taoiseach is in bad form this morning.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Taoiseach is very tetchy this morning.
Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Did he not get his Valentine's card?
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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On how many occasions was business disrupted in this country because there was another call about a bomb on the northern line or whatever? The Deputy had a real interest-----
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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That had absolutely nothing to do with Sinn Féin.
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Why does the Taoiseach not answer the question? It is a joke that those who claim to be the descendants of James Connolly and those who are the descendants of the murdering thugs back in the 1920s sit together.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Ó Caoláin is the very person who complains when people do not pay attention so I ask him to please be respectful.
Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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If the Taoiseach would speak about things that happened in this century, it would be easier.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform will bring a memo to Government in the next few weeks on the disposal of State assets. This is part of the Government programme and there will be no fire sale of State assets. Any asset considered for disposal will be non-strategic and will be sold by the Government at the appropriate time and based on an appropriate remuneration as determined by NewERA. This matter will be debated here. In the context of the receipt of funds from the disposal of non-strategic State assets, Deputy Adams should consider the fact that the enterprise budget is approximately €500 million and he should also consider the impact of the work of the IDA and other job-generating agencies. He should think about what one could do to create jobs with additional resources spent effectively.
Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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The Taoiseach should think about the promissory note and the money he has given to the bondholders.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Adams should think of the impact of this on national morale. The answer to the question is that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform will bring a memorandum to the Cabinet in the coming weeks in regard to the disposal of State assets. When the Government has considered it, we can have a debate here.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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No. We are not having debates on the Order of Business.
Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I am not seeking a debate; I am seeking guidance.
Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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The Taoiseach is entitled to raise matters about what he regards as Sinn Féin's record. The difficulty is that he is in government with a party whose leadership was involved with a group that styled itself as the Official IRA, whose fund-raising-----
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy is totally out of order and should please resume his seat.
Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Every time I asked a question here-----
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy should resume his seat.
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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What about the Fine Gael record?
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I call Deputy Kitt.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Please. What did the Deputy have for his breakfast this morning?
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Perhaps he should go have it then.
Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The porridge is good.
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Níl aon Bhille, nó leasú ar Bhille, mar gheall ar na todhcháin do Údarás na Gaeltachta a chur ar cheal. Without this legislation, I can only assume the elections are still going ahead. What is the position on legislation on this matter?
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Tá a fhios ag an Leas-Cheann Comhairle go raibh díospóireacht ag an Rialtas faoi seo an lá cheana. Tá cead tugtha ag an Rialtas don Aire Stáit an Bille seo a chur os comhair na Dála, agus tá an obair sin ar siúl faoi láthair.
Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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As the Taoiseach is aware, there is a growing list of missing persons. Recently, a young woman from my area was added to it. There was a case in which an Irish person's body-----
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Where are we going here?
Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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I am going to tell-----
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy should please tell us quickly because there are other Deputies present.
Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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An Irish person's body was found off the coast of Cumbria.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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This is not Question Time.
Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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I am coming to the point.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy should ask a question about promised legislation.
Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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I am going to ask it. A body was found off the coast of Cumbria in England ten years ago which was only recently identified through DNA testing. Legislation was promised under the Criminal Justice Bill with regard to a database on DNA. When will this come into being? Will DNA testing be done on missing persons' families? It is very important.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I received a calendar from a group of young people indicating the dates when people went missing over the years. It is extensive and is horrendous for the families involved, irrespective of the circumstances in which the people went missing. The DNA Bill is expected by the middle of the year. Considerable work has been done on it already.
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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With regard to the Finance Bill and the Taoiseach's new jobs programme, which he announced yesterday, with the cuts to community employment-----
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy should hold on for a second.
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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We are creating jobs on one hand and destroying them on the other.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy should resume his seat.
Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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With regard to the solid jobs plans, in respect of which the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, stated 300,000 or 400,000 jobs would be created, will the strategic investment fund of €250 million for capital expenditure necessitate legislation? If so, when will it be introduced? Perhaps the Taoiseach will shed light on the number of jobs to be created.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is legislation promised?
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The action plan is realistic and ambitious in the sense of creating a net 100,000 new jobs by the end of 2016.
Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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What is the gross figure?
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Minister's work in respect of the SOLAS legislation is under way. I cannot give the Deputy an exact date for its introduction but I will give him a more accurate timeline when I consult the Minister. It will be a little while yet.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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On promised legislation and in view of the ongoing concerns over human trafficking, what discussion has taken place on the production of the heads of the human trafficking Bill, which was promised? To what extent has the legislation been discussed and when will it be possible to bring it before the House?
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The heads of the Bill have not been presented to the Government. The Minister for Justice and Equality has been working on the legislation but it has not yet reached Cabinet stage.
Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The Taoiseach has prioritised tourism in his approach to the recovery of the economy. At the same time, the Government has asked-----
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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There are to be no speeches.
Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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-----a private consulting company to examine the reorganisation of State airports. As he knows, Booz & Company has produced a report. I understand it has been given to the Government by the Minister but it seems to be sitting on its hands. When does the Taoiseach intend to amend the State Airports Act 2004 with a view to considering the management and operation of our three national airports, which are such an integral part of our tourism offering?
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Minister has received the report in respect of Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports. Clearly, there are implications for all the airports in addition to implications arising from the economic circumstances in which they find themselves. The Minister is considering the report and will let the House know about it in due course.
Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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When will the promised legislation on the amalgamation of VEC schools nationally come before the House and what role will VECs have in the future of national schools, particularly in light of the proposed cuts?
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Legislation on that is being worked upon by the Minister for Education and Skills and I expect it will be before the House in about ten weeks.
Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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On promised legislation, can I ask the Taoiseach about the status of the Education and Training Boards Bill? I previously asked the Taoiseach where the legislation stands in regard to changing the role of FÁS and replacing it by SOLAS. This partly involves an overhaul of the structure of the VEC sector, which requires legislation. It is important that it be dealt with quickly to ensure we provide the right array of services to those currently without a job.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Two points arise, the first of which is the rationalisation of the VECs and the other of which concerns SOLAS. They will be taken together in eight to ten weeks.
Peter Mathews (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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In view of the escalating, horrific circumstances in Syria, could I ask the Taoiseach to convey the solemn disapproval and objection of this House to the veto exercised by Russia and China-----
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy may do so by way of a parliamentary question.
Peter Mathews (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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-----of the recent UN resolution concerning the protection of human rights in Syria?
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is a matter for a parliamentary question or a motion and it does not arise on the Order of Business.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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We should have a debate on international issues. We do not seem to have any.
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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In light of the very positive announcement yesterday by the Northern Ireland Administration that £330 million will be spent between now and 2016 on completing 37 km of the 88-km A5 project, will the Taoiseach now reconsider his refusal to allow a debate in the House?
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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That does not arise on the Order of Business. The Deputy should table a parliamentary question.
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Following on the comments by the North's Minister for Finance, Mr. Wilson, MLA, that less money was allocated to the Northern Administration-----
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is a matter for the Whips.
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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I raised this before.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I know. The Deputy may raise it again but not on the Order of Business.
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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The last time I raised it, the Ceann Comhairle allowed it.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I only apply the rules as they stand.
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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It concerns a debate in the House.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy should approach his Whip for a debate.
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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I understood it was in order to raise it on the Order of Business.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Standing Orders-----
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I call Deputy Healy. I do not need a lecture.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am not lecturing but we have been doing it since this Dáil-----
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I call Deputy Healy.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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A bit of consistency would not go amiss either.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy should do his job and I will do mine.
Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Martin spent 14 years ducking and diving. He was not ducking for nothing.
Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)
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In view of the bizarre circumstances that have developed in Mullingar, Clonmel and Cavan, where the Minister for Defence is closing barracks-----
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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This is the Order of Business.
Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)
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This is in regard to legislation.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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About what legislation is the Deputy talking?
Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)
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At the same time as the bizarre closure of the barracks, the Department is-----
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy should please resume his seat.
Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)
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-----advertising in regard to the rental and lease of properties for the Defence Forces in the same towns, at a cost of approximately €100,000 per year. Is there any proposed legislation to prevent this waste of public money?
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy should table a parliamentary question. There is no legislation promised in this area.
Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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When will the sale of alcohol Bill, which was due to be published this year, be before the House? I understand it will deal with the sale and consumption of alcohol, which is a very important issue in modern society.
The housing Bill, which will deal with the rationalisation of housing agencies, is an important measure that we all await with interest. Perhaps the Taoiseach can say when that legislation will come before us.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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As regards Deputy Coffey's first point, the Minister of State, Deputy Shortall, is dealing with this matter. A fine report has been produced, which went through the Cabinet sub-committee and will now go to the Oireachtas committee for a full debate, as well as involving a broader consultation with interest groups. I expect the Minister to bring that legislation to the House by mid-year. It is complex and extensive, so a full discussion is needed on it.
As regards the housing Bill, the heads of that legislation have not yet come to Cabinet. It will be later this year before the Minister can bring it before the House for approval.