Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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It is proposed to take No. 2, Jurisdiction of Courts and Enforcement of Judgements (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad] - Second and Subsequent Stages; and No. 1, Education (Amendment) Bill 2012 [Seanad] - Second Stage (resumed).

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Can we have some order please? We are in the middle of business. Those wishing to leave the Chamber can do so quietly.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that, in respect of No. 2, the proceedings on the Second Stage shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 1 p.m. today; the opening speech of a Minister or Minister of State and of the main spokespersons for Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and the Technical Group, who shall be called upon in that order, shall not exceed 15 minutes in each case, the speech of each other Member called upon shall not exceed ten minutes in each case, Members may share time, and a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed five minutes; the proceedings on the Committee and Remaining Stages shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 1.30 p.m. today 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 Justice and Equality.

In regard to the Scrap and Precious Metal Dealers Bill 2011-----

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Mattie Bill.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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-----the Second Stage of which shall be considered tomorrow, the opening speeches of the main spokespersons for the Technical Group, Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin, and of a Minister or Minister of State, who shall be called upon in that order, shall not exceed 15 minutes in each case; the speech of each other Member called upon shall not exceed 15 minutes in each case; Members may share time; a Minister or Minister of State, who may speak twice, shall be called upon not later than 1 p.m. to make a speech which shall not exceed 15 minutes; the main spokesperson for the Technical Group shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 15 minutes.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is the proposal for dealing with No. 2, Second and Remaining Stages of the Jurisdiction of Courts and Enforcement of Judgements (Amendment) Bill 2011 agreed to? Agreed.

Is the proposal for the sitting and business of the Dáil tomorrow agreed to? Agreed.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Scrap Friday.

A Deputy:

Will Deputy Kelleher be here?

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I was here more often than the Deputies opposite. I did not see any of them around.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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It is hardly worth his while going home.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I am glad to see Deputy Kelleher getting some practice in for the Ard-Fheis. Members should leave him alone.

Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour)
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Billy bi-location.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Over 100,000 people have left private health insurance companies and there is a significant crisis developing in respect of access to private health insurance. This is having an impact on hard-pressed families across the country and serious issues arise. In the context of the proposals in the programme for Government and promised legislation on universal health insurance, can the Tánaiste indicate to the House when proposals pertaining to the introduction of universal health insurance will be introduced and when legislation on the governance of the HSE or the health service will be brought forward?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Minister for Health is establishing an implementation group on universal health insurance and it will play a central role in supporting the Government to deliver on its commitment to introduce a single-tier health system, supported by universal health insurance. The legislation required will arise following that. A number of items of health legislation have been planned for this session and I am not sure to which one Deputy Martin refers.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The legislation dealing with the replacement of the HSE.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Approval to draft heads of the Bill was given by the Government on 20 December 2011 and it is hoped the Bill will be published this session.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Did the Tánaiste say the Minister for Health will establish an implementation group or has established an implementation group?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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He is establishing an implementation group.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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So it has not been established yet.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I am not sure at what stage the establishment of the group is at.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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In the programme for Government, the Government is committed to legislating for a new code of laws replacing the Ministers and Secretaries Act and the Public Service Management Act. The objective is to spell out the legal relationship between Ministers and civil servants and the legal accountability for decisions and management of Departments. I ask this question given its importance and increased priority on the first day of the shrunken civil and public service at the end of the grace period.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform brought the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill before the House some time ago. A number of items of legislation exist, including a Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill, for which the heads are being finalised. It is expected to be published this year.

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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Regarding mortgage arrears, around the corner this morning in the Shelbourne Hotel-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Stanley can only ask about promised legislation.

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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If the Ceann Comhairle bears with me I will explain. There is an auction in the Shelbourne Hotel where repossessed properties are being sold, including family homes in my constituency. We have a crisis, with one in nine private mortgages in serious trouble and four in ten local authority loans in arrears of three months or more. We have had the Keane report and 12 months of Dáil sittings. The issue is dragging on and on.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy, would you please ask the question about promised legislation?

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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I want the Tánaiste to do something about this issue, on which the Government promised measures. I have raised it consistently. People are at their wits' end. I want the Tánaiste to tell me good news.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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We have already announced the Bill that will be the core legislation to deal with this issue, namely, the personal insolvency Bill. Its heads were approved by Government on 24 January and it will be published this session.

Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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What progress has been made on the construction contracts Bill?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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It was discussed by the Government this week. The Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, is progressing it.

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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I refer to the betting (amendment) Bill. It will establish the registry framework for the licensing of remote bookmakers and betting exchanges. The Tánaiste will be aware that the Finance Act 2011 contained measures to allow for the extension of 1% betting duty to remote bookmakers and for a 15% gross profit to betting exchanges. However, the taxation provisions are subject to a ministerial commencement order which can only commence once the Bill is enacted.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The betting (amendment) Bill is expected this session.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As the Tánaiste knows, it is now six months since the collapse of Home Payments Limited, a debt management advisory business, and two months ago the Central Bank wrote to another company offering such services, www.yourmoney.ie, and advised its customers to stop all payments to it. When will the Government introduce promised legislation to regulate debt management advisory companies and household budgeting services? We have a Bill on the Order Paper which was submitted for tomorrow but not selected. When does the Government intend to bring forward its proposals?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I expect the proposals will be brought forward shortly. The Minister for Finance is dealing with the matter.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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This year, the Government has committed €1.3 billion to be paid to Irish Life & Permanent by June and €3.1 billion to Anglo Irish Bank by the end of March. We are also expecting the PCAR results for the stress tests of 2011. Can the Tánaiste tell us when we can expect those results to be published? When will they be debated in the House? Does the Tánaiste believe any legislation will be required as a result?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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We will deal with the PCAR results when they are available. I cannot say if any legislation will be required. As regards the payments, we would all have been paying a lot less if Deputy Doherty had not been so enthusiastic about the bank guarantee.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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I refer to the Fluoridation of Waters Act 1960. The Tánaiste is aware that the Government is currently compiling a new water board. Is there any proposed legislation on the fluoridation of water to stop the practice as it is effectively putting poison into water?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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We are discussing promised legislation.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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I am asking the Tánaiste if there is any promised legislation in this area.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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You do not ask if it is promised. You ask about legislation that is promised. Otherwise, you table a parliamentary question and ask if there are any proposals for the introduction of new legislation. They are two different things. Is there promised legislation?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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No, not on that matter.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I suggest the Deputy table a parliamentary question.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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I will table a Topical Issue.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Try a parliamentary question.

Alan Farrell (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Has any progress been made on the noise nuisance Bill which I understand is on the list?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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It is not possible at this stage to give a date for that Bill.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I have raised proposed legislation relating to the production of a DNA database many times. To what extent have the heads of the Bill been discussed? Has any progress been made in recent times?

Another Bill arises from the concerns expressed by the Director of Corporate Enforcement on the fallout from the downturn in the economy. He expressed his concerns about the lack of co-operation from some company directors. To what extent has the proposed companies consolidation (amendment) Bill been put on the fast burner? I recognise it is an extensive Bill. Is it possible to give some indication as to when it might be likely that some parts of it might be brought before the House?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The DNA Bill is expected in the middle of this year. The companies Bill is large, comprising 1,270 heads. The heads of the Bill have been approved by Government and it is expected to be published late in 2012.