Dáil debates
Wednesday, 2 May 2012
Order of Business
11:00 am
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It is proposed to take No. 11, motion re Further Revised Estimates [Vote 37]; No. 18, Education (Amendment) Bill 2012 [Seanad] - Order for Report, Report and Final Stages; and No. 1, Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Bill 2012 [Seanad] - Second Stage (resumed). It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that No. 11 shall be decided without debate and any division demanded thereon shall be taken forthwith. Private Members' business shall be No. 33, Protection of Employees (Amendment) Bill 2012 – Second Stage (resumed) to conclude at 9 p.m. tonight, if not previously concluded.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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There is one proposal to be put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 11, without debate, agreed to?
Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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No, it is not agreed. The motion is that the Revised Estimates would be taken without debate. I propose that there should be a debate. I propose that the Taoiseach should require the Minister for Finance to come to the Dáil and explain his utterly false assertion that a "No" vote in the austerity treaty referendum would lead to even worse cuts in the December budget.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is a separate issue.
Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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The Taoiseach should ask the Minister or he should take the debate himself and explain why he continually covers up the extent of further drastic cuts and tax increases that his austerity treaty targets would entail. He should give us clarity rather than threats. Therefore, we should have a debate.
Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Before I agree to this being referred to committee for debate, will the Taoiseach clarify that the consequence of this Revised Estimate will be to reclassify PRSI receipts as income tax and, as a consequence, that the Government will be cutting €13 million from the national training fund into which employers pay? This would have the effect of cutting a fund used to train people.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is a matter for debate in committee.
Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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I am saying that if this is the case, the Dáil should debate it before it is referred to committee. It means a cut of €13 million to a national training fund at the very time we need people to be re-trained and when access to training should be available to get them back to work.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The matter was explained in some detail at the committee. The question of payments being made for income tax and PRSI and the net effect of that was explained in some detail at the committee.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I am putting the question.
Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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What about the idle threats of the Minister for Finance? He is threatening the people with a worse budget, falsely. Should we discuss that?
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I raised an issue earlier in respect of the health services. My over-riding sense is that there is an absence of any direction in the health services at the moment. This is principally because the existing governance framework has been arbitrarily disbanded in terms of the HSE board with no alternative put in place. The situation is unsatisfactory. Most commentators and observers remark on the fact that we have a directionless health service at the moment. When will the Health Service Executive governance Bill be published?
Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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On 23 November last, the Taoiseach agreed to meet Opposition leaders to discuss demands for an independent inquiry into sexual abuse allegations in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda. At the time the Taoiseach said the meeting would be held before Christmas. I asked the Taoiseach for this meeting again in January. Again, the Taoiseach gave a commitment. I raised the issue in March yet again. For the third time, the Taoiseach agreed to a meeting but so far no meeting has taken place. It is six months since the Oireachtas inquiry referendum was defeated. Last week, I received an answer to a parliamentary question from the Minister, Deputy Reilly, informing me that he is still consulting the Attorney General about the implications. It has been 17 years since the complaints of sexual abuse of patients at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda were first made. Every time these issues are raised without being brought to a conclusion the victims are traumatised.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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What legislation are you referring to?
Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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When will the Government will take action on this issue? When will it meet the Opposition on these matters?
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is legislation required?
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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No legislation is involved. I will check with the Minister for Health and I will let Deputy Adams know of the progress he has made in this regard. It is not a case of any reluctance to meet Members. This is a traumatic and sensitive issue. I will come back to Deputy Adams.
Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Will the Taoiseach update the House on when he expects to introduce the mental capacity legislation? This has been often promised from Governments over the years. Groups are looking for a definitive timeframe. Will it be introduced by the end of this year?
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The issue raised by Deputy Harris is important. The mental capacity Bill will be produced in this session.
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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When will legislation be introduced to change existing social welfare and education legislation relating to the community employment schemes as announced by the Minister, Deputy Burton, earlier? A review of CE schemes is supposed to take place but it is not happening.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is legislation required?
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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No. The Social Welfare and Pensions Bill has just been enacted.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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That Bill was guillotined.
Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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The citizens of the country will have been scandalised again today to find that top management and executives in banks bailed out and financed by the public-----
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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You have had good run, Deputy. Will you get to the point?
Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Vast numbers of them are earning in excess of €100,000 and €200,000 per year.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is nothing to do with the Order of Business.
Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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We have examined the draft of the fiscal responsibility Bill. I am surprised there is nothing in it relating to remuneration of the top managers and executives.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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We do not debate legislation on the Order of Business.
Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Are further amendments proposed to the fiscal responsibility Bill? Will there be another Bill to deal with this matter and to rein in the obscene salaries of top executives and managers in our banks.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Are there amendments to the legislation?
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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No. That has nothing to do with this legislation. I have already set down the pay guidelines in respect of the banks and bonuses.
James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Will the Taoiseach take on board the urgent need for the publication of the criminal justice corruption (consolidation) Bill and give me an exact date for its publication? The legislation is urgently needed, especially to deal with what has taken place in the past in the political arena.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Can you help Deputy Bannon?
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I regret that I cannot give Deputy Bannon an exact date. Preliminary work on this complex Bill is under way but I cannot give an exact date.
Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Bannon can sleep easy tonight.
Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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Will the Taoiseach outline when the residential tenancies (amendment) Bill will be published? What stage are we at? Will powers of deposit retention for the Private Residential Tenancies Board, PRTB, be included? This is a major issue of contention that crops up constantly. I remind the Taoiseach that his Labour colleagues were committed to this previously-----
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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We do not need to remind anybody on the Order of Business.
Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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-----and had a Private Members' debate on it.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The residential tenancy Bill will be published in this session. The Deputy will be entitled to raise those issues and table amendments at that time but the Bill will be taken in this session.
Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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With regard to the Animal Health and Welfare Bill, as the Taoiseach is aware, all Members have received thousands of e-mails about fur farming. Will the Taoiseach let us know when the Animal Health and Welfare Bill will be debated to give us all an opportunity to contribute?
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Animal Health and Welfare Bill has been published. It is awaiting Second Stage in the Seanad and following that process it will come back to this House.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Would the Taoiseach ever reply to the e-mails? We are getting thousands of them. They think we are in government.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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We all get them every weekend.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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We are getting thousands but I am not in government.
Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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Will the Taoiseach indicate the current status of the workplace relations Bill?
Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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I ask the Taoiseach for an assurance that that Bill will be in place before the end of this year. I am relying on a statement issued recently by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation that that legislation was gone for drafting and that it would be enacted by the autumn.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I am aware that he is doing a great deal of work on it. I will advise the Deputy of the progress made on that and I am conscious that he has said it is important that it be done before the end of the year.
Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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The education and training boards Bill is due before the House. It is an important Bill to do with the reconfiguration of the vocational education committees system and the education system. Will the Taoiseach indicate if the Cabinet has signed off on that Bill and when can we expect to see it come before the House?
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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No. It has not been signed off yet by Cabinet but it is expected that it will come through in this session.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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On promised legislation, can the Taoiseach give some indication to the House as to the degree to which the adoption tracing and information Bill has been examined in Cabinet and whether the heads have been discussed? Similarly, what is the position on the DNA Bill which has been promised for a long time by the Taoiseach's predecessors?
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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In respect of the adoption Bill, the heads have not been approved yet by Cabinet. Quite a deal of work has been done on that. The DNA Bill will be brought forward later this year.
Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In the context of the workplace relations law Bill and with reference to the Vita Cortex issue which has not been resolved where the owner has walked away from the Labour Court and has not agreed to the resolution to that dispute, are there any plans whereby we can amend the law to ensure the workers are protected? To be fair to the Taoiseach and to the Minister for Social Protection who expedited their payment-----
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy is straying somewhat.
Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I will conclude on this, a Cheann Comhairle, and I thank you. It is appalling that an owner of a company can walk away from his obligations. Is there any chance we can examine legislation regarding that?
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Minister for Social Protection has asked for a review in so far as her responsibilities in that regard are concerned. Quite a deal of work has been done on that but I cannot give the Deputy an exact date on it. I will advise him on the progress that is made.
Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Labour)
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Will the Taoiseach indicate if the climate change Bill will be published before the end of the year?
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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No. I answered that question yesterday. That Bill will be published probably very late this year or early next year. A review in respect of policy and the targets set out in that regard is currently under way.
Derek Nolan (Galway West, Labour)
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It was excellent having the Taoiseach in Galway for the announcement of 115 jobs at Cisco on Monday, which was great news for the Galway region. I ask the Taoiseach about the Science Foundation Ireland (Amendment) Bill which will allow Science Foundation Ireland to invest more money in applied research and create the kind of environment where we can have more high-tech, high quality jobs coming to places like Galway in the future.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The company in Galway is a world class leader in what it does. It is technology that is moving at an enormous speed, and I commend it. This Bill will be brought forward later this year. The fact that it is not before the House currently does not prevent or restrict the opportunities and the discussions that are taking place on a range of areas for continued investment here.
Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Could the Taoiseach give us an exact timescale for the treaty establishing the European Stability Mechanism Bill? We know it will be after the result of his austerity treaty is in but does he intend to take it before the summer recess? Will he confirm in that regard that that is not part of European law as yet and cannot be so part until there is a further amendment to the treaty on the functioning of the European Union over which he has a veto? Will he confirm also that he could therefore withdraw from that Bill-----
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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No. He cannot do that on the Order of Business.
Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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-----and this disgraceful threat that is being used to coerce the Irish people to vote "Yes" and that they will be excluded from funding from the bailout mechanism if they do not vote "Yes"?
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy, can you tell me the legislation you are inquiring about?
Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Does he accept that that is undemocratic and can he clarify that that cannot be brought into EU law-----
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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No. He cannot do that on the Order of Business.
Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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-----until the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union is amended?
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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What legislation are you inquiring about, Deputy?
Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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The legislation is the treaty establishing the European Stability Mechanism Bill-----
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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That Bill is passed.
Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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-----the so-called bailout fund.
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy should go down to the Oireachtas Library, do some research and find out the answers to the questions he cannot answer about where he will get the money if the people were to follow his illogical proposal.
Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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I asked the Taoiseach a question about legislation-----
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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This legislation will be published shortly when the Deputy will see exactly what it contains and have the opportunity to debate it in due course.
Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Will the Taoiseach withdraw this undemocratic threat over the Irish people?
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It is a stability treaty, not an austerity treaty.