Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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It is proposed to take No. 1, Statute Law Revision Bill 2012 [Seanad] - Second and Subsequent Stages; and No. 19, statements on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation issues, to be taken on the conclusion of No. 1 or at 1.30 p.m. today, whichever is the later.

It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that Second and Subsequent Stages of No. 1 shall be taken today, with the proceedings on Second Stage, if not previously concluded, to be brought to a conclusion at 1.15 p.m. today, the opening speeches 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 and who may share their time, not to exceed 15 minutes in each case, the speech of each other Member called upon not to exceed ten minutes, and such Members may share their time, a Minister or Minister of State to be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed five minutes, and the proceedings on the Committee and Remaining Stages, if not previously concluded, to 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 Public Expenditure and Reform; and the proceedings on No. 19, if not previously concluded, to be brought to a conclusion at 3.42 p.m. today, with the opening statements 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 and who may share their time, not to exceed 15 minutes in each case, the statement of each other Member called upon not to exceed ten minutes in each case, and such Members may share their time, and a Minister or Minister of State to be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed five minutes.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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There are two proposals to be put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 1, Second and Subsequent Stages of the Statute Law Revision Bill 2012 [Seanad] agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 19, statements on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation issues agreed to? Agreed.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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It is 21 years since I sat a leaving certificate geography exam. That was the last occasion on which I saw maps being so closely perused in the manner I observed in the Chamber this morning.

Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour)
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What result did the Deputy get?

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Could the Tánaiste confirm the Government intends to accept the recommendations of the Constituency Commission report and are they any legislative issues that arise from it?

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Mayo is only a four-seater.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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There is much studying of maps today. First, the report has just been issued so the Government has not had an opportunity to examine it yet.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Steady now, Tánaiste.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I know there is a comedy festival on this weekend.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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It has normally been the practice that the report of the independent commission is accepted by Government and legislation is prepared and brought into the House to give effect to it. I expect that is what will happen on this occasion.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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My question is on the same issue. In the coming days and over the weekend, everyone outside of the House and in it will be perusing the report of the Constituency Commission. Could the Tánaiste give an indication that there will be discussion in the House next week or whether we must wait for the legislative change to come to the House before we can discuss what is contained within the report on boundary changes?

Will the Government bring forward legislation to abolish ground rents, as both parties in government have demanded in the past? Many households on whom the household charge is imposed are also expected to pay an annual ground rent, in some cases to landlords in England.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Where is the question leading?

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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I am just asking whether it is intended to introduce legislation to abolish ground rents to landlords abroad.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is legislation promised?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Two issues have been raised by the Deputy. First, on the House debating the report of the Constituency Commission, that will be done by way of a debate when the Bill is brought before the House to give effect to it. It is not intended to have a debate in advance of the Bill. A ground rents Bill is not on the legislative programme.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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On promised legislation, the health insurance (risk equalisation) Bill has been promised for some time. It must be enacted before 1 January 2013. Is it expected to have it published and debated in the House in this session or have the heads of the Bill been discussed in Cabinet? Similarly, the criminal law (sexual offences) Bill is regarded as being an important Bill for the protection of children and vulnerable adults. Likewise, I wish to inquire about the explosives Bill. Given the ready use of explosives with tragic consequences on an ongoing basis throughout the country, is it possible, first, to bring the Bill before the House as a matter of urgency and, second, to incorporate within it some means of controlling access to explosives.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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We can only deal with when the legislation will be taken.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The heads of the health insurance (risk equalisation) Bill were approved by Government this week and it is intended that it would be published at the end of this year. The sexual offences Bill is being prepared in the Department of Justice and Equality. The explosives Bill is intended for later this year.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Tánaiste.

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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I wish to ask about turf cutting legislation. Last night, Mr. Michael Darcy at Clonmoylan bog had his digger seized-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Hold on one second.

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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It was burned this morning.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Will the Deputy resume his seat, please?

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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Mr. Darcy is in hospital.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy has been cut off and is not being recorded. Will he resume his seat, please?

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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A plan was put forward by the turf cutters and contractors. Will the Tánaiste ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to work with the contractors to implement their plan and to call off the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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This is not in order. I have already granted a Topical Issue debate on the matter for today and I ask the Tánaiste to bear that in mind. It is not a matter for the Order of Business.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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When is it intended to introduce the health governance Bill and will the special delivery unit be put on a statutory basis? I ask this in the context of the grotesque overcrowding at Beaumont Hospital's accident and emergency unit last Monday night. The Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Shortall, is sitting beside the Tánaiste. There were trolleys three deep. It was horrendous. When we were all over on this side of the House, many a morning on the Order of Business the Tánaiste lambasted the former Government for allowing emergency rooms to be in the condition-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Thank you, Deputy.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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-----that has been evident at Beaumont Hospital this week. What action can the Government take urgently? There are packages and salaries for people in the special delivery unit.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is out of order and I ask the Deputy to resume his seat.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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I am asking about a Bill on the special delivery unit with a view to ending the disgraceful conditions in the accident and emergency unit at Beaumont Hospital.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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What Bill are we discussing?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Deputy is asking about the HSE governance Bill, which is being progressed urgently and is expected to be published before the end of this session.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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When will the protected disclosures Bill, which is scheduled for 2012 and is urgently required to address the victimisation of employees, etc., be published?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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That Bill is expected to be published before the end of the year. I understand that its heads have been referred to the committee for consideration.

Arthur Spring (Kerry North-West Limerick, Labour)
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Under the programme for Government, the Government will establish the qualifications and quality assurance Ireland body. To do so, the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011 must be passed. Will that occur during this term?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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That Bill was published on 25 July 2011 and is on Committee Stage. The committee will meet to discuss the Bill next Tuesday.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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As the Tánaiste mentioned, there are plans to transfer the administration of rental subsidy payments from the Department of Social Protection's welfare officers to local authorities.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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We must deal with promised legislation.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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I will reach that point.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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There is no need for a preamble.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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It is only a short preamble.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Not even a short one.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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This area has been a minefield, given the cuts to the rental subsidy in successive budgets-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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What legislation is the Deputy inquiring about?

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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-----that have caused significant problems for residents and their families. When will legislation be introduced and debated?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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What legislation in particular?

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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It is legislation on the transfer of the subsidy's administration.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Government is attempting to get a joined-up approach to the provision of social housing, which has been located in too many different places, for example, the Housing Agency and the Department of Social Protection's community welfare officers, who operate the rent allowance system. We intend to bring everything together. The heads of the housing Bill to give effect to our intention are expected later this year.