Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is proposed to take No. 1, Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012 Seanad - Second Stage. Private Members’ business shall be No. 87, motion re An Garda Síochána (resumed), to be taken at 9.30 p.m. and conclude after 90 minutes, if not previously concluded.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There are no proposals to be put to the House.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, and the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, published an anti-bullying strategy yesterday which focuses on the issue of homophobic bullying. At the same time as the strategy is being published a person could lose his or her job in a religious-run school or hospital because of his or her sexual orientation. The programme for Government committed to amending section 37 of the Employment Equality Act 1998. When will this be done? My colleague in the Seanad, Senator Averil Power, introduced a Bill over a year ago which was not accepted by the Government. It is hypocritical to introduce guidelines to deal with the issue of homophobic bullying when the Government is not taking action which is within its power to amend employment legislation. When is it intended to do so and to do so promptly?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I do not have a date for publication of that legislation to amend section 37 of the Employment Equality Act 1998. The output and throughput of legislation in the House have been extensive. Much of that legislation has been introduced to meet a requirement because the country is in a programme which has a timeline and is governed by the troika memorandum of understanding. I discussed yesterday with Deputies the extensive list of legislation to be brought before the House in the context of how we draft and prepare legislation. It is suggested we should perhaps focus on a set number of Bills in any one session, the ones we wish to prioritise during the year. We may need to begin dealing earlier with the preparation of legislation at departmental level and taking advice from the Attorney General. I will advise the Deputy of the current stage of preparations to deal with the particular amendment mentioned.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach referred to the troika. Does the Government plan to bring forward legislation to amend the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009 to remove the legal impediment to repossessions based on the troika's advice to it? Will such legislation contain provisions to protect homeowners against repossession?

In the past 24 hours we have been subjected to a number of well known and well regarded economists speaking on RTE radio and television. All three stated it was unlikely that the State would achieve a deal on the promissory note. I hope they will be proved wrong and that we will have a sustainable and substantial deal. I ask the Taoiseach to facilitate statements on the ECB's rejection of the preferred option. This is against the background of a technical paper which has taken 18 months to prepare and the first formal proposal has been rejected by the ECB. The amount of money involved is substantial and significant and will have an impact on every person. The House should not be kept in the dark any longer on the Government's strategy in the talks.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy will be aware that the holding of debates is a matter for the Whips.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Bill to amend the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act is expected this session.

As I advised the House yesterday, the discussions and negotiations with the European Central Bank are ongoing; they have not been concluded. We expect the matter to be brought to a conclusion before the end of March, the next payment date.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In the past week, the economist Peter Bacon has joined the chorus of voices who are, in polite language, saying the Government's plan to sell the harvesting rights to Coillte represents economic and financial madness. The plan is to give away a vital resource that could generate many jobs and considerable revenue for the State. It could be given away for a song. Incredibly, at a meeting of the Joint Committee on Finance and Public Expenditure last week, NTMA representatives could not tell me about their valuation of Coillte lands. They said they would revert to us but they still have not done so. There are rumours that they are grossly undervaluing the harvesting rights associated with Coillte lands.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Is this on promised legislation?

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Will the forestry Bill come before this House before the Taoiseach concludes any deal to sell off our forestry, or will he allow for some debate in this House on the merits, or otherwise, of the sale of our national forestry to, say, Swiss wealth asset managers or the Chinese Government?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We have made it clear that, in the Government decision on this matter, it is the timber and not the land that is being sold.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We all know that.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The land is retained in State ownership for the people. The forestry Bill is expected in the coming weeks. The Deputy will have ample time to ventilate his views on this. The gentleman to whom the Deputy referred, Mr. Bacon, has been involved in producing reports for the country over the years and the results have not always been as he expected.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There is no doubt about the madness of giving away our trees.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Order, please.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I want to ask the Taoiseach about a matter arising in my county which is relevant to the legislation to amend the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004. Twenty-four clerical staff in the DVO are at their wits' end over their treatment and the threats that their office will be closed down, resulting in their transfer "to hell or to Connacht", as used to be said in the time of Cromwell. With regard to the next Croke Park agreement or Croke Park nua, will the service that has been given by these staff be respected? Will the staff just be banished to Van Diemen's Land? These public officials expect better than this.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That could be a matter for a parliamentary question.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am asking when the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 will be amended.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This session.

Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

When will the family leave Bill be before the House given that recent reports have shown that women are now the highest earners? It is time that we considered introducing paternity leave and, more important, maternity leave for the Members of this House.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The family leave Bill is expected to be published this session.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My question is in recognition of the excellent work being carried out under the rural transport programme throughout the country and its excellent value last year, at a cost of €10 million. There was a threat to this vital service in the past. I thank the Government for saving rural transport. I want an assurance that, under the road transport legislation, the rural transport network that has been built up will be retained. It is necessary for elderly people, in particular, who want to go to mass, shops or the doctor, for example. It is their link with their local communities.

Let me refer to the shocking announcement that €24 million in legal and consultancy fees was incurred by the NTMA and the Department of Finance. Surely these bodies should have enough internal advisers. Could there be an assurance included in the National Treasury Management Agency (amendment) Bill that we can cut out the hiring of external expertise? Surely the Departments have enough internal expertise and suitably qualified staff such that they would not have to spend enormous sums, at the taxpayers' expense, on consultancy and legal fees.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. The rural transport network is an important element of the fabric of society. I was going to say that the Deputy's belief that the network was in danger might have been why somebody in his county wanted permits for people who might not use the road transport network to allow them to get home.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That is a different issue.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It would have an impact on road safety and lives. I assure the Deputy that this is an important matter. The rural transport network has proven to be of great social benefit to many who would otherwise not be able to get to their local town, for example.

We are conscious of the hiring of advisers by Departments. In the case the Deputy mentioned, the fees were for specialist legal advice that would not be available inside a Department. I assure the Deputy that, in so far as the Government is concerned, it tries to use the resources of all Departments to the greatest extent possible. It is only in cases where that expertise is not available that consideration is given to the hiring of specialist legal advisers.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach may be aware of the 19 recommendations that the Law Reform Commission has made regarding people who are missing and the provision of legal clarity to the families affected. Will the recommendations be considered by the Government in the context of forthcoming legislation? The implementation of the recommendations would give clarity to the families of the missing. It could allow them to move on with their lives, gain access to the finances of the missing and allow for clarification on wills and other legal matters.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am aware that the report was published this morning and that it contains the recommendations to which the Deputy refers. The matter will be considered by the Government in due course. We will publish our decisions following consideration of the report.

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I understand that the Government is currently introducing regulations to ensure that people with specified long-term illnesses will have free general practitioner care. Could the list of designated illnesses be expanded to include lifelong and often terminal illnesses that are currently excluded from the list?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I invite the Deputy to send a list of the ailments he has in mind to the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Alex White, who is now dealing with this matter. He is preparing the necessary legislation and I am sure he is willing to receive the information from the Deputy.

Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Is the Government, including the Minister for Finance, prepared to insert in the forthcoming finance Bill a provision that would accommodate first-time buyers who have been precluded from availing of enhanced mortgage interest relief, the deadline pertaining to which was 31 December last? The holiday arrangements of the banks basically precluded them from issuing loan cheques after mid-December, resulting in a two-week period, approximately, in which the first-time buyers were precluded from drawing down their loan checks in time to avail of the relief. I understand a significant number of people are affected. They should be accommodated because what has occurred has happened through no fault of their own.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The matter can be considered. The Minister would like to be fair to everybody. It may well be that there could be legal implications associated with the setting of the date. The Minister will consider the question raised during the preparation of the finance Bill.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

With regard to the maritime conventions Bill and on the importance of fishing and tourism in the Howth area, does the Taoiseach share my concern about the proposal that people should pay for parking in the Howth pier area which could potentially damage the fishing and tourism industries in the area? Will he raise the issue with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Simon Coveney, because it is a very serious one for the people of Howth, given the 300 jobs provided along the pier? I urge the Taoiseach to intervene in this urgent matter.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Two days in a row - the Deputy is doing well. The Government is seriously interested in expanding tourism facilities and tourist numbers because of the industry's economic potential. Without knowing all of the details, I suggest the Deputy should raise the matter with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in the form of a Topical Issue, provided that the Ceann Comhairle gives him the authorisation to do so. The Government does not want to reduce the capacity of the tourism industry in any way.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In accordance with the order of the Dáil of yesterday, the sitting is being suspended until 4 p.m.