Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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It is proposed to take No. 18, Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Bill 2013 - Order for Report and Report and Final Stages; and No. 2, Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2013 - Second Stage (Resumed). It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that for the purposes of Standing Order 117A the first Friday of the month for June shall be Friday, 14 June 2013; the time and date by which notice of a Bill in connection with that sitting shall be received by the Clerk shall be 11 a.m. on Friday, 31 May 2013 and related Standing Orders shall apply accordingly.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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There is one proposal to be put to the House. Is the proposal for the sitting and business of the Dáil on Friday, 14 June 2013, agreed to? Agreed.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to raise two matters. The Central Bank reported yesterday the limited progress on dealing with longer-term mortgage arrears. Only 6% of those in mortgage difficulty have been given a permanent rescheduling of their debt, with 19% given a temporary arrangement and no assistance whatsoever for the rest. These are dismal statistics. I ask the Tánaiste to indicate what the Government intends to do about it, in particular, when the Central Bank (Supervision and Enforcement) Bill will be implemented.

I ask the Tánaiste to clarify why the Taoiseach, Deputy Kenny, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan and the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, met with the tobacco industry earlier this month. This is disturbing news, given that the industry's sole objective in life is to sell cigarettes and to target young people in particular-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is not strictly in accordance with Standing Orders.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----so that they will become addicted at a very young age. The Minister is promising legislation to curb further the negative impact of tobacco on young people in particular. This is an addiction which kills thousands of people. We are also promised legislation on lobbying and lobbyists. The history of the tobacco industry reflects and reveals one of the worst examples of behind-the-scenes lobbying of governments across Europe and the world. It has had a devastating impact on the lives of children and people across countries and continues to do so. I would like to know why the Taoiseach, the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Justice and Equality-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy knows this is not in order.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----met with the tobacco industry. I ask the Tánaiste to indicate when the Bill on lobbying will be brought forward.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Central Bank report contains the same information as was made public in March. This is the information pertaining to 2012. Many things have happened since the end of 2012, such as the introduction of the personal insolvency legislation, with the result that the Personal Insolvency Service will be up and running by the end of June. Targets have now been set for the banks to make resolution offers to people in mortgage distress. The target has been set that 50% of those in mortgage arrears will be made resolution offers by the end of this year. Considerable progress has already been made in respect of the mortgage arrears issue since the period to which that report applied.

The Central Bank (Supervision and Enforcement) Bill is awaiting Report Stage. ThePublic Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill is on Committee Stage in the Seanad. In reply to Deputy Martin's question, the Government meets with industry representatives at different levels as this is part of the normal work of government-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It has not been the case with regard to the tobacco industry for a long time.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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We cannot have a debate on the matter.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The issue of what Deputy Martin calls behind-the-scenes lobbying was a feature of the Governments in which he served for a very long period of time-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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That is not fair; the Tánaiste should withdraw that remark.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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That is why we have felt it necessary to bring in legislation on the regulation of lobbying-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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He should check the Labour Party officials in the past. They were the most active with the tobacco industry. The Tánaiste should talk to former members of his party. The Labour Party were the greatest inside-trackers with the tobacco industry for a long time-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Sorry, Deputy, this out of order.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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------which will be introduced by the end of 2013.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Tánaiste knows that.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Deputy asked a question.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I do not want any misleading replies.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Just a moment, we are not having a debate across the floor. The Deputy should table a parliamentary question.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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There are no misleading replies.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Can the Tánaiste not answer a question without partisan misinformation-----

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The shelves of the offices of every Member of this House are creaking with the weight of reports from tribunals about the back-door lobbying that was engaged in by Fianna Fáil Ministers down the years.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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What about the Moriarty tribunal?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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We are bringing in a regulation of lobbying Bill which will provide-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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We are not having a debate on this, please.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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-----a register of lobbyists. The heads of the Bill were approved-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Former Labour Party officials-----

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Deputy should listen to the progress.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Tánaister should listen before he throws stones.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I am answering the Deputy's question. He should not be so arrogant. He asked a question and I am answering it. He wants to know about legislation-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Please allow the Tánaiste to reply to the question.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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-----to register lobbyists. This Government is bringing in a Bill to register lobbyists. We approved the heads of the Bill on 30 April and it will be published this year. It is long overdue and it is high time that we have legislation that will register and control the activities of lobbyists and lobbying in this country.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I call Deputy Jonathan O'Brien.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Pull down the tent in Galway.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I have called Deputy O'Brien; please allow him to speak.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Tomorrow is Friday, lads.

I ask the Tánaiste about the child benefit proposals contained in the Mangan report. There are concerns about some of the comments made by various Ministers. The Tánaiste said there will be no change and the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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We cannot have a debate on this now. We are not debating child benefit.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister, Deputy Quinn, has expressed an opinion that some of the savings could be used to provide a second preschool year.

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

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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The social welfare reform Bill.

When will a decision be made on the proposals being considered by the Minister for Social Protection? Can the Tánaiste give a commitment that, prior to the making of a decision, the Mangan report can be discussed by the House, time permitting, before the summer recess?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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There is social welfare legislation before the House next week. While it does not deal with the matters raised by Deputy O'Brien, I see no difficulty with the Mangan report being discussed at the appropriate select committee.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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We discussed it already.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I am sure the Minister for Social Protection would be glad to facilitate that. The issues raised by the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, are highly appropriate. The cost of child care is very high in Ireland and many families are bearing the burden of it. There is significant value in additional pre-school education, which, as the Minister said, is an issue that must be discussed and explored further. I am glad the Minister has put it on the agenda.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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On the local government Bill, I am dizzy from the spin and rumours from Government backbenchers to the effect that they have the actual document of the so-called independent commission. We have been told what the constituencies will be and who will be fixed up and sorted out all by way of leaks from Big Phil, the Minister.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Sorry.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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The Minister, Deputy Hogan.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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They are only winding Deputy McGrath up.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Be careful of the Kilkenny lads.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is the local government Bill what the Deputy is looking for?

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Yes. I also want to ask about the Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012. The Taoiseach was in Brussels yesterday doing a good job, but I was surprised that agriculture was not on the agenda. Taxation was on it and other issues but not the plight of the farming community and Ireland in general on foot of the fodder crisis which is ongoing into next year now. I am surprised nothing has been done to raise this at European level.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Thank you. Two pieces of legislation, Tánaiste.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I advise Deputy McGrath to be careful about Members of the House winding him up about the local government Bill. The heads of the local government Bill are being drafted and it is expected that it will be published during the current session. The Animal Health and Welfare Bill has finished in the Seanad and is going for signature. As regards raising the fodder crisis and the great difficulties farmers face, I confess that I am surprised Deputy McGrath did not raise the matter on Leaders' Questions this morning.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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I raised it last week.

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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It was raised a month ago.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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The Construction Contracts Bill 2010 originated in the Seanad and has been referred to select committee. When is it expected that the Bill will come before the House for final consideration and when is it expected that it will be signed into law? Similarly, the Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill is on the Seanad Order Paper. When does the Tánaiste expect it to appear before the House for final consideration? The pyrite levy Bill deals with an issue which has occupied the minds of many Members and people outside the House for a long time. Can the Tánaiste set out the current anticipated timeline for its passage?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Construction Contracts Bill is on Committee Stage and the matter is in the hands of the House itself. The Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill is on Committee Stage in the Seanad. The heads of the pyrite levy Bill were approved by Government a couple of weeks ago and I expect that we will see its publication shortly.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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There is a great deal of public interest across the midlands on the topic of wind energy and wind turbines. It is a highly controversial issue as the Tánaiste may know from the media. There has been very little public consultation with communities on the issue. Will the EirGrid Bill that is coming before the House deal with these issues? My colleague, Deputy Penrose, is bringing forward a Bill on wind turbines. When can we expect to see these two Bills come before the House?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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We cannot deal with a possible Private Members' Bill, whatever about the Government Bill. When is the latter Bill due?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The initial preparatory work is underway on the EirGrid Bill and it is expected that it will be published next year. The Environment and Public Health (Wind Turbines) Bill 2012 is a Private Members' Bill which presumably will be scheduled as part of our Friday sittings.

Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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When will the licensing of healthcare facilities Bill be published?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I do not have a date for the publication of the Bill.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Independent)
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Approximately 200,000 workers are in defined-benefit pensions schemes but little or no protection exists for them in the event of insolvency. Legislation to provide protection for them has been long promised and it was expected that it would be contained in the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill which was published yesterday. Unfortunately, no provisions in this regard were included in the Bill. Can the Tánaiste tell the House when legislation will be published to provide protection for workers in the event of insolvency in a pensions scheme or of a company for which they work?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The concerns of people in defined-benefit pension schemes is an issue the Government is taking very seriously, in particular the Minister for Social Protection. The European Court of Justice recently gave judgment in a case which relates to this issue and that case must now revert to the High Court. We must await the outcome of these proceedings before we can address the legislative implications of any final decision.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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In light of the disturbing reports on child-care facilities raised by my party leader this morning, can the Tánaiste provide the House with a guarantee that the long-overdue priority legislation on the Children First guidelines and the child and family support agency will be dealt with in the current session? We have been promised on a number of occasions that this would be dealt with in 2012 and, then, during the first session of 2013. Last week, we asked when the matter would be dealt with and were told it would be during this session. However, the Taoiseach let it slip last week that the Children First guidelines might not be dealt with until after the summer recess. Can the Tánaiste provide a cast-iron guarantee that these two important legislative matters will be dealt with during this session as promised repeatedly by the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Minister for Children and Youth Affairs?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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There are policy issues which are being considered in relation to both Bills. In the case of the Children First Bill, the views of the joint committee on significant policy, operational and legal issues are being formulated.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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That was last June.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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My information is that both Bills are to be dealt with this session.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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The Tánaiste cannot give a guarantee.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I can only give the Deputy the information I have. My book says that these Bills-----

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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It said that in your book last year.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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He is right. The Tánaiste is the Deputy Prime Minister.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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No, no. The Minister of Children and Youth Affairs is dealing with these issues in a very competent and serious way as the Deputy well knows. The information I have is that these two Bills are down for this session.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister for Justice and Equality has indicated his intention to table amendments to the Personal Insolvency Act in the forthcoming Courts Bill. We have raised continually the fact that the Insolvency Service will publish on the Internet the name, address and year of birth of any person who avails of an arrangement under the service. There is a better way to do that through the credit register, which would be private. When will the Courts Bill be brought forward and will the Tánaiste consider an amendment along those lines?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Courts Bill is on Committee Stage in the Seanad.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Many subcontractors are finding it extremely difficult to get paid by main contractors. Deputy Durkan raised the matter of the Construction Contracts Bill, which is one of the slowest Bills ever to make its way through the Houses of the Oireachtas. It has left people in the lurch for a long time and is very important.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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It is on Committee Stage.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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There is concern about the EU-Colombia free trade agreement. My understanding is that it will be agreed by various parliaments. What is the process in respect of this House? Will it be before the House, will there be a discussion on it and what is the timescale?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I do not have a date for it but I will communicate with the Deputy.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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It might be better to table a parliamentary question on the matter.