Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Order of Business is No. 15, Gas Regulation Bill 2013 - Order for Report, Report and Final Stages; and No. 3, Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Bill 2013 - Order for Second Stage and Second Stage. Private Members' business shall be No. 111, motion re discretionary medical cards, resumed, to conclude at 9 p.m. tonight, if not previously concluded.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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There are no proposals to be put to the House today. I call Deputy Martin.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I want to ask the Taoiseach about a number of issues concerning the programme for Government relating to health, particularly the care of older people in community care. The programme for Government clearly states that:

Investment in the supply of more and better care for older people in the community and in residential settings would be a priority of this Government.

Additional funding will be provided each year for the care of older people. This funding will go to more residential places, more home care packages and the delivery of more home help and other professional community care services.

The Fair Deal system of financing nursing home care will be reviewed with a view to developing a secure and equitable system of financing community and long-term care.

Regarding the commitment to establish an integrated care agency under the aegis of the Minister for Health, when can we expect the establishment of that agency? On the area of bio-ethics, as per the programme for Government, can the Taoiseach outline when we can expect legislation to clarify the law surrounding assisted human reproduction, including the law relating to personal relationships arising from assisted human reproduction? That is a clear commitment in the programme for Government. Second, there is a commitment to legislate to regulate stem cell research. When can we expect that legislation?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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What was the last one?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Stem cell research.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I will have to come back to the Deputy on those.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thought the Taoiseach might have to do that.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I do not have the details of the work that has been done on them. On the community-based services, to which the Deputy referred, €392 million was allocated to the HSE for 2013 to provide 10.3 million hours of home help service for approximately 50,000 clients, and 10,870 people are in receipt of home care packages, day care and respite services and meals on wheels. Clearly, all these issues have to be considered by the Cabinet in respect of the provision of the budget for health for 2014. The Minister, Deputy Reilly, has had to make some difficult decisions during the past two years in order to turn this structure into one that is more effective and that has meant some difficulties in terms of structural changes but it has resulted in fewer patients on waiting lists, fewer patients on trolleys and fewer personnel delivering front-line services with fewer resources. Shape is being put on a very difficult situation in health and these issues, to which the Deputy referred, will be part of the decision-making process between now and next Tuesday. I will come back to the Deputy on his question regarding assisted human reproduction and stem cell research.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I also asked about the integrated care agency.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I will come back to the Deputy on that.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Tá ceist amháin agam faoi reachtaíocht atá forógraithe. I want to raise with the Taoiseach the proposed legislation in regard to the national paediatric development board. Last month he announced appointments to the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board and also membership of the Children's Hospital Group Board under the stewardship of Eilísh Hardiman but we still have not had sight of the key elements of the proposed hospital, particularly the plans, and there has been no physical progress towards building this much needed hospital. When will we see plans submitted for the national children's hospital which was announced with such great fanfare? When will the national paediatric hospital development board (amendment) Bill be introduced?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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This is one of the biggest building projects ever undertaken in the country which will hopefully provide the very best level of care and attention for children for the island of Ireland over the next 50 years. I admit there was certainly slippage during the past 12 months about getting the boards together for this. The person the Deputy mentioned is a person of exceptional competence. The personnel are now all in order and only last week I was given a coherence about what is happening here. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Reilly, to bring the Deputy up to date on this. The Bill will soon be in here but I cannot give him an exact date for that. I will arrange for the Deputy to be given an update on the work that has taken place in the past six months, where we are at now and when it is likely that people can check on the website and be able to see the progress that has been made for the national children's paediatric hospital.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Is there a timeline for the plans?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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There is a timeline and that will be included in the response that will be given to him. There are timelines set for the planning application and for the approval, hopefully, of planning permission and construction dates. These have been referred to by the Minister already. There was slippage in the beginning and some time was lost but I hope that we can have an effective response from the boards that are in place and from Ms Hardiman whom the Deputy mentioned.

Derek Keating (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I wish to ask the Taoiseach about the progress of promised legislation, the Spent Convictions Bill, which is important legislation for quite a number of people. I met a resident recently who had broken a pane of glass when he was 17 years of age which was well over 40 years ago, and that has had ramifications and implications for himself and his family in the context of travelling ever since.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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This is an important Bill. It has been through the Seanad and is awaiting Report Stage in the Dáil. The Whip will let the Deputy know when it can be arranged.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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The issues concerning Priory Hall have been top of the agenda and a special case has been made for those concerned, and rightly so. The Minister is engaged with a number of stakeholders, including the banks and, hopefully, we are near a solution.

The Gleann Riada estate in Longford is also-----

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Is legislation promised on this issue?

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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I hope we might seek to deal with it by means of some mechanism. The case relating to the Gleann Riada estate is very special. As the Taoiseach is aware, explosions have occurred on the estate which is built on a flood plain. I have visited the estate and am aware that the conditions there are terrible.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy can table a parliamentary question on the issue.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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I would like the relevant Minister to respond.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I do not believe the Taoiseach will have a response on it.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, has responded on behalf of the Government on this matter. The residents of Priory Hall are considering the proposals that have been put to them and I hope these will be accepted. We await the residents' response. Perhaps Deputy Ellis might request a Topical Issue debate or table a parliamentary question on the estate in Longford.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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I wish to inquire about a particular issue and whether it is going to be dealt with in the context of the health (general practitioner medical service) Bill. Deputy Martin referred on Leaders' Questions to medical cards. When people apply for medical cards, disability allowance or illness benefit, they are asked to supply medical evidence from their doctors. If they do that, their applications are automatically refused. That is a fact. What they must do is provide medical evidence from a consultant. In many instances, consultants do not-----

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is going into the detail of the legislation.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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-----want to provide patients with letters and they inform them that they should go to their GPs. This is one of the great unknowns in-----

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is debating the content of the Bill.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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I ask my colleagues on the Opposition benches or even those on the Government benches to tell me if they think I am wrong.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is right.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Other Members will be familiar with cases where, if people provide evidence supplied by their GPs, their applications will automatically be refused. That is a fact. The medical evidence must come from a consultant. In the context of the Bill I referred to, will it be made clear that people should not provide medical evidence from their GPs but that such evidence should come from a consultant?

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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We will debate the Bill at a later stage.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy seems to be suggesting that the evidence provided by GPs is either not trusted-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is not.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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That is not what I said.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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-----or that they are just writing medical reports on a whim. If he is stating that applications are automatically refused because the evidence accompanying them is supplied by GPs, then there is certainly something wrong. Either the GPs are not trusted or there is a belief that they are writing certificates which are not accurate. The health (information) Bill is due for publication early next year.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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There are in excess of 100 individuals throughout the country who, when they were children, were profoundly disabled following the administration of State-supported vaccination programmes. Many of them are now in their late 40s and early 50s and their elderly parents want to know what is going to happen when they are no longer around. Since I met the then Minister, Deputy Martin, and current Leader of the Opposition, 11 and a half years ago, the Department of Health has been considering this issue. In fairness, the current Minister, Deputy Reilly, provided a commitment, during a radio interview on 19 September last, to bring forward legislation in this area in order to facilitate the introduction of a no-fault compensation scheme for individuals who have suffered as a result of the administration of State-promoted vaccines. When will this legislation be brought forward? Is there any mechanism by means of which we might expedite matters? The families involved have waited long enough for the truth and they need this matter to be dealt with expeditiously. They are so frustrated that they are talking about coming to the gates of Leinster House to protest. None of us want that to happen. I request that the Minister for Health ensure that the legislation in question be dealt with as quickly as possible.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Naughten has raised this matter on a number of previous occasions. These parents are not the only ones concerned about their children. I empathise with the families of the 100 individuals who were severely disabled. I recall the discussions which took place on this matter in the past and the tragic consequences to which the administration of a particular vaccine gave rise. The legislation that will be taken between now and the Christmas recess has been approved. I cannot inform the Deputy as to when the Minister for Health intends to bring forward the heads of a Bill relating to this matter before Government. If they are brought forward in the new year, then obviously the new system for dealing with legislation will apply and the relevant committee will consider whether hearings should take place on this matter. I will ask the Minister to respond to the Deputy in due course. However, legislation relating to this issue has certainly not come before Cabinet as yet.

Brian Walsh (Galway West, Independent)
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The Government is to be commended on the very firm approach it has adopted to the tobacco industry. The Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, recently aired some very worthwhile proposals in this regard. A similar approach is required to the drinks industry. As the Taoiseach correctly pointed out recently-----

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Is the Deputy inquiring about legislation?

Brian Walsh (Galway West, Independent)
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Yes, the promised legislation on minimum pricing. We do not need to witness the events which occur on Arthur's Day, public holidays or at various festivals to be made aware of the damage being done to society as a result of alcohol abuse. Evidence of this damage can be seen each week in hospital accident and emergency departments and Garda stations. When does the Taoiseach expect legislation to deal with minimum pricing and to control the type and number of outlets at which alcohol products can be sold to be forthcoming?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Walsh for his question. I was glad to note that the European Parliament voted in favour of an issue which the Minister, Deputy Reilly, raised with it and on which I supported him very strongly. A great deal of work has been done on the relevant legislation, which I expect to come before the Cabinet in the next couple of weeks. There are complications regarding minimum pricing. This is one of a suite of issues with which the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy White, is dealing. It will be a few weeks before the legislation is brought forward.

Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Fine Gael)
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When can we expect the retention of certain records Bill - the purpose of which is to allow for the retention of the records of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, the Residential Institutions Redress Board and the Residential Institutions Review Committee - to be published?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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There is no date for the publication of the retention of certain records Bill. I cannot inform him with regard to the amount of work that has been done on the preparation of the heads of that Bill. A date has not yet been fixed for the legislation.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Yesterday, I raised the issue of five Irish families whose referral for Russian adoptions are in jeopardy as a result of a change in the law in Russia. The Taoiseach advised me that the matter was being dealt with through diplomatic channels. Last evening, I was contacted by a member of one of the five families and advised that the Irish embassy in Russia has confirmed on Thursday last that diplomatic efforts had failed. I am unsure as to whether the Taoiseach was aware of this fact when he responded to my query yesterday. Now that he is aware of it, will he confirm whether the Government will act in a human and compassionate manner and amend the Adoption Act in order to facilitate the five families in question? The deadline is 31 October, which is fast approaching.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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When I informed Deputy Troy of the position yesterday, my understanding was that the ambassador in Moscow was in direct contact with the Russian authorities. If the discussions have broken down, then the Deputy has told me something of which I was not aware. This is a complex and sensitive matter and I will bring it to the attention of the Minister this morning. I was not aware that the embassy has informed the families involved - I do not know whether this is true - that negotiations have broken down.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I am only telling the Taoiseach what the families told me.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I will discuss the matter with the Minister when I leave the Chamber following the Order of Business.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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As the Taoiseach is probably aware, there is growing public demand for the licensing of private organisations which provide private health care facilities. I am aware that legislation designed to provide such a licensing system has been proposed. Will the Taoiseach expedite the legislation in question?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The programme of legislation to be dealt with between now and the end of the year has been set out. I do not believe that programme will be changed, particularly in light of the pressure that exists in the context of getting so much material through. I will communicate further with the Deputy on the current position regarding the licensing of healthcare facilities Bill.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I wish to inquire about three items of promised legislation, one of which relates to the question posed by Deputy Adams in respect of the national children's hospital. In the context of the national paediatric hospital development board (amendment) Bill, will the Taoiseach indicate whether consideration will be given to adapting the proposals and plans relating to the previous site for the hospital to the new site? It must be remembered that €50 million was spent on preparations and planning matters relating to the previous site.

As we know, credit is of huge importance to business and enterprise currently. When is the credit guarantee (amendment) Bill likely to come before the House and when will Second Stage be passed? The Credit Reporting Bill is awaiting Committee Stage. When will it be concluded in the House?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I do not have a date for the publication of the credit guarantee Bill. The Credit Reporting Bill is on Committee Stage. There is no date for publication of the Bill in respect of the hospital. I understand some really good people have been appointed to these boards, so we can expect coherence, a strategy and timelines very shortly.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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When will the bail Bill be progressed? I am very concerned by what I am hearing about crimes being committed by people on bail. That is something at which we need to look. We need to try to prioritise the introduction of that Bill to address the matter. What is the timeframe for the gambling control Bill? When will it be published?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The gambling control Bill will be introduced next year. A great deal of work has been done on the preparation of the heads of the bail Bill in the Department of Justice and Equality. It has not reached a point where it will be brought to Cabinet.

Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Following on from Deputy Troy's question, when is the adoption (tracing and information) Bill due to be published? This will put an information and a tracing service on a statutory basis.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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That Bill is due for publication next year.

Peter Mathews (Dublin South, Independent)
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Under secondary or subsidiary legislation, will the Government ensure the Central Bank of Ireland, the liquidator of IBRC and NAMA, all of whom are involved, undertake an immediate and thorough investigation of the situation highlighted in the Delaware court case in the USA of widespread illegal overcharging of interest on borrowers' loans by Anglo Irish Bank-IBRC to a sum in the order of €1.2 billion over 14 years? Although the practice of illegal calculation of the interest rate applied has ceased, as the liquidator explained, rolled up capitalised interest on loans, which may go back over eight to ten years, is contaminated by the charges applied to the loans in earlier years and, therefore, the loan has-----

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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We cannot have a debate on it. This is the Order of Business.

Peter Mathews (Dublin South, Independent)
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It is very important because NAMA is selling loans with this contaminated interest.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It is before the courts in the United States. The rest of it is a matter for regulators. I have read the report on what was presented to the court. Obviously, it will make its decision very soon.