Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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It is proposed to take No. 12, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No. 861/2007 establishing a European small claims procedure and Regulation (EC) No. 1896/2006 creating a European order for payment procedure (back from committee); No. 2 - County Enterprise Boards (Dissolution) Bill 2013 [Seanad] - Second Stage (resumed); and No. 4, Roads Bill 2014 - Order for Second Stage and Second Stage.

It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that No. 12 shall be decided without debate. Tomorrow’s fortnightly Friday business shall be No. 46, Down’s Syndrome (Equality of Access) Bill 2013 - Second Stage; and No. 47, Energy Regulation (Code of Practice) Bill 2013 - Second Stage.

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. 12 agreed? Agreed.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to raise two issues. The first is the leaks caused by Uisce Éireann when putting in water meters in Dublin city. I understand Dublin City Council has had to fork out €136,000 to repair leaks caused by Uisce Éireann. What is the policy or legislation that specifies that a city council would have to foot the bill for the bad work of a semi-state body?

The second question relates to the consumer protection and competition Bill. It was on the A list in the autumn of 2012. It was on the A list in the spring of 2013. It was on the A list in the summer of 2013. It was on the A list in the autumn of 2013. Now that the Government has amalgamated the spring and the summer, it is on the A list for the spring and summer session of 2014, which means the Government will be covered if it does not publish the Bill until the House returns in September.

The important element of the Bill is to introduce a statutory code of conduct for the grocery trade. Are powerful sectoral interests getting to the Government on this vital and important piece of legislation? Could the Tánaiste indicate when it is intended to publish the Bill and if it will happen this side of Easter?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Powerful sectoral interests do not get to this Government.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Tánaiste.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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The Government was going to burn the bondholders.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The Tánaiste should take a minute for himself.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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The Tánaiste is sitting beside them.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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The Government was going to burn the bondholders.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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That was the previous Government.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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The Government will get burned.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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That is why the media mergers Bill and the legal services Bill are being rushed through the system. Well done.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Settle down.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The consumer protection and competition Bill is at an advanced stage and is planned to be published this session.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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It is perhaps appropriate that the Government intends to amend the Red Cross Act 1938. The people of Cork will probably get a speedier response from the Red Cross than they are currently getting from the Government. Could the Tánaiste inform us of when we can expect the heads of the Red Cross (amendment) Bill?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Red Cross (amendment) Bill, which is to repeal the Red Cross Act 1938 and put in place a new legal framework for the Red Cross society, is expected next year.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The sale of loan books to unregulated third parties Bill is listed as No. 93 on the C list and publication is expected in 2015. However, the Bill might have considerable significance for the approximately 20,000 customers of Irish Nationwide who find themselves in a predicament at present.

Will the Government expedite this legislation? Will the Tánaiste agree with me that it could be of benefit to the customers of the financial institution to which I referred?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The sale of loan books to unregulated third parties Bill will allow regulated financial institutions to sell their loan books to unregulated financial institutions. Work is being done on this Bill and we expect it to be published next year.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The Tánaiste will recall, both prior to the last general election and since, his promise about the development of a strategic investment bank to assist small and medium-sized enterprises which are finding it difficult to obtain credit and to assist them in participating in the real economy of the State. When will legislation to put that facility in place be brought forward?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Bill to establish the strategic investment fund is to be published this session.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Earlier in the week, the Cabinet discussed the matter of the European Court of Human Rights, ECHR, judgment in the case of Louise O’Keeffe. I understand the Tánaiste will be heading up the formulation and submission of a report to Europe in the form of a response which is incumbent on the Government. Will the Tánaiste ensure the House will have a full and detailed opportunity of buying into that report, as well as having a full debate with an opportunity for every party Member, and otherwise, to make a contribution?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The position is that the judgment of the ECHR is binding on the State. There is a procedure whereby the State is required to make a report to the Council of Europe within six months of the judgment, which will be 28 July at the latest. It is my responsibility as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to make that report. I will be doing so in consultation with the line Department, the Department of Education and Skills. The Government, obviously, will have to give fuller consideration to this substantial judgment which runs to 82 pages. We will be getting advice from the Attorney General on this. It will be getting quite an amount of consideration between now and when the report has to be made.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The official languages (amendment) Bill is to give effect to certain recommendations arising from the review of the Official Languages Act 2003 and to give effect to the Government's decision to merge the functions of the Language Commissioner with the Ombudsman's office and to abolish the Placenames Commission. Beidh an coimisinéir, Seán Ó Cuirreáin, ag éirí as oifig ar an 3 Feabhra. An bhfuil an Rialtas chun coimisinéir nua a cheapadh roimh teacht isteach na reachtaíochta seo nó cad iad na pleananna atá ann chun coimisinéir nua a chur in áit?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Ar dtús, tá súil agam go mbeidh an Bille seo os comhair na Dála an seisiún seo, nó sin an t-amchlár atá againn. Níl aon eolas agam faoi cheapúcháin duine in áit Sheán ó Cuirreáin. Ar ndóigh, duine é Seán ó Cuirreáin a rinne sár jab mar choimisinéir fad agus a bhí sé sa phost. Cuirfidh mé ceist ar an Aire faoi seo agus b'fhéidir go gcuirfidh sé freagra díreach chuig an Teachta.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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As the Tánaiste may know, Ms Antoinette Keegan of the Stardust Victims Group spent the past 24 hours in the security hut at the entrance to the Taoiseach’s Department. This was on foot of a commitment an Taoiseach gave Ms Keegan and her committee during the 2011 general election when he visited the Artane area with Deputy Terence Flanagan. He stated he would immediately hold a new commission of investigation under the 2004 commissions of investigation legislation into the Stardust tragedy in which 48 young people tragically lost their lives.

Friday week will be the 33rd anniversary of the tragedy, yet the commitment given has not been carried out. Deputies Terence Flanagan, Boyd Barrett and others asked the Ceann Comhairle for a debate on this matter in the House today. Will the Tánaiste meet Ms Keegan and her committee to set in train in steps where we could finally have a commission of investigation into this tragedy? When Deputy Rabbitte was leader of the Labour Party, he investigated the matter with me. It is an horrendous legacy issue-----

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

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Will the Tánaiste meet Ms Keegan and her committee to set in train steps whereby we could finally have a commission of investigation into this tragedy and deal with this matter for once and for all?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Stardust tragedy was truly shocking and horrific. It has remained with the victims and survivors ever since. I have the greatest of sympathy for what they have suffered. I did not have a request for a meeting but, if I get one, I will consider it.

Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Independent)
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The Government has committed to a referendum on marriage equality. Yesterday, we learned the mayor of New York City, Bill de Blasio, will not take part in the city’s St. Patrick’s Day parade this year because of the organisers’ prohibition on pro-gay rights expression.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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We do not deal with parades on the Order of Business.

Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Independent)
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In the context of the upcoming marriage referendum and in his role as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, will the Tánaiste comment on the mayor’s decision? Will he be meeting with-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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If he has, he will not be making it now on the Order of Business.

Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Independent)
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-----the organisers of the parade to address their bigoted attitude to LGBT rights in a global city? For this referendum to have credibility, this needs to be addressed on our national holiday.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy, please resume your seat. It is not a matter for the Order of Business.

Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Independent)
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It has to do with the upcoming referendum on marriage equality and I invite the Tánaiste to comment on it.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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No, he will not comment on this on the Order of Business. The Deputy should put down a parliamentary question or something of that nature and then it can be considered.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Thousands of houses have been flooded recently. Thankfully, in my own town of Clonmel they were not. Will the promised insurance Bill deal with insurance companies refusing to cover people who have been flooded? It should not all be about profit for the insurance companies. There must be some bit of humanity as well and I hope the Bill will deal with that. When will it be published?

Under the social welfare Bill, the fuel allowance should be extended this year. It is due to run out in one month’s time but it should be extended because of the hardship many families affected by flooding are facing.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I note the Deputy had submitted that as a Topical Issue matter.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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I congratulate all involved in last week’s successful coursing festival in Clonmel and all who came to it. They were all very welcome.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Thanks very much.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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We passed the greyhound welfare Act in 2011. Everything went off well at this festival and the protestors who came were also made welcome.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I am delighted to hear that. I do not know what is in order. Maybe the Tánaiste would sort it out himself?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Thanks and I appreciate your confidence in me, a Cheann Comhairle. The only matter I thought was in order was the insurance Bill.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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What about the social welfare Bill and the fuel allowance?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Unfortunately, I do not have a date for the Bill’s publication for the Deputy but it is being worked on.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Will the Tánaiste carry back a message to the Minister responsible asking that he examine a scheme that will capture those people who cannot get insurance quotes due to flooding?

The maritime area and foreshore (amendment) Bill has been promised for this session. If flooding prevention measures are required, they cannot be delayed by this legislation.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The heads of the Bill were approved in July and we expect to have it published this session.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Many inland fishermen and their families were deprived of a livelihood as a result of the closing of the eel fishing industry on the River Shannon and its tributaries. Putting it bluntly, this happened under Fianna Fáil and it was a scandal------

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Where are we going here?

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is running around with a bucket. I am surprised the troika is not thrown in as well.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Why is he raising it?

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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-----the way we were treated compared to the rest of Europe.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Where are we going here?

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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When will the inland fisheries (modernisation and consolidation) Bill be brought before the House? This legislation is of importance to midlands fishermen.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I am sure it is.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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It is vital.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Fianna Fáil never looked after the midlands.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Times change for the Deputy.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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On the inland fisheries (modernisation and consolidation) Bill, work is ongoing within the working group comprising the Department and Inland Fisheries Ireland to develop the heads of the Bill and publication is expected next year.

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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There will be a Minister of State in the area.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I refer to the proposal to introduce the international recovery of child support (Hague Convention) Bill which has been promised and is very important. Its purpose is to regularise and ensure child support is accessible from the point of view of those travelling across Europe. I also inquire about the credit guarantee (amendment) Bill, the purpose of which is to amend the 2012 Act in line with requirements as discerned in the intervening period.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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As regards the international recovery of child support (Hague Convention) Bill to implement the Hague Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance, it is not possible at this stage to indicate when the Bill will be published. As yet, there is no date for the publication of the credit guarantee (amendment) Bill.

Eamonn Maloney (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The Ceann Comhairle will recall that last spring Members debated the Spent Convictions Bill in this Chamber. While I recognise there were some obstacles in the way of the Bill proceeding, I understand they have been overcome. Consequently, is there any prospect of having the Bill back in the House this session?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Spent Convictions Bill is awaiting Report Stage in this House. Therefore, it is a matter for the Whips to schedule the Bill, obviously in consultation with the Minister and spokespersons.

Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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Two weeks have passed since the centenary of the end of the Lock-out. Does the Tánaiste agree that it would be fitting to introduce legislation on collective bargaining rights? Will he indicate to Members when they can expect to see such legislation?

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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There could be a lock-out for the Labour Party.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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There is legislation on the A list that it is intended to publish this session.