Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It is proposed to take No. 9, motion re ministerial rota for parliamentary questions; and No. 4, Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 - Order for Second Stage and Second Stage. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that No. 9 shall be decided without debate. Private Members’ business shall be No. 146, motion re discretionary medical cards.

Tomorrow’s business after Oral Questions shall be No.4, Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 - Second Stage (resumed).

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. 9, motion re ministerial rota for parliamentary questions, without debate, agreed to? Agreed.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Pat Rabbitte, warned on Sunday that if this drift is allowed to continue, the Government will not last until 2016. He said we will not see 2016. This seems to have been supported by the Tánaiste, Deputy Gilmore. Apparently the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, is regarded as the praetorian guard of the coalition. He stressed the need for urgent action and he warned that unless the Government gets a firm grip on the political agenda, he would be "fearful of our chances of seeing 2016 as a Government". This is a quote from a senior Minister of the Government: "[T]hings have been sliding for the past three months, things have been going off the rails." He said that the coalition parties needed to meet behind closed doors and settle on a programme of renewal: "There is no point in taking flight or panicking, but we need, in the light of criticisms, to settle on a new direction." The Minister is saying that there will be amendments to the programme for Government and a new programme for Government. Can the Taoiseach confirm that there will be a review of the programme for Government and that a new programme for Government will be negotiated shortly, as per the Minister's statement?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I assure the Deputy that he does not need to be worried about drift from the Government point of view. We are firmly focused on the spring of 2016. The twin pillars given to us in the mandate by the people in 2011 were to sort out our public finances and to get our country working.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, said so.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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That is at a point where we have had the lowest interest rates in the history of the State, at 2.79%-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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That is Mario Draghi, not the Taoiseach. Will the Taoiseach talk to the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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-----the highest growth in employment in the OECD, the continuing fall in numbers on the live register over 23 months and a refocus of the priorities. The Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, was merely endorsing what we have already said that we need to continue to implement our medium-term strategy, with a view to having our deficit below 3% by 2015 and eliminated by 2018 and full employment restored by 2020. That is the focus of the Government-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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But he said the opposite.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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If Deputy Martin has any concerns about drifting off course or straying into areas where we should not be, we are very focused on 2016, very focused on going to the end of our remit-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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He said the Government was going off the rails; he said the Government was drifting. He called for a programme of renewal.

A Deputy:

You can relax, Micheál.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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-----and very focused on letting the people answer the question whether we sorted out the public finances and whether we got the country back working again.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Is this the document that will see us through?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Martin for his concern but I assure him it will be fine.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Any ideas, Micheál?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Government would not take them.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I neglected to ask the Taoiseach about arranging for a debate on the North in Government time as soon as possible.

I wish to ask about the Government's commitment to the national framework for suicide prevention plan for 2015 to 2018. I understand the closing date for submissions is 6 June. The Taoiseach will be aware that each year 500 people die through suicide in this State and 300 die by suicide in the North. Countless other people self-harm. This is a crisis on a huge scale. I refer to the participation by many people in the Darkness into Light suicide awareness and fund-raising event recently. When does the Taoiseach expect the report to be published? Will he consider examining the possibility of putting in place an all-Ireland, all-island suicide prevention strategy?

Last week, the Government published the terms of reference of the expert panel to review projects by EirGrid, Grid Link and Grid West. It may also consider the North-South interconnector. There has been popular opposition because people are quite rightly worried about the pylons and their effects on the environment, health, farming and the local economy and our historic landscape. Will the Taoiseach direct EirGrid to refrain from submitting planning application until the expert panel has concluded its work?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is a matter for another day.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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When does the Taoiseach expect the reports from the expert panel to be concluded and published?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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On the latter question, I am bound by the Ceann Comhairle's direction. I cannot answer for Mrs. Justice McGuinness's group. It has published its terms of reference and it is now analysing the situation in respect of EirGrid, the western and southern routes and also the question of the interconnector for the North. The Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, has made it perfectly clear that we need to deal with this question of Northern Ireland because the energy situation warrants it. I cannot speak for Mrs. Justice McGuinness as to when she will respond.

The framework for suicide is called Reach Out and it will end its ten-year term this year. The Department of Health and the HSE, with the direct involvement of the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, have begun the process of developing that new framework strategy for suicide prevention for the period 2015 to 1018, to build on the work contained in that Reach Out programme. The aim of the framework will be to support population health approaches and interventions that will assist in reducing the loss of life through suicide while aiming for better co-ordination and the integration of services. This is being led by the Department of Health but it is being managed by the National Office for Suicide Prevention. The Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, recently approved the establishment of a planning oversight group and five advisory groups, covering research, policy, practice, engagement and communications and media, to drive the process. It is expected that the framework will be in place by the end of this year. Perhaps the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, is already dealing with her Northern Ireland counterpart and I would have no objection to having co-operation on an all-island strategy. There should not be any difference in these matters. I will ask the Minister of State to update the Deputy in due course.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Go raibh maith agat.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Independent)
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I refer to No. 10 on the Order Paper which deals with the inquiry into the banking crisis. I note the timings allocated for that debate tomorrow preclude about ten Members of this House from having an opportunity to speak. Perhaps it is an error in the timings. I ask the Taoiseach if he would request the Chief Whip to extend the time by ten minutes to give others an opportunity to contribute to the debate.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I understand Deputy Timmins's request. A vote is scheduled for tomorrow evening. I will ask the Chief Whip to look at the Deputy's request to see if we can be generous if not flexible.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Independent)
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Ten minutes is all we need.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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As the Ceann Comhairle I try to be as independent as possible but there is a group of ten Deputies. If they were a party, they would be entitled to automatic speaking rights.

It would be appropriate, where possible, to accommodate them as it is only right that Deputies are given an opportunity to speak.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Independent)
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On that issue-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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No further debate is required. I have made my wishes known.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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I concur with the view expressed by the Ceann Comhairle, having been in the same position as the Deputies in question in 2007.

On the children (amendment) Bill, is the Taoiseach aware of the threat of closure facing an excellent child care service in Darndale? The Jigsaw centre, which provides child care services for 260 preschool children and employs 100 people, is under pressure. I ask the Taoiseach to intervene urgently in this case. It is all very well to introduce the Children First Bill and speak about the children (amendment) Bill but we need to protect the children of the Darndale and Belcamp areas.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The matter will be discussed during the Topical Issue debate.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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It is an excellent child care service which needs €100,000 to remain open.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The issue is not suitable for discussion on the Order of Business.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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It is very important.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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It will be discussed during the Topical Issue debate.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I expect a leaflet on the issue will be circulated by the Deputy this evening.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The Fianna Fáil Party will support the request by the Independent group of Deputies for additional time to be provided on the banking inquiry, which will be a most important debate.

The Taoiseach, in alluding to his new appointments to the Departments of Justice and Equality and Children and Youth Affairs, failed to mention the Department of Defence. Will he indicate what he proposes to do in respect of the appointment of a Minister at the Department? I understand he has assumed responsibility for defence. Staff in the Department would like it to be treated seriously and responsibility for it to be assigned to a Minister as soon as possible.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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On the request made by Deputy Timmins, with the consent of the Ceann Comhairle, we will be able to grant the ten minutes' speaking time the Deputy seeks.

I have assigned responsibility for the Department of Defence to my Department for the moment to show how seriously I take the issue. I will reassign responsibility in some little time and in the meantime, the Chief Whip and Minister of State at my Department, Deputy Paul Kehoe, will deal with matters of protocol. I intend to have a meeting with the Secretary General of the Department very shortly. I assure Deputy Ó Fearghaíl that the Department, all of those who work in it and the officers who serve in Óglaigh na hÉireann will be treated with the utmost seriousness.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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I compliment and wish good luck to the two new Ministers. At least they will say "hello" when Deputies meet them, which is a good thing.

On local government reform-----

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy never says "hello" to me.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I ask Deputy Healy-Rae not to respond.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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I will not open my mouth.

Fine Gael and the Labour Party abolished town councils. Killarney Chamber of Commerce is extremely concerned about the implications of this decision in respect of rates and planning, as the planning department has been abolished. The Taoiseach, who comes to Killarney on holidays, has robbed us of the title of "Mayor of Killarney". What proposals will he Taoiseach make to restore the title to the town?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy's question is not appropriate to the Order of Business.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Given that the Taoiseach visits Killarney on holiday, he should be allowed to answer the question.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I go down there too and enjoy it.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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While the Ceann Comhairle is welcome, will he allow the Taoiseach to answer the question?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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No, he may not do so on the Order of Business.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I suppose the Deputy will have his van parked at Dooks for the Ring of Kerry cycle.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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We want a mayor of Killarney. It is unfair that the Taoiseach will not respond.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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He is not allowed to respond because the Deputy is out of order.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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He comes to Killarney on holidays but will not answer a question about the town.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The purpose of having an independent Chair is to ensure Deputies adhere to the rules.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The recent collapse of Setanta Insurance left approximately 75,000 policyholders out of pocket. It subsequently transpired that the company is regulated in Malta, rather than Ireland. This is the third serious case involving an insurance company in recent years. Royal Sun Alliance was found to have under-provided for future claims and an issue also arose with regard to Quinn Insurance. The Government has promised an insurance Bill which will, I hope, strengthen protection for insurance policyholders. Will the Taoiseach indicate when the Bill will be introduced and whether it will address the issue of providing consumer protection for policyholders who have been found to be vulnerable?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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While I do not have a date for the publication of the insurance Bill, given that serious matters have arisen in respect of Quinn Insurance and Setanta Insurance, I will have the Minister for Finance provide the Deputy with an update on the current status of preparations and how the legislation is being managed.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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On promised legislation, what is the current position regarding the preparation of relevant legislation for the control and sale of alcohol, with particular reference to ongoing health and safety and commercial concerns? Has the Bill been discussed in Cabinet? Have the heads been approved and, if so, when is it likely to come before the House?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The framework of the Bill is being finalised by the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Alex White. He has not yet brought the Bill to Cabinet but it is not far away.

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin North Central, Labour)
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Will the Taoiseach confirm that the Cabinet has approved legislation on collective bargaining? Will he indicate when the relevant Bill will be introduced?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I confirm that work in respect of collective bargaining was cleared by the Cabinet for publication this morning. The matter is being dealt with.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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When will the promised maritime area and foreshore (amendment) Bill come before the House? More than 240 applications have been made for foreshore licences, some of which take up to five years to be determined. As the Taoiseach is aware, many of these applications involve job creation measures for coastal communities and ports.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Bill is being drafted in-house and is due this session. I understand that, notwithstanding the complexity of the issue, the processing of foreshore licence applications has been speeded up greatly.

Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Fine Gael)
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The purpose of the promised criminal records information system Bill is to provide for the exchange of criminal records information with other European Union member states and designated states. When is publication expected?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Bill is due in the final session of this year, probably around October.