Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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As both Bills listed for today have already been brought to a conclusion, it is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that: (1) the sitting shall be suspended immediately after the Order of Business until 2 p.m. at which time Topical Issues shall be taken; and (2) the next fortnightly Friday sitting for the purposes of Standing Orders 21(1)(a) and 28(3) shall be on 6 March 2015 and that any item already drawn for fortnightly Friday business on 20 February and 6 March shall be taken on 6 March and 27 March, respectively.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I have two proposals to put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with the suspension of sitting agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with the sitting and business of the Dáil on 6 March agreed to? Agreed.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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I ask the Minister for clarification of that proposal.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I am sorry, but this is a mtter for party leaders. We will proceed to the Order of Business proper.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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Will the Minister confirm that the business scheduled for 6 March will now be taken on 27 March?

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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That is correct.

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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It will be taken on 20 March.

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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There is very little business on the Order Paper for today. The Minister has noted that some of the business scheduled for today was completed yesterday, but it is prudent to have other work for Parliament to do on a sitting day. The House was originally scheduled to sit tomorrow, but the sitting was cancelled owing to the late publication of the Child and Family Relationships Bill 2015. I am sure there are other Departments that have legislation which is ready to be debated, which would be a proper use of parliamentary time.

In the spirit of our earlier discussion, when can we expect legislation to be published to establish the independent Garda authority? In regard to emergency workers, legislation is being prepared to reform the compensation scheme for members of An Garda Síochána, but it is not on the Government's priority list. When is it envisaged that this legislation will be introduced?

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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I may have inadvertently misled Deputy Thomas P. Broughan. The date he is seeking is 27 March, not 20 March.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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The business originally scheduled for 6 March has been moved to 27 March.

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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That is correct. I apologise for misleading the Deputy.

With regard to the changes made yesterday, I am advised that they were made at the request of the Opposition. However, a considerable volume of legislation will be introduced in the weeks and months ahead. There is a measure of agreement that we should press on with the Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015, although we should not rush it because it is complex legislation. It will be brought before the Houses in early course.

The Garda authority legislation will be introduced this session. The compensation scheme provisions to which the Deputy referred will be introduced later this year.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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I wish to ask about the outstanding reports of the Constitutional Convention.

We were supposed to debate the reports within four months of their completion by the Constitutional Convention. While I understand that all Departments have signed off on the reports, a number of them are outstanding as regards discussion. Will the Government set aside time over the next period of weeks to discuss the reports notwithstanding that we are heading into a very hectic schedule of legislation? Some of the outstanding reports are also important and we need to set aside some time to discuss them as soon as possible.

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The Government intends to respond to the remaining reports of the Constitutional Convention in the current session.

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, United Left)
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Yesterday, the Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection had a discussion on the one parent family payment and the impact on 2 July when 39,000 lone parents will find themselves moved from that payment to jobseeker's transition. On the basis of the discussion yesterday, will the Government organise as a matter or urgency a meeting with those affected and the One Family organisation to discuss the issues?

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy should really table a parliamentary question.

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, United Left)
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These lone parents will find themselves €50 a week down on 2 July while carers will find themselves down €80 a week. There must be a way to suspend this. We do not have Scandinavian child care facilities in place notwithstanding the promise in legislation in 2012. Will the Government review urgently the situation these lone parents face in July?

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Hear, hear.

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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Deputies on all sides of the House will have every opportunity to raise issues in that context. The legislation was published yesterday and it is intended that Second Stage will be taken in the coming weeks. There will be every opportunity to air those issues.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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On the health information Bill, I note that a meeting is taking place today in Galway of the Saolta hospitals group to discuss the future of cancer services at Letterkenny General Hospital. Will Deputy White ensure that the Minister for Health provides information to the House on the future of those services to ensure that they are maintained?

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Is the Deputy looking for a debate?

Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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I have been trying to get a debate for the last few days, but it is not happening.

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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In the normal fashion, the question of whether the Dáil would have a debate on a matter is one for the Whips and can be addressed with them. The health information Bill is intended to be taken later this year.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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When will we finally see the EirGrid Bill? My other question is on the public transport Bill and issues regarding route 7, which is a vital link to the south east, especially into Tipperary and from Carrick-on-Suir right across to Ballyporeen on the Cork boundary. Bus Éireann is not listening to the people who are going to be denied valuable and vital services. These are people who cannot afford cars and need this service for work, hospital appointments and all kinds of reasons. Bus Éireann is withdrawing this route and no service is replacing it. I ask the Minister to speak to Bus Éireann as it is a long-standing, well used and vital service.

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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No date is set as yet for the publication of the EirGrid Bill. The intention is to publish the public transport Bill this year.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Is the Minister aware this morning of the huge crisis that exists in our accident and emergency departments? We have senior citizens and many sick people on chairs and trolleys in hospitals this morning. I raise this issue in the context of the health reform Bill. There is an urgent crisis and no one is talking about it. We have a Minister for Health who appears to be asleep at the wheel yet these people are suffering. It is an outrageous situation to have very senior citizens and ill people sitting on trolleys and chairs in hospitals and something needs to be done.

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The health reform Bill is still within the policy process and it is not possible to state when precisely it will be brought forward. It is certainly not the case that the Minister for Health or any Minister is asleep at the wheel. Very considerable action has been taken by the Minister and the HSE on that matter. For example, there has been a very considerable improvement in regard to trolleys. I thought I would be able to get the figures for the Deputy, but while they are in my papers somewhere, I cannot fish them out quickly enough. There is definitely significant improvement arising from the actions of the HSE. The Minister has a very strong grip on this issue.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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Is it the Minister's intention to introduce legislation or regulations to reform the operation of the Commission for Energy Regulation given its admitted failure to regulate the electricity market and its total failure to regulate home heating, both gas and electricity?

Recently, we saw the revelations of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists on HSBC. There is grave disquiet in the House among all Deputies at the way in which the House has been informed about this matter since 2009 when it first became known to Revenue. In view in particular of the dearth of legislation, will the Government consider allowing the Minister for Finance to come to the House for a full-scale debate on HSBC, the ramifications of the 350 Irish account holders, the serious damage done to the State's revenues and what is being done currently? Will HSBC be prosecuted by the State? Are any professionals who aided and abetted massive tax evasion in this country being prosecuted?

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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We cannot have a detailed debate now.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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Can we have a full-scale debate on this? The odd question has been asked, but a full debate is needed.

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The Deputy, who is in the House much longer than I am, knows that the question of facilitating debates is a matter for the Whips which can be dealt with in that context. The Minister for Finance is frequently available to the House and the relevant committee and I am sure that an opportunity will be taken on an early occasion by Deputy Broughan or others to raise that issue with the Minister. I think there was a debate here earlier this morning with the Minister for Justice and Equality on precisely the issue Deputy Broughan raises. Certainly, if it is a matter that is amenable to debate, that can be arranged.

I have no particular proposal or intention to bring forward legislation on the regulator. I do not accept that the regulator is not doing the job it is there to do.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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The reports are very critical. It is obviously not doing its job.

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The broader question of energy prices generally in a liberalised environment is obviously a live issue, including a live political issue, and I have no problem debating that with the Deputy at some point in the future. I have no proposal to bring forward legislation.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Given the level of all types of crime and, indeed, corruption hitting the headlines on a daily basis, when can we expect to see the proceeds of crime (amendment) Bill before the House?

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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Consultations are still ongoing with the Criminal Assets Bureau in that regard and no date is yet set to bring forward that legislation. I take the points raised by the Deputy on board.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I raise three Bills, two of which are related to the Minister's own brief. A communications regulation Bill is promised to facilitate the introduction of a postal codes service and the Minister might tell us what its status is. The Minister's predecessor promised - perhaps I should say threatened - a broadcasting (amendment) Bill to provide for the introduction of a broadcasting charge, which is something that has horrified people across the country. What is happening on that legislation and what is the timescale for its introduction?

On the issue of the promised gambling control Bill, we hear a great deal, quite rightly, about the problems of alcohol abuse in this country, but bubbling away beneath the surface is a very serious problem with gambling. Certainly, there is a need for legislation in that particular area. When will it be brought before the House?

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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I expect to bring forward the legislation on Eircode in the coming weeks. No date is set for any particular Bill on broadcasting to be brought before the House in the immediate period. I remind the Deputy that my predecessor and the programme for Government did not propose to introduce a new burden on any individual but in fact to replace the television licence fee with a new broadcasting service charge. There was no proposal for a new financial burden on anyone.

The proposal is one of the issues I am dealing with in a broader memo to the Government in the coming weeks setting out my thinking on the funding of public service broadcasting and related matters. If legislation arises from it, as it probably will, it will not be published until the latter half of the year. No date has been set for the publication of the gambling control Bill.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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The reformed and consolidated domestic violence Bill is promised legislation. It proposes to consolidate the Domestic Violence Act 1996. When is it likely to come before the House? Will it do so during this session? What advances have been made in the promised children's hospital development Bill? When is it likely to come before the House? Have the heads of the Bill been approved and will we see it before the end of this session?

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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We have set no date for either Bill. The Deputy is right to raise them as they are important areas that are being addressed. Considerable work is going into both pieces of legislation. An enormous amount of work is happening regarding the children's hospital both on the ground with the project and regarding the legislation.

Peter Mathews (Dublin South, Independent)
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The Minister will have an interest in this topic, which comes under Bills before the Dáil and Seanad, the Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2014. It is with awesome cheek and arrogance that Japan Tobacco Group threatens to sue the Minister for Health and the HSE for bringing forward the Bill. The Government should consider counter-suing them as a class action on behalf of the State for the death, damage and destruction they have caused families and the people of Ireland. That should put an end to the matter.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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Hear, hear.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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That could be raised as a Topical Issue.

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The Bill to which the Deputy referred came before the committee on Tuesday. I hear what the Deputy is saying.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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He is right.

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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Legislation is a matter for the Oireachtas.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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We know.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Although the Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012 has been before the Dáil for an age, it has disappeared from the list. When will this very important Bill be reintroduced? It is unfair that spent convictions last a lifetime. Tá Bille na dteangacha oifigiúla ar an liosta A. There is a proposal on the A list to bring in an official languages amendment Bill. I want a very simple answer and I will hold the Minister to it. Will it be introduced this session as an A list Bill, yes or no? We need to find out whether or not these A lists mean anything.

It is of great concern in Galway that, because of possible damage to an acre or two of habitat, there is a proposal to demolish more than 100 houses. Does the Government intend to work with the European Union to bring proportionality between people's homes and communities and the habitats directive, or is a small amount of habitat more important than more than 100 homes in Galway? It is important that we get clarification on whether the Minister is looking to bring some balance in view of the judgment of the European Court of Justice.

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012 is on the D list and has passed all Stages in the Seanad and Committee Stage in the Dáil. Before the Bill could be taken, there was a UK Court of Appeal judgment which necessitated a review of the disclosure provisions contemplated. This review has been completed and consequential amendments to the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Bill 2012 and the Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012 are being drafted. There is a reasonable expectation that it will be brought forward during this session.

The official languages Bill has been through pre-legislative scrutiny. Work is being carried out across Government to establish a definitive list of the bodies that are to be covered. Once this work has been done, the Bill will be brought forward. It is contingent on how quickly the work can be completed and we hope it will be done during this session.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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What about the habitats directive?

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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Although I hear what the Deputy is saying, I am not sure it relates to any legislation, promised or otherwise.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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It does.

Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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I ask that the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Fitzgerald, give a commendation for bravery to the two prison officers injured in the Tallaght incident, Dan Buckley and Graham Flynn. It is the least that can be done to thank them for their work in the course of their duty.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Hear, hear.

Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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The protocols regarding risk were referred to earlier. The prisoner was a flight risk and we need to examine the protocols and policies. I wish the two victims a very speedy recovery and return to good health and to their work.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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We can all agree on that.

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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I agree entirely, and the Minister has already indicated the same here this morning. I agreed with Deputy Niall Collins and we should join Deputy Tom Fleming in conveying our very best wishes for a speedy recovery to the two individuals involved.

Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I urge that the gambling control Bill be published as soon as possible. An assurance was given to the Irish Amusement Trades Association that it would be brought forward early this year. We rely on legislation that is 50 to 80 years old and the business has moved on. There are anomalies on the definition and operation of such businesses and it has an effect on regulations for the proper running of such facilities and on legitimate taxpayers who run these businesses. There are gaps that undermine their business. The matter urgently needs attention.

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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I take the Deputy's comments on board as well as the additional insights she has brought to the problem. The Deputy is right. The legislation is very important. Although I do not have a date, it is not for want of work. It is moving ahead in the Department and it is complex.

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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Could I have an update on the education (admission to schools) Bill? School admission is a very significant issue in south Kildare, particularly in the Newbridge and Kilcullen area. Children and parents are very stressed when ease of access to schools is not allowed. Variations in practice are causing considerable distress and I ask that the Bill come forward as soon as possible.

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The Deputy is right. It is priority legislation and it is intended to publish it this session.

Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour)
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I welcome the Minister's commitment on the Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012. It is considerably more than I managed to obtain earlier this month from the Department of Justice and Equality. To help persons with intellectual disabilities is a key plank of the Government's policy and the Assisted Decision-making (Capacity) Bill 2013 passed Second Stage and then disappeared into the waiting list for Committee Stage. Will Committee Stage be taken in the near future? If not, maybe we should admit to people that we are not going to do anything in this session. The programme for Government outlined commitments to enact legislative changes required for the Government to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Can the Minister indicate when any single enactment in that regard might be moved forward to enable us to ratify this important convention?

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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1 o’clock

The legislation that comprehends both of the Deputy's points has been through Second Stage and awaits Committee Stage. There is considerable work continuing on it. I cannot give a date for its progress to Committee Stage but it is legislation of a very high priority and the Deputy is right with regard to the broader convention point that he makes.

Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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The Minister is aware that the Latvian Government is very critical of the Irish State because it seems to think we facilitate sham marriages with Latvian girls here in the Republic. I understand that the Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014 has been published, however, I am told that in order to prevent these sham marriages which are of concern to the Latvians and to us we need to activate sections of that Act. When, as a nation, will we put an end to these disgraceful sham marriages occurring in quite substantial numbers in the Republic?

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The Act was enacted by the Oireachtas on 4 December last. The Deputy is referring to the need for commencement orders in respect of various aspects of that legislation. I will have to check that with the Tánaiste and the Department of Social Protection and I will respond to the Deputy when I do so.