Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It is proposed to take No. 7, Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2015 - Order for Second Stage and Second Stage. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that Private Members’ business which shall be No. 184, motion regarding fair pay, secure jobs and trade union recognition, shall also take place immediately after the Order of Business tomorrow and shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 90 minutes on that day.

Tomorrow’s business after oral questions shall be No. 7, Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2015 - Second Stage (resumed); and No. 1, Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2014 [Seanad] - 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 Private Members' Business tomorrow agreed to? Agreed.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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In regard to the Minister for Justice and Equality setting up the independent panel of barristers, I understand every case must be gone through before anybody gets-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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We cannot go back to that issue.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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We were promised it would be raised in the context of the Minister coming back to the House following the establishment of the review-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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This is the Order of Business.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am looking for Government time to have this issue debated and I am entitled to do so on the Order of Business because we are getting queries on the cases we submitted to the Minister and because of the significant distress being caused to families.

Page 5 of the programme for Government relates to health issues and outlines the pathway to universal health care and insurance. Universal health insurance was proposed by either Fine Gael or the Labour Party as far back as 2002 and perhaps even earlier, but there has never been a detailed blueprint for costings or how it will be implemented. Five years ago, before the general election, we were promised it, but it was never costed and no detail was provided on it. Now it seems we are about to be told it will take another five years for the Government to even contemplate implementing it. The programme for Government stated that in the first term of the Government a foundation would be laid for the introduction of universal health care insurance and that the legislative basis for it would be provided, that public hospitals would be given autonomy from the HSE and that the HSE's function of purchasing care for uninsured patients would be given to a hospital care purchase agency which would combine with the National Treatment Purchase Fund to purchase care for the uninsured during the transition period. That was just one of the key commitments made in the programme for Government in terms of the legislative underpinning of universal health insurance. Will the Taoiseach confirm that none of this will now happen during the lifetime of the Government and that there is no detailed blueprint for the implementation of universal hospital care insurance? I will not mention the many other promises made in this regard.

We have been promised a review of the fair deal scheme and the system for financing it. The scheme has been under chronic pressure in the past 12 to 18 months. When will the review be published and what are the Government's proposals in looking after older people and in terms of access and eligibility for the scheme?

When can we expect publication of the apprenticeship Bill which will outline new governance structures for new apprenticeships and introduce protection for apprentices and outline the responsibilities of employers?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Minister of State, Deputy Damien English, is dealing with the apprenticeship Bill and requested that all submissions be made by the end of March. I assume he is assessing the submissions and will obtain an update for the Deputy on when the Minister of State expects to put the Bill together.

As the Deputy is aware, the Government made a further allocation in the health area recently, of €75 million, to deal with issues related to the fair deal scheme and, I hope, reduce the waiting period to an average of four to five weeks. This will be more acceptable than the existing waiting period of 18 to 20 weeks. The Minister for Health will deal with the question of the review of the fair deal scheme, but I cannot provide a date of publication of the review. It will, obviously, be discussed in the House.

Universal health insurance will not be introduced during the lifetime of the Government. The Government has made it clear that it must be delayed because of the complexity of what is involved. The Minister has said he expects to be in a position to produce a paper on costings by the middle of the year. The Deputy is aware that hospital groups have been set up and that they will evolve into trusts. The money follows the patient concept is in place; primary care centres are being opened and agreement has been reached on GP cards for children under six years and people aged over 70. Being able to deal with people's medical needs based on medical requirements as distinct from how much money they might have is the essence of universal health insurance, but this cannot happen until all of the elements are in place.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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What the Taoiseach is saying is that five years since the Government proposed this messure, it still does not have the costings.

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

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Government still does not have costings for something it promised the people five years ago.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy is getting a reply to his question. I must move on to Deputy Gerry Adams. We are not having a debate on the issue.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The commitment to the introduction of universal health insurance is not being reneged on.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Five years on, the Government does not even have costings.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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There are plenty of other ways of raising the issue, apart from shouting across the floor.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Micheál Martin's party supports the continuation of a two-tier system.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Do not mind our party; the Government promised this maesure five years ago

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Will the Deputy, please, settle down? He must obey the rules just like everybody else, regardless of whether he believes it. I call on the Taoiseach to complete his response.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy's party supports a two-tier system and increasing income tax to make people pay more. Universal health insurance is the way forward.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Government has no costings five years after it told the people it would be provided.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy has had his say and should stay quiet. He has Leaders' Questions and other opportunities to raise these matters. He should not do so on the Order of Business when I ask other Deputies to adhere to the rules.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Ba mhaith liom ceist a chur ar an Taoiseach faoi the Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2015 and the international protection Bill.

On the second Bill, the direct provision system is 15 years old this month, but it has been widely condemned for the ill-treatment of refugees who are denied the right to work and are paid a derisory living allowance.

They have to pay €2.50 for each prescription out their €19 allowance and those who have completed the leaving certificate cannot progress to third level education. The Taoiseach previously told me that the report of the working group chaired by Mr. Justice Bryan MacMahon would be published by Easter but Easter has gone. The Minister of State, Deputy Ó Ríordáin, is quoted as saying it will be published by the end of next month. The Taoiseach gave a definitive date of when it will be published. Will he commit to holding a debate in the House when it is published? Has the Government agreed a firm date for the publication of the international protection Bill?

The Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2015 is to provide free GP service for all persons aged 70 years and over. The Government has agreed a new contract with the Irish Medical Organisation for free GP care for children under the age of six and this is opposed by the National Association of General Practitioners. Will GPs who do not agree to the new contract lose-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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No, Deputy, we cannot go into long debate and discussion on the Order of Business. It is nearly ten minutes and we have only had two people on the Order of Business, which is about promised legislation.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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This is what this is about.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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We cannot have debates on the Order of Business.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Fair enough-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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It is unfair to other Deputies who have to come in. There is a queue here.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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As the Ceann Comhairle knows I am generally very brief.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The rules apply to everybody.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Absolutely.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Thank you.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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If GPs do not agree to the new contract will they lose from their practice those under-sixes who currently have a medical card or a GP visit card? Is the Taoiseach confident that the HSE can cope with the registration of an additional 270,000 children?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is not a matter for the Order of Business.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Does he expect this free GP care service for under-sixes to be in place by mid-July, as promised?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill is being taken today in the House and Deputy Adams will have an opportunity to comment on it. Deputy Adams asked about GP contracts. I hope these contracts are accepted and that we move on with these necessary elements of the under-sixes, over-70s and under-11s before we can have universal health insurance.

I gave an indication of when the working group on the protection process would produce its report. I do not speak for Mr. Justice MacMahon, who has an extensive knowledge of all of the complexities involved. My understanding is that he expects to submit his final report to the Minister before the end of May. I know from speaking to him that the range of cases arising has been much more extensive than one might have imagined. I do not wish to speculate on the outcome but it will be debated in the House when the Minister publishes it. It is a matter of considerable importance. The answer to the Deputy's question is that it will be debated here.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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On promised legislation and arising from the discussions at Cabinet today about crime prevention, when will a suite of legislative proposals come before the House? Will it include the introduction of the bail Bill as a central aspect? When will all those issues be brought before the House by way of legislative proposals?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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This morning the Government approved two elements in respect of bail in cases were burglaries are occurring. The evidence is that a small number of people carry out an extensive number of burglaries. The Minister proposes to introduce legislation so that repeat offences by offenders can be taken as an indication of a refusal of bail. Where there are repeated charges against particular people the court in its wisdom can decide to have consecutive sentences for repeated burglaries. In general, the Minister hopes to bring the heads of a general bail Bill - about 40 heads in all - to Government, in the next two months or so. This is to deal with the general bail concept which the Deputy has raised on many occasions in the House.

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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When will we see the promised legislation in the form of the water services (No. 3) Bill to give effect to the legislation to allow the courts go after those who have refused to pay the bill? We are waiting long enough and I am sure EUROSTAT is anxious to get this information in order to adjudicate on the certainty of income that may be derived by this company. In the absence of that the Taoiseach might find himself in hot water, to say the least.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Minister, Deputy Kelly, is working on a number of related areas in order to have a compliance regime which is clear and strong and which applies to everyone. I have referred to this before. I do not wish to give the Deputy an exact date except to say that the Minister is working hard to have that clear and strong regime implemented as soon as possible.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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When will the technological universities Bill be published? Can the Taoiseach give an assurance at the minimum that it will be published in this Dáil session?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It is due to be published in this session.

Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Amending the Child Care Act 1991 will impose a statutory duty on the Child and Family Agency to prepare an after-care plan for an eligible child or young person. We must strengthen the legislative provision for after care. When can we expect the drafting of the child care (amendment) Bill?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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That Bill is due in this session.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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There is much public interest in the extension of the natural gas pipelines to all parts of the country, including the smaller provincial towns. Gas provision for small towns is very important for their future development. I refer to two Bills which are related, No. 71 and No. 72, the common arrangements for gas Bill and the Eirgrid Bill, to establish Eirgrid outside of the honey-pot regions and to amend the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 to allow for arrangements to be put in place to facilitate an all-Ireland gas market.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I am not sure where the honey-pot regions are to which Deputy Bannon refers are located. The common arrangements for gas Bill is no longer being progressed because it has been superseded by the European Union internal market agenda third package and associated EU gas networks codes. Therefore, the Bill is not proceeding any further.

Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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With regard to the commencement of the exchanging of criminal records of known criminals between Ireland and other EU member states, when can we expect the criminal records information system Bill to be brought before the House?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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That Bill is due later this year.

Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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There is a need to merge the Property Registration Authority, the Valuation Office and the Ordnance Survey of Ireland. When will the Tailte Éireann Bill come before the House?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I do not have a date for it. I will give Deputy Feighan a progress update on the work.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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The Judicial Council Bill has never been more needed. It has been promised on many occasions. This morning in the High Court a case went ahead half an hour before it was lifted and an individual was jailed only to be brought back to a different court at 1 p.m. and be freed. This is the second time this gentleman has been jailed by the same judge. I can name him-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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We cannot discuss cases here.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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What is going on down there under Mr. Justice Hunt is a farce and is unacceptable.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is not a matter for the Order of Business.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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It is a matter for the Judicial Council Bill. When will it be introduced?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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We will find out about that.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It will be this session.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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In the context of the dispute in Dunnes Stores, recently in the House the Tánaiste promised legislation on collective bargaining. I recall that when the Taoiseach was in the US recently he suggested to the business community there that if they had any issues they might give him a telephone call.

Given that it will take some time to bring the legislation on collective bargaining before the House, is there any chance the Taoiseach might lift the telephone, ring Margaret Heffernan and try to do something to resolve that particular dispute?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I advised them to ring me last year and they are calling in huge numbers.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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That is good.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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What about the people with variable rate mortgages? Did they ring the Taoiseach?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The question of collective bargaining is one with which the Government will deal in the not too distant future. In the meantime, the Minister or State, Deputy Gerald Nash, is dealing with the Low Pay Commission and work in that respect with regard to the minimum wage. I hope this matter can be resolved. There are other retail outlets where short-hour working applies also. In fairness, clarity should be provided to workers as to the hours and conditions under which they work. I will advise Deputy Ó Fearghaíl of the progress in respect of collective bargaining.

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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In view of the fact that the Taoiseach is a good sporting man like you, a Cheann Comhairle, could I ask him when we can expect the Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill to pass through the House?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It is listed for this session.

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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That is good news.