Dáil debates

Thursday, 21 July 2016

12:40 pm

Photo of Robert TroyRobert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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It is great to see the partnership Government working. I never thought I would see the day when Deputy Naughten was standing in for the Taoiseach.

I would like to raise a serious issue that has been brought to my attention with regard to the Enniscorthy joint venture and the awarding of the contract for that critical piece of infrastructure. I understand the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and Transport Infrastructure Ireland have been made aware that a contract awarded has subsequently been subcontracted to a European company that is proposing to bring in its own workers and accommodation and to pay its workers substantially less than the minimum wage. If allowed to proceed, this will have negative consequences. What is the Government doing to ensure that we do not have another GAMA on our hands?

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I will ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Employment, Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor, to respond to the Deputy on that matter. The Government has made clear its commitment to the minimum wage. The report published in that regard this week sets out the standard that applies. I will also ask the Minister to investigate the particular circumstances outlined by the Deputy.

Photo of Seán Ó FearghaílSeán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Will the Minister correspond with the Deputy on the matter?

Photo of Mary Mitchell O'ConnorMary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I will respond now.

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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It is ladies' day.

Photo of Eugene MurphyEugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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We are getting two for the price of one.

Photo of Mary Mitchell O'ConnorMary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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If the Deputy will furnish me with the details-----

Photo of Robert TroyRobert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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The matter comes within the remit of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport but I will furnish both Ministers with the details.

Photo of Mary Mitchell O'ConnorMary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I am interested in the matter in so far as it relates to wages.

Photo of Mary Lou McDonaldMary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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My question is to whomsoever feels moved to answer it.

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I will always respond to questions from Deputy McDonald.

Photo of Mary Lou McDonaldMary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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We usually get no answers but today everybody wants to answer. Fair play.

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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It is new politics.

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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We are all champing at the bit to reply.

Photo of Mary Lou McDonaldMary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Yes. I wish to raise with the Tánaiste the issue of rent certainty. The housing action plan commits to the introduction of legislation on tenancy arrangements in the private rental sector and to a strategy for the private rental sector. The plan is high on promises but low on delivery, particularly on the issue of rent certainty. The Tánaiste will recall that Sinn Féin brought an initiative to the Dáil to deliver rent certainty by linking rent inflation to the Consumer Price Index and to give people some comfort - people who, as we all know, are being fleeced with average rents of €1,500 per month in Dublin, for example. When does the Government propose to legislate for rent certainty? I remind our colleagues in Fianna Fáil that the Fianna Fáil Party knocked back a proposal that would have given people rent certainty on a promise of something that has not materialised and that is not missed by people who are under pressure.

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Deputy McDonald will be aware that yesterday the Minister, Deputy Coveney, announced his very comprehensive approach to the housing crisis in this country. Pillar 4 of that plan focuses on improvements in the rental sector. The Minister is committed to developing a comprehensive strategy for the rental sector by quarter 4 of 2016. Work is beginning immediately on the strategy for the rental sector. It will contain a range of actions focused on four key areas: security, or providing greater certainty to landlords and tenants; supply, by maintaining the existing levels of rental stock; an examination of standards, which are important; and a broadening of the powers of the Residential Tenancies Board to enable it to provide its services more effectively. As I said, work is beginning immediately on developing the actions that are needed, legislative and otherwise, for the rental sector.

Photo of Mary Lou McDonaldMary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Is rent certainty included?

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Minister will address his approach to that issue as he further develops the housing action plan.

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Returning to the issue of child and adolescent mental health, the particular case referenced by Deputy McDonald will strike concern in all of us because we know of similar cases. The ISPCC published its annual report today, the details of which I will not go into now. It makes for harrowing reading to learn that some children are waiting 18 months for referral to a child psychologist. I did not hear the Tánaiste's response to Deputy McDonald in relation to the detailed chapter in the programme in the Government which sets out when some of these actions will occur. Perhaps she will tell the House specifically when the task force on youth mental health will be set up. In that regard, the Tánaiste referenced something that will happen next week. What specifically will happen next week and, as the Dáil will not be in session then, how will people be brought up to speed in that regard?

On the issue of building capacity-----

Photo of Seán Ó FearghaílSeán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy may raise only one issue.

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I am continuing on issues related to mental health. There are two other commitments in the programme for a partnership Government with regard to mental health, one of which relates to building capacity in child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS. What is the target and delivery date in that regard? Also, on inter-agency connection between the voluntary and the statutory sectors, what specifically is going to happen in that regard?

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I reiterate that this is a priority area. The Deputy referenced the many different items in the programme for Government. In regard to what will happen next week, a memo will be brought to Cabinet by the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, on the prioritisation of work on a task force to deal with issues in regard to youth mental health.

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Is a task force being established?

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Yes. It will seek to enhance our services and ensure focus on the type of work that needs to be done with regard to young people up to 25 years of age. The task force will bring together all of the different services, including community services, public and private, to develop a programme that can be applied to every community. Work in that regard is under way. A memo will be brought to Cabinet next week. I am sure the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, will inform every Member of the House about the series of actions that will arise from that, including the protocols needed and practise guidelines for the interaction, as Deputy McDonald highlighted, between accident and emergency departments and specialist CAMHS.

Photo of Ruth CoppingerRuth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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Is the Government strongly considering changing its legislative approach to multinational corporations in light of the amazingly embarrassing events of this week - the release of fake GDP figures - in respect of which this State must now pay €280 million to the EU? This arises from the fact that native Irish capitalism is so weak that it has to prostrate itself in front of multinational corporations and allow them to pay virtually nothing in this State. The Government boasts that €1.5 million is being given to the north inner city. Meanwhile, we have to hand over €280 million for no other reason than to spare the blushes of this Government. We are constantly threatened with fines by Europe with regard to public housing initiatives and water charges. We have now been fined by Europe because of a fake growth rate of 26% arising from the slavish attitude of this State to multinationals. It allows them to locate brass-plate operations in the State, showing fake profits. The Government ought to be ashamed.

12:50 pm

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The thousands of people employed by such companies throughout this country certainly will not agree with the Deputy's analysis regarding the important role that they play in this economy. I repeat that these figures were not published by the Government but were published independently in line with international norms-----

Photo of Ruth CoppingerRuth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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Of 26% growth.

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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That is the reality. There are exceptional factors relating to the aviation industry and certain taxes, as has been explained to this House. The point is that the CSO has said that it is addressing the implications of that. I have made it very clear that from a budgetary point of view, the fiscal space available for spending on our services and on reducing taxes remains as outlined in the summer statement. The Government will continue to act on the projections made by the Department of Finance. One must understand why those figures were what they were. There were specific reasons, and the budget negotiations continue with the EU.

Photo of Seán Ó FearghaílSeán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Quite a number of Members are offering and I want to call everyone if I can, given the day that is in it, so I ask Members to be brief.

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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In 2013, I was told by the HSE that it had commissioned an independent review of orthodontic services throughout the country. I pursued the matter in 2014 and during the past fortnight. Sadly, it was confirmed to me through a Parliamentary Question yesterday that there are 382 patients awaiting orthodontic treatment in north Tipperary and similar numbers in south Tipperary, with only two people employed to look after those patients. This is very telling and very sad for the families involved. Could the Tánaiste implement this independent review, if it has been completed by the HSE, or ask the Minister for Health to deal with it?

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I will have enquiries made in respect of that report. It is intended that the increased funding that has been given to the health services will also deal with the waiting lists for orthodontic and dental treatments. I will ask the Minister for Health to link with the Deputy.

Photo of Joan CollinsJoan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent)
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There is huge concern over the closure of the youth clinic at Tallaght Hospital on 19 July. Up to 8,000 children in west Dublin who have had their broken bones treated in Tallaght Hospital will not be able to have their cases reviewed in the hospital. The hospital has said that the service was being delivered by a locum consultant whose contract has now ceased. Despite the best efforts of hospital management, it not proved possible to maintain the service in the short term due to recruitment challenges. This is a consultant in Tallaght Hospital servicing children's broken bones. This service will be moved to Our Lady's Hospital, Crumlin. Why was the consultant not replaced to deal with this issue in the short term? We urgently need to ensure that these children in Tallaght will not be forced to travel to Crumlin, thereby putting more pressure on scarce resources there.

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, there are plans for the emergency clinics for children in Tallaght Hospital to continue. As the new national hospital for children develops, there are strong plans in place to ensure there will be a very good service in Tallaght for children in respect of a range of services. The Deputy is making a point about a specific consultant. There is a question mark over who will replace that person. There has been difficulty in recruiting staff for the hospital services. This issue also arose recently in respect of a particular service at St. Vincent's University Hospital. This has been resolved by the action of the Minister and arrangements have made for that service, so I will ask the Minister to contact the Deputy about the circumstances in Tallaght, as I am not familiar with them.

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As part of the new budget process, the Government committed in July to presenting two reports to the Oireachtas. One was an update on Estimates, which we received last week, while the other was an update on tax plans and the revenue side of the budget equation, which is due to come out before the end of July. It has not arrived in my pigeonhole yet. Is there any update as to when we might expect it?

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I will correspond with the Deputy about that report. I am not sure whether the budget committee is up and running yet. If the report was promised by the end of July, I am sure the Deputy will receive it by then.

Photo of Jack ChambersJack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I am looking for an update on the health (transport support) Bill, which concerns the establishment of a scheme to make contributions in respect of people with severe disabilities who cannot access public transport. Could the Tánaiste give us a timeline?

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The heads of that legislation are expected in July.

Photo of Tony McLoughlinTony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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The free legal aid scheme is to be transferred from the Department of Justice and Equality to the Legal Aid Board. When can we expect the criminal legal aid Bill to be brought before the House for debate? We have been talking about this Bill for quite some time in the House and it needs to be advanced.

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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There is a commitment to examine issues relating to legal aid, and the Bill will be dealt with later this year.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Deputies McDonald and Howlin very correctly raised the question of child psychiatric services. I received a reply to a Parliamentary Question on a similar issue in the past few weeks that was very interesting. It concerned the number of children from primary schools, particularly boys, who have been repeatedly referred to accident and emergency departments having self-harmed. To what extent will the programme for Government be able to deal with that issue? Care after the event is a difficult issue, particularly when the same child is repeatedly referred to accident and emergency departments having self-harmed.

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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In the first instance, a child who is attending for mental health issues on a repeated basis should be referred to the child and adolescent mental health services on an emergency basis. Since a number of Deputies have raised this point about attendance at accident and emergency departments by children with mental health difficulties, I will ask the Minister with responsibility for this area to examine this and see what further action needs to be taken to ensure there is better liaison between both services.

Photo of Seán SherlockSeán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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The programme for Government states that the new Government and the Oireachtas will agree Ireland's first statutory national low-carbon transition and mitigation plan. Could the Tánaiste or the Minister for Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources tell us when the work on that will begin?

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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There is ongoing work on that issue in the Department. The mitigation and adaptation plans are being actively worked on. I am not sure of the timelines but I will correspond with the Deputy later on today.

Photo of John CurranJohn Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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While I am addressing my question to the Tánaiste, I am sorry the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport has left, because he might have been able to assist. The transport strategy for the greater Dublin area for 2016 to 2035 was published earlier this year. It is underpinned by the Government's capital programme, which sees a scaled-back metro north, the abandonment of metro west and no immediate timeline for a Luas strategy for Lucan. The programme for Government specifically commits to instigating a full review of public transport policy to ensure services are sustainable into the future and meet the needs of a modern economy. What will be that review's format and when will it be conducted, in light of the omissions from these plans?

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Clearly, there is a need for an inclusive transport policy such as the one described by the Deputy. I have already said that there will be a review of the capital programme next year. I have no doubt that transport infrastructure will be an important part of that review.

Photo of Pearse DohertyPearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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In the past, we discussed matters relating to section 110 companies and the use or misuse of them by charitable trusts. In light of the GDP figures, what will the Government do in respect of the facilities it has enabled within the tax code? An example is the use of section 110 companies by aircraft leasing firms, which means they are tax-neutral. The Tánaiste knows that the GDP figures have been boosted primarily as a result of the aircraft leasing sector. Despite her claims that this creates so many jobs, the number of direct jobs provided is 700, despite the fact that these firms lease more than half of all aircraft throughout the world.

1 o’clock

This is what is happening here. It should not be about blaming the CSO, which is the referee in this. It is about whether the Government will ensure the assets taken onshore by these companies will be taxed appropriately so we get the benefit of them. This is something that has happened every single year. In 2014, our EU contribution went up by €16 million. In 2013 it was about €55 million and in 2012 it went up again. We have been a lone voice in this House raising this issue year on year. Given the CSO readjustment, it is time for the Government to take decisive action and close some of these loopholes that exist.

1:00 pm

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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In reply to the Deputy before on this issue I said that Revenue and the Department of Finance were examining section 110 in the context in which we discussed it. I have no doubt the Minister for Finance, in view of the figures that were published, will be making further contributions on that particular aspect of the figures in the course of the budgetary discussions with the new budgetary committee and in the lead up to the budget.

Photo of Eugene MurphyEugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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I want to return briefly to the issue of refuse collection. In my constituency, as my constituency colleague, the Minister, Deputy Naughten, would know, we have a number of people who use the tagging system. That is where one goes to a shop, buys a tag and puts it onto the bag. That system is gone. We managed, as part of the agreement with the Government, to come to an arrangement to suspend charges on people with bins. A considerable number of people in this country have been left in limbo. They are now being charged to register plus pay-by-weight. They are the only people who now have to pay by weight. Will the Tánaiste, the Taoiseach and the Minister, Deputy Coveney, who sympathised with me on this issue, go back to the refuse company and tell it to give these people a break and treat them like everybody else?

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I confirm that the Minister, as I said in the House recently, is in continual contact with the companies. A number of issues have arisen in relation to one particular company but he is monitoring the situation and, as I said before, will consider legislation if it is necessary. He is examining any particular issues that are arising in the interim. I suggest the Deputy corresponds with him on that particular issue.