Dáil debates

Tuesday, 21 February 2017

2:50 pm

Photo of Seán Ó FearghaílSeán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I call the Minister of State, Deputy Regina Doherty, to announce the announce the Order of Business for the week.

Photo of Regina DohertyRegina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The arrangements for the business schedule for Tuesday to Thursday, 21 to 23 February 2017, as agreed by the Business Committee on 16 February, are as follows. Today's business shall be No. 14, National Famine Commemoration Day Bill 2017 - Second Stage; No. 15, Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2016 - Order for Report, Report and Final Stages; and No. 16, Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016 - Second Stage (resumed). Private Members' business shall be Second Stage of No. 24, Public Services and Procurement (Social Value) Bill 2017, selected by Fianna Fáil.

Wednesday’s business shall be No. 15, Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2016 - Report Stage (resumed) and Final Stage; No. 1, Minerals Development Bill 2015 [Seanad] - Second Stage; No. 16, Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016 - Second Stage (resumed); and No. 5, Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2017 - Order for Second Stage and Second Stage. Private Members’ business shall be Second Stage of No. 25, Industrial Relations (Right to Access) (Amendment) Bill 2016, selected by Sinn Féin.

Thursday’s business shall be No. 16, Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016 - Second Stage (resumed); and No. 5, Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2017 - Order for Second Stage and Second Stage. Second Stage of No. 26, Employment Equality (Abolition of Mandatory Retirement Age) Bill 2016, will be debated in the evening slot.

I refer Members to the report of the Business Committee dated 16 February 2017. In relation to today's business, it is proposed that the arrangements agreed last week in relation to the National Famine Commemoration Day Bill 2017 will apply today; and the proceedings on the Second Stage of the Public Services and Procurement (Social Value) Bill 2017 shall be brought to a conclusion at 10 p.m., if not previously concluded.

In relation to Wednesday’s business, it is proposed that proceedings on Second Stage of the Industrial Relations (Right to Access) (Amendment) Bill 2016 shall be brought to a conclusion after two hours, if not previously concluded.

Photo of Seán Ó FearghaílSeán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There are two proposals to put to the House today. Is the proposal for dealing with Tuesday's business agreed to?

Deputies:

It is not agreed.

3:00 pm

Photo of Ruth CoppingerRuth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Since the Business Committee met on Thursday to agree this business, there has been a very important development at the largest private sector employer in this State, namely, Tesco. New stores have come out on strike and talks have broken down. I request that the Business Committee meet today to discuss tabling Tesco as a matter for debate in the Dáil this week. This is the largest private sector employer in the State, as I said, and the most profitable retailer, making €250 million per year in profits but willing to rip up the contracts of its longest-serving employees. This has repercussions for every single employer in the State. Other employers will copy Tesco if it gets away with it. Pay cuts of 15% for the workers affected are proposed-----

Photo of Seán Ó FearghaílSeán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We cannot have a debate on the matter now.

Photo of Ruth CoppingerRuth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

-----and Tesco has engaged in union-busting. I therefore request that the House agree that this deserves to be put on the agenda of the Dáil this week as a priority and that the Business Committee-----

Photo of Seán Ó FearghaílSeán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Is the House amenable to a meeting of the Business Committee to discuss this matter?

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I support the proposal.

Photo of David CullinaneDavid Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We support it as well.

Photo of Seán Ó FearghaílSeán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We can convene a meeting of the Business Committee to discuss the matter.

Is the proposal for dealing with Tuesday's business agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with Wednesday's business agreed to? Agreed.