Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are a year ahead in debating the joint Oireachtas committee's report on offshore resources.

Senator Bacik welcomed the expansion of the dublinbikes scheme, which Senator Noone welcomed yesterday and which is of tremendous benefit to everybody. Senators Quinn, Kelly, Conway and Noone spoke about people being jailed for not paying their television licence fees. A Fines Bill was before the House in 2010 but it only dealt with community service orders and money being taken in instalments from people. I understand the heads of an amendment Bill, which will provide that fines can be deducted from people's earnings from whatever source, were approved by the Government in 2012 and that the Bill will be published before the summer recess. We will see some movement in that regard. I share the Senators' concerns about people being jailed for not paying their television licence fees while others who caused many of the problems in which we find ourselves are still free and living lavish lifestyles.

I note Senator Quinn's point on low energy street lamps and the situation in Scotland. It is an issue Senator Brennan raised more than a year ago. There is a need for a debate on that issue because significant savings can be derived for local authorities. We should examine the savings and benefits by reducing carbon emissions also. We can arrange a debate on that.

Senator Comiskey, Senator Ó Domhnaill and others welcomed the work of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Coveney, in regard to the negotiations on discards which took place last evening. It is an issue which has been debated in this House on several occasions and I am sure we all welcome the wonderful work the Minister has done in this regard which will be of benefit to our fishermen.

Senator Cullinan welcomed Professor Higgins's report. I am glad he welcomed the fact services in his local hospital, Waterford Regional Hospital, will be retained and enhanced. However, that is a matter for another day when we debate the report. Senator Harte referred to VAT charges for insolvency services in the UK and queried whether we should have a similar situation here. He also sought clarification on issues in regard to the local property tax which I will try to get for him.

Senator MacSharry referred to the hospital groupings. On the Order of Business yesterday, he asked that I contact the Standards in Public Office Commission in regard to a complaint he made. The following is the reply I received from the Standards in Public Office Commission:

The Standards Commission has a number of functions, one of which is to supervise the Electoral Act 1997, as amended. In this regard, it wrote to various Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas in early March, whom it was alleged were in receipt of donations for political purposes and had travelled to the US upon receipt of those donations. The letter reminded those Members of their obligations in relation to the maximum donation permitted under the Electoral Act 1997, as amended. Reminders issued on 24 April 2013. The names of those Members were mentioned in various media articles in the last few weeks. The Standards Commission also wrote to the Committees on Members' Interests of Dáil and Seanad Éireann on 12 March 2013 to ensure awareness of the new disclosure thresholds and donation limits that came into effect on 01 January 2013.

On Monday 13 May 2013, a member of staff of the Secretariat of the Standards in Public Office Commission, Ms Jacqueline Moore, spoke to Mr Juno McEnroe of the Irish Examiner and in response to various questions in relation to this matter about to whom the Standards Commission had written and from whom replies had been received, information was provided indicating from whom no replies had been received and a general indication as to the responses from those from whom replies had been received. The Standards Commission receives many calls from the media and is always happy to provide answers, albeit on the proviso that the information is not confidential, and does not come within the prohibition on release of information provisions in section 35 of the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995.

The Standards Commission rejects the allegation made by the Senator.

That is the reply I have been asked to furnish to the House.

Senator Clune expressed concerns about Pfizer and the fact 130 jobs are under threat there. We all hope the job losses will be minimised and that replacement jobs will be found for those who will lose their jobs.

In response to Senator Norris, there are two Bills on the Order Paper today. We will debate and examine legislation thoroughly as we get it. In regard to a debate on human rights violations, I will ask the relevant Minister to come to the House as it is quite some time since we had a debate on human rights issues.

Senator Landy referred to voluntary housing groups. There was a requirement that these groups would register voluntarily but given that so few have responded, there may be a need to put this on a statutory basis. It is an issue we can raise with the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, who will be in the House shortly.

Senator Leyden referred to the hospital groupings, which we will debate. Services in Roscommon hospital have been enhanced over the past 12 months. There are safer services and more procedures-----