Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I cannot comment on the decision of the Cathaoirleach to rule amendments out of order. That is within the competence of this House. Since items are being placed on the record of the House, I am concerned about the notion that this Bill is being rushed through the House. I do not believe that is the case. It is transfer-of-functions legislation and there is a general view across both Houses to facilitate that happening because the Bill is focused on moving governance structures from one Department to another. Nevertheless, this has gone through all Stages in the Dáil and we have not asked for Committee and Report Stages to be taken jointly in this House. Both Stages are being taken separately. If they were being taken together, I could perhaps take the criticism that the Bill was being rushed but that is not happening here. The Senator had the opportunity to place amendments. He did that and they were ruled out of order, which was a decision for this House.

It is also important to recognise that there is urgency behind this legislation. The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, and I are eager for responsibility for disability to fully move to our Department in order that we can do what we want and place a detailed focus on the issue of disability, a rights-based focus, and fully enact what we as a country sought to achieve through our signing up to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, that is, to deliver a person-centred approach rather than a medical-centred approach to the issue of disability, thereby uniting what was previously under the remit Department of Health within our Department. The Minister of State and I are looking forward to that opportunity and, hopefully, from 1 May, we will be able to do that. Notwithstanding the fact that there is urgency behind this Bill, my view is that we are not rushing it.

As to the substantive issues Senator Mullen raised, it is important to note that a health amendment Bill will be brought forward by the Government. That Bill will undertake significant changes to the governance of the HSE, including the revision of its board and its wider corporate governance. My understanding is that the general scheme of the Bill has been approved. The heads have not been brought forward to the Houses yet. That is legislation with which issues of governance would appropriately sit and there may be an opportunity for amendments to be made when it comes before the House.

Since we are putting items on the record, it is important to remember that a HSE governance framework is in place that oversees how the HSE governs section 38 and section 39 organisations and all the other funded organisation that operate under it. The HSE is governed by that document. Service agreements and grant aid are covered in terms of how they operate.

This is a significant Bill and I am glad it has received the consideration of the House on Committee Stage. I look forward to it being passed by the House in a number of weeks' time and to the transfer of functions for responsibility for disability to my Department.