Seanad debates

Wednesday, 20 February 2013

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2012 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages

 

11:30 am

Photo of Diarmuid WilsonDiarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This is a Seanad Bill which has been amended by the Dáil. In accordance with Standing Order 118, it is deemed to have passed its First, Second and Third Stages in the Seanad and is placed on the Order Paper for Report Stage. On the question "That the Bill be received for final consideration", the Minister may explain the purpose of the amendment made by the Dáil. This is looked upon as the report of the Dáil amendment to the Seanad. For the convenience of Senators, I have arranged for the printing and circulation to them of this amendment. A Senator may contribute once on the amendment. I remind Senators that the only matter which may be discussed is the amendment made by the Dáil.

Question proposed: "That the Bill be received for final consideration."

Photo of Dinny McGinleyDinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Mar atá ráite, is leasú é seo ar an mBille, a thionscnaíodh sa Teach seo i mí na Samhna seo caite. Chuaigh an reachtaíocht seo go dtí an Dáil i mí Eanáir na bliana seo. Níl anseo ach leasú teicniúil ar an mBille. Is é an rud atá i gceist sa leasú ná aitheantas a thabhairt d'Achtanna eile a chuaigh tríd idir 2003 agus 2012. Ba leasú teicniúil é seo a bhí molta ag an Dréachtóir Parlaiminte. Achtaíodh an tAcht um Choimisiún Thithe an Oireachtais (Leasú) (Uimh. 2), 2012 ag deireadh na bliana seo caite. D'uireasa an leasú seo, ní raibh aitheantas tugtha don Acht sin sa Bhille a cuireadh chun cinn ar dtús. Rinne an Dáil an leasú teicniúil seo ar an mBille, a thionscnaíodh sa Teach seo, agus dá bhrí sin, tá sé mar oibleagáid orm teacht ar ais anseo chun cead an tSeanad a lorg i dtaobh an leasú seo.

Photo of Trevor Ó ClochartaighTrevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Mar is cuimhin leis, dúirt muid nuair a bhí sé anseo roimhe seo go bhfuilimid i bhfábhar an Bhille seo. Aithnímid an tábhacht a bhaineann leis ó thaobh comhtháthú na gnéithe éagsúla a bhaineann le chúrsaí aistriúcháin. Tá lárnú á dhéanamh ar na seirbhísí sin faoi Thithe an Oireachtais. Fáiltímid roimh an obair iontach maith a dhéanann Rannóg an Aistriúcháin anseo sna Tithe. Ba mhaith liom an deis seo a ghlacadh le aitheantas a thabhairt d'fhoireann na rannóige faoin dtacaíocht ar fad a thugann siad dúinn.

Is trua é nach bhfuil cúpla leasú eile a chabhródh linn ag teacht chun cinn inniu. Cé go bhfuil deis agam labhairt as Gaeilge sa Teach seo, mar atá mé ag déanamh faoi láthair, ní féidir liom mo chuid gnóthaí ar fad a dhéanamh trí mheán na Gaeilge. Ní féidir liom leasuithe a mholadh trí Ghaeilge, mar shampla. Bhéinn ag súil go dtiocfadh a leithéid de leasú chun cinn. Dá mbeadh reachtaíocht á n-aistriú againn de réir mar atáimid ag dul ar aghaidh, sílim nach mbeadh stádas den dara grád á thabhairt don Ghaeilge nuair atá Billí á fhoilsiú. Is céim ar gcúl é nach bhfuilimid ag foilsiú na Billí go comhuaineach as Gaeilge as as Béarla. Chuir an Rialtas siar an cinneadh atá ann maidir leis sin.

Tá sé tábhachtach, agus na gnóthaí seo á phlé againn, go ndéanfaimid scrúdú ar an téarmaíocht agus an foclaíocht a úsáidtear sa Seanad agus sa Dáil maidir le Billí, srl. Rinneadh roinnt plé ar an ábhar seo ag Tóstal na Gaeilge ag an deireadh seachtaine. Tuigtear dom go raibh foclóir parlaiminte ann roimhe seo. Tá sé tábhachtach go ndéanfaí uasghrádú ar sin chun deis a thabhairt do Sheanadóirí agus do Theachtaí a dhéanann an-iarracht ó thaobh na Gaeilge de, an teanga a úsáid sa chomhthéacs seo. Sílim go mbeadh sé úsáideach dá bhféadfaí leagan den foclóir parlaiminte sin a athfhoilsiú agus a thabhairt do na Baill ar fad.

Mhol duine éigin ag an deireadh seachtaine gur cheart do Rannóg an Aistriúcháin bileog eolais, a chlúdódh focail ábhartha Gaeilge a bheadh comónta, a fhoilsiú agus a sholáthar dúinn nuair a thagann Billí amach. Bheadh sé úsáideach dá mbeimid in ann acmhainn den tsórt sin a úsáid agus reachtaíocht á phlé againn. B'fhéidir go ndéanfaidh an rannóg scrúdú ar an moladh sin, mar go bhfuil an téarmaíocht acu. Go ginearálta, aithnímid gur athrú beag teicniúil atá i gceist anseo. Molaimid an tAire Stáit faoin Bille seo a thabhairt chun cinn. Táimid sásta tacaíocht a thabhairt don leasú atá ar bun aige.

Photo of Thomas ByrneThomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom tacaíocht a thabhairt don reachtaíocht seo. Tá áthas orm go bhfuil an Bille ag dul tríd. Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil le Coimisiún Thithe an Oireachtais agus le Vivian Uíbh Eachach as an gCaighdeán Oifigiúil a cuireadh ar fáil an bhliain seo caite. Measaim gur cáipéis iontach tábhachtach é an caighdeán athbhreithnithe. Molaim do scoileanna ar fud na tíre an caighdeán seo a fháil. Cuireann an reachtaíocht seo bunús reachtúil ar an gcaighdeán freisin. Táimid sásta leis sin. Caithfimid cabhair a thabhairt don teanga i gcónaí agus deiseanna a thabhairt do dhaoine an Ghaeilge a úsáid. Aontaím leis an moladh a rinne mo chomhghleacaí, an Seanadóir Ó Clochartaigh, go gcuirfí foclóir parlaiminteach agus reachtaíochta le chéile. Bheadh sé sin an-úsáideach, fiú amháin dóibh siúd a bhfuil Gaeilge réasúnta acu. Tacaímid leis an mBille seo. Tá súil againn go rachfaidh sé i bhfeidhm mar Acht go luath.

Photo of Rónán MullenRónán Mullen (Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Ba bhreá liom cur leis an méid atá ráite ag mo dhá chomhghleacaithe, an Seanadóir Ó Clochartaigh agus an Seanadóir Ó Broin. Aontaím leis an méid a dúirt an Seanadóir Ó Clochartaigh. Má táimid ag iarraidh cur le húsáid na Gaeilge sa Pharlaimint seo, ba chóir go mbeimid in ann gach gné d'ár gcuid oibre a dhéanamh trí Ghaeilge agus is mór an trua é nach mar sin atá.

I will be accepting Senator Colm Burke's amendment to the Order of Business that his Bill be published and No. 10 be taken before No. 1.

Senators Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, Michael Mullins and Mary Moran spoke about the direct provision system and recommended that it be scrutinised further. I agree it is a system that should be investigated more closely because the fact that ¤650 million has been spent on private companies gives cause for concern. It has been acknowledged by Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh that the asylum system and the processing of claims have improved significantly since the Minister for Justice and Equality took office and they will be improved still further, if possible. Waiting times have decreased significantly.

Senator Aideen Hayden spoke about the need for a national investigation unit to be established. I will raise this matter with the Minister.

Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú spoke about Marian Price. The Taoiseach has agreed to raise the matter with the British Prime Minister. I am sure he is aware of the timescale involved and that he will raise it prior to the review due to take place in a fortnight's time. I appreciate the Senator's comments. More certainly needs to be done. The Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement is working hard on many of the issues raised by the Senator.

I have addressed the issues raised by Senators John Whelan and John Kelly. I appreciate the concerns of front-line workers. What we all want is a fair settlement for all workers in the public service. As has been pointed out by Senator John Gilroy, there were significant reductions of up to 17% in the wages of public servants several years ago.

Senator Paul Coghlan spoke about Dingle and road signs. I am glad that people will again be able to find their way around County Kerry.

Senator Diarmuid Wilson thanked the Fianna Fáil leader for apologising for spending 14 years doing nothing.

Photo of Diarmuid WilsonDiarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In fairness, I was slightly misquoted.

Photo of Maurice CumminsMaurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I think that is what the Senator said. I understand Deputy Micheál Martin has apologised for doing nothing for 14 years. I will not comment further.

On the proposed increases at AIB, we will have to see what the Minister for Finance does. Senator Mark Daly spoke about red tape. The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation has done an amount of work to cut red tape for small and medium-sized enterprises. If there is further information on red tape in his area of responsibility, we would welcome him investigating the matter. I am sure he would like to hear about the 70 jobs not being created because of red tape and if the Senator has details on the matter, I am prepared to pass them to the relevant Minister.

Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill stated the apology was long overdue and that the redress scheme should not benefit the legal profession. Senator Terry Leyden also raised this issue. The Taoiseach specifically stated redress would be for the women themselves. We should not allow a repeat of what happened previously under the redress board when lawyers received money that should have been targeted at the individuals concerned.

Senator Cáit Keane spoke about adoption rights. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs will be in the House next week or the following week and perhaps the Senator might raise the issue with her then.

I note the points raised by Senators Rónán Mullen, Martin Conway and others that not only the State but also the religious orders must be asked to contribute to the redress scheme. Everybody would agree with this.

Senator John Gilroy has welcomed the fact that the full market value of ¤1.3 billion has been achieved in the sale of Irish Life. This is another part of the jigsaw of recovering our economic sovereignty.

On the issue raised by Senator John Crown, I do not know who provides funding for the Irish Patients Association, but I will try to get an answer.

Photo of John CrownJohn Crown (Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

If I may interject, the funding has come from the Department of Health heretofore, but it has been defunded.

Photo of Paddy BurkePaddy Burke (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Leader to continue, without interruption, please.

Photo of Maurice CumminsMaurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In regard to a conflict of interest between the religious communities which ran hospitals and laundries, I agree that there is a need for closer scrutiny of the accounts of these institutions. I hope this will be done at an early opportunity.

Senator Fidelma Healy Eames spoke about debt write-offs by the banks for Independent News and Media and asked what preconditions had been set for banks. I will raise her questions with the Minister for Finance and attempt to get answers for her.

Photo of Paddy BurkePaddy Burke (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Senator Darragh O'Brien has proposed the following amendment to the Order of Business, "That a debate with the Minister for Justice and Equality on Garda resources, Garda pay and the loss of confidence in him by rank and file members of the Garda Síochána be taken today." Is the amendment being pressed?

Amendment put:

The Seanad divided: Tá, 14; Níl, 29.

Tellers: Tá, Senators Labhrás Ó Murchú and Diarmuid Wilson; Níl, Senators Paul Coghlan and Aideen Hayden..

Amendment declared lost.

11:40 am

Photo of Paddy BurkePaddy Burke (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Senator Colm Burke has moved the following amendment to the Order of Business: "That No. 10 be taken before No. 1." The Leader has indicated that he is willing to accept this amendment. Is the amendment agreed? Agreed.

Order of Business, as amended, agreed to.