Order of Business
- Order of Business 3 speeches
The Taoiseach proposes the day’s business and sitting hours; the House agrees to the hours but rejects taking the EU-Israel aviation motion without debate.
Enda Kenny, Seán Barrett, Richard Boyd Barrett
- Health and official languages Bills 2 speeches
Deputy Ó Fearghaíl asks when the health and official languages Bills will proceed; the Taoiseach gives expected timetables and says the health Bill’s heads are not yet cleared.
Seán Ó Fearghaíl, Enda Kenny
- Protected disclosures Bill 2 speeches
Deputy Adams urges urgent publication of whistleblower legislation, citing Garda penalty-points disclosures; the Taoiseach says it will go to Cabinet shortly and be published this session.
Gerry Adams, Enda Kenny
- Criminal records information system Bill 8 speeches
Deputy McGrath questions how Gardaí can exchange complete criminal records when reports are missing. The Taoiseach says the legislation will meet the requirement when published later this year, while the Ceann Comhairle defers detailed discussion until then.
Mattie McGrath, Enda Kenny, Seán Barrett
- Time for emergency measures Bill 22 speeches
Deputy Nulty protests that only four hours are allocated to debate all stages of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill and asks whether the Dáil will sit next week. The Ceann Comhairle rules the question out of order and directs him to the Chief Whip.
Patrick Nulty, Seán Barrett
- Sexual offences and alcohol Bills 2 speeches
Deputy Durkan asks about Cabinet approval and timing for the criminal law (sexual offences) and public health (alcohol) Bills; the Taoiseach expects the former later this year but has no date for the latter.
Bernard Durkan, Enda Kenny
- Review of overseas development aid 30 speeches
Deputy Healy-Rae suggests reducing overseas aid to address cuts to disabled persons’ grants, prompting criticism from colleagues and repeated interventions from the Chair. The Taoiseach says there is no promised legislation on overseas development aid.
Michael Healy-Rae, Seán Barrett, Michael McCarthy, Michael Noonan, Enda Kenny
- Coroners Bill 2 speeches
Deputy Neville asks when the long-delayed Coroners Bill, including suicide hearings provisions, will return; the Taoiseach says it remains at Committee Stage and will provide an update.
Dan Neville, Enda Kenny
- Sale of alcohol Bill 4 speeches
Deputies seek a timetable for alcohol legislation on health warnings and below-cost selling; the Taoiseach has no date but says recommendations will soon go to a Cabinet subcommittee.
John O'Mahony, Enda Kenny, James Bannon, Seán Barrett
- Sport Ireland Bill 2 speeches
Deputy Bannon asks when legislation replacing the Irish Sports Council and National Sports Campus Development Authority will proceed; the Taoiseach expects the Sport Ireland Bill later this year.
James Bannon, Enda Kenny
- Friendly societies legislation 2 speeches
Deputy O’Reilly asks for progress on legislation benefiting insurance co-operatives, group water schemes and community groups; the Taoiseach hopes to publish it this session.
Joe O'Reilly, Enda Kenny
- Priory Hall housing crisis 4 speeches
Deputy Broughan seeks action for Priory Hall residents facing another Christmas away from home and raises a further defective development in Balbriggan. The Taoiseach says a court decision is pending and gives publication dates for the two housing Bills.
Thomas P. Broughan, Seán Barrett, Enda Kenny
- Irish Nationwide investigation report 2 speeches
Deputy Doherty asks the Government to publish the 2009 Ernst & Young report on Irish Nationwide; the Taoiseach says he does not know its status and suggests submitting a parliamentary question.
Pearse Doherty, Enda Kenny
It is proposed to take No. a11, motion re referral to select committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of an EU-Israel aviation agreement; and No. 2, Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013 - Order for Second Stage and Second Stage. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil shall sit later than 9 p.m. tonight and shall adjourn not later than 10 p.m.; and No. a11 shall be decided without debate. Private Members’ business shall be No. 107 – motion re confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality and Minister for Defence.
Comment on this
There are two proposals to be put to the House. Is the proposal that the Dáil shall sit later than 9 p.m. tonight and shall adjourn not later than 10 p.m. agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. a11, motion re referral to select committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of an EU-Israel aviation agreement, without debate, agreed to?
Comment on this
It is not agreed.
Comment on this
The health (amendment) Bill has profound implications for voluntary health providers and, more importantly perhaps, for their customers. The Bill seeks to provide an updated framework for charging all private inpatients in public hospitals to meet current budgetary requirements. Could the Taoiseach tell us whether the heads of the Bill have been to Cabinet and when the Bill might be expected before the House?
In respect of the official languages (amendment) Bill, to allow for the amalgamation of the Office of the Coimisinéir Teanga with the Office of the Ombudsman, which in our view is a pretty serious mistake in itself, is the Government still prepared to press ahead with the legislation and when could we expect to see it before the House?
Given that there continues to be considerable concern about the situation of Nos. 10 to 14 Moore Street, when might we expect to see publication of the monuments Bill which we hope might contribute to the resolution of the issue?
Comment on this
In respect of the last matter raised by Deputy Ó Fearghaíl, the Bill is not expected until the middle of next year but the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht will bring a memo to Government in respect of his decision in so far as the national monument on Moore Street is concerned long before the Bill is published.
In so far as the amalgamation of the roles to which Deputy Ó Fearghaíl referred, the official languages (amendment) Bill is expected before the House later this year. The health (amendment) Bill is due this session. The heads of the Bill have not yet been cleared by Government.
Comment on this
I refer to the protected disclosure in the public interest Bill. Given the treatment of the two Garda whistleblowers who drew attention to the cancellation of penalty points and the fact that one of them had to leave the force it is clear that the Bill is urgently needed. It says a lot about the Government that it is rushing through legislation this week to cut the pay of public sector workers, as opposed to protecting those who have the courage to come forward and alert society about scandals or potential scandals. When will the Bill be published and when does the Taoiseach expect the matter to be discussed in the Dáil?
Comment on this
The trades unions will reflect on what is in the Haddington Road agreement and whether it can be accepted across the board, but that is a matter for unions in some cases to consider themselves. The protected disclosure in the public interest Bill to which the Deputy referred will be brought to Cabinet shortly by the Minister and will be published in this session.
Comment on this
Go raibh maith agat. I wish to ask the Taoiseach about the criminal records information system Bill, which is to provide for the exchange of criminal records to EU member states. In view of the letter the Taoiseach read out earlier from the Garda Commissioner about records relating to an incident in Dublin that cannot be found, how will we live up to what is expected of us-----
Comment on this
I am talking about the criminal justice records Bill.
Comment on this
I am sorry, it is the criminal records information system Bill. How is the Garda to comply with such legislation if it cannot find the report? A full report must be filed for every manned checkpoint. If the Garda cannot find such reports-----
Comment on this
-----how are we going to live up to the requirement to provide reports to our European colleagues? How could we have confidence in the situation in the future? If the Garda went to Specsavers and got glasses it might find the report.
Comment on this
We will be able to live up to the requirement later this year when the criminal records information system Bill is published.
Comment on this
I wish to ask the Taoiseach about the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill. Following an examination of the Order Paper for this week we will be lucky if four hours is provided to debate all Stages of the Bill. That is a completely insufficient amount of time.
Comment on this
It is my understanding that the Dáil might not sit next week. First, is it correct that the Dáil will not sit?
Comment on this
Second, will the Government not amend the Order Paper so as to provide time for a full debate on the Bill into next week if necessary?
Comment on this
It is promised legislation on the agenda for today.
Comment on this
It is a core principle of democracy that people get to debate Bills. Four hours is insufficient time.
Comment on this
I call Deputy Durkan. The Taoiseach does not need to reply to Deputy Nulty because the question is out of order.
Comment on this
It is a simple question: Is the Dáil going to sit next week?
Comment on this
Only four hours are allocated to the Bill.
Comment on this
The purpose of the Order of Business is to allow for questions on promised legislation.
Comment on this
The Dáil is potentially going to rise next week.
Comment on this
Deputy Nulty should speak to the Chief Whip rather than raise the matter on the Order of Business.
Comment on this
Could the Taoiseach enlighten me as to whether the Dáil will sit next week?
Comment on this
Could I ask the Taoiseach the current proposal on bringing the criminal law (sexual offences) Bill before the House at an early date and whether the heads have been discussed and approved by Cabinet? Similarly, I wish to inquire about the public health (alcohol) Bill. When will the Bill come before the House? Have the heads been discussed or approved by Cabinet and when are both Bills likely to be passed?
Comment on this
The criminal law (sexual offences) Bill is due later this year. I do not have a date for the public health (alcohol) Bill.
Comment on this
On promised legislation and in light of the 56% reduction in the disabled person's grant by the Government, is it time to consider the enormous amount of money, €622 million this year, that leaves this country in foreign aid?
Comment on this
I am coming to it. Surely, charity should begin at home and does the Government have proposals to review or reduce the amount of direct foreign aid leaving the country?
Comment on this
That is a disgraceful. It is a mean-spirited attack on people who are starving.
Comment on this
Deputy, would you please adhere to the Standing Orders? I must pull you up every day of the week.
Comment on this
Will the Ceann Comhairle let me finish?
Comment on this
Access to the central treasury funds is what I am speaking about. The Ceann Comhairle should give me a chance to finish.
Comment on this
I was introducing myself to it.
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The Deputy should do that in County Kerry.
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I am addressing the Taoiseach, not the Chief Whip.
Comment on this
He should do that on the back of a lorry.
Comment on this
Yes, but the Whip is out of order.
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The Ceann Comhairle is right. He has spoken the truth and is a good judge of character.
Comment on this
Deputy Healy-Rae should not attribute something to me that I did not mean in that statement.
Comment on this
The Deputy is looking for a headline with gobbledygook.
Comment on this
Did the Whip bring that lorry around?
Comment on this
Is that lorry one from which the Whip fell?
Comment on this
For many years, there has been concern in respect of suicide hearings in coroners' courts. The Coroners Bill was first published in 2007. When is it likely to re-enter the Chamber for completion?
Comment on this
I understand the Bill is still on Committee Stage. I must revert to Deputy Neville on this. I recognise the Deputy's experience in this matter, which is an issue of continuing concern. I will revert directly to Deputy Neville on when the Bill might get back in.
Comment on this
I wish to raise two items of legislation further to Deputy Durkan's request, that is, the sale of alcohol Bill and the public health (alcohol) Bill. These Bills provide for warnings on cans and bottles similar to the health warnings on cigarette packets and for the prevention of below-cost selling. As they are important legislative items, can the Taoiseach provide an indication of when they might come before the House?
Comment on this
I do not have a date for Deputy O'Mahony but can confirm the Minister of State, Deputy White, is due to bring recommendations with regard to the sale of alcohol before the Cabinet sub-committee in the near future. He has done a lot of work in this regard.
Comment on this
I had wished to raise a similar point on the sale of alcohol Bill, because Ireland has the greatest binge-drinking population in Europe.
Comment on this
On another item of legislation, when is it proposed to replace the Irish Sports Council and the National Sports Campus Development Authority with the new sport Ireland Bill?
Comment on this
It is due later this year. I will see whether I can get a more accurate read on the extent of work that has been done on it.
Comment on this
On promised legislation, when is it proposed to take the friendly societies and industrial and provident societies (miscellaneous provisions) Bill? I ask because it will have a positive implication for insurance co-operatives, group water schemes and theatre restoration groups. For example, in my constituency, 18,500 people depend on 28 private group water schemes and it is very important for those people that this legislation goes through.
Comment on this
I can confirm to Deputy O'Reilly that this Bill is bubbling along and I hope it will be published in this session.
Comment on this
When are the housing (miscellaneous provisions) (No. 1) Bill and the housing (miscellaneous provisions) (No. 2) Bill expected? The residents of Priory Hall have again asked me to appeal to the Taoiseach as to whether he can bring their agony and anguish to an end. On the last court decision, they are now heading into a third Christmas in which families are out of their homes. It is an intolerable situation and I am sure that even when the Taoiseach was on his recent visit to the Greek Prime Minister, he would not have been able to detail to the Taoiseach a similar situation in Athens.
Comment on this
When can some action be taken in this regard? Moreover, I have just heard that a complex in Balbriggan is being evacuated because it was built so badly during the Celtic tiger era. When can the Taoiseach do something for Priory Hall?
Comment on this
While I cannot speak for the judicial person involved in this regard, a decision is pending. The No. 1 Bill to which Deputy Broughan referred is due this year, while the No. 2 Bill to which he referred is due next year.
Comment on this
On election topics, the Taoiseach spoke about transparency and not hiding any truths from the people, regardless of how difficult were those truths. In that context, when will the Government lay before the Houses the report from Ernst & Young that was commissioned in 2009 into the actions of Irish Nationwide and how that financial institution was being run? Four years have elapsed since that report was prepared and the public is being kept in the dark in respect of the activities of Mr. Fingleton and others. Will the Taoiseach commit to having this report published? Will the report be available to the committee that will investigate the bank guarantee and the issues surrounding it?