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Dáil
‹ Order of Business

Government legislation timetable

Summary

Deputy McConalogue challenges the guillotining of legislation and seeks an update on the universities amendment Bill; the Tánaiste defends the agreed timetable and addresses SUSI.

On the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012, I note the Tánaiste is imposing a time limit and guillotining that Bill as well. I might just ask, particularly in light of the comments of the Chairman of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party yesterday, Deputy Charlie Flanagan, where he lamented the approach of the Government in guillotining so many Bills and the entire lack of any reform agenda, whether the Tánaiste might happen to agree with him and take on board his comments.

On the universities (amendment) Bill, is there an update from the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, on his intentions in that regard? Has Deputy Quinn had second thoughts on it or is he planning to bring it forward in the near future?

On SUSI and third level student grants, it was pointed out to us at committee level yesterday that there are some 550 applications still under appeal and over 100 affected by particular issues, including estrangement from families and being able to approve independent means of living. I ask that the Tánaiste and the Minister for Education and Skills take note of that, with particular regard to ensuring that no student is blocked from accessing his or her examination results, which in many cases are now available, because they still have not received their student grant.

Comment on this

First, on the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012, we have agreed the way in which that is to be dealt with in the House. It is No. 20 and we agreed that there will be an hour for the debate on it. There is a time limit on the enactment of that Bill. There are issues which are related to the establishment of the fiscal advisory council and the new regulations on budgetary governance which come within that and the legislation must be dealt with before the summer recess.

On the issue about SUSI, there is not a legislative issue arising in that regard but, as the Deputy will be aware, the Minister for Education and Skills is on top of that.

Comment on this

If he will not talk about SUSI, what about Charlie?

Comment on this