Order of Business
- Order of Business 2 speeches
The Taoiseach proposes the day’s legislative and private members’ business, with the Ceann Comhairle confirming there are no further proposals.
Enda Kenny, Seán Barrett
- Family courts legislation timetable 11 speeches
Deputy Ó Fearghaíl seeks a timetable for family courts legislation because of serious delays and access problems. The Taoiseach says substantial Justice legislation is being prepared and promises to provide an update.
Seán Ó Fearghaíl, Seán Barrett, Enda Kenny, Mattie McGrath
- Public standards and HIQA legislation 11 speeches
Deputy Adams asks when the public sector standards Bill and related Health Act changes will be published and whether HIQA recommendations will be enforced. The Taoiseach says draft heads are undergoing consultation and expects the legislation before the next election.
Gerry Adams, Seán Barrett, Enda Kenny, Michael Healy-Rae, Mattie McGrath
- Galway housing crisis 16 speeches
Deputy Grealish highlights Galway’s housing waiting list and rising homelessness, seeking legislation and extra council staff. The Taoiseach says funding and instructions for social housing are available, but supply is constrained by finance, planning and construction requirements.
Noel Grealish, Seán Barrett, Enda Kenny, Mattie McGrath, Michael Healy-Rae
- Capital budget and rental legislation 9 speeches
Deputy Broughan seeks the promised capital-budget statement, urgent social-housing funding and action on rent regulation. The Taoiseach says the capital budget remains undecided but will be debated soon, and confirms legislation on the rental regime.
Thomas P. Broughan, Seán Barrett, Mattie McGrath, Michael Healy-Rae, Enda Kenny
- Disability services during summer 9 speeches
Deputy Finian McGrath raises concerns about summer provision at Prosper Fingal and St. Michael’s House. The Taoiseach says services should continue regardless of the pending health and social care professionals Bill and will raise the matter with the Minister.
Seán Barrett, Finian McGrath, Michael Healy-Rae, Enda Kenny
- Environment Bill amendments 9 speeches
Deputy Boyd Barrett objects to receiving Government amendments to the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill at short notice and asks whether they are substantive. The Taoiseach says amendments may be introduced on Report Stage next week under the normal procedure.
Richard Boyd Barrett, Seán Barrett, Enda Kenny, Mattie McGrath
- Water services legislation 12 speeches
Deputy Mattie McGrath asks about Irish Water meter charges and the publication of the water services (No. 2) Bill. The Taoiseach says the Bill is due the following week.
Seán Barrett, Paul Kehoe, Richard Boyd Barrett, Mattie McGrath, Enda Kenny
- Broadcasting and political tweets 11 speeches
Deputy Mattie McGrath criticises ministerial tweets and seeks regulation of such communications through the broadcasting (amendment) Bill. The Taoiseach says that Bill will be introduced later in the year.
Mattie McGrath, Seán Barrett, Enda Kenny, Paul Kehoe
- Promised justice legislation 2 speeches
Deputy Durkan seeks timetables for the bail, personal injuries assessment and proceeds of crime Bills. The Taoiseach says the bail Bill is expected later in the year, while the other Bills remain under preparation and consultation.
Bernard Durkan, Enda Kenny
- Child support and noise legislation 2 speeches
Deputy Butler asks about legislation implementing the Hague child-support Convention and a long-promised noise nuisance Bill. The Taoiseach says the Hague-related matter has advanced, but the noise Bill is not imminent.
Ray Butler, Enda Kenny
- Public sector standards Bill 2 speeches
Deputy McLoughlin asks whether the public sector standards Bill will be debated this term; the Taoiseach says its draft heads are with the committee for public consultation.
Tony McLoughlin, Enda Kenny
- Deposit retention scheme 8 speeches
Deputy Healy-Rae urges implementation of the promised deposit retention scheme to protect students. The Taoiseach says related legislation is under way and promises to update him, while noting he recently met a Radio Kerry representative.
Michael Healy-Rae, Seán Barrett, Mattie McGrath, Enda Kenny
It is proposed to take No. 35, Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2015 - Report and Final Stages (resumed); No. 1, National Minimum Wage (Low Pay Commission) Bill 2015 [Seanad] - Second Stage; No. 2, Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) (Amendment) Bill 2014 [Seanad] - Second Stage; No. 36, Children (Amendment) Bill 2015 [Seanad] - Second Stage (resumed). Private Members' business shall be No. 198, motion re credit unions, resumed to conclude after 90 minutes, if not previously concluded. Tomorrow's business after Oral Questions shall be No. 37, Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill 2015 - Order for Report, Report and Final Stages; No. 2, Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) (Amendment) Bill 2014 [Seanad] - Second Stage; No. 36, Children (Amendment) Bill 2015 [Seanad] - Second Stage (resumed); and No. 6, National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015 - Order for Second Stage and Second Stage.
Comment on this
As there are no proposals to be put to the House with respect to the Order of Business, I call Deputy Ó Fearghaíl.
Comment on this
I raise again with the Taoiseach the question of the anticipated time for the production of the family courts Bill. I am struck on a regular basis in my constituency by the number of people having difficulties accessing the family courts, the inordinate delays and so on. The Taoiseach has accepted the need for us to take action and produce a family courts system. There was some concern initially that Article 34 of the Constitution might have to be amended in order to facilitate that initiative, but a way has been found around that. Will the Taoiseach give the House some sort of an assurance as to what action the Government will take? In light of the adoption of the children's referendum, there is a need for a real impetus to be injected into this process, and I would include in that the family law Bill promised by the Government.
I also wish to ask about universal health insurance. In April 2014, the Government published a White Paper that was a costings-free zone in terms of its finite proposals. Where are we now on the issue of universal health insurance, which was such a key element of the Government's programme? I ask this against the background of comments by the Tánaiste in the past couple of days, who indicated that any reform of health financing must meet three criteria. She indicated that it must give better outcomes for patients, make access fairer and easier and be affordable. We would all agree with that, but she went on to say, "To be clear, any reform must meet all three criteria." She stated, "I do not know yet whether universal health insurance or any other insurance-based system can meet these three criteria". If this is a key element of the Government's platform-----
Comment on this
-----and the Tánaiste does not know whether it meets those criteria, we are in a sad position. Will the Taoiseach comment on that for us, please?
Comment on this
Maybe the Taoiseach might have a quiet word with the Tánaiste.
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I would say to Deputy Ó Fearghaíl, in respect of the family courts Bill and the family law Bill, that a great deal of legislation is being worked on in the Department of Justice and Equality, but I will have to advise him of the current state of preparations in respect of both those Bills.
Universal health insurance is a fundamental part of the Government's programme. The building blocks are the primary care teams, free GP care for under sixes and over 70s, the setting up of hospital groups and so on. These are all essential building blocks to move away from a discriminating two-tier system, which is-----
Comment on this
There is no cement in the blocks.
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Tá dhá cheist agam, ceann amháin faoin public sector standards Bill agus ceann eile faoin Health Act 2007. Yesterday the Government agreed to publish the draft general scheme of the public sector standards Bill, which is intended to replace the Standards in Public Office Commission. It is a very belated response to the recommendations made by the Mahon and Moriarty tribunals, one in 2011 and the other in 2012. It has taken three years to produce the draft scheme of this Bill, which will now go into consultation until September. When does the Taoiseach expect the Bill to be published? Realistically, does he believe there is any hope of it being passed into law before the next general election?
On the Health Act 2007, the Minister for Health has finally instructed his officials to draw up the heads of a Bill to give new powers to HIQA. I welcome this, but it is four months after he announced this. However, we know that HIQA's recommendations are often ignored by the Minister and the Department. HIQA has said that had its recommendations been implemented, the risks to emergency departments, which even today dominate the front page of the Irish Independent, would have been significantly reduced. The INMO has said that May was the worst month on record for patients on trolleys. We had the disgraceful sight of two elderly patients, both of them born before the 1916 Rising-----
Comment on this
When will the promised Bill be published? Is it expected that the heads will be sent to committee for discussion? Can the Taoiseach ensure that it contains robust mechanisms to ensure that HIQA recommendations are fully and speedily implemented?
Comment on this
The heads of the public sector standards Bill have been cleared by Government and it has gone for consultation. The Mahon tribunal went on for many years. Many of the recommendations have been implemented. Some remain to be implemented and are included in the heads approved by Government. That will go for consultation and people will be fully entitled to have their say and make their views known either for or against other matters to be included or whatever. I do not know how long that process will take in the committee. I expect this Bill to become law before the next general election.
Comment on this
For some reason, everything now seems to be related to those two words, "general election".
Comment on this
We are proceeding with normal business here, and there is a great deal of legislation to draft, deal with and discuss.
Comment on this
Regarding the Health Act 2007, in respect of HIQA, the Government gave approval on 9 June to the Minister and the Department to set out and draft the heads of the Bill to which Deputy Adams is referring. That work is under way. It will go for public consultation and before the committee in the normal way.
Comment on this
The housing situation in Galway city has gone beyond a crisis. More than 5,000 families on the housing waiting list and 25 families presented themselves as homeless in the last month, and that is expected to rise to the high 40s at the end of this month.
Comment on this
I raised this issue with the Tánaiste last week. She said that Galway City Council was given approval to take on extra staff to deal with the crisis, but it has not. When does the Taoiseach expect the housing Bill to be brought before the House?
Comment on this
Will these crisis issues be dealt with and will the Government give approval to Galway City Council to take on extra staff to deal with this crisis?
Comment on this
The local authorities have already been given both their money and their instructions to get on with building the social housing for which the Government opened up €2 billion.
Comment on this
They have not got the extra cash.
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They are well short of the money.
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I am not sure whether Deputy Grealish is saying that the lack of staff is the fault or the lack of supply of houses. Chief executives in local authorities are entitled to move staff around to meet demand. The problem in Galway - or in Cork, Limerick, Dublin, or anywhere else - is supply.
Comment on this
Competent contractors must now comply with new regulations from the Central Bank, that is, to put up 40% of the equity themselves. The Government is trying to help them with NTMA proposals and so on. There is also the planning process, with objections and so on, as the Deputy is well aware. The question is how fast the supply requirement can be met and that means blocks and concrete on the ground.
Comment on this
In the spring statement, we were told there would be a statement on the capital budget sometime before the end of June by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin. The month ends next Tuesday, so when can we expect that? Following Deputy Grealish-----
Comment on this
Can we expect a major segment of that to provide urgent funding for social housing? Regarding the current situation with rents and rent supplement, etc., will there be legislation to provide what the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Kelly, is calling certainty in the rental regime-----
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-----or will there be a statutory instrument? When will we see that? Will we have that before the summer recess?
Comment on this
"Yes" is the answer to the Deputy's second question. In respect of the first question, the capital budget has not been decided yet by Cabinet. When it is decided, there will be a debate on it.
Comment on this
Sorry, there was confusion with my colleague, Deputy Mattie McGrath.
Comment on this
Will the real McGrath please stand up?
Comment on this
I refer to the health and social care professionals Bill. Is the Taoiseach aware that there are major concerns at Prosper Fingal services in Swords and St. Michael's House services in regard to services for people with disabilities for the summer months of July and August? Will he raise this issue with the Minister, because it is very important that these services are up and running during July and August?
Comment on this
The name of the legislation is the health and social care professionals Bill.
Comment on this
Services should continue to be supplied in the absence of the Bill, as one would expect. I will advise the Deputy when I speak to the Minister about it.
Comment on this
I want to ask about the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. We were told at a briefing that Report Stage amendments to this Bill would be brought forward. The deadline for us to put in amendments is tomorrow morning but the Government is going to bring in Report Stage amendments on issues unknown at the last minute. That is completely unacceptable. Are those amendments technical or do they deal with substantial issues, such as water and attachment orders? If they are substantive amendments, when will we see them? When will they be published, or will we see them at the last minute? If they are substantive amendments, will we get a chance to have a debate before we go to Report Stage, given that they were not in the Bill when it was debated on Second Stage? When will Report Stage take place? Can the Taoiseach be precise on that? Will it be next week or the week after?
When will the Committee Stage of the Urban Regeneration and Housing Bill, for which the deadline for amendments was this morning, be taken? Will it be next week? Will the two Bills be in the same week? These are very precise questions about legislation and I would like precise answers and no fast ones being pulled.
Comment on this
In reply to the Deputy's statement about Government amendments, the same time limits apply to Government amendments as apply to Deputies' amendments.
Comment on this
Committee Stage of the Urban Regeneration and Housing Bill will be held on Tuesday. The Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill will be next week. The Deputy is well aware from his experience here that it is entirely appropriate and in order for any Minister to introduce amendments on Report Stage, no more than for any other Deputy. That is what will happen here. It will be next week.
Comment on this
Will they be technical or substantive?
Comment on this
We are not going to have a debate before that, so we will have the debate, as usual, on Report Stage-----
Comment on this
Are they substantial? Is the Taoiseach trying to pull a fast one?
Comment on this
-----and the committees will be brought in by the Minister at that stage. The Deputy is entitled, as he knows, to submit amendments between now and tomorrow.
Comment on this
The Taoiseach is trying to pull a fast one. That is the answer.
Comment on this
One would want to be up early to pull a fast one on Deputy Boyd Barrett.
Comment on this
One certainly would.
Comment on this
I want to ask about a number of Bills. Water services legislation was meant to be introduced to tidy up any issues around the Water Services Act 2014. I put down a parliamentary question, as the Ceann Comhairle is always telling me to do.
Comment on this
The Ceann Comhairle always encourages us to put down parliamentary questions. I put one down and found out that there are hidden charges by Irish Water of €17 to read one's meter, if one suspects one has a leak-----
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I seek some clarity in regard to Irish Water. When will the water services (No. 2) Bill be published? There is also a €100 charge to test one's meter.
Comment on this
I call the Taoiseach on the water services (No. 2) Bill. I thank Deputy Mattie McGrath.
Comment on this
The Taoiseach is not listening to me.
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Also, I want to ask, as I did yesterday------
Comment on this
I have to ask because it goes on. There is an adage that if there are too many tweets, the tweeter becomes a twat. Are we going to have government by tweets?
Comment on this
The Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Ó Ríordáin, is tweeting about unsavoury issues and insulting GPs and pro-life supporters.
Comment on this
This is the Order of Business. Deputy Mattie McGrath must speak through the Chair. He is out of order. He has got his information.
Comment on this
Under the broadcasting (amendment) Bill, we have to regulate these "twatters".
Comment on this
The broadcasting (amendment) Bill will be introduced later in the year, and we will tweet that.
Comment on this
Will it be before or after the election? The Taoiseach and his Cabinet colleagues should stick to the tweeting.
Comment on this
Deputy Mattie McGrath was brought up before CPP for insulting people.
Comment on this
The bail Bill has been agreed as being important and necessary legislation. Is it expected to have it before the House before the recess? The personal injuries assessment board (amendment) Bill is also important promised legislation. Have the heads of that Bill been cleared and when is it likely to bring it to the House? Lastly, the proceeds of crime Bill is important legislation which has been promised for some time. Have the heads of that Bill been cleared and will it be brought before the House soon?
Comment on this
This legislation on the Criminal Assets Bureau is going on interminably. The heads have not been cleared and there are consultations going on with CAB about a number of amendments there. The heads have not been cleared in respect of the personal injuries assessment board Bill but there is work going on there. In respect of the bail Bill, I expect that will be published in the back half of the year.
Comment on this
When is publication expected of the Bill to implement the Hague Convention on International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance? Is there any chance of publication of the noise nuisance Bill, which has been brought up here over the past couple of years? I seek implementation of that Bill because when one has a problem arising in one's area, there is no legislation whatsoever on noise nuisance and there are people living in fear.
Comment on this
I cannot hear the date for the noise nuisance Bill. It is not due for publication in the near future. In respect of the Hague Convention, yesterday the Cabinet cleared the choice of courts matter in respect of the Hague Convention and I will advise Deputy Butler of the element of the matter that he raises.
Comment on this
When can we expect the public sector standards Bill to be brought before the House for debate? Will it be in this term?
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The heads were cleared on this last week. The draft heads have gone to the committee for public consultation, and Deputy McLoughlin will have his opportunity to read them and voice his opinion there.
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I thought the Ceann Comhairle had forgotten me.
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I nearly forgot Deputy Healy-Rae. I did not hear him. He was drowned out by his colleague, Deputy Mattie McGrath, beside him.
Comment on this
The deposit retention scheme, committed to in the programme for Government and approved by Cabinet, should be rolled out as a matter of urgency to ensure that students are not exploited. The Taoiseach promised it in the programme for Government.
Comment on this
The deposit retention scheme. The Taoiseach promised it.
Comment on this
The Taoiseach cannot remember the programme for Government.
Comment on this
There is a Bill under way, as Deputy Healy-Rae will be aware, for changes in respect of mortgages and I will advise the Deputy on where we are with that. By the way, I met the man from Radio Kerry last week.
Comment on this
The Taoiseach did, and I thank him for doing so.