It is proposed to take No. 14, motion re referral to joint committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2015; No. 15, Social Welfare Bill 2015 – motion to instruct the committee; No. 16, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the terms of the Intergovernmental Agreement on the Transfer and Mutualisation of Contributions to the Single Resolution Fund - back from committee; No. 45, Finance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015 - Order for Report, Report and Final Stages; and No. 9, Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015 - Order for Second Stage and Second Stage.

It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that, in the event that a division is in progress at the time fixed for taking Private Members' business, the Dáil shall sit later than 9 p.m. tonight and adjourn on the adjournment of Private Members' business, which shall be No. 216, motion re Health Service Executive emergency departments and shall, if not previously concluded, adjourn after 90 minutes; Nos. 14 and 15 shall be decided without debate; the proceedings on No. 16 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 20 minutes and the following arrangement shall apply - the speech of a Minister or Minister of State and of the main spokespersons for the Fianna Fáil Party, Sinn Féin and the Technical Group, who shall be called upon in that order, shall not exceed five minutes in each case; and that, pursuant to Standing Order 82(3), the Dáil shall waive its instruction that not more than two select committees shall meet to consider a Bill on any given day in the case of the proposed meeting of the Select Sub-Committee on Environment, Community and Local Government to consider the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (Dissolution) Bill 2015 on Wednesday, 11 November 2015.

Tomorrow's business after Oral Questions shall be No. 45, Finance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015 - Report and Final Stages (resumed); No. 9, Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015 - Second Stage (resumed); and No. 46, Garda Síochána (Policing Authority and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015 - Order for Report, Report and Final Stages.

There are four proposals to be put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with the late sitting agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 14, motion re referral to joint committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2015, and No. 15, Social Welfare Bill 2015, motion to instruct committee, without debate, agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 16, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the terms of the Intergovernmental Agreement on the Transfer and Mutualisation of Contributions to the Single Resolution Fund, agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal to allow three Bills in committee on Wednesday, 11 November 2015 agreed to? Agreed.

The Taoiseach indicated earlier that there would be a debate in the House when Mr. Justice Brian Cregan submits to the Government his interim report on the issues that have arisen. Will the Taoiseach confirm that time will be provided to hold a debate on the report? If I picked up the Taoiseach's words correctly, he indicated a debate would be held when Mr. Justice Cregan reports.

Yes.

Specifically, will the Taoiseach get the Department of Finance to clarify or the Minister of Finance to issue a statement on the reason the Department of Finance is not waiving its rights regarding the release of documents it has sent to the inquiry? The Taoiseach confirmed earlier that this was the position. This is a significant issue. It is extraordinary that a Department would retain its rights in this matter. It should co-operate 100% with the inquiry, which would mean waiving its rights with regard to the release of documents, including allowing the commission of inquiry to do so.

Earlier this year, the Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar, promised legislation to establish a hospital trust, namely, the children's hospital trust, on a statutory basis before the end of the year. The Minister made a significant statement last week regarding proposed legislation on such trusts when he indicated they that they should behave like commercial semi-State bodies. He also stated that trusts which do not perform should be sent out to tender or their management transferred to a private provider for a certain period, which essentially amounts to the privatisation of public hospitals. Will the Taoiseach indicate when the Bill providing for a children's hospital trust will be brought before the Dáil? In light of the statement made by the Minister last week, will the Bill provide for a significantly different type of trust for the national children's hospital from the one we were promised?

Will the Taoiseach facilitate a debate on the €600 million Supplementary Estimate for health? As we approach 2016, many acute hospitals have significant deficits and overruns. These hospitals are unclear as to whether portions of the €600 million will be allocated to them to eradicate their deficits entirely. Many have significant issues in terms of trolley count, accident and emergency overcrowding, tensions and stress on staff, waiting lists and so forth. A little more transparency than that provided to date is required on the €600 million Supplementary Estimate and how it will be allocated.

That is not a matter for the Order of Business.

I am asking about the Supplementary Estimate for health and requesting a debate on same.

When can we expect the landlord and tenant reform Bill, and will it deal with the abolition of development levies for homes sold for under €300,000? Finally, the Garda Síochána compensation (malicious injuries) Bill has been on the legislative programme for quite some time. Given the horrific attack on another garda this morning, can the Taoiseach confirm when the Bill will be brought before the House?

The Bill on malicious injuries is due early next year. The landlord and tenant reform Bill is due for later next year after the-----

After the election.

It will be after the Garda Síochána compensation (malicious injuries) Bill.

When is the election?

Stay quiet.

Ask the Tánaiste.

Obviously, I will advise the Whip in respect of Deputy Martin's request for a discussion of the Supplementary Estimates. I do not have a date for the-----

Election.

-----hospital trusts Bill. I do not think it will make it in this session.

We were promised it would.

I would be happy to have a debate in the House on the report of Mr. Justice Cregan when it comes to me. When it comes, I will have to ask him for permission to publish it. Obviously, we can have a debate in the House about the best way to proceed.

What about the statement from the Department of Finance?

The Department of Finance has already sent all the material without redaction. The legal advice it has is that any matter of confidentiality is a matter for the commission to overrule in the public interest.

Why would the Department of Finance be hiding anything?

Obviously, there are reasons for that. In this case, the judge has pointed out his difficulty.

Why would the Department of Finance be hiding documents?

It is not hiding any document.

It is. It is asserting the right to withhold documents from third parties.

The promised legislation on bankruptcy proposes to reduce the length of bankruptcy from three years to one year. It was handed over to the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality, which reported to the Minister at the beginning of July after unanimously agreeing that it should be reduced to one year. That is the last we have heard of it. It is still sitting on the Minister's desk. Will the legislation be presented to the Dáil and, if so, when? Will it be before the general election?

Tá tamall fada ann ó chuir mé an cheist faoi Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla don chéad uair. Cathain a fhoilseofar an tAcht seo? Tá pobal na Gaeilge ag fanacht air le fada agus tá siad tuirseach leis na geallúintí atá briste ag an Rialtas. Níl go leor ama fágtha ag an Rialtas. Tá sé ar a last legs, mar a deirtear. An bhfuil dóthain ama ann an Bille a chur os comhair an Tí agus a chur i bhfeidhm roimh an earrach?

Tá sé i gceist go dtabharfar an Bille sin isteach le linn an tseisiúin seo. Tá súil agam go bhfuil neart ama ann le haghaidh díospóireachta faoi.

Roimh aimsir na Nollag.

Sea. Tá súil agam go dtarlóidh sé sin agus beidh cead ag an Teachta Adams labhairt faoi cibé atá ar a aigne aige.

On the bankruptcy Bill, the joint committee has sent a report to the Minister for Justice and Equality and she is considering it. I expect the legislation will come before the Cabinet in the next couple of weeks with a request to publish it. It has been mentioned on a few occasions. I think Deputy Adams might have stolen someone's thunder on it today. In any event, he is first out of the blocks.

Deputy Mathews looks amazed. Did he get a text from Deputy Adams?

I refer to the energy Bill and the reply by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, to my question last Thursday. He asked me to ask the Taoiseach when we can expect the Bill and the wind energy guidelines to come before Government. I note that 7,500 people have been waiting for those since they made submissions in early 2014.

I cannot give Deputy Lawlor an answer to the question. There are two contradictory issues here. The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and their respective Departments are working pretty hard to come to a conclusion on it. I cannot give the Deputy a date for the publication of the guidelines. However, I confirm that the matter has been the subject of discussion at a number of meetings I have chaired. I will advise the Deputy as to where they are or if there is the prospect of a date by which guidelines can be published.

In light of the announcement by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government today of proposals on rent and the housing sector, will existing legislation be amended to give effect to some of those proposals? If so, when will they be before the House? Will adequate time be provided for debate and for recommendations and proposals to emanate from this side of the House?

It is intended that these will be implemented as quickly as possible. The Minister set out a series of amendments which it is expected will be dealt with, hopefully, this month. We will see through the Whips that adequate time is made available for discussion.

The Construction Contracts Act was introduced in the Oireachtas 1,800 days ago but it is still not functioning. It was introduced in an effort to ensure that subcontractors were not stuffed by those higher up the food chain. The chair of the organisation was selected last July but we still do not have a board of adjudicators in place to provide this badly needed service. Can the Taoiseach tell us when that will be in place?

It is five months since we had the cynical and strategic use of company law to defraud the workers of Clerys and to stuff the State for statutory redundancy. Where is the Government with regard to legislation on this? Finally, I add my voice to the calls on the one-year bankruptcy Bill.

I have answered the last matter in respect of the Minister for Justice and Equality coming before Government shortly. I will advise Deputy Tóibín in respect of legislation arising from the Clerys issue. The Construction Contracts Act was enacted in 2013. Perhaps the Oireachtas committee dealing with it might have an analysis of the performance to date. I can advise the Deputy of the progress on the board of adjudicators.

When is publication of the family leave Bill, which will consolidate all family leave legislation with amendments, expected? When can we expect a reformed domestic violence Bill to consolidate previous versions of the Domestic Violence Act and include additional provisions to protect victims of domestic violence?

The family leave Bill is due early next year. The heads of the domestic violence Bill were cleared in July and work is proceeding on it.

With waiting lists spiralling out of control at University Hospital Galway, where more than 10,000 people are on lists awaiting inpatient and outpatient services, I do not know how the Government's penalisation of the hospital to a total of €1.2 million will solve the problem.

No speeches. Please ask about legislation.

Can the Taoiseach tell the House when the health reform Bill will come before the House? Will the Bill address these issues?

I cannot give the Deputy an exact date for it, but I am glad to see that a major unit is being built at University Hospital Galway, which I visited recently.

There is no date for it.

I always like to avoid doubt, which is why I ask the Taoiseach again about the one-year bankruptcy Bill. It is urgent and an imperative to stop the ridiculous and unnecessary pain suffered by too many business people when they are already financially dead. It is an imperative. The Taoiseach should just tell the Minister to wheel it out. Deputy Penrose told me it was ready to go. The others have forgotten about it.

No speeches. I thank the Deputy.

I saw Deputy Mathews's call to arms on this matter, a Cheann Comhairle.

It is an invitation.

He had to ask a lot of people.

The Minister for Justice and Equality will report to the Cabinet very shortly when she has analysed the report from the Oireachtas committee that she received on this matter.

I call Deputy Durkan.

Come on, lads. Will you help him? Micheál, will you not help him? You said you would.

Help the people, not me. It is the people we serve.

Please. I have called Deputy Durkan. We are way behind time as it is.

The Aarhus Convention Bill, No. 79, has been promised for some time. It is to provide for a number of EU directives, which will have implications for some of the other legislation that has been referenced. The criminal justice (community sanctions) Bill is to provide a modern statement of the law governing community sanctions and the role of the Probation Service in the criminal justice system. No. 96 on the list is the health (transport support) Bill for children with special needs who cannot access public transport. When are these Bills likely to be before the House? Will it be by the end of this session or in the next session?

Those three are scheduled for next session.

I thank the Taoiseach.

I am answering Deputy Mathews's call to arms and wish to support him in his statement.

Good, but what is Deputy Healy-Rae on about?

I am on about-----

He is going to light the Christmas tree.

-----the bankruptcy legislation.

We have already dealt with it.

No.

And we will keep dealing with it. That is the point.

On the Order of Business.

We will keep dealing with it until it is addressed.

I will raise two issues.

We have dealt with it on the Order of Business.

The Taoiseach has not dealt with it.

Gerry, let us take the Christmas tree.

That is one issue, and the second-----

Come on, will you?

Yes.

Debating, debating, debating.

Will Deputies stay quiet, please?

Deal with it. Do it.

Will Deputy Mathews please stay quiet? He got his turn.

The second issue relates to the tenant purchase scheme, which I have raised with the Taoiseach many times. Will he ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to wake up-----

This is the tenant purchase scheme.

-----and introduce a scheme-----

When will the Government build houses?

-----as quickly as possible so that local authority tenants-----

An environmental question is needed.

-----can purchase their homes? The Taoiseach has promised me many times that he will deal with this issue.

I thank the Deputy. He has made his point.

Disgraceful.

I call Deputy Joan Collins.

No, I will have to advise Deputy Healy-Rae on the second one there, a Cheann Comhairle: the tenant purchase scheme. I will let the Deputy know.

I thank the Taoiseach.

The sneering on the opposite side of the House about the one-year bankruptcy Bill is really low. It is an important issue. The Taoiseach stated that it had gone to the Minister for Justice and Equality-----

Thank you, but-----

-----but is there the urgency to introduce this legislation before Christmas to address the issues that people are facing? It is important that we get a commitment from the Taoiseach today.

I raised the matter of the public health (alcohol) Bill a couple of weeks ago. The national drugs and alcohol task force is keen to see it pass. Will the Government introduce it before the general election?

The public health (alcohol) Bill dealing with minimum pricing and labelling is this session. It is coincidental that the Deputy should raise the bankruptcy Bill. The Minister for Justice and Equality will come before Cabinet in the next couple of weeks with a response to the Oireachtas committee on its view on the legislation.

Will the Government commit to introducing it before Christmas?

Yes, hopefully we will have it published.

Noise nuisance caused by neighbours makes up the majority of noise complaints, be they private or local authority tenants or home owners. We need to extend and improve the powers available-----

Deputy, please get to the legislation.

-----to enforcement authorities to prevent, reduce or abate noise nuisance by allowing fixed payments and providing mediation between neighbours.

Will the Deputy listen to me? What legislation is he talking about?

The noise nuisance Bill.

It is badly needed in this House.

We eventually got there.

That will be towards the end of the next session.

I wish to raise two issues. I support the call for a debate on Deputy Penrose's Bill.

Hear, hear.

It is important that it be debated on the floor of the Dáil in view of the fact that it was accepted-----

We have been through all of this.

-----by the House. It is up to the Government to move this issue forward. We are not talking about the Minister for Justice and Equality's Bill, but-----

Deputy, please.

-----about a Bill that has already been agreed on Second Stage.

The Deputy is asking a question.

Correct.

Could we have that debate in the near future? It is a matter of urgency.

What Bill is the Deputy on about?

Universal health insurance is a commitment in the programme for Government. When will we see the finer detail of that commitment? When will a Bill be published? Can we have that debate well in advance of the election, given the fact that there seems to have been a great deal of undermining of the proposal by some Ministers? Could we have that Bill or the details of what the Government is proposing in advance of the election? The Irish people would like to know that the Government is proposing to hike up private health insurance costs by dramatic sums.

No, the House will not have the Bill before the next election.

For God's sake.

I can advise the Deputy of the progress made towards universal health insurance-----

Tell people after the election.

-----as I have referred to it on many occasions previously. Regarding the bankruptcy Bill arising from a text the Deputy might have received, the Minister for Justice and Equality will come before the-----

No. It is Deputy Penrose's Bill.

The Taoiseach has got it wrong.

How does the Taoiseach know about the texts?

We are discussing Deputy Penrose's Bill, not a text.

-----Cabinet in the next couple of weeks, a Cheann Comhairle.

We will give the Deputies a copy of the text if they would like.

I call Deputy Finian McGrath.

Go for it, Deputy.

Fair play to Deputy Kelleher. He has-----

Is your name "McGrath"?

It is a modern form of communication.

This is great. We have got minds engaged.

We are referring to Deputy Penrose's legislation.

Deputy Mathews has influence over the Deputies opposite.

The Taoiseach texted Deputy Mathews a few times himself.

I am sorry, but will the Deputies allow Deputy Finian McGrath-----

I would like to support my colleague, Deputy Mathews, on the important bankruptcy legislation.

The Deputy is not on about that as well, is he?

He should draw his breath.

It is an important issue. When will the Taoiseach roll the Bill out and is it shovel ready?

That has already been addressed.

I am sure that the Ceann Comhairle will indulge me for one second.

No, I will not. This is purely on legislation.

Put him out.

Do not turn him down.

On an historic day, I just want to say-----

I know that it is historic, but this is the Order of Business. Will the Deputy stick to it?

Yes, I am on the Order of Business. I am sure that even the Ceann Comhairle, as the Chair of the Dáil, will join me in commending the signing of the commencement order of the marriage equality Act at Dublin Castle today.

Hear, hear.

It is an historic day and I know that the Ceann Comhairle will indulge me in thanking every Deputy who made that signing possible.

Okay.

Like Deputy Fitzpatrick, I wish to refer to the noise nuisance Bill. We have-----

Hold on one second. Resume your seat. It has been addressed.

There is no need to do that now. Deputy Buttimer should not be so self-deprecating.

We are way behind time.

If I may-----

No, you may not. I call Deputy Martin Ferris.

This is outrageous.

Deputy Buttimer is the personification.

It is not outrageous. We have dealt with that matter.

When Deputy Buttimer was on this side of the House, he was not so quick to sit down.

Was the Deputy about last night?

Where is Deputy Martin Ferris?

I am here.

There you are. Come on. Let us have you.

I thank the Ceann Comhairle. The Taoiseach is aware of this morning's Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, report regarding Kerry General Hospital, the terrible state of its operating theatre and health and safety concerns for those undergoing operations-----

What legislation is this?

-----as well as other patients and visitors. Will the Taoiseach call in the Minister for Health and make funding available so that-----

No. Hold on one second.

-----an adequate health service can be available in Kerry General Hospital?

The Deputy is abusing the Order of Business. I call Deputy McLoughlin.

Private Members' business this evening will debate emergency departments in hospitals.

Okay.

When can we expect the higher education reform Bill to be before the House?

I think that is going to be next year at this stage, Deputy McLoughlin.

I wish to refer to two Bills. First, my understanding is that the Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011 will not be taken in the House prior to Christmas. Will the Taoiseach assure me that, post Christmas, we will debate it? Second, I lend my support to Deputy Penrose's one-year bankruptcy Bill, which was referred to the Taoiseach.

Yes, we have had discussions on the legal services Bill. This is probably the most radical shift in the legal service in 200 years. I hope they can get it through before Christmas. Now, it is going to be very challenging, believe me Deputy Maloney. I cannot confirm one way or the other because it seems to me as if, repeatedly, there are new obstacles that arise each time one takes a step here. It is quite complicated.

I have referred to the bankruptcy Bill already.