Order of Business. Wednesday, 7 June 2006

Dáil Eireann Debate Vol. 621 No. 84 Page of 286

The Taoiseach:    It is proposed to take No. 19, Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad] — Second Stage, resumed; and No. 1, Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Bill 2005 [Seanad] — Second Stage. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that Private Members’ business shall be No. 29, Greyhound Industry (Doping Regulation) Bill 2006 — Second Stage, which shall also take place tomorrow immediately after the Order of Business and the proceedings thereon shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 90 minutes on that day.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle:    There is one proposal to be put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with Private Members’ business agreed?

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin:    It is not agreed. While I have no objection per se to the Fine Gael Private Members’ business, the Taoiseach’s almost singular reliance in his responses this afternoon to questions from Opposition spokespersons regarding the recent decisions of the Supreme Court and the passage of legislation last Friday that the all-party group proposed by the Minister, which may prove a valuable vehicle——

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle:    That is not relevant to the Order of Business.

  6 o’clock

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin:    It is relevant because I am objecting to the Order of Business. I object for the precise reason that kicking to touch in terms of the all-party group and refusing to address the substantive issue on the floor of this House is a singular and particular failure on the part of this Government in ordering business for this week. It is unacceptable that the Dáil should sit this week and not debate the issues that directly arise from the Supreme Court judgments and the legislation that was rushed through last Friday. It is beyond belief that the stop-gap legislation——

[157]An Leas-Cheann Comhairle:    We cannot discuss legislation.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin:    I am not discussing it. I am stating clearly that there is a bounden responsibility on this House this week to give leadership and initiate the necessary debate on all the issues——

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle:    I ask Deputy Ó Caoláin to address the question before the House, namely, whether the proposal for dealing with Private Members’ business is agreed.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin:    No, the proposal is about the entirety of the Order of Business.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle:    No, it is not. The proposal concerns Private Members’ business.

[158]Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin:    I am objecting to the failure to take into account the need for a debate in this House. I demand that the Taoiseach and the Chief Whip order the business to be presented to this House in such a way as to allow the opportunity today or tomorrow not only to set in train the necessary debate within this House but to give leadership in terms of the wider debate and consultation that must take place.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle:    The Deputy is not in order. The Chair is putting the question.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin:    It is absolutely outrageous.

Question put: “That the proposal for dealing with Private Members’ business be agreed.”

[157]The Dáil divided: Tá, 66; Níl, 11.

Tá
Ahern, Bertie.	Ahern, Michael.
Ardagh, Seán.	Blaney, Niall.
Brady, Johnny.	Brady, Martin.
Breen, James.	Brennan, Seamus.
Callely, Ivor.	Carey, Pat.
Carty, John.	Collins, Michael.
Coughlan, Mary.	Cregan, John.
Cullen, Martin.	Curran, John.
Davern, Noel.	Dempsey, Noel.
Dempsey, Tony.	Dennehy, John.
Devins, Jimmy.	Ellis, John.
Finneran, Michael.	Fleming, Seán.
Gallagher, Pat The Cope.	Glennon, Jim.
Grealish, Noel.	Hanafin, Mary.
Haughey, Seán.	Hoctor, Máire.
Jacob, Joe.	Kelleher, Billy.
Kelly, Peter.	Kirk, Seamus.
Kitt, Tom.	Lenihan, Brian.
McDowell, Michael.	McEllistrim, Thomas.
McGuinness, John.	Martin, Micheál.
Moloney, John.	Moynihan, Donal.
Moynihan, Michael.	Mulcahy, Michael.
Nolan, M. J.	Ó Fearghaíl, Seán.
O’Connor, Charlie.	O’Dea, Willie.
O’Donnell, Liz.	O’Donoghue, John.
O’Donovan, Denis.	O’Flynn, Noel.
O’Keeffe, Batt.	O’Keeffe, Ned.
O’Malley, Fiona.	O’Malley, Tim.
Parlon, Tom.	Power, Seán.
Roche, Dick.	Sexton, Mae.
Smith, Michael.	Treacy, Noel.
Wallace, Mary.	Wilkinson, Ollie.
Woods, Michael.	Wright, G. V.

[157]Níl
Connolly, Paudge.	Cowley, Jerry.
Ferris, Martin.	Gregory, Tony.
Harkin, Marian.	Healy, Seamus.
Higgins, Joe.	McGrath, Finian.
Murphy, Catherine.	Ó Caoláin, Caoimhghín.
Ó Snodaigh, Aengus.

[157]Tellers: Tá, Deputies Kitt and Kelleher; Níl, Deputies Ó Snodaigh and F. McGrath.

[159]Question declared carried.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle:    I wish to inform the House that I have allowed a private notice question to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, which will take place after matters arising from the Order of Business. However, the debate on it must conclude before Private Members’ time at 7 p.m.

Mr. Bruton:    In its programme for Government, the Government indicated that the maximum waiting time for a referral to a consultant would be three months, while the maximum waiting time for a procedure would be six months. No effort has been made to deliver on that commitment. When will the eligibility for health and personal social services Bill be published?

The Taoiseach:    Next year.

Mr. Bruton:    Another year of waiting.

Mr. Stanton:    The Taoiseach announced the provision of a new rapporteur for child protection. Will this be put on a statutory basis? Does it require legislation?

The Minister for Social and Family Affairs has referred to legislation to change the cohabitation rule for lone parents. Will that legislation be brought before the House before Christmas?

The Taoiseach:    The legislation on lone parents will be brought before the House before Christmas. I do not think the provision of a rapporteur will require legislation. However, we must obtain advice on the best way to proceed.

Mr. Stagg:    Following the Taoiseach’s decision to refer the issues arising from the Supreme Court ruling to an all-party Oireachtas committee, is it his intention to refer them to an existing committee, such as the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women’s Rights? Has any decision been made on the terms of reference for the committee?

What is the current position on the broadcasting Bill?

The Taoiseach:    The broadcasting Bill will be published this year. I have an open mind about the all-party committee. However, it might be best to establish a new committee.

Mr. Howlin:    Will Members be given draft or completed terms of reference to consider before they are referred to Cabinet?

The Taoiseach:    The Cabinet will discuss the terms, but I will provide the committee with draft terms of reference.

Mr. Howlin:    Will they be amendable?

The Taoiseach:    Yes.

[160]Mr. Sargent:    I wish to highlight the concerns of the Children’s Rights Alliance, Rape Crisis Network Ireland and the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Defects in the register for sex offenders have been highlighted and there is a need for a properly resourced monitoring registration system. However, there is still no indicated date for the publication of such legislation, about which we continually ask. It is surely untenable at this stage for the Taoiseach to feign interest in child protection and not set a date for the publication of a register of persons considered unsafe to work with children. There seems to be an impediment to this, which, for some bizarre reason, does not exist north of the Border. Can the Taoiseach expedite that matter? This promised legislation is long awaited and urgently needed.

The Taoiseach:    There is a North-South Ministerial Council dimension to this issue. However, I asked the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, to try to find a way to circumvent it. The Departments of Education and Science and Health and Children are examining this matter. They are considering the establishment of a pre-employment consultancy service and the Minister of State is trying to provide for that.

Ms O’Sullivan:    The Minister for Education and Science announced in today’s newspapers that the vocational education committees will deal with third level grants. Will the third level student support Bill, which is on the list of proposed legislation, incorporate this decision? When will that Bill be published? There were suggestions that means testing might be changed and I would like to know if it is part of the same Bill.

The Taoiseach:    The legislation is due later this year. However, it will not be ready by September.

Mr. Connolly:    We have a €10 million deficit in the north-east region of the Health Service Executive and this has an implication for the two most vulnerable groups, namely, those suffering from cancer and those in need of dialysis.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle:    Does the Deputy have a question on legislation?

Mr. Connolly:    This relates to legislation. I want to outline why I am asking the question——

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle:    The Deputy does not need to do so.

Mr. Connolly:    ——and the difficulties we are experiencing in the north east. We are pursuing the easiest targets and I cannot accept that. We are short of money and we target those suffering from cancer and those in need of dialysis. The north-east region of the Health Service Executive is the most underfunded in the country and we [161]are now seeing the fruits of that. We have one of the fastest growing populations in the country.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle:    The Deputy is out of order.

Mr. Connolly:    I want to know when the eligibility for health and personal social services Bill will come before the House.

The Taoiseach:    I answered that question two minutes ago.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin:    Will legislation be required to establish an office of child protection rapporteur? Are amendments expected to the Ombudsman for Children Act 2002 as a consequence?

The Taoiseach:    I answered that three minutes ago. I do not think we need to amend that Act but we must examine the required procedure.

Mr. Crawford:    Is there any possibility of an open debate in the House to ascertain who is in charge of the health service? This is extremely important to the people of Cavan and Monaghan. Different messages are being sent out by the Health Service Executive every day. We are now being told that those with cancer and those in need of dialysis are no longer entitled to services. When will the Taoiseach make time available for a full discussion on who is responsible for the health service?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle:    The Deputy does not have a question on legislation.

Mr. Crawford:    I only want an answer.

Dr. Cowley:    I would also like to voice my protest on what is happening in the north east. A second consultant oncologist is being refused for the area. What is more basic than that? There is a great need for this service, yet the Government is denying cancer patients a very essential service.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle:    There are other ways to raise this issue.

Dr. Cowley:    It is the same across the board for many other services for vulnerable people, such as hospice care. It is a disgrace and the position should be examined.

Mr. Durkan:    When the Taoiseach visited the US, it was reported that the US intelligence services had sought access to e-mail and text transmissions in this country. Will the relevant legislation, namely, the electronic communications (miscellaneous provisions) Bill, take account of that?

[162]An Leas-Cheann Comhairle:    What is contained in the Bill is not a matter for the Order of Business.

The Taoiseach:    This session.

Mr. Durkan:    Will it be against that background? Was it mentioned to the Taoiseach?

Mr. McDowell:    They are on to Deputy Durkan.

Mr. Costello:    Regarding the National Children’s Hospital, I am sure the Taoiseach is aware of the recommendation of the task group to locate the latter on the Mater site. Has that recommendation been approved or will it go before the Cabinet tomorrow? Where is the legislation necessary to implement the recommendation?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle:    The Taoiseach on the promised legislation.

The Taoiseach:    There is no promised legislation.

Mr. Costello:    I understand that legislation is required but none is promised.

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Last Updated: 03/11/2010 23:02:55

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