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Vol. 585 Thursday, No. 4 13 May 2004 DI´OSPO´ IREACHTAI´ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DA´ IL E´ IREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIU´ IL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Thursday, 13 May 2004. Request to Move Adjournment of Da´il under Standing Order 31 ……………… 809 Order of Business ……………………………… 810 Education for Persons with Disabilities Bill 2003: Report Stage (resumed) …………… 816 Maritime Security Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Second Stage …………………… 850 Ceisteanna — Questions Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Priority Questions …………………………… 888 Adjournment Debate Matters …………………………… 915 Adjournment Debate: Industrial Development …………………………… 916 Heritage Projects ……………………………… 918 Sexually Transmitted Diseases ………………………… 922 Hospitals Building Programme ………………………… 924 Questions: Written Answers …………………………… 929 809 810 DA´ IL E´ IREANN An Ceann Comhairle: Having considered the matters raised, they are not in order under ———— Standing Order 31. De´ardaoin, 13 Bealtaine 2004. Order of Business. Thursday, 13 May 2004. The Ta´naiste: The Order of Business today ———— shall be as follows: No. 15, Education for Persons with Disabilities Bill 2003 — Report Stage Chuaigh an Ceann Comhairle i gceannas ar (resumed) and Final Stage to adjourn at 1 p.m. 10.30 a.m. today, if not previously concluded, and No. 1, Maritime Security Bill 2004 [Seanad] — Second ———— Stage. Paidir. An Ceann Comhairle: There are no proposals Prayer. to put to the House. ———— Mr. R. Bruton: I am sure everyone here would join me in congratulating the Garda on their successful seizure of a large amount of precursor Request to move Adjournment of Da´il under chemicals for the making of drugs. Will the Standing Order 31. Ta´naiste comment on the Government’s position An Ceann Comhairle: Before coming to the on EU co-operation on transitional crime? It Order of Business I propose to deal with a seems that Ireland is becoming a hub for the number of notices under Standing Order 31. I will distribution of precursor chemicals and Irish drug call on Deputies in the order in which they barons seem to be holed up in the submitted their notices to my office. Netherlands—— Mr. Naughten: I seek the Adjournment of the An Ceann Comhairle: Has the Deputy a Da´il under Standing Order 31 to discuss a matter question appropriate to the Order of Business? of urgent importance, namely, in light of the collapse of the airline, JetGreen, if the Minister Mr. R. Bruton: Yes, my question is very for Transport will outline the steps he will take appropriate. Under a number of EU initiatives, a to assist passengers who may be unable to move has been made to try to co-ordinate crime complete their journeys as a result of the collapse, across the European Union in respect of crimes the steps that are being taken to ensure the and those votes will be taken by qualified continuation of the routes, and if he will now majority voting. It appears the Minister review the conditions of the licensing of airlines responsible is holding out against that position. In in view of the collapse of this airline and that of view of these occurrences I ask the Ta´naiste if the Duo and Jetmagic earlier this year. Government has changed its view and is pressing ahead with co-operation in respect of these sorts of offences? Mr. Neville: I move the Adjournment of the Da´il E´ ireann under Standing Order 31 to discuss An Ceann Comhairle: That question would be the following matter of urgent national more appropriately directed to the line Minister importance, the announcement by the Central responsible. On the question of legislation or Statistics Office that 444 people died by suicide secondary legislation, I call the Ta´naiste to reply. last year, that one third of deaths among young people are because of suicide, and that this is the The Ta´naiste: I share the views expressed by biggest cause of death in the 15 to 24 age group, Deputy Richard Bruton on the success of the 81% of whom are male, the failure of the Garda Sı´ocha´na in its major find yesterday. In Government to invest in research to determine regard to the IGC, legislation and a referendum the reason for such an epidemic of suicide and the will be necessary. There is no question of us not total absence of suicide prevention programmes. co-operating to tackle major drugs activities of this kind or other serious crime, but Ireland and Mr. Sargent: I ask that Da´il E´ ireann be Britain have a different legal system from adjourned under Standing Order 31 to discuss a counties in mainland Europe and that has to be matter of national and life-threatening taken on board in the context of negotiations on importance, namely, the need to formulate an the IGC. We are not alone in the attitude we have action plan in response to revelations of radon taken in regard to some of these matters. gas levels in many homes, which are many hundreds of times the recommended background Mr. R. Bruton: The problem is that some levels and to require the Minister for the countries become hubs for such distribution. Environment, Heritage and Local Government to reinstate the irresponsible cutback he made in Ms McManus: Today we read of the conclusion radon remediation grants. of the case of Ms Kathy Quilty — of which I have 811 Order of 13 May 2004. Business 812 [Ms McManus.] Mr. Sargent: In his wisdom, the Ceann no doubt Members are aware — who suffered Comhairle saw fit not to allow the matter I raised terribly at the hands of Dr. Neary. This raises a under Standing Order 31. As regards promised number of issues about legislation about which I legislation, what is the position regarding the would like to ask the Ta´naiste. My first question building control Bill? This question relates to the relates to the medical practitioners Bill, which has matter I raised under Standing Order 31 but it been sought by the medical professions for more goes beyond the appalling standards of finishing than seven years. and energy insulation in new houses. The radon issue applies to existing housing and building An Ceann Comhairle: Does the Deputy have a stock. Is the Government going to give urgent question on the legislation? consideration to the building control Bill which, we were informed, would be published in mid- Ms McManus: Yes. 2003 but will now not appear until late 2004 and ensure that it will apply to existing housing stock, An Ceann Comhairle: Will she please put the especially in respect of the incidence of radon question? gas? Ms McManus: It is important to illustrate the Mr. Stagg: We have taken rather drastic, and gravity of the situation. probably correct, action on smoking and cancer- related deaths, of which there are approximately An Ceann Comhairle: There are other ways the 500 per year. Radon gas causes in the region of Deputy can raise this matter, particularly by way 300 cancer deaths per year. The report on of parliamentary question to the relevant Castleisland demonstrates the importance of this Minister. This is the Order of Business. matter and the severity of the problem. The Radiological Protection (Amendment) Act 2002 Ms McManus: I appreciate that. In 2002 we makes provision for grants for remedial schemes were promised that the Bill would be published for homes. Is it the Government’s intention to in 2003. We were then informed that it would be activate the relevant section of the Act to allow published in 2005. The most recent programme for the restoration of the grants which it relating to legislation indicates that no date has previously abolished? been fixed for the publication of the Bill. Is this not a matter of great concern? The Ta´naiste: The building control Bill will be published later this year. There is no legislation An Ceann Comhairle: The Ta´naiste should required in respect of grants. respond on the medical practitioners Bill. Mr. Stagg: That is not the question I asked. Ms McManus: With respect, I have not finished Legal provision was made for such grants in the and I did indicate that I have a number of Radiological Protection (Amendment) Act 2002. questions. I am saving time by asking the Will the Government activate the relevant questions together because they all relate to this section or introduce secondary legislation, if case. required? Is it the Government’s intention to establish a statutory inquiry into the cases relating to Dr. The Ta´naiste: As the Deputy stated, the Neary and his barbaric practices which have legislation is already in place. It is not a legislative grievously injured so many women? matter; it is a budgetary matter. It is, therefore, not a matter for the Order of Business. An Ceann Comhairle: We cannot have statement on the matter. Does the Deputy have Mr. Stagg: What about secondary legislation? a question on legislation? The Ta´naiste: Legislation is not required. Ms McManus: My final question also relates to the case. The Government has, in principle, An Ceann Comhairle: Under the relevant pursued the objective of a no-fault compensation Standing Order, the reply to a question on scheme for brain-damaged children. Since 2001 a secondary legislation may be postponed to group has been assessing the possibility of another day. establishing such a scheme but has still not issued a report. What is the Government’s position now The Ta´naiste: I do not believe that secondary that the insurance scheme is falling apart? legislation is required here. It is a question of budgetary resources and that is a different matter. The Ta´naiste: The only matter the Deputy raised that relates to legislation is the medical Mr.