Dáil Éireann
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Vol. 744 Tuesday, No. 4 25 October 2011 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DÁIL ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Dé Máirt, 25 Deireadh Fómhair 2011. Business of Dáil ……………………………… 727 Ceisteanna — Questions Minister for Justice and Equality Priority Questions …………………………… 728 Other Questions …………………………… 736 Leaders’ Questions ……………………………… 746 Ceisteanna — Questions (resumed) Ministerial Staff ……………………………… 754 Topical Issue Matters ……………………………… 772 Order of Business ……………………………… 773 Smarter Transport Bill 2011 — First Stage ……………………… 776 Private Notice Questions Flood Relief ……………………………… 776 Topical Issue Debate Employment Support Services ………………………… 788 Alcohol Products Tax …………………………… 790 General Practitioner Services ………………………… 792 Accident and Emergency Services ……………………… 794 Central Bank (Supervision and Enforcement) Bill 2011: Order for Second Stage …………………………… 797 Second Stage ……………………………… 797 Private Members’ Business Health Services Delivery: Motion ……………………… 809 Report by the Interdepartmental Working Group on Mortgage Arrears: Statements (resumed) … … 831 Questions: Written Answers …………………………… 843 DÁIL ÉIREANN ———— Dé Máirt, 25 Deireadh Fómhair 2011. Tuesday, 25 October 2011. ———— Chuaigh an Ceann Comhairle i gceannas ar 2.00 p.m. ———— Paidir. Prayer. ———— Business of Dáil Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Alan Shatter): The House will be aware of the tragic incident in County Wicklow yesterday evening when Garda Ciaran Jones was swept away at Ballysmuttan bridge. The recovery of his remains today in Wicklow is dreadful news. My heart goes out to his parents and family members. I offer my condolences to Garda Jones’s colleagues and friends. The Garda Síochána, and all of us, have lost a brave man who put his life at risk in helping the public at a time of great danger. The Stepaside community has lost a dedicated member of its Garda Force. Garda Jones’s courageous actions were in the finest traditions of the Garda Síochána. I thank all of those involved in the rescue efforts, including Garda Jones’s colleagues, the local Glen of Imaal Mountain Rescue team, the Defence Forces, Civil Defence, coastguard and members of the public. Their commitment and dedication in such hazardous conditions are deeply appreciated. The extraordinary, dreadful sacrifice, in seeking to save the lives of others in appalling conditions, made by Garda Ciaran Jones will be remembered by all of us in this House. Deputy Dara Calleary: I join with the Minister and House in expressing my sympathies to the family, colleagues and members of the Stepaside and Wicklow communities on the death of Garda Ciaran Jones. I endorse all that the Minister said. That Garda Jones was off duty when he undertook to protect his neighbours is an indication of his bravery. Our thoughts are with his family, including his parents who are travelling back from abroad — one can only imagine what they are going through — his brother and sister who were with him at the time of the accident, his colleagues and all those who in the most extraordinary of conditions last night searched throughout the night for him. It is at times like this that we are reminded of the bravery of our gardaí, on and off duty, in trying to save others in all circumstances. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis. Deputy Stephen Donnelly: I too express my deepest sympathies to the family, friends and colleagues of the late Garda Ciaran Jones. I went to Blessington this morning and asked the chief superintendent if there was anything more people could do or if he needed assistance mobilising volunteers. It is an extraordinary measure of the young man that the chief superin- tendent told me that such was the response from Garda Jones’s community they could not handle any more volunteers. 727 Priority 25 October 2011. Questions Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan: I welcome the Minister’s statement. I recall thinking to myself when watching television footage of the earthquake in Turkey that we are lucky not to have experienced that type of devastating loss of life in Ireland. I then heard that a young off-duty garda had lost his life while trying to help others. This is a sad day for him, his family and his colleagues. An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: I thank the Minister and Deputies for their contributions. Ceisteanna — Questions Priority Questions ———— Expenditure Reviews 38. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of his nego- tiations with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to the overrun on garda costs for the visits of Queen Elizabeth II and President Obama; the measures that have been proposed to make up that overrun; if he will guarantee that no services to the public will suffer as a result of this overrun; and the way he intends to enure that this will happen. [31363/11] Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Alan Shatter) (Deputy Alan Shatter): I have previously provided the House with details of the Garda costs that have arisen from the State visits of Queen Elizabeth and President Obama in May of this year. In that regard, Deputies will be aware that the relevant expenditure is approximately €36 million. I appreciate that this figure is substantial but I believe the visits provided this country with substantial benefits, which far outweigh the financial element involved. Additionally, unprecedented security measures had to be put in place and the safety of our visitors had to be the top priority. Funding for the State visits was not provided for in the Garda Vote for 2011 because the visits had not been planned when the current Garda Estimates were finalised. As a result a significant unanticipated body of expenditure has arisen. I am currently engaging with my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, in regard to the financial arrange- ments to be made in respect of the visits. These contacts are ongoing and I expect they will conclude shortly. I can assure the Deputy that an important part of the discussion is to ensure that frontline Garda services will not be adversely affected when it comes to meeting the cost of the visits. Deputy Dara Calleary: I thank the Minister for his reply. On 19 July 2011, some three months ago, we received from the Minister an answer in regard to the breakdown of costs. It is our duty to support the Minister in his work. There is no doubt of the benefits which accrued from the visits and that the expenditure was necessary in the circumstances. It is three months on from when the Minister provided the House with a detailed breakdown. How many meetings has the Minister had with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, since then? Is he placing any specific demands on the Minister to make up the overspend from within existing Garda resources? In view of the benefit the visits had for the country, is he in a position to get an extra allocation from other Departments given the collective gain for the country? Deputy Alan Shatter: The reason the funding for the visits has not yet been settled is that, ultimately, it will depend on the overall position in the Garda Vote in 2011. That context is 728 Priority 25 October 2011. Questions necessary to take into account all the expenditure and savings on the Vote during the year. This is a process where the relevant figures do not fully emerge until late in the year. We have now reached the stage where the final Garda Vote expenditure figures for 2011 are being established. It is obviously the right time to settle the issue, once the exact position becomes clear. As I indicated, I expect that my discussions with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform will finalise the arrangements shortly. I hope that within a short few weeks the position will be absolutely clear. It is my obligation, of course, to ensure that we deal with the matter in as financially efficient a manner as possible. If there are some savings in some part of the Garda Vote, that will, to some extent, offset some small part of the additional expenditure incurred. Deputy Dara Calleary: I am supportive of the Minister in his efforts with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform but Garda Síochána directive 109/11, which was issued to stations in the past few weeks, will considerably reduce the amount of Garda overtime involved in serving District and Circuit Courts and may have the impact of delaying cases because of the reduction in that overtime. Is that an indication of the kind of measure being taken or is that separate from the need to make up the overspend on the visits? Deputy Alan Shatter: It has no relevance to the visits. It is a question of ensuring that, generally speaking, the Department tries to comply with the overall financial envelope provided in circumstances where the Deputy’s colleagues in government substantially underfunded a number of the Votes within the Department of Justice and Equality thus giving rise to part- icular difficulties. We are trying to ensure resources are used as carefully and as efficiently as is possible as we go through the year. Garda Stations 39. Deputy Jonathan O’Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the timeline associ- ated either with making decisions on the closures or on the actual closures of garda stations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31294/11] 41. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of eligible garda who have indicated, by 30 September 2011, that they will be retiring before February 2012; the options examined by the review of the Garda Commissioner in relation to potential closure of garda stations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.