Seanad Éireann

Vol. 222 Wednesday, No. 15 1 May 2013 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES SEANAD ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Business of Seanad 885 Order of Business 885 Address to Seanad Éireann by Ms Nessa Childers, MEP 904 Charities Regulation: Motion 923 Adjournment Matters ��948 01/05/2013HH01050Redundancy Payments 948 01/05/2013JJ00550Marine Development ��950 01/05/2013KK00600Planning Issues 953 01/05/2013LL00500School Accommodation 955 SEANAD ÉIREANN Dé Céadaoin, 01 Bealtaine 2013 Wednesday, 01 May 2013 Chuaigh an Cathaoirleach i gceannas ar 1030 am Machnamh agus Paidir. Reflection and Prayer. Business of Seanad 01/05/2013A00200An Cathaoirleach: I have received notice from Senator David Cullinane that, on the motion for the Adjournment of the House today, he proposes to raise the following matter: The need for the Minister for Social Protection to make a statement on the recent decision of the European Court of Justice decision in the case concerning ten Waterford Crystal workers and the legislative steps the Government is now going to take to ensure that the insolvency directive will be implemented to the ECJ’s satisfaction I have also received notice from Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh of the following matter: A fhiafraí den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara an bhfuil sé i gceist aige gníomhú chun an stádas saor ón ngalar Ostreid herpesvirus, i gCuan Baile na Cille i dtuaisceart Chona- mara, a chaomhnú I have also received notice from Senator Colm Burke of the following matter: The need for the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to outline the steps being taken by his Department and Local Authorities to ensure compliance by developers and liquidators of development companies to comply with Part V of the Plan- ning and Development Act 2000 and whether planning contributions are being recovered from liquidators I have also received notice from Senator Lorraine Higgins of the following matter: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills, in view of the over-capacity and ongoing demand for school places, if he will outline the current status of the application for new accommodation, including the timeframe for delivery of a new educational campus, by Pre- sentation College, Athenry, County Galway I regard the matters raised by the Senators as suitable for discussion on the Adjournment and they will be taken at the conclusion of business Order of Business 885 Seanad Éireann 01/05/2013A00400Senator Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No 2, address to Seanad Éireann by Ms Nessa Childers, MEP, to be taken at 2 pm and to conclude no later than 4 pm in ac- cordance with the arrangements set out in the motion passed by the House on 25 April 2013; and No 35(10), Private Members’ business, to be taken at 4 pm and to conclude no later than 6 pm The Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012 - Report Stage, which was due to be taken today after the Order of Business, has been deferred to a later date, as the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Simon Coveney, is unavoidably obliged to be elsewhere How- ever, he has agreed to come to the House in the near future to deal with the Bill, and he has also promised debates on other matters of concern to Members in recent weeks, such as the fodder crisis, the CAP, fishery reforms and meat contamination. 01/05/2013A00500Senator Darragh O’Brien: The Animal Heath and Welfare Bill was scheduled for today Will the House stand adjourned during that time? 01/05/2013A00600Senator Maurice Cummins: Yes We will adjourn until 2 pm after the Order of Business 01/05/2013A00700Senator Darragh O’Brien: I understand the Minister is involved in other matters, and we hold the Presidency of the European Union, but it is disappointing that such short notice has been given for a change such as this I would not like to see it as a precedent In fairness to the Minister, he has a good attendance record in the Seanad Senator Terry Leyden and others from all parties raised the ongoing fodder crisis yesterday It is important that the Minister does his level best to come before the House as soon as possible I suggest this should happen early next week I do not run his diary but it is disappointing that such short notice was given I respect the Minister and take him at his word It is not acceptable that there is still no Minister of State with responsibility for agriculture It is a issue in terms of how business in this House and the Dáil operates Is there any update from the Taoiseach on the replacement of the late Shane McEntee? If a new Minister of State had been in place, this situation would not have arisen It shows very clearly that the Depart- ment is not operating at full capacity because there is a vacancy Unfortunately we will oppose the Order of Business today on the basis of the very late change, because we cannot accept it 01/05/2013A00800Senator Mary M. White: Hear, hear 01/05/2013A00900Senator Darragh O’Brien: I take the Leader and the Minister at their word but it is not acceptable and we must lay down a marker I ask the Cathaoirleach to indulge me because of the late change to the Order of Business I have raised the issue of adult mental health services in this country numerous times and have given specific examples in north Dublin. It was recently agreed to seek a debate on the matter Does the Leader have any update on the scheduling of that debate? It is a serious matter Resources are not being provided in the sector I would welcome an opportunity to put forward specific cases to the Minister. On the protection of life during pregnancy Bill published yesterday evening, as Senator Ned O’Sullivan said yesterday, we all want a respectful and dignified debate that respects all views. The Bill will go to the Joint Committee on Health and Children I do not agree with the calls yesterday for a debate here while that takes place The joint committee is the right place for the Bill. I ask the Leader to make sure we have sufficient time to debate the Bill when it comes 886 1 May 2013 back from the joint committee I do not think it would be appropriate for us to debate it here while a debate is happening in the health committee However, I ask the Leader to give sufficient time for everyone who wishes to speak on that - and I am sure most people will - when the appropriate time comes The Leader kindly gave an answer last week on the online betting tax Bill Both of us are interested in ensuring it comes into the House quickly There is a new Bill being prepared Suc- cessive Governments, including this one and the last, have sat on their hands regarding taxing online betting at source Our independent bookmakers are struggling and going out of business on a weekly basis because of the unlevel playing pitch for multinational online betting companies Could the Leader impress on the Minister the urgency of that Bill coming to the House? Could the Leader, in the next couple of weeks, arrange a debate on workers’ rights? I ask that in the context of an Adjournment motion I put down yesterday evening on home help workers when the Minister’s representative confirmed to me that more than 5,000 home help workers who worked between 2000 and 2008 are entitled to gratuity payments of four and a half weeks per year of service, an average payment of approximately €12,000. It has been confirmed to me that they are owed it and that the Government is in breach of two Labour Court recommenda- tions but has no intention of paying this money Deputy McGinley kindly said he would bring those views directly to the Minister but it would be an opportunity to debate workers’ rights and how the State is treating them I ask the Leader to schedule that in the coming weeks 01/05/2013B00200Senator Ivana Bacik: I also welcome last night’s publication of the heads of the protection of life during pregnancy Bill. I am really glad this Government is finally, 21 years after the “X” case, facing up to the responsibility we all have as legislators to introduce legislation which will provide for clarity in our law for pregnant women, their doctors and families as to when doctors may intervene to save women’s lives by terminating pregnancies in the very rare cases when that arises I entirely agree with Senator Darragh O’Brien that we should have ample time to debate it in this House when it comes before us on Second, Committee and Report Stages I know the Leader will facilitate that request Senator Darragh O’Brien is correct that the health committee is the appropriate place to have the debate on the heads of the Bill I understand the health committee is meeting tomor- row morning at 930 am to commence that debate We will see a very full debate I entirely agree that it should be respectful and courteous but we also need to see this legislation go through the normal stages in the Dáil and Seanad and be brought into law without any further unnecessary delays So while we need a full debate, I very much hope we will see it come into law before the summer recess That is very important for the women of Ireland and I am really glad we are finally legislating on this important issue.

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