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Vol. 647 Thursday, No. 2 14 February 2008 DI´OSPO´ IREACHTAI´ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DA´ IL E´ IREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIU´ IL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Thursday, 14 February 2008. Request to Move Adjournment of Da´il under Standing Order 32 ……………… 287 Order of Business ……………………………… 287 Limerick City Boundary Alteration Order 2008: Referral to Joint Committee ………… 295 Finance Bill 2008: Allocation of Time………………………… 295 Financial Resolutions: Motion …………………………… 296 Control of Exports Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages ……………… 300 Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2008: Second Stage (resumed)…………… 307 Message from Select Committee ………………………… 355 Ceisteanna — Questions Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Priority Questions …………………………… 355 Other Questions …………………………… 365 Adjournment Debate Matters …………………………… 376 Adjournment Debate Services for People with Disabilities ……………………… 376 Sce´imeanna To´ ga´la Scoile ………………………… 378 Schools Building Projects …………………………… 380 National Monuments …………………………… 381 Questions: Written Answers …………………………… 385 DA´ IL E´ IREANN ———— De´ardaoin, 14 Feabhra 2008. Thursday, 14 February 2008. ———— Chuaigh an Ceann Comhairle i gceannas ar 10.30 a.m. ———— Paidir. Prayer. ———— Request to move Adjournment of Da´il under Standing Order 32 . An Ceann Comhairle: Anois, iarratais chun tairiscint a dhe´anamh an Da´il a chur ar athlo´ faoi Bhuan-Ordu´ 32. Before dealing with the Order of Business, I propose to deal with a request to move the adjournment of the Da´il under Standing Order 32. Deputy Seymour Crawford: I seek the adjournment of the Da´il under Standing Order 32 to discuss a matter of national and local importance, namely, the urgent need for a debate on all aspects of agriculture in light of the fact that Grove Turkeys in Monaghan has paid off 130 workers, creating major problems for 85 turkey farms; 60,000 farmers are not receiving REPS on which they depend to meet repayments and living expenses; the pig and poultry industry is in chaos; and the Government’s failure to introduce legislation in respect of the labelling of most meat products. I hope the Ceann Comhairle can agree to my request to debate this urgent matter. An Ceann Comhairle: Tar e´is breithniu´ a dhe´anamh ar an nı´ ardaithe ag an Teachta, nı´lse´ in ord faoi Bhuan-Ordu´ 32. Having considered the matter raised, it is not in order under Standing Order 32. Order of Business. The Ta´naiste: It is proposed to take No. 10a, motion re referral to the joint committee of proposed approval by Da´il E´ ireann of the Limerick City Boundary Alteration Order 2008; No. 10b, Finance Bill 2008 — allocation of time motion for select committee; 10c, Finance Bill 2008 — Financial Resolutions; No. 15, Control of Exports Bill 2007 [Seanad] — Order for Report, Report and Final Stages, to adjourn at 1 p.m. if not previously concluded; and No. 3, Immi- gration, Residence and Protection Bill 2008 — Second Stage (resumed). It is proposed, notwith- standing anything in Standing Orders, that Nos. 10a,10b and 10c shall be decided without debate. In the case of No. 10c, Financial Resolutions Nos. 1 to 35 shall be moved together and decided by one question which shall be put by the Chair. An Ceann Comhairle: Is the proposal for dealing with Nos. 10a,10b and 10c without debate agreed? Agreed. Deputy Enda Kenny: We should be honoured the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Eamon Ryan, is here this morning to represent the Green Party. I 287 Order of 14 February 2008. Business [Deputy Enda Kenny.] am aware today is Valentine’s Day but I was going to say, had the Minister, Deputy Ryan, not come into the House today, that it would be easier to find a green man on Venus than a Green Party Minister in the Da´il. Today it is the turn of the Progressive Democrats Party, which supports the Government, to absent itself from the House. Deputy Phil Hogan: There are not too many of them. Deputy Enda Kenny: Also, four Ministers are absent who are not paired. However, one cannot control them all. The Ta´naiste and Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, will recall that there was a time when it was obligatory for Members to attend the House for the Order of Business. Deputy Fergus O’Dowd: The boys rose to the party. Deputy Enda Kenny: I wish to raise a couple of matters with the Minister. It is a source of regret to me that the Minister for Education and Science was not present for the Da´il vote last night on the Fine Gael motion on autism moved by Deputy Brian Hayes. Deputies: Hear, hear. Deputy Enda Kenny: I want to state publicly that I admire the spirit of Deputy O’Rourke. It is a pity it was not matched by three or four members of the Fianna Fa´il Party who could have stood up for children challenged in this way. This would have sent to the Minister for Education and Science a direction that this type of Thatcher-like approach to the process of education should be more flexible. This is a cause of regret. The Government has disappointed many parents around the country. We learned today from the national newspapers that almost 300 prisoners who are on the run are either on temporary release or absent from low security prisons. The Ceann Comhairle is thinking of stopping me. An Ceann Comhairle: I do not want to stop the Deputy but he is completely out of order. Deputy Enda Kenny: I know; I am on the run. (Interruptions). An Ceann Comhairle: It is a curved ball. Deputy Tom Kitt: We could spot Deputy Kenny anywhere in that tie. An Ceann Comhairle: The Deputy is out on the sideline somewhere. Deputy Enda Kenny: What action will the Government take to assist the Garda Sı´ocha´na in ensuring these people serve their due sentences—— An Ceann Comhairle: The Deputy is not in order. He must ask relevant questions on the Order of Business. It is not possible for Deputy Kenny to continue with this matter. Deputy Enda Kenny: ——whether in low security prisons or from absconding while on tem- porary release? One person has been on temporary release from prison since 1992. 288 Order of 14 February 2008. Business Will the Ta´naiste say if the Government intends to make any amendment in respect of the pharmacy (No. 1) Bill or pharmacy (No. 2) Bill to introduce an arbitration system to ensure there will not be chaos after 1 March? Deputy Bernard J. Durkan: Hear, hear. Deputy Enda Kenny: Thousands of people are concerned about whether they will be able to get their prescribed medicines after this date. The Ta´naiste: It is not possible to indicate at this stage when the pharmacy Bill will be brought forward. On the matter raised by Deputy Kenny in respect of newspaper coverage, this issue relates to 272 prisoners out of a total prison population of 150,000 during a 16-year period. Deputies will be interested to know that the use of temporary release has decreased significantly from 20% when the Rainbow Coalition was in power to 5% under this Government. Deputy Eamon Gilmore: The Joint Committee on Health and Children is meeting today for the third day in succession to deal with the continuing problem that no agreement has been reached between the Health Service Executive and pharmacists in respect of the terms of their contract. This could result in many medical card holders being unable to obtain their prescrip- tions from 1 March. An Ceann Comhairle: That is not in order. Deputy Eamon Gilmore: This is in order. Deputy P. J. Sheehan: Nothing is in order in this House. Deputy Eamon Gilmore: It has been under consideration by a committee of the House for three days in succession, which is unprecedented. Will the Government provide some time in this House next week to consider a report from the health committee about its deliberations on this matter and afford all Members the opportunity to discuss this important matter? It causes considerable anxiety, particularly to older people who are concerned they will not get their prescriptions from 1 March. All Members should have an opportunity to consider the health committee’s report and I ask that it be brought here next week. Deputies: Hear, hear. Deputy Eamon Gilmore: May I ask the Ta´naiste about a matter on which I asked him before, his Ethics in Public Office (Amendment) Bill, which passed all Stages in the Seanad last July? It provides for an arrangement whereby if somebody offers an officeholder money or a large gift and the recipient is in doubt about whether he or she should accept it, he or she could go to the Standards in Public Office Commission for advice. That Bill has passed all Stages in the Seanad. I asked the Ta´naiste two weeks ago when he intended to bring it to this House. He was to consult the Government Chief Whip on that and I ask him when the Second Stage of that Bill will be debated. A report from the Standards in Public Office Commission last July recommended a number of changes to the ethics legislation. When does the Government intend to bring forward legislation to give effect to the recommendations of the Standards in Public Office Commission? The Ta´naiste: On the Deputy’s second point, I would be amendable to inserting some of the recommendations into the Bill he mentioned earlier. That is why I am having amendments 289 Order of 14 February 2008. Business [The Ta´naiste.] drawn up to take on some of those recommendations and incorporate them into the Bill under discussion.