Dáil Éireann
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Vol. 867 Tuesday, No. 1 10 February 2015 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DÁIL ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Insert Date Here 10/02/2015A00050Ceisteanna - Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2 10/02/2015A00075Priority Questions� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2 10/02/2015A00087National Concert Hall � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2 10/02/2015C00150Waterways Issues � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 4 10/02/2015D00150Genealogical Services � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 5 10/02/2015E00150Seirbhísí Oileán � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 6 10/02/2015F00400National Cultural Institutions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 8 10/02/2015H00400Other Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 10 10/02/2015H00500Invasive Plant Species � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 10 10/02/2015K00250Heritage Centres � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 12 10/02/2015L00900Arts Funding � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 14 10/02/2015M00400Departmental Strategies� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 15 10/02/2015N00250Cultural Policy� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 16 10/02/2015O00550Wildlife Conservation � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 18 10/02/2015P00350Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 19 10/02/2015P00650Topical Issue Matters � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 19 10/02/2015P00750Leaders’ Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 21 10/02/2015S02600Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 30 10/02/2015S02700Alcohol Advertising � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 30 10/02/2015W00500Official Engagements � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 38 10/02/2015Z00800Order of Business � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 46 10/02/2015BB00300Protection of Life in Pregnancy (Amendment) (Fatal Foetal Abnormalities) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 53 10/02/2015CC00100Topical Issue Debate � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 56 10/02/2015CC00150Home Renovation Incentive Scheme Eligibility � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 56 10/02/2015DD00450Tax Code� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 59 10/02/2015FF00150School Staffing � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 62 10/02/2015GG00400Hospital Services � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 65 10/02/2015HH00400Standing Order 107I: Motion � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 68 10/02/2015LL00600Redress for Women Resident in Certain Institutions Bill 2014: Order for Report Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 75 10/02/2015LL00900Redress for Women Resident in Certain Institutions Bill 2014: Report Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 76 10/02/2015QQ00300Child Care: Motion [Private Members] � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 86 DÁIL ÉIREANN Dé Máirt, 10 Feabhra 2015 Tuesday, 10 February 2015 Chuaigh an Leas-Cheann Comhairle i gceannas ar 14�00 p�m� Paidir. Prayer. 10/02/2015A00050Ceisteanna - Questions 10/02/2015A00075Priority Questions 10/02/2015A00087National Concert Hall 10/02/2015A00100130� Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans for the National Concert Hall; her further plans to place it on a statutory footing; if the resignation of five members from its board in 2014 raised any issue of concern for her; and if she will make a statement on the matter� [5596/15] 10/02/2015A00200Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl: The question simply seeks to ask the Minister her plans for the development of the National Concert Hall and the timescale for moving towards placing it on a statutory footing� It also seeks to explore with the Minister what has been learned from the res- ignation last year of a number of members of the board� Will their resignations have an impact on her as she constitutes the new board? 10/02/2015A00300Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Heather Humphreys): In Febru- ary 2014, the Government approved my predecessor’s proposal to place the National Concert Hall on a statutory footing� As a consequence, the Department has prepared the general scheme of a Bill, which has been the subject of pre-legislative scrutiny by the Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht� It is intended that the Bill will provide, inter alia, for a governance framework that ensures appropriate reporting and accounting to the Minister and the Oireachtas by the National Con- cert Hall� It is my intention to publish the National Concert Hall Bill in the coming weeks� As the Deputy referred to in his question, a number of changes took place on the board of 2 10 February 2015 the National Concert Hall in 2014. At this point, I am satisfied that the board is focused on help- ing the National Concert Hall make the transition from a company to a statutory body, while maintaining the highest standards of musical performance for the enjoyment of the public� 10/02/2015B00100Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I welcome the Minister’s announcement that she will be bring- ing forward the legislation in the coming weeks� That is a positive development� Last year, in the aftermath of the resignation of five members of the National Concert Hall board, I raised a question with the Minister’s predecessor in regard to those resignations and he responded: There were disagreements among members who focused primarily on a fund-raising ini- tiative in America at that particular time which, I understand, could have cost the National Concert Hall €1�5 million� What was thought to be a philanthropic arrangement resulted in a commercial arrangement� That just could not be allowed to happen, and it was not al- lowed to happen either by myself or by the board� Members were not happy with that ar- rangement and as a result they stepped down because of it� The then Minister gave a clear understanding to the House on that occasion that the five peo- ple who resigned were the same people who had been advocating this supposed philanthropic arrangement with the US, which was not the case� Will the Minister accept that the Dáil was not given accurate information on that occasion? 10/02/2015B00200Deputy Heather Humphreys: To refer specifically to the case the Deputy has asked about, this matter was primarily dealt with by my predecessor� The position is that, following advice from the Attorney General, the National Concert Hall was found not to have the power to em- bark on a proposed foundation project� The matter resulted in a dispute among board members with some of them resigning because they were opposed to the proposed project and, following the resignations, my predecessor requested the former Secretary General of the Department of Education and Skills to undertake a governance review at the National Concert Hall� The re- view is now complete and this has been placed on the website� The National Concert Hall Bill is at an advanced stage and I expect to publish it in the com- ing weeks� It will put the National Concert Hall on a statutory footing� It will provide for clear accountability to the Minister and the Oireachtas and it will address and update the governance structures�