Seanad Éireann
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Vol. 224 Wednesday, No. 5 26 June 2013 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES SEANAD ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Business of Seanad 291 Order of Business 292 Visit by AWEPA-RFPAC Delegation 301 Order of Business (Resumed) 301 12 o’clockFood Provenance Bill 2013: First Stage 307 An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Dara Céim 308 Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Second Stage 308 Register of Lobbyists Legislation: Motion 328 Housing (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages 353 Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages 354 Courts Bill 2013: Committee Stage 356 8 o’clockSocial Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages 421 Business of Seanad 429 9 o’clockSocial Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Motion for Earlier Signature 430 Adjournment Matters ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������430 26/06/2013FFF00700Sporting Events 430 26/06/2013HHH00100Fishing Industry Development 433 26/06/2013KKK00350Schools Building Projects �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������437 SEANAD ÉIREANN Dé Céadaoin, 26 Meitheamh 2013 Wednesday, 26 June 2013 Chuaigh an Cathaoirleach i gceannas ar 1030 am Machnamh agus Paidir. Reflection and Prayer. Business of Seanad 26/06/2013A00200An Cathaoirleach: I have received notice from Senator Averil Power that, on the motion for the Adjournment of the House today, she proposes to raise the following matter: The need for the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to ensure the Government will proactively endorse the bid to host the 2018 Gay Games in Limerick, given that the games would be worth up to €80 million to the city and Ireland more generally and that the alternative bids from London and Paris have been officially endorsed by David Cameron and François Hollande; and if he will ensure the Government provides every possible sup- port for the site visit of the Federation of Gay Games from 1 to 5 July 2013 I have also received notice from Senator David Cullinane of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to make a statement on fishing stocks in the Waterford estuary, the performance of the fishing industry in Waterford and the south-east, future plans to develop the industry in the county and the supports that are being provided to fishermen who are no longer employed in their traditional sectors of salmon, bass and eel fishing along the Waterford estuary I have also received notice from Senator Martin Conway of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Education and Skills to give an update on the reasons for the delay in amalgamating the three post-primary schools in Ennistymon, County Clare, and to outline when this project will proceed to the next phase 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 291 Seanad Éireann Order of Business 26/06/2013B00200Senator Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No 1, Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013 - Second Stage, to be taken at noon and to adjourn no later than 130 pm, with the contribution of each Senator not to exceed ten minutes; No 41, Private Members’ business, non-Government motion No 8, motion re lob- bying, to be taken at 230 pm and to conclude no later than 430 pm; and No 3, Housing (Amendment) Bill 2013 - Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 430 pm and to conclude no later than 445 pm I am only allowing 15 minutes as this Bill collapsed on Second Stage and no amendments have been tabled However, if more time is necessary, I will allow it and the other items will follow The rest of the Order of Business is No 4, Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013 - Report Stage, to be taken at 445 pm and to conclude no later than 530 pm, if not previously concluded; No 5, Courts Bill 2013 - Committee Stage, to be taken at 530 pm and to adjourn no later than 8 pm, if not previously concluded; and No 6, Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013 - Report Stage, to be taken at 8 pm and to conclude no later than 10 pm, if not previously concluded 26/06/2013B00300Senator Darragh O’Brien: It is interesting to note that five Bills have been tabled for today, one of which relates to the abolition of the Seanad In the House, the Taoiseach will propose the Seanad’s abolition without having anything to replace it Most of us would con- demn the fact that the Government guillotined this Bill in the Dáil last night, allowing only 40 minutes for Committee Stage The idea that the Bill forms part of a reform programme is a nonsense and a farce I will tell the Taoiseach directly today - out of 93 Bills in Dáil Éireann, 55 have been guillotined, the last of which was last night The Seanad is an important plank of the Oireachtas I am glad that the Taoiseach will attend the House today, but it will only be the second time in two and a half years 26/06/2013B00400Senator Sean D. Barrett: Shame 26/06/2013B00500Senator Darragh O’Brien: This shows the esteem in which he holds Bunreacht na hÉire- ann and the Oireachtas, but that is a matter for another day Rather, it is for later today I am looking forward to it, as I am sure are most of my colleagues on both sides of the House Tomorrow, the new code of conduct on mortgage arrears will be published Will the Leader allow time next week? The schedule in this apparently useless House will be busy next week due to our consideration of legislation, but it is important that we be afforded an opportunity to examine the detail of the new code of conduct I have not had sight of it, but I hope that it will deal with the real victims, as the Taoiseach terms them, of the economic crisis Can we set aside time before the end of this session for a reasoned debate and to feed into the code? It is an important step for the thousands of people who are in mortgage arrears Some 95,550 principal private residences are in arrears, an increase from 92,000 last December The crisis is getting worse Will the Leader bring to the attention of the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, the fact that I welcomed yesterday the reversal of the cut to resource teaching and hours? The Minister was right to recognise that he had made a mistake and to overturn his decision 292 26 June 2013 However, this is not to forget about the 22,000 children who require special needs assistants, an increase from 20,000 last year However, the same amount of resources are being provided this year This amounts to a 10% cut in any language Will the Leader relay to the Minister our displeasure with this situation and ask him to revert to the Cabinet to reverse that cut as well? 26/06/2013B00600Senator Ivana Bacik: To return to a theme that dominated yesterday’s Order of Business, namely, the revelations about Anglo Irish Bank, the debate has moved on nationally and now relates to the sort of inquiry that should be held into the collapse of the banks and the circum- stances surrounding the September 2008 bank guarantee I reiterate the point that I made yes- terday - for most people and all Senators, the key concern is that we see an expedited criminal investigation, particularly upon listening to the tapes as they become available I welcome the imminent announcement of the redress scheme for the survivors of the Mag- dalen institutions, which I understand the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, is to announce later today on foot of Mr Justice John Quirke’s report However, there has been a further development in the form of the Irish Human Rights Commission’s publication this month of its follow-on report into the Magdalen laundries It is worthwhile reading as a follow- on from former Senator McAleese’s report Unlike his report, the commission’s focus is on the breaches of human rights standards that prevailed in the Magdalen institutions as regards the women and girls incarcerated therein The commission’s report is a timely publication, as it coincides with the welcome redress scheme I urge members to read the report The constitutional convention is due to report its recommendations on marriage equality to the Government By an overwhelming majority, the convention voted in favour of marriage equality Once the Government makes a response to the report, I hope that this House will be able to debate it