Vol. 630 Thursday, No. 4 1 February 2007 DI´OSPO´ IREACHTAI´ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DA´ IL E´ IREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIU´ IL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Thursday, 1 February 2007. Requests to Move Adjournment of Da´il under Standing Order 31 ………………1209 Order of Business ………………………………1212 Private Members’ Business Cancer Services: Motion (resumed) ………………………1225 Prisons Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage ………………………1254 Ceisteanna — Questions Minister for Defence Priority Questions ……………………………1295 Other Questions ……………………………1307 Adjournment Debate Matters ……………………………1321 Adjournment Debate Stardust Disaster ………………………………1323 Schools Building Projects ……………………………1326 Animal Welfare ………………………………1327 School Accommodation ……………………………1329 Questions: Written Answers ……………………………1333 1209 1210 DA´ IL E´ IREANN Dr. Cowley: The Government is bending over backwards to assist Shell in its exploitation of our ———— natural resources while patients cannot access hospital beds. De´ardaoin, 1 Feabhra 2007. Thursday, 1 February 2007. Mr. Durkan: Hear, hear. ———— Mr. J. O’Keeffe: The Government should be ashamed of itself. Chuaigh an Ceann Comhairle i gceannas ar 10.30 a.m. Mr. N. Dempsey: We are trying to ensure people can go to work in safety. ———— Mr. J. Higgins: I seek the adjournment of the Paidir. Da´il under Standing Order 31 to enable the Mini- Prayer. ster for Education and Science to make a state- ment on the severe difficulties experienced by ———— students nationwide in registering for third level education with the Central Applications Office. I Requests to Move Adjournment of Da´il under call on the CAO to extend its applications dead- Standing Order 31. line by one week to facilitate students who have had difficulties registering on-line due to capacity An Ceann Comhairle: Before coming to the limitations in its computer system and to ease the Order of Business, I propose to deal with a great stress on students, teachers and families. number of notices under Standing Order 31. Deputies: Hear, hear. Mr. Healy-Rae: I seek the adjournment of the Da´il under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter Mr. Healy: I seek the adjournment of the Da´il of national importance, namely, the closure of the under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter requir- post office on Park Road in Killarney, County ing urgent attention, namely, the need for the Kerry, one of the busiest post offices in the south Minister for Education and Science to identify west. The closure of this large, vibrant post office, immediately a site for a new school for Gaelscoil because of a lack of Government funding, is Chluain Meala and to initiate the planning and inconveniencing 4,700 people. I call on the Mini- design process without delay to allow for an early ster for Communications, Marine and Natural commencement of construction. Gaelscoil Resources to intervene and prevent this closure. Chluain Meala has been located in substandard I also call on the Minister for Arts, Sport and accommodation for the past 13 years and there Tourism, who is a local man, to wake up to the are serious health and safety risks for pupils and situation. There will be nobody welcoming him staff, all of whom are frustrated by the inaction on the Park Road in Killarney this morning. of the Minister and her Department. Deputies: Hear, hear. Mr. F. McGrath: Hear, hear. Mr. Rabbitte: Will the Ceann Comhairle accept Aengus O´ Snodaigh: I seek the adjournment of this issue under Standing Order 31? the Da´il under Standing Order 31 to discuss the urgent need for the Government to recognise and Mr. Durkan: It surely constitutes grounds for respond to the devastating effect of the illicit drug the adjournment of the Da´il. trade on local communities by mobilising all the resources of the State to tackle the growing sup- Dr. Cowley: I seek the adjournment of the Da´il ply of illicit drugs across Dublin. This increasing under Standing Order 31 to discuss a matter of availability is evidenced by recent welcome seiz- major national and local importance, namely, the ures, including that of ecstasy valued at \1.8 mil- question of how the Government can justify the lion in Clondalkin last night, the large seizures of policing operation at the Corrib gas refinery pro- heroin and cocaine in Ballyfermot and the can- ject in Ballinaboy, County Mayo, which cost the nabis resin haul in Loughlinstown last month. taxpayer \3.14 million from 3 October 2006 to 25 The Government must adequately fund and January 2007. Shell, meanwhile, is today expected resource drug treatment services to deal with to announce record profits of just less than \1.5 multiple drug use. million an hour. The Government is facilitating the exploitation of our natural resources for Mr. Crawford: I seek the adjournment of the which we are receiving no recompense. Da´il under Standing Order 31 to debate an urgent matter of local and national importance, namely, An Ceann Comhairle: It is not appropriate to the failure of the Ta´naiste and Minister for go beyond the notice submitted to the Office of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to provide the Ceann Comhairle. long-term funding for the National Domestic 1211 Order of 1 February 2007. Business 1212 [Mr. Crawford.] urgently need expanded bus services. The prac- Violence Intervention Agency, NDVIA, and, in tices of the Department of Transport must be turn, relieve the pressure on local groups provid- changed to fix this position. ing services for victims of domestic violence, including those in counties Cavan and Monaghan. An Ceann Comhairle: Having considered the Does the Minister accept that domestic violence matters, they are not in order under Standing is one of the most difficult issues facing women Order 31. and families and that it can also affect men? It is not confined to one class or age group and cannot Order of Business. be ignored. The Ta´naiste: It is proposed to take No. 2, the Prisons Bill 2006 [Seanad] — Second Stage. It is Mr. Ferris: I seek the adjournment of the Da´il proposed, not withstanding anything in Standing under Standing Order 31 to discuss the lack of Orders, that parliamentary questions for answer services for children with autism in the Kerry area next week on EU matters shall be taken on the and the failure of the Government to provide the same day as statements on the EU Council Meet- necessary resources to ensure that children who ing in Brussels scheduled to be taken on are diagnosed with this condition are provided Wednesday, 7 February 2007 and to be moved to with the necessary facilities, teaching assistance be taken first as ordinary oral questions to the and home tuition to ensure they are given the Taoiseach on that day. Private Members’ business best opportunity to develop. shall be No. 67, motion re cancer services, resumed, to be taken immediately after the Order Ms Harkin: I seek the adjournment of the Da´il of Business and to conclude after 90 minutes. under Standing Order 31 to discuss a matter of national importance, namely, the latest attempt An Ceann Comhairle: There is one proposal to by Commissioner Mandelson to sacrifice Irish put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with and European agriculture in an attempt to reach parliamentary questions for answer next week on WTO agreement. The Commissioner admitted he EU matters agreed? Agreed. is prepared to show further flexibility in nego- tiations, which means he will seek advantage for Mr. Kenny: I understand we are to discuss the exports of industrial goods while opening up the Moriarty tribunal in the House on 15 February floodgates for food imports that are not com- by way of statements only. Can I have an assur- pliant with EU standards into the EU and ance from the Ta´naiste that adequate time will Ireland. be given for questions and answers at the end of that period? Mr. Broughan: I seek the adjournment of the What is the Government’s response in respect Da´il under Standing Order 31 to discuss the fol- of the risk equalisation legislation? Is it necessary lowing specific and important matter of public to amend it in view of the welcome announce- interest, namely, if the Ta´naiste and Minister for ment yesterday of the safeguarding of jobs in Fer- Justice, Equality and Law Reform will respond moy? Is it the view of the Ta´naiste and the urgently to the memorandum submitted by the Government that the new company will have to Stardust Victims and Relatives Committee almost pay risk equalisation? two and a half months ago requesting the urgent establishment of a new commission of inquiry An Ceann Comhairle: That would be a matter into the Stardust disaster in which 48 young for the line Minister. Is legislation promised? people tragically lost their lives and in the light of the now almost 26 year struggle of the Stardust Mr. Kenny: I asked if it is necessary to amend Relatives and Victims Committee for justice and the legislation. closure. As someone who believes in inequality in Irish society, the Ta´naiste has allowed the National Ms C. Murphy: I seek the adjournment of the Domestic Violence Intervention Agency to close Da´il under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter down on a day that the Committee of Public of national and local importance, namely, the Accounts found the Government collectively need for the restrictive practices employed by the responsible for the wastage—— Department of Transport to be eased in light of the fact that Dublin Bus has been forced to post- An Ceann Comhairle: Does the Deputy have a pone the use of 15 new buses purchased to serve question on legislation? the towns of Leixlip, Celbridge, Maynooth and Kilcock.