Dáil Éireann

Vol. 766 Wednesday, No. 2 23 May 2012 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DÁIL ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Dé Céadaoin, 23 Bealtaine 2012. Leaders’ Questions An Taoiseach ……………………………… 385 Order of Business ……………………………… 396 Tribunal of Inquiry: Motion …………………………… 401 Topical Issue Matters ……………………………… 403 Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Order for Report Stage …………………………… 404 Report and Final Stages …………………………… 405 Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second Stage (resumed) 407 Ceisteanna — Questions Minister for Finance Priority Questions …………………………… 423 Other Questions …………………………… 432 Estimates for Public Services 2012: Messages from Select Committees …………… 444 Topical Issue Debate Services for People with Disabilities ……………………… 444 Tax Collection ……………………………… 448 Northern Ireland Issues …………………………… 451 Schools Building Projects …………………………… 454 Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second Stage (resumed)……………………………457 Referral to Select Committee ………………………… 477 Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012: Order for Second Stage …………………………… 477 Second Stage ……………………………… 477 Estimates for Public Services 2012: Message from Select Committee …………… 491 Private Members’ Business National Monuments: Motion (resumed)………………………491 Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012: Second Stage (resumed)…………513 Questions: Written Answers …………………………… 523 DÁIL ÉIREANN ———— Dé Céadaoin, 23 Bealtaine 2012. Wednesday, 23 May 2012. ———— Chuaigh an Ceann Comhairle i gceannas ar 10.30 a.m. ———— Paidir. Prayer. ———— Leaders’ Questions Deputy Micheál Martin: The Taoiseach will attend the informal summit of leaders from across Europe later today, at which it is imperative radical action is taken to restore confidence and growth across Europe. The situation today is graver than it has been at any time during the past three years. There is no more room for manoeuvre and delay. It is essential that Europe takes critical steps on three basic issues, namely, the sovereign debt crisis, which must be tackled by the establishment of a more secure and larger facility for the purchase of Govern- ment bonds; the financial crisis, by ensuring that banks are capitalised to a level which ensures their long term survival is unquestioned across Europe, including dealing with Irish bank and mortgage debt; and, the jobs crisis, by utilising the eurozone’s enormous resources to deliver immediate job creating investment. Minimalist approaches are no longer acceptable. People in Ireland should and must vote “Yes” in the upcoming referendum because this will give us the most secure and cheapest access to the funding we need to retain public services and pay pensions in the years ahead. Europe is on a precipice and we must do nothing here to push it over the edge. It is in that context that I believe we should take the debate to the people. Political leaders should be willing to engage in a national debate with those advocating a “Yes” vote and those advocating a “No” vote. Many voters remain undecided. Some polls suggest up to 30% of people are undecided. I believe a leaders’ debate should be facilitated. We live in a democracy. I understand that invitations for such a debate have issued from RTE, the public service broad- caster which has a particular responsibility in this regard. TV3 attempted to organise a leaders’ debate but leaders, with the exception of Deputy Joe Higgins and I, declined to participate. People expect leaders to engage. Will the Taoiseach confirm if, as indicated by a spokesperson yesterday, he has been invited by RTE to participate in a debate and what are his intentions in that regard? Deputy Joe Higgins: The Taoiseach should escape from his handlers for once. Deputy Patrick O’Donovan: Deputy Higgins is doing a bit of handling these days himself. The Taoiseach: I will deal any time with Deputy Higgins. An Ceann Comhairle: This is Leaders’ Questions. Please allow the Taoiseach to respond to Deputy Martin’s question. 385 Leaders’ 23 May 2012. Questions The Taoiseach: I thank Deputy Martin for his public support, and that of his party, for a “Yes” vote on the referendum on the fiscal stability treaty. It is important there is no equivo- cation about this. It is of particular and fundamental concern for the future of our people and country. This evening’s informal meeting of European leaders is, I am glad to say, the realisation of the claims by quite a number of leaders for some time that Europe should focus on growth investment and job opportunities. It is important to note that this is a meeting of 27 leaders rather than of 25 leaders because growth affects all European Union countries. The opportunity and potential exists for the European Union to be the engine of trade in a global sense, to reduce the cost of business and to complete the Single Market. It also has potential in the digital area and to deal with the crisis issues in the eurozone in the context of the discussions on project bonds, eurobonds and other facilities to relieve pressure on sovereign Governments and to look at the broader spectrum of EU-US and EU-China trade relations. I expect leaders of the 27 countries will contribute to this evening’s meeting on the growth agenda for the future. I am happy to participate in that debate from a national and European perspective. I have no difficulty discussing the fiscal stability treaty. However, I turned down the invitation to appear on a particular programme for good reasons. RTE has invited me, as Taoiseach, to do a broadcast on Sunday following the Ard-Fheis contribution of the leader of Sinn Fein, Deputy Gerry Adams. However, I believe that to be predicated on how much time Deputy Adams devotes to the fiscal stability treaty issue on Saturday evening. A Deputy: Deputy Adams will have to read the treaty now. Deputy Brendan Howlin: His contribution will be brief. (Interruptions). The Taoiseach: I am glad Deputy Martin raised the matter. Were I to cave in to the pressure that has been around for some days I would be elevating Deputy Adams to the position of Leader of the Opposition—— Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: The Taoiseach has called him that at least ten times. He started this. The Taoiseach: ——which he is not. I have yet to hear Deputy Adams, as the leader of a political party, say he accepts the validity of the Irish Constitution, Bunreacht na hÉireann. I am a little sceptical about much of what I hear from that side of the House. We will consider these matters. Deputy Micheál Martin: I am unclear as to the Taoiseach’s response to my question. Deputy Finian McGrath: The Taoiseach is like Jedward. Deputy Micheál Martin: I accept that today’s meeting is extremely important. However, the debate here is equally important. I read in The Irish Times this morning that the Taoiseach’s spokesman confirmed last night that the Taoiseach had received a request from RTE to participate in a leaders’ debate. Deputy Brendan Howlin: It must be true so. Deputy Micheál Martin: The spokesman said the Taoiseach had received numerous requests. I asked the Taoiseach if he would confirm that he had received a request from RTE to partici- 386 Leaders’ 23 May 2012. Questions pate in a debate. Fianna Fáil has inquired of RTE if there is to be a debate but has received no response in that regard. It is a fair question. I am not getting involved in any issue between the Taoiseach and Sinn Féin. Sinn Féin is holding its Ard-Fheis this weekend—— Deputy Emmet Stagg: Ammunition for Fianna Fáil. Deputy Micheál Martin: ——which I believe is the context of the invitation to the Taoiseach to do a broadcast. It is an unusual set of circumstances because normally political parties holding ard-fheiseanna are informed by RTE that if an Ard-Fheis takes place six weeks in advance of any general election there will be no coverage of it. An Ceann Comhairle: Can we have a supplementary question, please? Deputy Micheál Martin: That would normally be the case but this is a change of tack in regard to how Sinn Féin is being treated. The Taoiseach has been invited but that is not really my point. That is for another day and other parties will also have issues about it in the fullness of time. Deputy Emmet Stagg: Do you have an issue? An Ceann Comhairle: Thank you, you are over time. Deputy Micheál Martin: What I am trying to get at here is the need for a genuine political debate between the political leaders on both sides who are advocating positions on the treaty. It is the fairest way to resolve any claims or counter-claims about lack of balance in how particular parties are treated or in terms of the campaign. More important, we should have the confidence in our position to be able to go on national television and debate the issues. People do not understand a reluctance to become involved. An Ceann Comhairle: Deputy, you are considerably over time. Do you have your supplementary question? Deputy Finian McGrath: What about the Independents? Deputy Micheál Martin: Will the Taoiseach confirm that RTE has invited him to participate in a debate, as his spokesman stated last night? The Taoiseach: We need to reflect on this in the House in a general sense. Leaving the referendum and the treaty question aside for the moment, we need to look at what is happening in regard to referenda in general. Referenda are matters for the people to make decisions on; they are not about giving profiles to individual politicians. Irrespective of the public response in its votes for the different parties, that situation is never reflected in the case of a referendum. I have been through perhaps 22 of the Twenty-six Counties debating this publicly, in village halls, town halls and on the streets—— Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett: Not debating.

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