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Dáil Éireann Vol. 806 Thursday, No. 3 13 June 2013 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DÁIL ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Insert Date Here 13/06/2013A00100Leaders’ Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 911 13/06/2013D00900Order of Business � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 918 13/06/2013E02200Debt Collectors Bill 2013: First Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 920 13/06/2013E03000Planning and Development (Amendment) Regulations 2013: Motion � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 921 13/06/2013E03300Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions: Motion � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 921 13/06/2013E03600Topical Issue Matters � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 922 13/06/2013E03800Central Bank (Supervision and Enforcement) Bill 2011: Order for Report Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 923 13/06/2013E04100Central Bank (Supervision and Enforcement) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 923 13/06/2013P02600Business of Dáil � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 956 13/06/2013Q00100Topical Issue Debate � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 956 13/06/2013Q00188Sale of Strategic Energy Assets � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 956 13/06/2013R00400Local Authority Charges Review� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 959 13/06/2013T00550Nursing Home Services� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 962 13/06/2013U00400Mental Health Services Provision � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 964 13/06/2013W00200Estimates for Public Services 2013: Message from Select Committee � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 967 13/06/2013W00400Ceisteanna - Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 968 13/06/2013W00500Priority Questions� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 968 13/06/2013W00550Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Issues � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 968 13/06/2013Y00350Magdalen Laundries Issues � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 974 13/06/2013Z00050Judicial Appointments � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 976 13/06/2013Z03700Other Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 979 13/06/2013Z03750Garda Deployment � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 979 13/06/2013Z04450Garda Overtime � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 980 13/06/2013AA03250Magdalen Laundries Issues � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 982 13/06/2013BB02600Penalty Points System � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 986 13/06/2013CC00250Domestic Violence Policy� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 988 13/06/2013CC01000An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Ordú don Dara Céim � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 989 13/06/2013CC01100Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Order for Second Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 990 13/06/2013CC02400An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann), 2013: An Dara Céim� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 991 13/06/2013CC02500Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Second Stage � � � � 991 DÁIL ÉIREANN Déardaoin, 13 Meitheamh 2013 Thursday, 13 June 2013 Chuaigh an Ceann Comhairle i gceannas ar 10�30 a�m� Paidir. Prayer. 13/06/2013A00100Leaders’ Questions 13/06/2013A00200Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív: I express our deepest sympathy to the families of Paul, Kenny and Shane Bolger who tragically lost their lives off the Tramore coast� I am sure everybody in the House shares these sentiments� Our thoughts are with their families at this very sad time� It is reported today that the Government will appoint Judge Elizabeth Dunne to chair the new Referendum Commission in respect of the abolition of the Seanad� This announcement has been made even before the legislation has been passed by the Oireachtas - the Legislature - or before we know the date of the referendum� It seems like the Taoiseach is on a solo run with this initiative� It is fair to say the Labour Party is less than enthusiastic about it� The party Whip, Deputy Emmet Stagg, said the only commitment the Labour Party had given was to hold a referendum to scrap the Seanad� He said “that doesn’t tie any Labour person to campaign- ing for that�” He then said, “I think the Seanad should be retained�” Deputy Joanna Tuffy has described it as a power grab, while Deputy Michael McCarthy is determined to campaign for a reformed Seanad and is against its abolition� Senator John Whelan will vigorously campaign for the reform and retention of the Seanad� Interestingly, according to Senator John Kelly, the Tánaiste has said the Labour Party can canvass for the retention of the Seanad� It is fair to say the Labour Party’s heart is not in the referendum and that it is a sop to the personal commitment given by the Taoiseach at a dinner in 2009� It is the ultimate power grab� Will the Tánaiste confirm whether he has told members of his party that they can canvass for the retention of the Seanad? If so, is the Government going ahead with the referendum and is it doing so purely because of a personal commitment given by the Taoiseach? Will the Tánaiste confirm when the referendum will be held? I understand a date in early October has been mooted, but I am sure the Tánaiste will be able to inform the House today about when the Government intends to hold the referendum� 13/06/2013A00300The Tánaiste: I join the Deputy in expressing my sympathy and that of the Government to the families and friends of Paul, Kenny and Shane Bolger, the three brothers from Passage East, County Waterford who lost their lives so tragically in a fishing trip off the south-east coast. 911 Dáil Éireann We all share the sense of loss felt by their families, friends, the local community and the entire fishing and maritime community in the country who have always had a great sense of solidarity and grief on occasions such as this� Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív will recall that referendum commissions have expressed the view on a number of occasions that they would like to have more time to prepare for referendums� That is the reason the Government has decided at this early stage to appoint Judge Elizabeth Dunne to chair the Referendum Commission� I am interested to hear the Deputy speak on this subject because he has a bit of form on it� I recall that he announced publicly that he had voted against the Lisbon treaty in the first referendum on it. He was then prevailed upon by his Government colleagues to come round on the second occasion; therefore, he knows a bit about the complexi- ties of a referendum campaign� The proposal to abolish the Seanad is a Government proposal in the programme for Govern- ment� The abolition of the Seanad was part of the election manifestos of the two Government parties prior to the last general election and the intention is to proceed with it� The legislation to give effect to the proposal is before the Dáil and the debate on it will commence shortly� There will be plenty of opportunities to debate it in both the Dáil and the Seanad� Both Government parties will support the proposal in the Dáil and the Seanad and will make the case for it in the event of the Dáil and the Seanad adopting the legislation and proceeding with the referendum� The Labour Party published a document prior to the last general election which set out the rationale for why a small state such as Ireland should have one parliamentary body� The case being made is that a state with 4�6 million people should have one parliamentary body, which should be the Dáil� The Dáil should have its powers
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