Vol. 625 Thursday, No. 3 12 October 2006 DI´OSPO´ IREACHTAI´ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DA´ IL E´ IREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIU´ IL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Thursday, 12 October 2006. Requests to Move Adjournment of Da´il under Standing Order 31 ……………… 737 Order of Business ……………………………… 738 Investment Funds, Companies and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage … … 751 Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: First Stage ……………… 757 Investment Funds, Companies and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (resumed) …………………………… 758 Referral to Select Committee ………………………… 803 Ceisteanna — Questions Minister for Defence Priority Questions …………………………… 804 Other Questions …………………………… 815 Adjournment Debate Matters …………………………… 830 Adjournment Debate Prison Accommodation …………………………… 831 Traffic Management …………………………… 834 Services for People with Disabilities ……………………… 836 Planning Issues ……………………………… 839 Questions: Written Answers …………………………… 845 737 738 DA´ IL E´ IREANN including gardaı´ from Mayo, are required else- where, such as in Moyross. ———— An Ceann Comhairle: Having considered the De´ardaoin, 12 Deireadh Fo´mhair 2006. matters raised, they are not in order under Stand- Thursday, 12 October 2006. ing Order 31. ———— Order of Business. Minister for Finance (Mr. Cowen): It is pro- Chuaigh an Ceann Comhairle i gceannas ar posed to take No. 1, Investment Funds, Compan- 10.30 a.m. ies and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2006 [Seanad] — Second Stage. ———— An Ceann Comhairle: There are no proposals Paidir. for the House on the Order of Business. Prayer. Mr. Kenny: I ask the Government Whip to ———— explain why the Da´il was shut down yesterday for an extended period. A total of 16 Bills are due to Requests to move Adjournment of Da´il under go through the House. For example, the Health Standing Order 31. Bill was promised on three separate occasions last An Ceann Comhairle: Before coming to the year. The Da´il returned from its 82 day summer Order of Business, I propose to deal with a break only for Members to find that it closed number of notices under Standing Order 31. down for a period yesterday. Mr. Connolly: I seek the adjournment of the Mr. F. McGrath: It was for the match. Da´il under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the situation in Mr. Kenny: Has the Government run out of which 18% of all trolley-bound patients in Ireland business or did not foresee a situation in which are located in two hospitals in the north-east time would be available? Given all the requests region, that is, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, made by Members from all sides to discuss var- Drogheda, with 10% of the national total of ious matters—— patients and Cavan General Hospital with 8%, which is a regular feature of the region; and call Mr. O’Donovan: Deputy Kenny wastes for the opening of the new six -bay treatment enough time. room at Monaghan General Hospital on a seven Mr. Kenny: ——the House deserves an expla- day, 24-hour basis, particularly as staffing com- nation from the Government Whip in this regard. plements have been agreed and its operation will I ask the Minister when Members can expect be cost-neutral. the new ethics Bill to be brought before the Ms C. Murphy: I seek the adjournment of the House. Given the close and warm relationship Da´il under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter between the Taoiseach and Ta´naiste, they have of national and local importance, namely, the now arranged that—— imminent opening of the Dublin Port tunnel and An Ceann Comhairle: The Deputy should con- the redirection of heavy goods vehicles to the fine himself to the legislation. We cannot discuss M50, which, without lifting the tolls at West Link, its possible contents or what the Deputy would will cause complete mayhem on both the M50 like it to include. and the national primary roads that feed on to it. This matter now requires urgent attention as we Mr. Kenny: —— anyone who has any doubts are only weeks away from a predictable crisis. should go to the Standards in Public Office Com- mission. When will the—— Dr. Cowley: I seek the adjournment of the Da´il under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of An Ceann Comhairle: On the legislation. national importance, namely, the reason tax- \ payers should be obliged to pay 675,639 for ten Mr. Kenny: ——new Progressive Democrats days of Garda overtime, not including Garda sal- amendment to the laws of conscience be brought ary costs, to pay for the cost of hundreds of gardaı´ before the House? to quash a peaceful protest against the building of the Corrib gas refinery that will be of little use An Ceann Comhairle: I call the Minister. to the people of County Mayo or Ireland and which Shell is able to pay, given its profits of $3 Mr. Kenny: When will Members see it, in case million per hour; and that the 114 gardaı´ people get ideas about themselves? deployed from divisions outside Mayo were badly needed elsewhere and the 69 who remain, not Mr. J. Brady: A special Mullingar accord. 739 Order of 12 October 2006. Business 740 Mr. Rabbitte: Invective from Deputy Johnny have any legislation to propose, why does it not Brady. make provision for a discussion on one of the three Morris reports? Would it not be possible to An Ceann Comhairle: I call the Minister. provide for a discussion on the botched privatis- ation of Aer Lingus? Mr. Durkan: Hail to Deputy Johnny Brady. Deputies: Hear, hear. An Ceann Comhairle: Allow the Minister to reply. Mr. Rabbitte: Why can the House not discuss the Barr report on Abbeylara, or the conclusions Mr. Cowen: As for the debate yesterday, I of the investigation on the Dean Lyons case? understand—— Why was no thought given to avoiding yester- day’s situation, when the House was meeting but Mr. Kenny: People were talking about Deputy had no business to conduct? The Minister for Johnny Brady in Oldcastle last night to Deputy Justice, Equality and Law Reform spoke last English. week about the new laws which were proposed to Mr. J. Brady: I have a farm there. allow the Government to shut down tribunals. It was reported that Government sources had made Mr. Cowen: I understand that no guillotine it clear that the Minister, Deputy McDowell, had motion was in force yesterday in the House. indicated the legislation was a priority for the Although Members had an opportunity to speak Department of Justice, Equality and Law on the agreed issues, the Opposition did not Reform. If it was a priority for the Department, appear to have much to say about it. why did it fall off the schedule yesterday and today? It is not on the schedule for next week, (Interruptions). although some other major business is planned that should last approximately half a day in each Mr. Durkan: The Government should arrange case. I understand the House will debate the the business of the House. Nuclear Test Ban Bill 2006, which decrees that “a person who carries out, or causes the carrying out An Ceann Comhairle: The Minister, without of, a nuclear explosion in the State shall be guilty interruption please. of an offence”. Mr. Kenny: The Minister gave the longest An Ceann Comhairle: We cannot discuss next answer himself. week’s business now. Mr. Cowen: It is not my problem if the Oppo- Mr. Howlin: We had better get back on our sition is unable to get anyone into the House to motorbikes quick. say a few words. An Ceann Comhairle: Deputy Rabbitte has Mr. Ring: The Government muzzled us last made his point. week. Mr. Rabbitte: The new provisions will be Mr. Cowen: As for the legislation, it will be immensely reassuring to the public. Should we prepared as quickly as possible and will be presume it was not an offence up to now? brought before the Government for its approval. At present, the advice of the Attorney General An Ceann Comhairle: Deputy Rabbitte, you is being sought by my Department. Hence, the Government will move on this matter quickly. have made your point. Mr. Rabbitte: That was an extraordinary Mr. Brennan: It is important to clear it up. response from the Minister for Finance. The House collapsed last Thursday at 2.35 p.m. and Mr. Rabbitte: In certain cases, the District was not reconvened until 3.30 p.m. because of a Court may try the person charged with that lack of business. The House collapsed yesterday offence summarily. evening at 5.15 p.m. and could not reconvene until 7 p.m. Today, the House has a single An Ceann Comhairle: You have made your measure before it that probably will not occupy point. it beyond lunchtime. The pretence that the Oppo- sition orders the business of the House is com- Mr. Rabbitte: A Cheann Comhairle, one has to pletely transparent. The reason there is no legis- fill the time with something. lation, of course, is that the Government has been so preoccupied since the return of the Da´il with An Ceann Comhairle: It is not in order this saving its own skin that there is no legislation to morning, Deputy. The Chair has given you plenty put to the House. If the Government does not of latitude. 741 Order of 12 October 2006. Business 742 Mr. Rabbitte: What is going on over there? It in some of today’s business. That is a decision for is usual for a new Government with new and that party. That Bill needs to be dealt with. It is reforming legislative ideas to take some time at an old legacy from the rainbow Administration.