Vol. 587 Tuesday, No. 2 15 June 2004 DI´OSPO´ IREACHTAI´ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DA´ IL E´ IREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIU´ IL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Tuesday, 15 June 2004. Ceisteanna—Questions Taoiseach ………………………………… 229 Minister for Social and Family Affairs Priority Questions …………………………… 243 Other Questions …………………………… 256 Adjournment Debate Matters …………………………… 265 Leaders’ Questions ……………………………… 266 Requests to move Adjournment of Da´il under Standing Order 31 ……………… 274 Order of Business ……………………………… 275 Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions: Motion ………………… 282 Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Second Stage …………… 282 Private Members’ Business Garda Sı´ocha´na Report: Motion ………………………… 310 Adjournment Debate Hospital Services ……………………………… 338 Community Support Services ………………………… 340 Accident and Emergency Services ……………………… 343 Rural Transport Services …………………………… 346 Questions: Written Answers …………………………… 349 229 230 DA´ IL E´ IREANN The Taoiseach: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 7, inclusive, together. ———— My Department has responsibility for overall co-ordination and promotion of the modernis- De´ Ma´irt, 15 Meitheamh 2004. ation programme for the Civil Service through Tuesday, 15 June 2004. the implementation group of Secretaries General which is chaired by the Secretary General of my ———— Department. A number of sub-groups oversee progress in the different strands of the modernis- Chuaigh an Ceann Comhairle i gceannas ar ation programme and these initiatives are taken 2.30 p.m. forward in close collaboration between my Department and the Department of Finance. ———— I am pleased to note that significant progress continues to be recorded with the modernisation Paidir. programme and, in particular, with the commit- Prayer. ments to modernisation included in Sustaining Progress. A progress report on implementation of ———— the these commitments across the Civil Service was submitted to the Civil Service performance Ceisteanna — Questions. verification group prior to the pay increases granted last January and this report has been ———— published on the Department of Finance website. A further progress report will be considered by Public Service Modernisation. the PVG in advance of the payment due on 1 July next and it is also intended to publish this. These 1. Mr. Kenny asked the Taoiseach if he will reports record progress across a wide range of report on recent progress on the implementation areas including, for example, more use of com- of the recommendations of the OECD report on petitive promotions and greater open recruitment regulatory reform; and if he will make a state- of staff, development of new financial infor- ment on the matter. [15401/04] mation systems and a recent evaluation of the 2. Mr. Kenny asked the Taoiseach the progress performance management and development sys- made by the quality customer service working tem in the Civil Service. group within his Department established under The quality customer service initiative is the strategic management initiative; and if he will another aspect of the modernisation programme make a statement on the matter. [15406/04] and good progress in this area continues to be made under the guidance of the working group 3. Mr. Kenny asked the Taoiseach if he will chaired by Mr. Frank Daly, chairman of the Rev- report on progress on the implementation of enue Commissioners. The most significant recent those aspects of the strategic management initiat- development has been the customer charter ive which are the responsibility of his Depart- initiative. Following the publication of guidelines ment; and if he will make a statement on the mat- by the working group, many Departments and ter. [15414/04] offices have already published their charters, with 4. Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach the pro- the remainder scheduled to do so within the com- gress made to date with regard to the implemen- ing months. Departments and offices were tation of the OECD report on regulatory reform; required to consult their customers and establish and if he will make a statement on the matter. service standards in their charter based on cus- [16323/04] tomer needs. They will also be required to report on performance against these standards in their 5. Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach the pro- annual report. The working group organised gress to date with regard to those areas of the training and other supports to assist Departments SMI for which his Department is responsible and and offices during the preparation of their char- the quality customer service working group ters and will continue to monitor progress. within his Department established under the Other projects overseen by the working group SMI; and if he will make a statement on the mat- in the recent past include publication of a report ter. [16324/04] on internal customer service in January 2004 and identifying projects from across the public service 6. Caoimhghı´nO´ Caola´in asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his Department’s implemen- that demonstrate innovative approaches to tation of the recommendations of the OECD improving the quality of service and admin- report on regulatory reform; and if he will make istration. These will be show-cased at events in a statement on the matter. [16345/04] Dublin, Limerick and Cork during July. With regard to better regulation, which is also 7. Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach if he will specifically raised by a number of Deputies, con- report on progress in implementing the OECD’s siderable progress has been achieved since the report on regulatory reform; and if he will make publication of the OECD report on regulatory a statement on the matter. [16443/04] reform in Ireland. Many of the recommendations 231 Ceisteanna — 15 June 2004. Questions 232 [The Taoiseach.] After seven years, it appears as if some Depart- related to specific sectoral issues and progress in ments are quite lax in this regard. Does he agree this regard was recorded in a report published by with her comments? the high level group on regulation in January In respect of OECD regulatory reform, an 2003. A central element of the Government’s issue raised on numerous occasions, will the Taoi- response to the OECD report was the formula- seach outline what progress, if any, has been tion of a White Paper on better regulation. As made on removing the barrier of entry into the the Deputy may be aware, I launched the White Irish market facing foreign educated pharma- Paper in January 2004 and copies are available in cists? This is causing a deal of controversy. the Oireachtas Library. Will the Taoiseach comment on a recent report The White Paper sets out six core principles from IBEC which found that in 2004, three years of better regulation and a detailed action plan to after the publication of the OECD report, red translate these principles into how we design, tape is costing Irish business \600 million per implement and review legislation and regulations. year? This backs up earlier claims by ISME, Key actions include introduction of regulatory which stated in its report that the Government is impact analysis, RIA, initially on a pilot basis; seen as a barrier to progress rather than a facilit- new systematic reviews of existing regulations in ator of enterprise. Will the Taoiseach comment key areas; improvements to our approach to sec- on these reports? toral regulation; a renewed drive to tackle red tape; and greater clarity and accessibility of regu- The Taoiseach: With regard to the first issue lation. A new better regulation group is being and the Ta´naiste’s remarks, the OECD report is established to oversee implementation of the being implemented and I have given a detailed actions outlined in the White Paper, and I hope reply on where this is being done. Deregulation it will meet within the coming weeks. and regulation are not always the same issue. Another important action arising from the Regulation results in additional costs for business White Paper is a programme of Statute Law but, in many cases, it is necessary. The OECD, revision to identify legislation in need of repeal, working group and cross-departmental group revision or consolidation. This will ensure the have all pointed in recent years to the areas in Statute Book is up to date and more accessible. which there should be change and others where A key element of this programme is a project to update pre-1922 legislation and, as the first phase, perhaps regulation is strengthened. a consultation process is under way on the list of IBEC and ISME tend to take the view that legislation proposed for repeal. As already stated, regulation is unnecessary. They find everything a another key action in the White Paper is the burden, but it is necessary to have regulation. For development of a system of regulatory impact example, people are calling for more health and analysis as recommended by the OECD. A work- safety regulation and compliance. We are not in ing group of officials has developed an approach a position where we are trying to get rid of all to RIA which would be suitable for the Irish regulation. The Cabinet has just finalised a health legislative and policy making context. It is and safety Bill, which will introduce more regu- intended to pilot this shortly in a number of lation, but it is necessary to do that, while we are Departments. trying to eliminate these issues in other areas. Overall, good progress has been achieved in With regard to pharmacies, the pharmacy implementing the change and modernisation review group was set up following the OECD agenda in the Civil Service. As I have already report on regulatory reform. It was asked to stated, this is extensively documented through the review the 1996 pharmacy regulations and, performance verification process established among other matters, the pharmacy issues raised under the Sustaining Progress agreement.