Vol. 641 Tuesday, No. 3 13 November 2007 DI´OSPO´ IREACHTAI´ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DA´ IL E´ IREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIU´ IL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Tuesday, 13 November 2007. Ceisteanna—Questions Taoiseach ………………………………… 593 Minister for Education and Science Priority Questions …………………………… 607 Other Questions …………………………… 621 Adjournment Debate Matters …………………………… 630 Leaders’ Questions ……………………………… 632 Requests to move Adjournment of Da´il under Standing Order 32 ……………… 639 Order of Business ……………………………… 641 Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Referral to Select Committee ………… 648 Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Referral to Select Committee … … … 648 Nuclear Test Ban Bill 2006: Referral to Select Committee ………………… 648 Control of Exports Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Referral to Select Committee …………… 649 Passports Bill 2007: Referral to Select Committee …………………… 649 Local Government (Roads Functions) Bill 2007: Order for Second Stage …………………………… 649 Second Stage ……………………………… 650 Private Members’ Business Child Care: Motion …………………………… 679 Adjournment Debate Child Care Services …………………………… 709 Job Creation ……………………………… 712 Schools Building Projects …………………………… 715 Electricity Generation …………………………… 717 Questions: Written Answers …………………………… 721 593 594 DA´ IL E´ IREANN tacts with the parties to the Towards 2016 agree- ment; and if he will make a statement on the ———— matter. [25357/07] De´ Ma´irt, 13 Samhain 2007. 8. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Taoiseach Tuesday, 13 November 2007. if he will support the application by the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association to be ———— included in social partnership in view of the fact that small businesses are not properly rep- Chuaigh an Ceann Comhairle i gceannas ar resented; and if he will make a statement on the 2.30 p.m. matter. [25671/07] ———— 9. Deputy Enda Kenny asked the Taoiseach if Paidir. he will report on the implementation of the Prayer. national reform programme under the Lisbon Agenda; and if he will make a statement on the ———— matter. [28240/07] Ceisteanna — Questions. The Taoiseach: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 9, inclusive, together. ———— Since the inaugural plenary meeting on 15 February 2007, several meetings have taken place Social Partnership. with the social partners in relation to the imple- mentation of Towards 2016. I attended and 1. Deputy Enda Kenny asked the Taoiseach if addressed the ICTU biennial conference on 4 he will report on his attendance at the biennial July at which I emphasised the basis for confi- conference of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions dence in Ireland’s economic outlook while, at the on 4 July 2007; and if he will make a statement same time, warning against complacency. on the matter. [19708/07] Regarding the basis for confidence, I referred in particular to the ESRI’s report on the social 2. Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Taoiseach impact of our economic development. It con- if he has received a letter from the general sec- cluded, among other findings, that living stan- retary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions dards have risen for almost everyone, the fall in seeking significant increases in mortgage interest unemployment, in particular long-term unem- relief to offset the continuing high level of ployment, has made a decisive impact on social inflation; his response to the letter; and if he will exclusion, people are now more likely to work make a statement on the matter. [19887/07] in a better job than their parents and levels of deprivation have significantly declined for all 3. Deputy CaoimhghınO´ Caolain asked the ´ ´ social groups. Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at These achievements, and others like them, are the ICTU conference in July 2007; and if he will not accidental, they are the outcome of good make a statement on the matter. [25354/07] government and sound policy choices taken by a 4. Deputy Phil Hogan asked the Taoiseach the variety of stakeholders in society, mediated in role his Department will take in the inclusion of a many cases through social partnership. third sustainability pillar in the social partnership Regarding the need to guard against com- process; and if he will make a statement on the placency, I drew attention in my speech to the matter. [22737/07] globalised setting within which the economy operates. Interest rates, energy prices and compe- 5. Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Taoiseach tition from emerging economies provide warning when the next meeting with the social partners signals that success cannot be taken for granted. under the auspices of Towards 2016 is due to be Minimising inflationary impulses, in so far as we held; if an agenda has been agreed for the next can, is especially important. There is acceptance meeting; and if he will make a statement on the on all sides of the social partnership framework matter. [23450/07] that we cannot and must not go back to the wage- price inflationary spiral of the early 1980s. 6. Deputy Enda Kenny asked the Taoiseach the Regarding the ongoing engagement with social position regarding the inclusion of a third sus- partners on the implementation of Towards 2016, tainability pillar in the social partnership system; the most recent meeting of the steering group was and if he will make a statement on the matter. held on 8 October. The agenda included a presen- [23841/07] tation on the housing commitments under Towards 2016, a presentation on progress for 7. Deputy Caoimhghı´nO´ Caola´in asked the people with disabilities and proposals for the Taoiseach if he will report on his ongoing con- North-South consultative forum. 595 Ceisteanna — 13 November 2007. Questions 596 [The Taoiseach.] established role in pay and industrial relations The meeting also considered the progress matters and will not be extended beyond the cur- report on the national reform programme under rent participation. the Lisbon Agenda which is being progressed Regarding correspondence received from the within the overall Towards 2016 framework. The General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade report was submitted to the European Com- Unions on the question of inflation and mortgage mission and laid before the House in October. interest relief, I wrote to ICTU on 14 September The latest plenary meeting took place on 8 2007 reaffirming the Government’s resolve to November 2007 at Farmleigh House. The tackle the root causes of inflation, in so far as Government was represented by me, the Ta´naiste it is within our capacity to do so. The General and Minister for Finance, the Minister for Health Secretary raised the question of increasing the and Children and the Minister for the Envir- ceiling on mortgage interest relief for first-time onment, Heritage and Local Government. buyers and those who bought a house in the past Agenda items included a pre-budget presentation seven years. In response I confirmed that the from the Department of Finance. The third pro- commitments in the programme for Government gress report under Towards 2016 was also circu- in this respect are set within the context of the lated at the meeting and has been made available budget. The Ta´naiste and Minister for Finance on my Department’s website. As is the normal announced on 3 July 2007 his intention that practice, all papers and copies of the progress budget 2008 will provide for a further increase in report have been laid before the Oireachtas. mortgage interest relief for first-time buyers of The steering group will continue to have over- \10,000 for a single person and \20,000 for all responsibility for managing the implemen- couples or widowed persons. tation of the agreement as it applies to the wider non-pay issues. Quarterly plenary meetings of the Deputy Enda Kenny: The Taoiseach has given social partner pillars will continue, as has been a long reply. It is generally recognised that the the practice over recent years. The programme social partnership has been beneficial for the for Government commits that “arrangements for country because it has dampened the need for representation of environmental issues in Social strike action in many cases. The structure orig- Partnership will be considered in the course of inally envisaged, however, is not able to cope with the review of Towards 2016 which will take place what we face now. in 2008.” Any change to the structure of social Chaos is being caused by the Dublin Bus strike partnership must be carefully considered and the in what is a growing city with an increasing popu- Government has previously identified clear and lation, where commuters are hard-pressed to get specific criteria against which applications to join to work in our high pressure society. They need the social partnership process are considered. new cross-city and orbital bus routes and services. These include that organisations requesting social When the system fails to find agreement with its partner status be national and representative in workforce causing chaos on the streets it signifi- nature; that they have the capacity to meet the cantly disrupts people’s lives. Does the Taoiseach demands and obligations that arise as part of this accept that the Dublin Bus dispute, leaving aside participation; and that they will add to the capa- its minutiae, is the failure of a regulatory regime city of the social partnership process to address to provide for people’s need for services given the issues effectively. In addition, any organisations physical and human expansion of this city? Leav- would be required to formally endorse the ing aside the minutiae of the dispute does the Towards 2016 agreement. Taoiseach agree that we are faced with a symp- In line with this commitment in the programme tom of a failed regulatory regime? Will the for Government, the issue will be considered Taoiseach comment on that? further in the review of Towards 2016 in 2008 and People who require transport services generally related commitments to enhance the role of Com- do not mind who provides them as long as they har and establish a climate change commission.