Vol. 701 Tuesday, No. 3 9 February 2010 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DÁIL ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Tuesday, 9 February 2010. Business of Dáil: Motion …………………………… 553 Northern Ireland: Statements …………………………… 554 Adjournment Debate Matters …………………………… 577 Leaders’ Questions ……………………………… 578 Resignation of Member …………………………… 582 Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 32 ……………… 582 Order of Business ……………………………… 583 Referral to Joint Committee: Motion ………………………… 592 Finance Bill 2010: Order for Second Stage …………………………… 593 Second Stage ……………………………… 593 Private Members’ Business Public Service Remuneration: Motion ……………………… 618 Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (resumed) ……………………… 637 Adjournment Debate Regeneration Projects …………………………… 653 Rural Environment Protection Scheme ……………………… 659 Questions: Written Answers …………………………… 663 DÁIL ÉIREANN ———— Dé Máirt, 9 Feabhra 2010. Tuesday, 9 February 2010. ———— Chuaigh an Ceann Comhairle i gceannas ar 2.30 p.m. ———— Paidir. Prayer. ———— Business of Dáil: Motion. Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Pat Carey): I move: That notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders: The following arrangements shall apply with regard to today’s sitting: (1) Oral Questions shall not be taken today; (2) Statements on Northern Ireland shall be taken now and the proceedings thereon shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 4.30 p.m. today, and the following arrangements shall apply: (i) the statements of the Taoiseach and of the main spokespersons for Fine Gael, the Labour Party and Sinn Féin, who shall be called upon in that order, shall not exceed 15 minutes in each case; (ii) the statements of each other Member called upon shall not exceed ten minutes in each case; (iii) Members may share time; and (iv) a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed ten minutes; (3) Leaders’ Questions shall be taken on the conclusion of the statements on Northern Ireland; and (4) the Order of Business shall be taken at the conclusion of Leaders’ Questions. An Ceann Comhairle: Is the proposal agreed to? Deputy Finian McGrath: On a point of order, has any time been allocated for Independent Deputies to speak in this debate? I notice we are to have a two hour debate. As far as I am aware, none of the Independent Members is being allowed to speak. Will the Ceann Comhairle clarify that matter? An Ceann Comhairle: We have agreed the arrangements, as per the proposal made by the Chief Whip, which stated: . the following arrangements shall apply: (i) the statements of the Taoiseach and of the main spokespersons for Fine Gael, the Labour Party and Sinn Féin, who shall be called upon in that order, shall not exceed 15 minutes in each case; (ii) the statements of each other Member called upon shall not exceed ten minutes in each case; (iii) Members may share time; and (iv) a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed ten minutes... Those are the arrangements for the speakers. 553 Northern Ireland: 9 February 2010. Statements Deputy Finian McGrath: It is not acceptable that a small minority of Members of the Dáil is not allowed to speak, particularly those of us who want to make a contribution and who have made a contribution in regard to the peace process. It is disgraceful and undemocratic. It is one of the reasons former Deputy Lee has spoken out about the urgent need for reform of the Dáil. An Ceann Comhairle: We have noted the Deputy’s sentiments on the matter. Perhaps some arrangement can be made by way of sharing time. Deputy Finian McGrath: It will be contentious. Question put and agreed to. Northern Ireland: Statements. The Taoiseach: I welcome this opportunity to speak on the peace process in Northern Ireland. The ongoing support of all Members of this House for building and maintaining peace in the North has been invaluable, and remains a strong cornerstone of the continued progress towards lasting peace and reconciliation. As we are all aware, the agreement announced in Hillsborough on 5 February represented the culmination of many hours of intensive negotiation and engagement on all sides. It provides the basis for the future stability and success of the democratic institutions which we have all worked so hard to create and maintain. Fair and balanced compromises were required so that gaps could be bridged and different perspectives accommodated. The completion of the devolution of policing and justice by 12 April will be an essential step for peace, stability and security in Northern Ireland. It will consolidate the operation of devolved government and close the circle in the transformation of policing and justice struc- tures in Northern Ireland. I also welcome the agreement on a way forward on parades. An enhanced framework, implemented by agreement, offers the prospect of respecting and equit- ably balancing the rights of everybody. It is fair to say that the recent negotiation process was not an easy one. The issues that were being discussed go to the very core of Northern Ireland’s past. Their solutions are the found- ations for Northern Ireland’s future. As well as the key political issues that had to be agreed, these talks were, in many ways, about the re-establishment of trust between the parties. It is very important to realise that the political context for the recent talks was very different from any that have gone before. While they were facilitated by the two Governments, in the end, they were primarily conducted between the parties in Northern Ireland. That is because, unlike on previous occasions, we have had fully functioning democratic institutions throughout this recent period of political turbulence. Indeed, the members of the current Northern Ireland Executive have now held office for longer than any of their predecessors since Good Friday of 1998. In addition to the outstanding issues from the St. Andrew’s Agreement, that period of work- ing together has thrown up new challenges which only the parties themselves can properly address. While the two Governments have an essential role in upholding the agreement, and a continuing role in supporting the institutions and the parties as they move forward, it is the parties themselves who came to an agreement on this occasion. Naturally, not all the parties are happy with all aspects of the agreement reached or with the level of their involvement in the negotiations. I understand many of their concerns. For our part, the Prime Minister and I met all of the parties bilaterally on several occasions, as did the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. We also convened 554 Northern Ireland: 9 February 2010. Statements a number of all-party plenary sessions. Of course, the political reality — determined by the electorate at the last Assembly elections — is that the DUP and Sinn Féin are the leading parties and, between them, can command cross-community support in the Assembly. It, there- fore, fell to those two parties in particular to reach agreement. I urge them to continue to work more closely with the other parties in future. In that regard, I welcome the proposals for improving the workings of the Executive and for greater discussion with the other parties which are part of the agreement. Prime Minister Brown and myself have worked closely together over the past months, remaining in close contact with each other and with the Northern parties. We had a lengthy meeting in London on 30 November, when we assessed the issues and risks faced by the insti- tutions and agreed on a joint approach to facilitate agreement between the parties. Following our meeting of 17 December in Copenhagen, we said in a joint statement that we believed that early completion of the devolution of policing and justice powers to the Northern Ireland Assembly was realistic and achievable and that any outstanding issues were capable of resol- ution by the parties. I met again with the Prime Minister on 14 and 25 January and discussed the political situation in Northern Ireland. At the latter meeting, we judged there was a serious risk of a crisis in the institutions if the Governments did not intervene directly. We travelled together from Downing Street to Hillsborough Castle where we convened over three days talks with all of the Northern Ireland parties on outstanding issues relating to the devolution of policing and justice. During those talks we worked hard to establish common ground, to build dialogue between the parties and to re-establish the trust necessary to complete the devolution of policing and justice in Northern Ireland. Having talked to all of the leaders of Northern Ireland’s political parties, we believed there was a clear pathway to an agreement. While we had hoped to bring matters to a conclusion during the week of 25 January, we felt that it was right and necessary for the parties to work together in the spirit of trust and understanding to agree and take ownership of the proposed solutions. We asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to continue to work with all of the parties to seek a resolution. I congratulate all of the parties around the table that contributed to the positive outcome reached last week. The leadership displayed by the First and Deputy First Minister and their respective party colleagues was instrumental in achieving the agreement that has been reached. I also acknowledge the wisdom and leadership of all of the other party leaders, including Sir Reg Empey, Mr. Mark Durkan, Mr. David Ford and Ms Dawn Purvis, and their teams, and the part they played.