Vol. 736 Wednesday, No. 2 22 June 2011 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DÁIL ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Dé Céadaoin, 22 Meitheamh 2011. Leaders’ Questions ……………………………… 263 Order of Business ……………………………… 270 An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Fiche ar an mBunreacht (Uimh. 3) 2011: An Chéad Chéim Twenty-Ninth Amendment of the Constitution (No. 3) Bill 2011: First Stage ………… 276 Ceisteanna — Questions Taoiseach ………………………………… 277 Estimates for Public Services 2011: Referral to Select Committee ……………… 287 European Council Meeting: Statements ……………………… 287 Finance (No. 3) Bill 2011: Order for Second Stage …………………………… 301 Second Stage ……………………………… 301 Ceisteanna — Questions (Resumed) Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht …………………… 306 Priority Questions …………………………… 306 Other Questions …………………………… 314 Adjournment Debate Matters …………………………… 324 Finance (No. 3) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) …………………………… 324 Referral to Select Committee ………………………… 346 Private Members’ Business …………………………… 346 Workers’ Remuneration: Motion (Resumed) …………………… 346 Adjournment Debate ……………………………… 370 Special Educational Needs ………………………… 370 Forestry Sector ……………………………… 372 Accident and Emergency Services ……………………… 374 Hospital Waiting Lists …………………………… 376 Questions: Written Answers …………………………… 379 DÁIL ÉIREANN ———— Dé Céadaoin, 22 Meitheamh 2011. Wednesday, 22 June 2011. ———— Chuaigh an Ceann Comhairle i gceannas ar 10.30 a.m. ———— Paidir. Prayer. ———— Leaders’ Questions Deputy Micheál Martin: Last night the Short Strand area of Belfast saw its second night of serious disturbances. While it has been a flashpoint for decades, both the scale and nature of the violence are extremely serious. The only point on which there is clarity is that there are small groups which seek to inflame and exploit the situation. I am sure all Members will agree such people cannot be allowed to succeed. Any influence they are allowed to gain will send a grim signal to many other communities throughout the North. The Taoiseach will by now have had an opportunity to receive a full briefing on the position in the Short Strand. Will he outline to Members his contacts with the Northern Ireland Executive and the Secretary of State? Has he made known to them our support for all necessary actions by the security services to defend the local community and bring the situation under control? In particular, will he indicate what he knows about the involvement of the UVF leadership in organising the attacks? In addition, he should inform Members whom he believes are most likely to be behind the shots fired from the Short Stand. He will be aware of both the iconic nature of St. Matthew’s Church and the danger in allowing a security vacuum to develop in this area of the city. He has indicated that he will make his first working visit to the North some time within the next few weeks. Will he reassure the House that the need to tackle sectarianism will be at the top of the Government’s agenda and that the North will receive continued proactive attention from the Government? The Taoiseach: I condemn the disturbances in Belfast both last night and the night before. This situation demands the Government’s serious attention and I have pledged on its behalf that it will continue to work closely with the newly elected Assembly and Executive in Northern Ireland. I note the joint statements made by the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister in bringing a sense of reason and calmness to a situation that is of concern. Obviously, I have read and seen the reports on the photographer who was injured in last night’s shooting. I commend all those involved at local level in bringing a sense of understanding and calmness to what is a situation of concern. The community in question gains nothing from episodes such as that which took place last night and the night before. I note the comments made by the senior police officer, Chief Superintendent Alan McCrum, who stated the troubles had been orchestrated by the loyalist paramilitary group the UVF. It is perfectly obvious there have been internal tensions within the UVF. The chief superintendent also stated two men were being treated in hospital for gunshot wounds. A total of 11 shots were fired, six from the Nationalist side and five from the loyalist side. As Deputy Micheál 263 Leaders’ 22 June 2011. Questions [The Taoiseach.] Martin is aware, the newly elected Assembly and Executive with devolved authority has a Minister of Justice, as well as the PSNI which has the support of the entire community. I commend all those involved in public and community life who are arranging meetings in a cross-community sense and have stated this is a situation that demands calmness and reason. I make the point that those involved cannot and will not be allowed to disrupt the normalisation of relations across the community for which so many have worked hard for so many years. I share the concern expressed by Deputy Micheál Martin. He may take it that in so far as the Government can assist and co-operate in any way, it will be happy to so do. However, I note the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister have made joint statements on the necessity to deal with this issue effectively. I hope to be in touch directly with them shortly about ongoing and unfolding events in the North. Deputy Micheál Martin: The prize of peace has been hard won and the two Governments, together with the Northern Ireland Executive, must act with absolute resolve. It is clear the institutions which have been built up through the peace process are strong and that what is now needed is a redoubling of efforts on all sides to reach communities which are being targeted by such groups which wish to return to an endless cycle of pointless sectarian violence. I accept and acknowledge that there is no easy programme to implement that would get at the root causes of division and conflict at community level. It takes painstaking and relentless work. The Government has a vital role to play, in addition to all other parties, and the success achieved can be seen in the many communities in which loyalists are now in regular and positive contact with both Nationalists and groups in the Republic. There has been much ongoing dialogue and engagement with different strands, traditions and communities. Will the Taoiseach agree to ask the Cabinet to bring forward additional proposals to increase the Government’s work with communities in the North? I refer, in particular, to building on the reconciliation grants that emanate from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the peace agree- ments through European Union programmes. Given the seriousness of what has occurred, a stronger and more proactive role should be taken on board by the Government. The Taoiseach: I thank the Deputy for his comments. The pursuit of the normalisation of relationships in Northern Ireland has always had cross-party support in this House. Unemploy- ment and lack of activity are the cancer that eats away at the heart of the peace process. This requires constant vigilance in respect of fragile communities in which young men, in particular, have a perception that the peace process may not be working in the manner they had envisaged with regard to careers and opportunities. That is the reason for highlighting the importance of the education process, direct intervention from the Assembly with the assistance of the two Governments, as well as international help from both the United States and the European Union. All these issues have been and are important and will continue to be so. That is the reason I took the opportunity to speak directly to Senator Patrick Leahy in Washington about the Appropriations Committee and the continuation of funding for Ireland. I raised directly with President Obama when he was here the importance of this kind of funding being used as an opportunity to leverage further important moneys from the EU. I intend to travel to Derry on Saturday for the opening of the new bridge and I may also have the opportunity to visit Altnagelvin’s radiotherapy facilities which will be supported by this Government. When I make final arrangements for a visit to Northern Ireland, the dissidents, sectarianism and violence, as referred to by Deputy Adams, will be top of the agenda. This peace process was hard-won and we should not allow any incident or any event to disrupt the people and the communities from focusing on that future. 264 Leaders’ 22 June 2011. Questions As I said in reply to questions, the attitude and the atmosphere surrounding the North- South Ministerial Council meeting, the first of its meetings involving the new Northern Ireland Executive and this Government, was exceptionally workmanlike. The Deputy can be assured that Ministers of this Government will interact consciously and actively with their counterparts in Northern Ireland in order to do as the Deputy suggests, to continue a work programme that will demonstrate to everybody that both Governments and the Executive are serious in the interests of continuing the peace process so hard-won and which has so much dividend to pay for the future and which can produce so much potential for the communities and the lives and futures of everybody concerned. Deputy Gerry Adams: I share the Taoiseach’s concern about the situation in east Belfast. I was in touch overnight with people from Belfast. We need to appeal to everyone to be calm and to show leadership but also we need from this Dáil acts of practical solidarity with those communities. I encourage Teachtaí Dála from every party to go quietly to Belfast and to make an arrangement to visit some of these areas. Sinn Féin held a conference in Dublin last Satur- day, a uniting Ireland conference, with representatives from some of those communities speak- ing at the conference about their particular concerns and fears.