PUBLIC AFFAIRS IRELAND NEWSLETTER Your essential weekly guide to legislative, regulatory and public affairs in Ireland Issue 302 February 17 2014 Oireachtas Update This week the legislation being considered in the Dáil includes the Protected Disclosures Bill 2013 and the Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013. The Seanad will consider the ESB (Electronic Communications Network) Bill 2013 and hear statements on the operation of the Teaching Council of Ireland on Wednesday. The Transport and Communications Committee will meet on Wednesday to scrutinise the proposed Sport Ireland Bill 2014 and the implications of a merger of the Irish Sports Council and the National Sports Campus Development Authority. News and Appointments Update Rónán Ó Domhnaill nominated for the position of An Coimisinéir Teanga Mr. Rónán Ó Domhnaill has been nominated by the Government to be appointed to the position of An Coimisinéir Teanga. The appointment will be made subject to resolutions being passed by Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann. A motion regarding the appointment of An Coimisineir Teanga will be heard in the Dáil tomorrow and in the Seanad on Thursday. Mr. Ó Domhnaill will succeed Mr. Seán Ó Cuirreáin who will be resigning from his post on 23 February 2014. Mr Ó Cuirreáin resigned his position amid claims that the Irish language is being marginalised by the system of public administration. A protest was staged in Dublin on Saturday calling for more recognition of the Irish language as organisers stated that those living in Gaeltacht areas around the country are not able to access State services through Irish. Mr. Ó Domhnaill has been a political correspondent with Nuacht RTÉ/TG4 for the past seven years. A graduate of the National University of Ireland, Galway, he comes from an Cheathrú Rua in the Connemara Gaeltacht. 21 expressions of interest were received for the position of An Coimisinéir Teanga from persons with a wide range of experience and Mr. Ó Domhnaill was chosen from amongst these. An Coimisinéir Teanga is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Official Languages Act 2003. Under section 20(3) of the Act, An Coimisinéir Teanga is appointed by the President of Ireland on the advice of the Government following resolutions passed by Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann recommending the appointment. General Scheme of the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill Published The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan TD, has published draft legislation to extend voting rights to graduates of higher education institutions in Seanad elections. Currently three senators are elected by the graduates of the National University of Ireland and three by Trinity College. The General Scheme is part of the legislative process to implement the 1979 amendment to Article 18.4.2 of the Constitution to extend the right to vote to graduates of other colleges and universities. It will create one constituency with six members. It is estimated that up to 800,000 people would be entitled to register under the planned reforms. At the 2011 Seanad elections there were some 151,000 voters on the combined registers for the two university constituencies. Minister Hogan stated that the reforms will represent a significant expansion of the electorate and will make the election more democratic. The General Scheme of the Bill has been published for consultation so that citizens, elected representatives, the institutions of higher education, and any other interested individuals or groups can make written submissions setting out their views on the proposed legislation. The General Scheme is also being circulated to Seanad Éireann and forwarded to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht for consideration. Copies are also being sent to stakeholders, including the institutions of higher education. The deadline for receipt of written submissions is Friday 11 April 2014. Tel: 01 8198500 Fax: 01 8944733 E: [email protected] Public Affairs Ireland www.publicaffairsireland.com 25 Mountjoy Square East Dublin 1 Oireachtas Schedule: Week beginning February 17 2014 Dáil Tuesday February 18 Wednesday February 19 Thursday February 20 Friday February 21 2pm 9.30am 9.30am 10am Questions (Minister for Questions (Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Questions (Minister for Thirty-Fourth Transport, Tourism and Sport) Trade) Finance) Amendment of the Constitution (Judicial 3.15pm 10.45am 10.45am Appointments) Bill Leaders Questions Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013 - Order for Protected Disclosures Bill 2013 - (initiated by Report, Report and Final Stages 2013 [Seanad] - Second Deputy Shane Ross) 3.36pm (Department of the Environment, Community and Local Stage (resumed) (Department Questions (Taoiseach) Government) of Public Expenditure and 12 noon Reform) Report on Organ 4.36pm Health Service Executive (Financial Matters) 2013 - Donation by the Joint Order of Business Second Stage (resumed) Roads Bill 2014 - Second Committee on Health (Department of Health) Stage (resumed) and Children 5.06pm (Department of Transport, Topical Issues 12 noon Tourism and Sport) Leaders Questions Motion re: Proposed opt-in to 12 noon Regulation on the temporary 12.21pm Leaders Questions re-location of CEPOL (the Order of Business European Police College) 12.21pm (referral to committee) (without 12.51pm Order of Business debate) Topical Issues (Department of Justice and 12.41pm Equality) SOS (1 Hour) Motion re: Capital Carry Over (back from committee) (without Motion re: Appointment of Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013 - Order for debate) Coimisineir Teanga (to conclude Report, Report and Final Stages (Department of Finance) at 7.30 pm if not previously (Department of the Environment, Community and Local concluded) Government) Roads Bill 2014 - Second Stage (Department of Arts, Heritage (resumed) and the Gaeltacht Health Service Executive (Financial Matters) 2013 - (Department of Transport, Second Stage (resumed) Tourism and Sport) Protected Disclosures Bill (Department of Health) 2013 [Seanad] - Second Stage Health Identifiers Bill 2013 (resumed) (Department of 5pm [Seanad] - Second Stage Public Expenditure and Reform) Statements on Recent Flooding (to conclude at 7.30 pm if (Department of Health) not previously concluded) 7.30pm (Department of the Environment, Community and Local 4.42pm Private Members Business: Government) Topical Issues Motion re Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission 7.30pm (Sinn Féin) Private Members Business: Motion re Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (Sinn Féin) Seanad Tuesday February 18 Wednesday February 19 Thursday February 20 2.30pm 10.30am 10.30am Order of Business Order of Business Order of Business 3.45pm 11.45am Motion regarding Regulation Road Traffic (No.2) Bill 2013 – Report and Final Statements on the Operation of the Teaching Council of Ireland on the temporary re-location Stage (Minister for Education) of CEPOL (the European (Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport) Police College) – Referral to 1.30pm Committee without debate 5.30pm “Seanad Éireann consequent upon the unanimous decision of “That Seanad Éireann- the Committee on Procedures and Privileges to add the name 11.45am - notes the importance of having a public debate on of His Holiness Pope Francis the First to be included among the ESB (Electronic the issues of free speech, homophobia and the public most prominent distinguished visitors to be invited to address Communications Network) service role of the State broadcaster in such debates; Seanad Éireann, strongly supports this invitation and requests Bill 2013 – Second Stage - further notes the necessity to explore these issues the Government to assist in making the formal arrangements (Minister for in the context of the forth coming referendum on necessary for such a visit which may naturally include meetings Communications, Energy marriage equality; and with the President, An Taoiseach and political leaders.” and Natural Resources) - calls on the Minister for Communications to debate these issues and to outline steps that he and the 2.30pm 1.45pm Government will take to ensure that the debate on Statements on the Horse and Greyhound Racing Industry Motion Regarding Ronán O marriage equality is conducted in a fair, open and (Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Domhnaill for Appointment impartial manner.” Marine.) to be An Coimisineir Teanga [Senators Katherine Zappone, David Norris, Ivana (Minister of State at the Bacik, Jillian van Turnhout, Fiach MacConghail, Mary 4pm Department of Arts, Heritage Ann O’Brien, Darragh O’Brien, David Cullinane,, Private Members Business - (Fianna Fáil Senators) and Gaeltacht Affairs) Kathryn Reilly, Trevor Ó Clohartaigh] 6pm Matters on the Adjournment Matters on the Adjournment Matters on the Adjournment Oireachtas Schedule: Week beginning February 17 2014 Committee Meetings Tuesday February 18 Wednesday February 19 Thursday February 20 1.30pm 9.30am 9.30am Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Transport and Communications Health and Children Committee Room 2, Leinster House Committee Room 4, Leinster House Committee Room 2, Leinster House AGENDA: AGENDA: AGENDA: Forthcoming COMPET Council meeting (i) Scrutiny of EU legislative proposals: (i) 9.30 am Childcare in Ireland and Report on [Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation] Schedule A: COMS(2013)512; COMS(2013)595; Support for Childcare for Working Families and COMS(2013)922; and Implications for Employment [Minister for