Vol. 640 Tuesday, No. 1 23 October 2007 DI´OSPO´ IREACHTAI´ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DA´ IL E´ IREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIU´ IL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Tuesday, 23 October 2007. Ceisteanna—Questions Taoiseach ………………………………… 1 Minister for Foreign Affairs Priority Questions …………………………… 15 Other Questions …………………………… 27 Adjournment Debate Matters …………………………… 34 Leaders’ Questions ……………………………… 35 Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy ………………… 41 Requests to move Adjournment of Da´il under Standing Order 32 ……………… 50 Order of Business ……………………………… 52 Parliamentary Committees: Motion ………………………… 58 Pre-Budget Outlook: Motion …………………………… 90 Private Members’ Business Agrifood Industry ……………………………… 114 Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill 2007: Order for Second Stage …………………………… 146 Second Stage ……………………………… 146 Committee and Remaining Stages ……………………… 159 Adjournment Debate Hospital Services ……………………………… 161 Search and Rescue Service ………………………… 164 Physical Education Facilities ………………………… 167 School Places ……………………………… 169 Questions: Written Answers …………………………… 173 1 2 DA´ IL E´ IREANN DI´OSPO´ IREACHTAI´ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES TUAIRISC OIFIGIU´ IL OFFICIAL REPORT Imleabhar 640 Volume 640 De´ Ma´irt, 23 Deireadh Fo´mhair 2007. Tuesday, 23 October 2007. ———— Chuaigh an Ceann Comhairle i gceannas ar 2.30 p.m. ———— Paidir. Prayer. ———— Ceisteanna — Questions. the total cost to December 2003 was approxi- mately \405,000; 50% of the increase was paid ———— from 1 January 2004 at an approximate cost of \491,000 for that year and, the final 25% of the Benchmarking Awards. increase was paid from 1 June 2005 at an approxi- \ 1. Deputy Enda Kenny asked the Taoiseach mate cost of 150,000 for that year. The full year cost of the increases in 2006 is estimated at the cost which has accrued to his Department in \ respect of the payment of the benchmarking pay 800,000. awards; and if he will make a statement on the Under the terms of Sustaining Progress, the matter. [16820/07] pay increases recommended by the public service benchmarking body were conditional on delivery 2. Deputy Caoimhghı´nO´ Caola´in asked the of real and verifiable outputs in regard to mod- Taoiseach the cost to his Department of bench- ernisation and flexibility. The key mechanisms for marking pay awards; and if he will make a state- monitoring overall progress in this regard were ment on the matter. [18791/07] the reports on action plans prepared by individual Departments and offices, a general review by the 3. Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Department of Finance and verification by the Taoiseach the additional costs accruing to his Civil Service performance verification group. The Department arising from the benchmarking pro- performance verification group concluded that cess; and if he will make a statement on the the progress achieved warranted payment to the matter. [21547/07] grades concerned in my Department. The Taoiseach: I propose to take Questions Deputy Enda Kenny: There are groups on the Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. corridors, but I do not think they are talking The benchmarking phases were implemented about the benchmarking pay awards — they are in my Department as follows: 25% of the increase studying the Boundary Commission report. from 1 December 2001 was paid in June 2003 — Maybe we should talk about that. 3 Ceisteanna — 23 October 2007. Questions 4 The Taoiseach: Did the commission leave the the entire system. There has been co-operation in Deputy alone? regard to flexibility and ongoing change through- out the public service and satisfactory implemen- Deputy Enda Kenny: It did, and yourself. tation of the agenda for modernisation. Those that affect the public involve services to the A Deputy: I thought it was independent. public. I mentioned some of these. The agricul- tural payments system used to be very strung out Deputy Enda Kenny: There was no published and there were always delays before Christmas. justification for the level of awards given. Can the The system has been modernised and it is now Taoiseach point out the justification for the very efficient. A number of areas have been mod- benchmarking awards for increased efficiency in ernised. Use of information technology is some- his Department? Will he indicate three areas thing that would have been negotiated as it was where there has clearly been an improvement in seen as regrading. It was introduced without diffi- public service in his Department resulting from culty as part of benchmarking across Depart- the benchmarking reward? From his reply will ments and continues to be. Systems that have Mr. John Citizen know the reason for the level of been modernised include the on-line system for pay awards in his Department? motor taxation which has won awards, and live- stock registration and identification. The The Taoiseach: Agreement was reached in the Revenue on-line system is considered to be one Department of the Taoiseach on an entirely new of the best in Europe. It was introduced with the personnel management system, which was implemented fully in co-operation with staff. The co-operation of staff and has resulted in a far new HR system increased efficiency and trans- more simplified tax compliance system. The on- parency in many area. The second major project line service is being rolled out to PAYE workers. under benchmarking was the introduction of a It started with companies and corporate taxes and much needed entirely new accounting system. has been rolled out to include on-line claiming of The third project was eCabinet, involving all credits and allowances, on-line requests for Departments. My staff while availing of outside reviews of one’s tax position and on-line viewing expert help, did an enormous volume of work of one’s tax records. Full filing is not yet available including preparatory work across all Depart- but Revenue wants to include that in the next ments. These three major projects were ear- round of benchmarking, thus completing the marked by management and were agreed to and entire process. delivered by the staff. The modernisation agenda, The efficient integration of public services, which preceded benchmarking, has been pushed particularly where they cut across several agen- by the strategic management initiative SMI pro- cies, produces benefits for customers. The inte- cess and is ongoing. There is a need for constant gration of services relating to child registration change and updating of systems. has simplified what was a very complex process involving various procedures associated with the Deputy Enda Kenny: I am sure eCabinet works birth of a child. That directly affected every very well for those involved, but I am not sure parent. In regard to the registration of a birth, the the average citizen will understand how it works. creation of a child’s public identity, and claiming I thank the Taoiseach for outlining three areas of child benefit, the queues that existed until recent change. In the course of his reply the Taoiseach years have disappeared and the system works mentioned HR, accounting and how the changes well. Everything is done at a single point of con- had impacted on other Departments. For many tact, making it easy for parents and for service years the Minister for Health and Children providers. Up to approximately two years ago the answered questions on health issues, however Deputy would have been asking questions these are now hived off to the parliamentary regarding delays in the system. We now have section of the HSE, where there is clearly con- fusion on HR. The Taoiseach has agreed with me extended opening hours. I hold the view that that on the significant growth in administrative oppor- should always have been the case rather than the tunities in the HSE, not to mention the account- traditional system of closing for lunch and not ing difficulties arising from the PPARS debacle. having some staff working earlier and some later. Will he indicate the efficiencies that have been That has now been achieved. There are extended achieved in other Departments, especially in opening hours in library branches, the General regard to HR and accounting improvements in Register Office, the Visa Office and a host of the Department of Health and Children and the others in the Department of Agriculture, Fisher- HSE where there were confusion, difficulties and ies and Food in terms of the single payment. I money wasted? could go on but it is not necessary to do that. None of these developments is massive but col- The Taoiseach: There are examples across lectively what has been achieved in the last other Departments. It is a lengthy process. Some benchmarking round and what I hope can be of the biggest are not necessarily public schemes, achieved in the next is significant for the Civil but industrial stability has been maintained across Service. 5 Ceisteanna — 23 October 2007. Questions 6 Deputy Enda Kenny: That is a list of efficienc- instant decisions. My decisions are then recorded ies. The Minister sitting beside the Taoiseach, the in complex e-mails which I might not recognise Minister for Transport and the Marine, Deputy or remember in two months time. I find it Noel Dempsey, has a very important portfolio. interesting to see how others are having difficulty Benchmarking was paid to workers in all Depart- remembering something that happened a month ments. However, at a very senior level in the ago while eminent people in another location Department of Transport and the Marine, Aer expect me to remember, with certainty, what hap- Lingus gave notification of its intention to do pened 17 years ago. Perhaps they credit me with what it did in respect of Shannon, but the Mini- more intelligence than everyone else. ster says he was not notified. That is not efficiency. One would expect that, on an issue as Deputy Enda Kenny: That is the $50,000 significant and as impactful as that, information question.