Vol. 203 Tuesday, No. 8 22 June 2010 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES SEANAD ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Tuesday, 22 June 2010. Business of Seanad ………………………………427 Order of Business …………………………………427 Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy ……………………441 Post-Release (Restrictions on Certain Activities) Orders Scheme 2010: Referral to Joint Committee … 457 Business of Seanad ………………………………457 Údarás na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill 2010: Order for Second Stage ……………………………457 Second Stage …………………………………457 Twelfth Report of Committee of Selection: Motion ……………………463 Údarás na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (resumed)……………………………463 Committee and Remaining Stages …………………………472 Innovative and Job Creation: Statements ………………………481 Adjournment Matters: School Staffing Levels ……………………………508 Fisheries Conservation ……………………………510 SEANAD ÉIREANN ———— Dé Máirt, 22 Meitheamh 2010. Tuesday, 22 June 2010. ———— Chuaigh an Cathaoirleach i gceannas ar 14.30. ———— Paidir. Prayer. ———— Business of Seanad An Cathaoirleach: I have received notice from Senator Fidelma Healy Eames that, on the motion for the Adjournment of the House today, she proposes to raise the following matter: The need for the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an updated report on the purchase of a site and construction of a new school for Gaelscoil de hÍde, Oranmore, County Galway. I have also received notice from Senator Jerry Buttimer of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Education and Skills to make a statement on staffing levels at Scoil Barra Naofa Cailíní, Beaumont, Cork. I have also received notice from Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to clarify that either the suspension of commercial draft net salmon fishing on the River Foyle has been lifted or that compensation will be paid to the ten draft net licence holders involved. I regard the matters raised by the Senators as suitable for discussion on the Adjournment and they will be taken at the conclusion of business. Order of Business. Senator Donie Cassidy: The Order of Business is No. 1, motion re Post-Release (Restrictions on Certain Activities) Order Scheme 2010, to be taken without debate at the conclusion of the tributes to the late Senator Peter Callanan; No. 2, Údarás na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill 2010 — All Stages, to be taken at the conclusion of No. 1, on which spokespersons may speak for ten minutes and all other Senators for seven minutes and Senators may share time, by agreement of the House; and No. 3, statements on innovation and job creation, to be taken at 6.15 p.m. and to conclude within two hours, on which spokespersons may speak for ten minutes and all other Senators for seven minutes and Senators may share time, by agreement of the House. The Minister shall be called upon ten minutes from the conclusion of the debate for closing comments and take questions from leaders or spokespersons. 427 Order of 22 June 2010. Business. Senator Frances Fitzgerald: No doubt we will discuss the impact of some of the changes in the British budget on the Irish economy at a later stage, including the changes in VAT rates. I note in passing the comment by the Chancellor that he was trying to introduce a budget that was tough but also fair. He also noted the coalition government had inherited the largest budget deficit of any European economy except Ireland. It is interesting to note there is a £2 billion levy being put on the banks in the UK. To return to more domestic matters, we have heard much about the intentions of the Mini- ster, Deputy Gormley, with regard to a directly elected mayor of Dublin. The Minister stated that it is his intention to have this mayor elected by the end of the year and a number of questions arise with regard to this. Will the Leader or the Deputy Leader inform the House of the position on this legislation? As Members of the House know, the four Dublin local authorities are in the process of electing their mayors this week and next. It is important that the people of Dublin know in what context these elections will take place. It would be very helpful if light could be shone on this. When will the legislation come before the House? Will it be prior to the recess? Will all Stages of the legislation be passed prior to the summer? When will the election take place? Is there agree- ment between the Government parties on the timing of the election? The local government (Dublin mayor and regional authority) Bill was not on the list of Bills circulated. Was this a mistake or is it an indication that the Bill will not be introduced until next year? This needs to be cleared up because there is quite a degree of confusion and uncertainty about it. The people of Dublin deserve to know and we need proper time to debate the legislation if the election is to go ahead this year. It is also important that the Minister for Social Protection come to the House to discuss issues with regard to social welfare payments. I am conscious that the detailed social welfare legislation will be before the House next week. We hear comments on the social welfare fund and money not being available. It is important that we have an opportunity to discuss the broad issues that arise with regard to social welfare. The Minister commented on pensions being cut and we ought to have a debate in the House prior to discussing the details of the Bill. Senator Joe O’Toole: I echo Senator Fitzgerald’s points on the local government (Dublin mayor and regional authority) Bill. I have significant interest in that legislation because it is also the intention to deal with the name of a small town in west Kerry in which I have a deep and abiding interest. Last month, I asked my esteemed colleague Senator Boyle about it and he assured me it was in play. I take his word on that and I look forward to seeing it. Senator Fitzgerald touched on the matter of today’s UK budget, which has two points of significance. The VAT rate has been raised from 17.5% to 20%, which should be good for businesses on the Southern side of the Border. The other issue is that a levy was placed on the banks and I want to raise an issue related to this which I ask my colleagues to take very seriously. Last week, the Minister for Finance said, conceded, admitted or told the Joint Com- mittee on Finance and the Public Service that the costs of the new central bank regulatory system would be borne significantly by the taxpayer. This flies in the face of what is happening in regulation throughout the world. Recently, people on both sides of the House spoke up about the cost to local radio stations of paying for their own regulation. We saw it was neces- sary, we conceded certain points on it but we had strong words to say on it. In the regulation of accountancy, and I am a member of the board of the Irish Audit and Accounting Supervisory Authority, IAASA, the accountancy bodies pay more than half of the costs. The entire cost of the Personal Assessment Injuries Board is borne by the insurance industry or the applicant. The Government now proposes that the taxpayer should once again be asked to go to the well to pay for the cost of regulating banks. It is grossly and utterly unacceptable that we should be 428 Order of 22 June 2010. Business. asked to do this and I ask my colleagues on the other side of the House to raise the matter within their parties. It is not included in the Central Bank Reform Bill which I have gone through with a fine tooth comb. I am not sure how it is covered, but at this stage the banks should pay their own regulatory costs. Last year the cost of regulation to the taxpayer was €39 million. An additional 50 or so people will be appointed and one can add another €50 million this year. In the scheme of things, when we are talking about billions of euro, one might say €50 million is only a drop in the ocean, but these are the drops in the ocean that concern people in terms of the way we are doing our business. I ask the Minister for Finance to come before the House or to send somebody else to explain to us why this is happening this way, why it cannot be changed, what is the rational behind it and why the taxpayer has to pay to regulate the individuals who got us into this mess in the first place. Senator David Norris: Hear, hear. Senator Alex White: On the legislation dealing with the election of the Dublin mayor, I remind the House that there are only three sitting weeks remaining in the Dáil and I understand this House. Perhaps there will be another week—— Senator Donie Cassidy: The House will sit for another week. Senator Alex White: I am grateful that the Leader has confirmed that the House will sit for an extra week. I presume that the Bill will go before the Dáil first, if it is to appear before the summer. That leaves a period of only two weeks during which it can appear before the Dáil because I do not believe it is on the Dáil Order Paper to be taken this week. Is there any possibility that it will appear before the summer recess? Without extending the argument and in order that there will be clarity, will the Leader or Deputy Leader do us all a favour and confirm that it will not happen before the summer recess, that it is not proposed to take the Bill until the autumn? There is no reason this cannot be confirmed.