Vol. 213 Tuesday, No. 4 7 February 2012 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES SEANAD ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Dé Máirt, 7 Feabhra 2012. Business of Seanad ………………………………251 Order of Business …………………………………252 Directive on Insider Dealing: Motion …………………………266 Teaching Council Act: Motion ……………………………267 EU Fiscal Compact Treaty: Statements, Questions and Answers ………………267 Education (Amendment) Bill 2012: Report Stage ……………………284 Electoral (Amendment) Political Funding Bill 2012: Second Stage (resumed)……………293 Education (Amendment) Bill 2012: Report Stage (resumed) and Final Stages……………306 Adjournment Matters Private Residential Tenancies Board ………………………313 Redundancy Payments ……………………………316 TaxCode…………………………………318 General Practitioner Services …………………………320 SEANAD ÉIREANN ———— Dé Máirt, 7 Feabhra 2012. Tuesday, 7 February 2012. ———— Chuaigh an Cathaoirleach i gceannas ar 2.30 p.m. ———— Paidir. Prayer. ———— Business of Seanad An Cathaoirleach: I have received notice from Senator Colm Burke that, on the motion for the Adjournment of the House today, he proposes to raise the following matter: The need for the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to outline the amending legislation he proposes to put in place to deal with the issue of proper- ties that are not registered with the Private Residential Tenancies Board. I have notice from Senator Paschal Mooney of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Social Protection to make a statement on the recent survey carried out by ISME on the impact of the recent changes by her Department affecting small and medium sized enterprises. I have notice from Senator John Kelly of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Finance to clarify the way in which the Revenue Commis- sioners will carry the collection of taxes owed without threatening the viability of businesses. I have notice from Senator Diarmuid Wilson of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Health to provide adequate GP services in Mullagh, County Cavan. I have notice from Senator Kathryn Reilly of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Health to discuss the general practitioner services in Mullagh in County Cavan and the lack of HSE GP provision in the area. I have notice from Senator Thomas Byrne of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Finance to give an update on the plans for the provision of a public playground at the Battle of the Boyne site in Oldbridge, County Meath. I have notice from Senator Fidelma Healy Eames of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Social Protection to clarify the background that lead to the decision to lay off 20 people from Rehab Recycle in Galway, in view of the fact that the 251 Order of 7 February 2012. Business [An Cathaoirleach.] majority of redundancies are people with special needs; and to outline the future of Govern- ment subsidised work placements available to these people. I have notice from Senator Mark Daly of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Social Protection to make a statement on any evaluation carried out by the Government prior to introducing the new redundancy arrangements, in particular the reduction of the employer rebate of statutory redundancy payments. I have notice from Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Social Protection to immediately reverse the cutbacks to community employment schemes. I have notice from Senator David Cullinane of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation to outline the need for balanced regional development and for the Government and enterprise agencies to ensure the recently published FORFAS jobs plan delivers for the southeast. I regard the matters raised by the Senators as suitable for discussion on the Adjournment. I have selected the matters raised by Senators Burke, Mooney, Kelly and Wilson and they will be taken at the conclusion of business. As the matters put down by Senators Wilson and Reilly are similar I suggest they share time. The other Senators may give notice on another day of the matters they wish to raise. Order of Business. Senator Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is Nos. 1 to 5 on the Order Paper. No 1, motion regarding the proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on criminal sanctions for insider dealing and market manipulation, to be taken without debate. No. 2, motion regarding the Teaching Council Act 2001 (Amendment of Nominating Bodies) Order 2012, to be taken without debate. No. 3, Statements, and questions and answers, on the EU “Fiscal Compact” Treaty, to be taken at the conclusion of No. 2 and the time to be given to this debate shall not exceed one hour, with the contribution of group spokespersons not to exceed five minutes and the contribution from the Sinn Féin Senator not to exceed two minutes. All Senators to confine their remarks to one minute when asking questions of the Minister. No. 4, Education (Amendment) Bill 2012 — Report and Final Stages to be taken at the con- clusion of No. 3 and to conclude no later than 5.45 p.m. No. 5, the Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011 to be taken at the conclusion of No. 4 and to conclude no later than 6.45 p.m. with the contribution of Senators not to exceed six minutes and the Minister to be called on to reply no later than 6.35 p.m. Senator Darragh O’Brien: I am a little concerned that only three of the Senators nominated by the Taoiseach are present. Senator Fiach Mac Conghail: How many have Fianna Fáil got? Senator Thomas Byrne: Senator Jillian van Turnhout is not too far away from it. Senator Darragh O’Brien: Senator Coghlan has decided to take the Taoiseacha’s soup and jump to the Fine Gael Party grouping. I am sure the Leader and the Chief Whip had nothing to do with the further diminution of democracy in this Chamber following on from this. Can 252 Order of 7 February 2012. Business the Leader confirm that no transfer fee was involved and will the leader’s allowance be returned to the State? We wish Senator Eamonn Coghlan well in his position of defending the indefen- sible with this new Government. I want to move on to something that is of greater importance. I thank the Leader that the Minister of State responsible for European Affairs, Deputy Lucinda Creighton, will be in attendance. I draw the attention of all colleagues to a report entitled Ministers’ Attendance in Brussels, completed by the University of Gothenburg in March 2011 on the attendance by Ministers at meetings of the European Union. Time after time I have listened to Ministers and Members opposite complain how the Government is working hard to repair alleged repu- tational damage to the State because Ministers in the last Government did not engage with or attend meetings. These are erroneous and spurious comments. An Cathaoirleach: Has the Senator a question for the Leader? Senator Darragh O’Brien: I would like to see whether the Senator is as vocal as she says she is tomorrow evening when we discuss rural schools. Is the Leader aware of the report? Will the Leader, on behalf of the Government, retract the remarks made by nearly every member of the Cabinet and his party that the previous Government did not engage at European meetings? That is patently untrue. An independent report carried out by the University of Gothenburg shows that Ireland is ranked fifth out of 27 states. I ask the Leader, on behalf of the Government and its Senators, does he accept the report? Will he, on behalf of the Government retract ridiculous remarks made here and in the other chamber that Ministers from the previous Government did not engage at meetings which is patently untrue? Senator Ivana Bacik: I am sure the Minister of State will give a similar response to the comment made by the Tánaiste when he attended the excellent debate we had on foreign affairs and trade last Thursday. He pointed out the important work that he and others, in Government, have been doing to restore Ireland’s international reputation since last February. None of us should describe a Senator’s decision to change grouping as a diminution of democracy. Some of us have in the past moved to a new group. We in the Labour Party welcome new Members to our group and we do not charge transfer feed. I commend Bord Bia on its wonderful initiative to hold a big convention today, a showcase for Irish food producers. Retailers, distributors and wholesalers from all over the world have come to look at Irish food, conduct business and develop trade links. I have seen important trade links being fostered in China and welcome reports today that one of the leading figures in the Chinese Government will visit Ireland and head a trade mission here. We are sending people to China on a trade mission in the next month. There is great potential for Ireland to act as a gateway for Chinese businesses that want to come here. Senator David Norris: Will he be asked about Tibet? Senator Ivana Bacik: Absolutely. Senator David Norris: Good. Senator Ivana Bacik: We have to be conscious of human rights issues. Senator David Norris: Excellent. 253 Order of 7 February 2012. Business Senator Ivana Bacik: I have been to China on human rights training programmes. It is important to keep Senator Norris’s point in mind. We should also bear in mind the positive aspects of further links with China. We are already seeing large numbers of Chinese students being welcomed in our universities and colleges.