Vol. 617 Thursday, No. 6 6 April 2006 DI´OSPO´ IREACHTAI´ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DA´ IL E´ IREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIU´ IL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Thursday, 6 April 2006. Requests to move Adjournment of Da´il under Standing Order 31 ………………1909 Order of Business ………………………………1912 Pyramid Schemes Bill 2006: First Stage ………………………1924 Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions: Motion …………………1924 Registration of Deeds and Title Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Order for Report Stage ……………………………1924 Report Stage ………………………………1925 Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Order for Second Stage ……………………………1938 Second Stage ………………………………1939 Ceisteanna — Questions Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources Priority Questions ……………………………1994 Other Questions ……………………………2006 Adjournment Debate Matters ……………………………2023 Adjournment Debate Child Care Services ……………………………2023 Crime Prevention ………………………………2027 Stardust Inquiry ………………………………2030 School Building Projects ……………………………2032 Questions: Written Answers ……………………………2037 1909 1910 DA´ IL E´ IREANN Mr. F. McGrath: I seek the adjournment of the Da´il under Standing Order 31 to discuss the fol- ———— lowing urgent matter: the urgent need to have more community gardaı´ engaged in frontline De´ardaoin, 6 Aibrea´n 2006. policing on the streets and working with people Thursday, 6 April 2006. in their communities; that priority be given to investment in disadvantaged areas to urgently ———— expand services to the youngest children in these communities by supporting pre-school and Chuaigh an Ceann Comhairle i gceannas ar primary school initiatives; the urgent need to 10.30 a.m. provide more social housing and to provide a clear Garda strategy, with resources, that deals ———— effectively with the drug gangs that are destroying communities; and to make each of these issues a Paidir. priority for the Government. Prayer. Mr. Crawford: I seek the adjournment of the ———— Da´il under Standing Order 31 to discuss the fol- lowing urgent matter: the need to get agreement Requests to move Adjournment of Da´il under in Brussels for the implementation of the nitrates Standing Order 31. directive based on the scientific evidence pro- duced by Teagasc for the Minister for the Envir- An Ceann Comhairle: Before coming to the onment, Heritage and Local Government and the Order of Business I propose to deal with a Minister for Agriculture and Food. It is vital that number of notices under Standing Order 31. I will the Da´il have a full and frank discussion on this call the Deputies in the order in which they sub- important issue, which will decide the future of mitted their notices to my office. thousands of Irish farmers and the workers involved in the food industry. These decisions Mr. Connolly: I seek the adjournment of the must be taken by the Ministers concerned, who Da´il under Standing Order 31 to discuss the fol- should have some knowledge of the serious lowing urgent matter: the Teagasc recom- potential damage that would be caused by failure mendations on the EU nitrates directive, arrived to get agreement. at after extensive independent scientific analysis by 24 scientists, which would be acceptable in Mr. Wall: I seek the adjournment of the Da´il Europe if they were vigorously pursued and under Standing Order 31 to discuss the following received uniform national support from the urgent matter: the need for the Minister for Departments of Agriculture and Food and the Communications, Marine and Natural Resources Environment, Heritage and Local Government to reverse his decision not to designate the forth- and the Environmental Protection Agency, in coming Ryder Cup at the K Club, County addition to the support they enjoy from the Irish Kildare, as a free to air television event as this Farmers Association and Teagasc. The positive will deny millions of Irish households the oppor- recommendations in the Teagasc proposals for tunity to watch the most significant international sporting event to be held here. In view of the changes in the nitrates directive and the extreme importance of this issue, I hope the Ceann Comh- urgency for the future of Irish farming warrant a airle will agree to this request. united approach on the part of farming organis- ations, Departments and the EPA in ensuring the Mr. Naughten: I seek the adjournment of the adoption and implementation of the Teagasc Da´il under Standing Order 31 to discuss the fol- document in Brussels. lowing urgent matter: in light of the disclosure by the Scottish authorities that preliminary tests Mr. P. Breen: I seek the adjournment of the have found a highly pathogenic strain of H5 avian Da´il under Standing Order 31 to discuss the fol- flu in the wild bird population, there is an lowing urgent matter: the Aer Lingus privatis- immediate need for the Minister for Agriculture ation timetable and how the jobs of Aer Lingus and Food to outline the steps she is taking to pro- staff in Shannon and other locations will be pro- tect the domestic poultry industry against a tected, what guarantee there is that the transat- potential outbreak of avian flu and to inform the lantic fleet maintenance staff in Shannon will not consumer of the safety of Irish poultry products. be centralised under a new ownership structure and whether, in an economic downturn under an Mr. Boyle: I seek the adjournment of the Da´il open skies policy, Shannon will be by-passed as a under Standing Order 31 to discuss the following transatlantic airport by a privatised Aer Lingus urgent matter: that the Minister for Justice, with only a feeder service being provided to Equality and Law Reform explain why funding Dublin, which would have huge consequences for would be removed from the immigrant welfare tourism and industry in the region. group NASC for its daring to seek to represent 1911 Order of 6 April 2006. Business 1912 [Mr. Boyle.] Mr. Sargent: I seek the adjournment of the Da´il the interests of refugees and asylum seekers stay- under Standing Order 31 to discuss the following ing at the Kinsale Road accommodation centre, urgent matter: to debate the need for plans to where management of that centre has raised counteract the threat of the highly pathogenic many concerns and the residents of the centre H5N1 avian flu following the report of a case in feel their concerns are not being addressed. Scotland this morning and the need to ascertain the level of preparedness required by Govern- Dr. Upton: I seek the adjournment of the Da´il ment to protect the health, economic and ecologi- under Standing Order 31 to discuss the following cal well-being of the country. urgent matter: the need for the Minister for Agri- culture and Food to outline the steps she is taking Dr. Cowley: I seek the adjournment of the Da´il to prepare for the arrival of avian flu, following under Standing Order 31 to discuss the following the death of a swan in Scotland suspected to be urgent matter: the reason 250 women from the caused by the deadly H5N1 virus, and the need south and the west of Ireland must die owing to for the Government to take a more proactive role the failure of the Ta´naiste and Minister for in this regard to protect public safety. Health and Children to provide a temporary bre- ast screening service which has been offered by the Galway Clinic since 2003 and which is neces- Mr. Gogarty: I seek the adjournment of the sary to save their lives as BreastCheck will not be Da´il under Standing Order 31 to discuss the fol- fully rolled out for all the women of the south lowing urgent matter: the need for the Minister and west until 2009. for Transport to establish a task force to identify and tackle congestion in the area bounded by the An Ceann Comhairle: Having considered the N4, the N7 and the M50 in west Dublin, with real matters raised, they are not in order under Stand- funding commitments, given that the problem is ing Order 31. already clearly unmanageable and people feel they are living in a gridlock box. The ongoing Order of Business. development of Adamstown and the new wel- come employment opportunities at Grangecastle The Ta´naiste: It is proposed to take No. 11a, are going ahead without sufficient public trans- motion re ministerial rota for parliamentary ques- port infrastructure, some of which could be tions; No. 15, Registration of Deeds and Title Bill immediately provided, such as more buses, while 2004 [Seanad] — Order for Report, Report and the rail network could and should be electrified Final Stages; and No. 1, Energy (Miscellaneous long before 2015. Provisions) Bill 2006 — Order for Second Stage and Second Stage. Aengus O´ Snodaigh: I seek the adjournment of It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in the Da´il under Standing Order 31 to discuss the Standing Orders, that No. 11a shall be decided following urgent matter: the need for the Minister without debate and the Da´il on its rising today for the Environment, Heritage and Local shall adjourn until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 25 Government to indicate his acceptance of the April 2006. Teagasc report on the implementation of the nitrates directive in Ireland; the need for the Mr. Naughten: On a point of order, the Ceann implementation of an amended directive in a Comhairle made no decision on the Standing manner that recognises Irish conditions; and the Order 31 requests. The one with regard to avian needs of the environment and of agriculture as flu is a serious issue and should be addressed. established by the Teagasc report. An Ceann Comhairle: I made a decision and I read it out. That is not a point of order. Ms C. Murphy: I seek the adjournment of the There are two proposals to put to the House.