Vol. 233 Wednesday, No. 5 16 July 2014 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES SEANAD ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Insert Date Here 16/07/2014A00050Business of Seanad 411 16/07/2014B00200Order of Business 412 16/07/2014J00100Standing Orders: Motion 428 16/07/2014K00100Employment Permits (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee Stage 429 16/07/2014N00700Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages 438 Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages ��������������451 Eye Care: Motion 461 Court of Appeal Bill 2014: Second Stage 477 16/07/2014SS00800Court of Appeal Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages 494 16/07/2014WW00450Court of Appeal Bill 2014: Motion for Earlier Signature 501 16/07/2014WW00750Employment Permits (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages 501 16/07/2014AAA00800Adjournment Matters �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 511 16/07/2014AAA00900Voluntary Sector Funding ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 511 16/07/2014BBB00500Pyrite Remediation Programme Implementation 514 16/07/2014CCC00400Motor Tax Collection ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������516 16/07/2014DDD00400Seirbhísí Eitilte 518 SEANAD ÉIREANN Dé Céadaoin, 16 Iúil 2014 Wednesday, 16 July 2014 Chuaigh an Cathaoirleach i gceannas ar 1030 am Machnamh agus Paidir. Reflection and Prayer. 16/07/2014A00050Business of Seanad 16/07/2014A00100An Cathaoirleach: I have received notice from Senator John Crown that, on the motion for the Adjournment of the House today, he proposes to raise the following matter: The urgent need for the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Govern- ment to reinstate the funding which the Neurological Alliance of Ireland has received for the past eight years I have also received notice from Senator Darragh O’Brien of the following matter: The need for the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to report on the progress made by the Pyrite Remediation Board since it opened for applica- tions, with a particular emphasis on those homeowners who have applied for remediation, and whether the developer of their homes continues to trade and may be involved in litiga- tion I have also received notice from Senator Michael Comiskey of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government to ex- amine the possibility of a tax credit for people who have paid tax on a road haulage vehicle which subsequently is not in use for the duration of time for which it is taxed I have also received notice from Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh of the following matter: Go dtabharfaidh an tAire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta le fios céard atá bearta- ithe ag a Roinn maidir leis na h-aerstráicí ar an gCloigeann agus Inis Bó Finne i gContae na Gaillimhe I have also received notice from Senator Martin Conway of the following matter: The need for the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to clarify the reason for the loss of funding to the Irish Motor Neuron Disease Association 411 Seanad Éireann through the scheme to support national organisations I have also received notice from Senator Denis Landy of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Defence to discuss the recently published “Review of Certain Matters Relating to Bord na gCon” prepared by Indecon International Consultants I have also received notice from Senator Mary Moran of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Health to provide full-time podiatry service for diabetes patients in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda I regard the matters raised by Senators Crown, O’Brien, Ó Clochartaigh and Comiskey as suitable for discussion on the Adjournment and they will be taken at the conclusion of business Senators Conway, Landy and Moran may give notice on another day of the matters they wish to raise 16/07/2014B00200Order of Business 16/07/2014B00300Senator Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No 1, motion re compellability di- rections, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business without debate; No 2, Employ- ment Permits (Amendment) Bill 2014 - Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 1145 am; No 3 Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 - Report and Final Stages, to be taken at 1215 pm and to adjourn no later than 145 pm; No 4, Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2014 - Committee Stage (resumed) and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 2 pm and to adjourn no later than 345 pm; No 65, Private Members’ business, which is motion No 11, to be taken at 4 pm and to conclude no later than 6 pm if not previously concluded; and No 5, Court of Appeal Bill 2014 - Second Stage, to be taken at 6 pm, with the contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes. The Court of Appeal Bill went through the Dáil quickly as it involves implement- ing the will of the people as expressed in the recent referendum If no amendment is proposed, we could explore the possibility of taking all Stages this evening I am open to the decision of the House as to whether Members want to take all Stages or Second Stage only of that Bill 16/07/2014B00400Senator Marc MacSharry: We have no problem with all Stages of the Court of Appeal Bill being taken today if that is what is required At the outset, I welcome Senator Norris back to the House It is great to see him looking so well and back in full spirits to participate with us 16/07/2014B00500Senator Jillian van Turnhout: Hear, hear 16/07/2014B00600Senator Marc MacSharry: It would be remiss to fail to wish the new Ministers of State well and to commiserate with those who have lost out on this occasion Genuinely, we wish them all well However, it speaks volumes when one sees the absence of a female Minister of State There was ample talent on the Government side to consider That is borne out by many Members on the Leader’s side As somebody from the north west, it is regrettable to see so many counties from the region without representation, including Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Roscommon, Galway, most of Donegal, Longford and Westmeath It is a gaping wound in the north west 412 16 July 2014 16/07/2014B00700Senator Pat O’Neill: We have the Taoiseach 16/07/2014B00800Senator Marc MacSharry: He seems to have forgotten where he is from That is the is- sue 16/07/2014B00900Senator Terry Leyden: And the Cathaoirleach 16/07/2014B01000Senator Marc MacSharry: There is a point of view that it speaks volumes about the lack of seriousness with which the Government treats the regions, in particular its failure to empower them to perform to their potential We express some regret notwithstanding our best wishes to the new Ministers I ask for an amendment to the Order of Business The Leader might assist me in terms of what Minister should come to the House as we are somewhat confused as to who is respon- sible now for the roll out of the disability strategy It seems responsibility has been removed from the remit of the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Kathleen Lynch We are not sure if it forms part of the remit of the new Minister of State, Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, or if someone else is responsible. I will be guided by the Leader in that regard but in the interim I propose that the Taoiseach come to the House to explain why €12 million in cuts has been imposed on the Pobal funding of the scheme of support for voluntary organisa- tions I refer to organisations including the Neurological Alliance, the Huntingdon’s Disease Association, the Migraine Association, Muscular Dystrophy Ireland, Chronic Pain Ireland, and the Irish Deaf Society, some of which will now have to close as their individual grants of what in some instances is €22,500 - a measly sum - have been cut There was no audit, no contact or consultation with the groups and no suggestion that they were not playing their parts In fact, in discussions with the Disability Federation of Ireland today, I was assured that the very point of these organisations and the vital contribution they make was as a conduit and a go-to point to ensure that people suffering from these illnesses could avail of exactly what they wanted The CEO of the Disability Federation of Ireland told me today that these people will end up as unnecessary casualties because we cannot see the wood for the trees We are callously cutting €12 million in funding It is a measly amount compared to what the contribution of these organisations has meant The Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, who had been responsible for this, was in the House last night I do