Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (part of) Tuesday, 26 May 2015
TITLE Question proposed: "That the Title be the Title to the Bill." Chairman: Does the Minister of State wish to say anything before we conclude? Deputy Ann Phelan: I want to point out to the committee that while the Government is not presenting any amendments to the Bill at this stage in the process, it intends to propose a number of amendments on Report Stage in the Dรกil. This will require a motion to be tabled to amend the Long Title and scope of the Bill. These amendments will cover a range of issues, including further amendments to waste legislation and provisions relating to water services legislation. While I am not in a position to go into more detail about the amendments at this stage, they will be published in good time ahead of Report Stage so that Deputies will have time to consider them in advance of the debate on the floor of the House. I refer to the debate on the amendments on Report Stage. Deputy Tony McLoughlin: I apologise for being late. The Minister of State is welcome. I would like to ask her a few questions. First, for what reasons are the changes being introduced in sections 30 and 31 of the Bill being sought? Deputy Ann Phelan: The sections about which Deputy is asking amend motor tax legislation to extend the period for making a declaration of non-use of a motor vehicle on change of ownership, or on registration, from ten days to 21 days. It is good news that the current ten-day period of registration will now be extended to 21 days. This is in keeping with many other things. For example, 21 days are allowed for social welfare appeals. People are used to a 21-day timescale in this area. It is actually good news. Chairman: As we have dealt with the sections in question, I am not entirely sure whether we can go back over them. Would Deputy McLoughlin like to make a concluding comment? Deputy Tony McLoughlin: I have a couple of questions, if that is acceptable. Chairman: I think the rules preclude us from drilling back down into it. Deputy Tony McLoughlin: Okay. Deputy Noel Coonan: Rules are meant to be broken.
Chairman: The Deputy has been watching too much of "The Week in Politics". Deputy Noel Coonan: It is seldom that Deputy McLoughlin breaks any rule. Chairman: I do not mind allowing him back in, but I think I am precluded by the rules from doing so. Deputy Noel Coonan: Is this the new Labour Party policy? Deputy Ann Phelan: No. Chairman: The Bill is----Deputy Ann Phelan: I assure Deputy McLoughlin that these sections are good news and will be welcomed. Chairman: I remind the Deputy and the Minister of State that the Report Stage debate will take place in the Dรกil Chamber. Deputy Ann Phelan: Absolutely. Deputy Tony McLoughlin: I have other issues that I would like to raise, but I will do so on Report Stage. Chairman: I thank the Deputy. Deputy Ann Phelan: Okay. Catherine Murphy: We have been told that this is a technical Bill. I am often watching for Bills to which I can table amendments. When I tabled amendments to a transport Bill not that long ago, I was told that certain things could not be raised because it was a particular type of Bill. I would like to ask about the amendments that are coming to us. I have to tell the Minister of State that I do not like stuff coming to us on Report Stage. I know it can happen when things are worked on late in the day. It is nice to see the totality of what we are doing on Second Stage. The Minister of State has said that a motion will come before us. What is the nature of that motion? Will it be debated in the Dรกil? If so, will that debate precede the Report Stage debate? I am aware that a certain system applies if a quite substantial change is being made to legislation. I remember that a legal services Bill introduced by a former Minister, Michael McDowell, had increased in size by two thirds by the time it got to Report Stage. The Minister of State might tell us about the nature of the changes she is proposing in this regard, with specific reference to the nature of the motion that will come before the Dรกil. Deputy Ann Phelan: The motion that is to be tabled will amend the Long Title and scope of the Bill. The amendments will be introduced thereafter. I am not in a position to give any details of the amendments at this stage, other than to say they will be made available at an early stage so that the Deputies will have plenty of time to look at them.
Deputy Catherine Murphy: Are we looking at technical amendments to existing waste legislation? The legislation in question is pretty significant in its own right. Indeed, anything to do with water services legislation tends to be controversial. Deputy Ann Phelan: This Bill is quite technical. There are some typographical issues. It will really be a question of dotting the i's and crossing the t's. The scope of the Bill does not allow for the Bill to be changed in any huge way. The Bill itself is very technical. We will be proposing amendments. The Deputies will have plenty of time to consider them. Deputy Catherine Murphy: Is the Minister of State telling us that these changes are essentially technical and that the Bill is not going to be amended significantly? Deputy Ann Phelan: The Bill itself is a technical one. We intend to make further amendments to waste legislation and to include provisions relating to water services legislation. Chairman: Okay. Deputy Tony McLoughlin: Can I clarify something? What is the timeframe for this now? Chairman: Is the Deputy asking when Report Stage will be taken? Deputy Tony McLoughlin: Yes. Chairman: When is Report Stage likely to happen? Deputy Ann Phelan: It is scheduled for the end of June, so it is quite close. Deputy Brian Stanley: The Minister of State said that changes would be made to the Bill to deal with water services legislation. Can she outline to us what aspect of water services she has in mind? Deputy Ann Phelan: I am not in a position to go into that. Deputy Noel Coonan: Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink. Question put and agreed to. Bill reported without amendment. Chairman: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Ann Phelan, and the officials from her Department for attending today's meeting.