OPPOSITION MOTIONS of no confidence in Minister for Health James Reilly are expected to lead to bitter exchanges as the new Dáil term begins today.
Debate on the motions, moved separately by Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin, starts tonight. The Government, with its big majority, is expected to easily defeat them at the conclusion of the debate tomorrow night.
The new term will also see the introduction of legislation paving the way for the children’s referendum, which is expected to be held in November. Broad Opposition support for the wording, yet to be announced, is likely.
There will also be relentless Opposition pursuit of the Government on the economy, intensifying in the run-up to a severe budget on December 5th.
Minister for Finance Michael Noonan will announce €3.5 billion in cuts and new taxes in the Dáil that day.
The amount people will have to pay in property tax is also expected to be announced at the same time.
The Government’s full legislative programme will be announced later today following its approval by the Cabinet.
The new term will see the completion of the Personal Insolvency Bill allowing debtors to emerge from bankruptcy after three years instead of 12.
Minister for Justice Alan Shatter, who is sponsoring the legislation, is expected to come under pressure in the Dáil following a European Commission report expressing concern that a €3 million upper limit of debt was too high for a scheme that aimed to help homeowners in financial distress struggling to repay residential mortgages.
Fianna Fáil will table an amendment to the legislation to ensure that “one item of jewellery of ceremonial significance” would be among the items not taken into account when debtors’ assets were calculated.
This could be an engagement ring, wedding ring or other item of sentimental as well as monetary value. Mr Shatter has said expensive jewellery could not be exempt from debt-relief mechanisms.
The Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill providing for the abolition of the HSE board and its replacement by new governance structures will also be debated.
A potentially divisive issue for the Government could be abortion legislation if it were introduced in the aftermath of a report expected this month from a Government-appointed expert group.
Some Fine Gael TDs differ sharply from their Labour Coalition colleagues on the issue.
Fine Gael Minister of State Lucinda Creighton has warned that a debate on abortion could “divide the nation”, and should be avoided given the scale of economic difficulties facing the Government.
Labour Minister of State Kathleen Lynch has insisted the Government would have to act on the report, including introducing legislation if necessary.
There has been speculation that the Government would allow a free vote on any legislation introduced, but some backbenchers privately believe this would be an act of cowardice by the Government on an issue that has long demanded political action.