There are three proposals to be put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with Nos. a9 and b9 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 33 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with the adjournment of the Dáil agreed? Agreed.
Order of Business.
Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources
(Dr. Woods): It is proposed to take No.a9, motion re Priority Questions; No. b9, motion re Oral Questions and No. 33, Statements on BIM Seafood Industry Agenda 2000-2006 Report. It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that (1) Nos. a9 and b9 shall be decided without debate; (2) the following arrangements shall apply in relation to No. 33: (i) the opening statement of a Minister or Minister of State and of the main spokespersons for the Fine Gael Party and the Labour Party shall not exceed 30 minutes in each case; (ii) the statement of each other Member called upon shall not exceed 20 minutes in each case; (iii) Members may share time; and (iv) a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 15 minutes; and (3) the Dáil, on its rising today shall adjourn until 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 5 May 1999.
Will the Minister ask the Minister for Public Enterprise, Deputy O'Rourke, to make a statement as soon as possible, to clarify the situation with regard to Cablelink? The matter is causing deep concern for the flotations of State companies and about the manner in which the sale of this State asset is being conducted.
The Electricity Regulation Bill, 1998 is before the House. Can the Minister tell us if a major dispute has arisen between Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats concerning this legislation, given the interview by the deputy leader of the Progressive Democrats, Deputy O'Malley, in which he declared the Bill to be very protective of the ESB and appeared to challenge Deputy O'Rourke's legislation? Has a dispute arisen on this matter and when will the House proceed with the legislation?
The first question raised by the Deputy is not in order as the matter is before the courts. However, the Minister may reply if he wishes.
As Deputy Owen knows, the London based firm of investment bankers, Rothschild, was contracted by Telecom Éireann and RTE to manage the sale of the shareholding. Bids were invited, the deadline date for submission of indicative offers was 10 March and a number of people responded. As matters since the deadline date of 10 March are before the High Court, it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time. The court may give some ruling on the matter as early as tomorrow. I will convey the Deputy's request to the Minster who may comply with it as soon as the court has completed its business.
The provisions of the Electricity Regulation Bill, to establish the ESB as a company under the Companies Act, will now be included in the Electricity Bill.
When will that be published and is there an interparty Government dispute on the matter?
The heads are being prepared currently.
Whose head is being prepared? Is the Minister playing the part of Salomé?
Heads will come together. Deputy Owen may be sure of that.
Can the Minister inform the House if the Whips have considered the proposal I made yesterday to allocate time for statements in response to allegations of sexual abuse and mistreatment in State run and State funded institutions made in the RTE programme, "States of Fear", and for an apology to the victims of that abuse?
The Taoiseach is sympathetic to the points made by the leader of the Labour Party, as are all Members of the House. This matter affects, not merely the House but all of Irish society. There is a Cabinet sub-committee which will present its report to Government shortly. There will be no difficulty at that stage in having a broad-ranging debate. This can be arranged by the Whips. There are no differences between us on this issue. Society should respond comprehensively to these appalling revelations.
May we look at current institutions like prisons?
I appreciate that.
I agree there are no divisions in the House on the matter. Members want to express their point of view. Given the experience of some on this side of the House of Cabinet, Government and the legal advice of the Attorney General, the last thing we want is a Cabinet sub-committee, the members of which will be told that they cannot open their mouths for fear of incurring compensation costs. It is a matter of considerable regret that in respect of other scandals – I cannot be specific – Ministers were unable to apologise for what had happened, notwithstanding the legitimate claims for compensation.
The Attorney General advises; Ministers decide.
We should learn from that experience. It is clear from the Order of Business that we are not overburdened with legislative measures. Deputies on all sides of the House – officeholders and former officeholders – should be afforded an opportunity to make the apology which most of the people concerned want.
The Deputy should be brief.
No amount of monetary compensation will satisfy them.
Will the Government reconsider and place the child care inspectorate on a statutory basis to ensure children in care in institutions receive the protection they require, now that we know what went on in those dark years when children were locked away and the public was not aware of what was happening to them? Will the Government also reconsider Deputy Currie's proposal that there should be an ombudsman for children so that 20 years from now we will not be indicted by those who follow us into this House who will ask why we did nothing about the situation in child care institutions?
(Dublin West): In the minds of many, a Cabinet sub-committee reporting smacks of putting the matter on the long finger. The shock expressed by the nation in response to appalling systematic cruelty by institutions of the State as well as the Church merits a quick catharsis, an acknowledgement of the enormous pain and suffering, a quick apology and proposals for compensation. The Dáil should deal with the issue next week at the latest. Time should be made available for statements to bring to an end, in so far as is possible, the pain and suffering of so many innocent children who are now adults.
An immediate response is required. As the Whips appear to have overlooked the request made yesterday, consideration should be given to making time available – say, two hours – for statements to allow Deputies express regret and make an apology.
I am in agreement with other Members on all these issues. While I understand Deputy Sargent's point that a quick response is required, the Cabinet sub-committee which has been looking at the matter nationally and internationally will present its report, which is comprehensive, to Government almost immediately. Members will then have an opportunity – the Whips can discuss the timing – to express the horror not just of the House but of the nation at the extent and severity of the revelations. The matter must be addressed comprehensively. Not alone must we look back, we must, as Deputies Mitchell and Owen said, also look forward. The Minister for Education and Science has been deeply involved. Together, in an historic approach, we can apologise for what happened in the past.
Will the Minister clarify—
We cannot discuss the matter further.
Who are the members of the Cabinet sub-committee? Does it include the Ministers for Health and Children and Justice, Equality and Law Reform? Will the Government consider placing the child care inspectorate on a statutory basis so that it will have the powers it needs? Because services are often provided voluntarily there has been a failure to intervene in time.
The Taoiseach stated in the House yesterday that the Whips would meet to deal with the issue. There has been a rowing back this morning. Have the Whips met?
I said that the Whips can meet and discuss the most opportune time—
The Taoiseach stated in the House yesterday that the Whips would meet to discuss the matter.
There is no problem with that.
When will they meet?
They meet regularly. They are discussing the business for next week. The Cabinet sub-committee includes the Ministers for Social, Community and Family Affairs; Justice, Equality and Law Reform; Education and Science; Health and Children; and the Marine and Natural Resources who have been involved in some of these matters during the years, as well as the Attorney General. It is the Taoiseach's desire that consideration should be as broad-ranging as possible. All issues, including those mentioned by Deputy Owen and others, on which we have been reluctant to take certain steps, will be dealt with comprehensively. The reason the committee has been deliberating over a period is to look comprehensively at the issue.
Why has the Western Development Commission not been allowed to use financial resources made available to it in the House last year and again this year?
The Deputy should table a parliamentary question. That is not a question for the Order of Business.
Legislation which passed through the House before Christmas enabled the Government to make available £5 million, but I have been told that not a single penny has been paid.
There are other ways in which the Deputy may raise that matter. It is not in order on the Order of Business.
Is it the Government's intention to adhere to the commitment given to publish the mental health Bill before the end of this session?
That is still the intention.
Will the Minister give a commitment that he will adhere to that?
The Deputy asked if it was the intention to publish the Bill before the end of the session, and that is certainly the intention.
I do not want to have to come back to ask if it will be published before the end of the millennium.
The commitment is still there.
Mr. Hayes
Is it the Government's intention to reintroduce the lapsed Landlord and Tenant (Abolition of Ground Rent) Bill, 1997, better known as the Woods Bill?
We have been waiting for this.
That matter is being considered in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
Go for it.
Perhaps if we extended the sitting today we could deal with it. It lapsed because nothing was done about it by the last Government. The official reply is that it is not possible to indicate when it will come before the House. Members can be quite sure I will be very enthusiastic about it.
Will the Minister confirm to the House that at long last we will get the opportunity to debate the NATO led Partnership for Peace?
That is not a matter for the Order of Business.
Will the Minister confirm the debate will be on 20 May—
I have made a ruling on this matter. The Deputy should resume his seat. I call Deputy Fitzgerald.
It is the way Deputy Gormley asks.
If I could be helpful to the Chair, I understand it is scheduled for 20 May.
Thank you.
Why has the legislation establishing a State claims agency been delayed given the number of compensation cases being taken against the State and the need to manage them more effectively and efficiently and to save costs? Why has this legislation been put back again? Can it be given greater priority because it is extremely important?
The heads of the National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill have come before Government and the Bill is expected later this year.
In view of the recent publication of the television and major sporting coverage Bill, when can we expect the publication of the broadcasting Bill? Is it proposed that the House would have an opportunity to debate the rumoured appointment of my colleague, the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, as the next EU Commissioner?
Did the Deputy leak that?
That matter does not arise on the Order of Business.
The Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, would make an excellent Commissioner but the Deputy might not be bad himself. I am sure many Members of the House would make excellent Commissioners. Hands up all volunteers.
The Minister, Deputy Woods', name was mentioned.
As Members will know, the business of this House is very important and normally takes precedence over other business.
The Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, could be put in charge of investigations.
On Deputy Kenny's first question, the Bill will be published in approximately two weeks' time.