It is proposed to take Nos. 1, 2 and 3, in that order.
Order of Business.
On the Order of Business, I understand that it is suggested that the Seanad should sit next week for the sole purpose of debating the recently published Green Paper which is the document relating to the economy and the economic prospects of the country. This is precisely the subject matter that will be dealt with today in the context of the Finance Bill. It seems to me that there will be a danger, if not a realisation, of duplication, that we will have two economic debates in succeeding weeks coming fairly hard on the heels of an economic debate a few weeks ago on the White Paper which in turn was preceded, by only a matter of weeks too, by the debate on the Appropriation Bill. It is pointless and a waste of Seanad time, which perhaps might be used for some other purpose, to have an economic debate next week when the debate started today could properly encompass both the Finance Bill and the Green Paper.
On that point, on the Order of Business last Thursday, I made reference to what appears as Motion No. 20 on the Order Paper today:
That Seanad Éireann calls on the Government to introduce as a matter of urgency a comprehensive scheme of civil legal aid and advice as outlined in the Report of the Committee on Civil Legal Aid and Advice.
I wonder whether the Leader of the House might give time to discuss that. There have been two very important developments in that area, the publication of the Pringle Report and the decision of the Court of Human Rights on Mrs. Airey's case. I mentioned it last week and Senator W. Ryan, in the absence of the Leader of the House, said that he would make inquiries about the matter. It is a very urgent matter and I would hope the Leader of the House might see fit to give time to discuss it before the House adjourns for the summer.
I disagree with Senator Cooney's proposal that we not meet to discuss the Green Paper. It would confuse the issues if we were to mix the Green Paper discussion and the Finance Bill together. The Government have produced a discussion document and we want the employers, the trade unions and all the different groups in our society to offer their contributions. It would be a pity if Seanad Eireann were not to offer its contribution on the Green Paper and did not discuss it separately. It would confuse the issue and it would be a great pity if the most unique document published by any Government, which lays down the ways the Government are going to achieve full employment by the end of 1983, was not debated in Seanad Éirean. It is vital that it be debated on its own next week.
With regard to Senator Molony's reference to Motion No. 20, I certainly consider that it may be possible to take it next week. In regard to Senator Cooney's question, I am not quite clear whether he suggests we should combine the two or we should merely not have a discussion on the Green Paper.
The two will become combined because of the nature of the subject. It is essentially the same subject.
There is a problem in that there are two Ministers involved and it would be difficult to combine the two because obviously the matters arising from the Finance Bill would have to be dealt with by the Minister for Finance and the matters arising from the Green Paper would have to be dealt with by the Minister for Economic Planning and Development. Consequently it would not be possible to debate the two at the same time. I have discussed the question of the Green Paper with the Minister for Economic Planning and Development and whether or not it would be appropriate to have a debate in this House before we rise for the vacation and his view was that it was a matter for the House but that it would certainly be too late to debate it when we came back because by that time the final White Paper would be almost ready. His view is that if we want to discuss it we must discuss it before we rise for the vacation.
I have no objection to it being discussed but I feel it should be discussed along with the Finance Bill.
There is some validity in that but nevertheless we will have to have two separate debates.
I want to propose that we sit until 10.30 tonight to get as much business as possible done because the alternative is that we may have to sit on Friday.
I presume we will have the usual break at 6 o'clock.
Order of Business agreed to.