Seanad Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 18 Dec 1984

Vol. 106 No. 9

Order of Business.

Professor Dooge

It is proposed to sit today from now until 5.30 p.m.; to take a break until 7 p.m. and to sit from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. and then to resume at 10.30 tomorrow morning. I propose that we order for today, Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4, though the possibility is that only Nos. 1 and 2 will be reached. In regard to No. 1, which is the Social Welfare (Amendment) Bill, it is proposed to take only the Second Stage today but to take the Committee and remaining Stages first thing tomorrow morning. The Bill requires to be law before the end of the year. In this way we will give an opportunity for Senators who wish to put down amendments for Committee Stage.

I might say that in regard to the business tomorrow, we should sit at 10.30 a.m. and the wish has been expressed on behalf of Senators that we should adjourn at 4 p.m. tomorrow. Apart from the Committee Stage of the Social Welfare Bill and the possible completion of the Appropriation Bill, there is a very short Bill being circulated today. It is a technical Bill arising from the withdrawal of Greenland from the EC. I have spoken to Senator Willie Ryan about it. He sees no objection to this being taken tomorrow. I am now giving notice to other Senators that this Bill, being circulated today, will be taken tomorrow.

I want also to draw Senators' attention to the fact that item No. 6 on today's Order Paper, which is a report on disadvantaged areas from the Joint Committee on Secondary Legislation of the EC, contains a request for a debate at the earliest possible opportunity. We have as a House, undertaken that when such a request is made the debate will be held within six days unless otherwise ordered. I suggest therefore that tomorrow, if time is available before 4 p.m., we should commence the debate on No. 6 though not necessarily conclude it.

Mr. Lynch

Could the Leader of the House give us some information on a matter I raised on the Order of Business some two weeks ago with regard to the Copyright Bill which was on the Order Paper for quite some time? It has now disappeared from the Order Paper. I understood it was on the Order Paper for business in the Dáil. As I explained to the Leader of the House on that occasion, there was a particular reason for asking that this Copyright Bill be expedited. The reason I gave was that the Performing Right Society — which was at issue during the debate in the Seanad — have increased their charges by 35 per cent.

An Cathaoirleach

The Senator cannot discuss the pros and cons of the Bill.

Mr. Lynch

Might I inquire from the Minister if permission was sought, or sanction given by him and the Prices Commission for that colossal increase? Might I have some information on that matter from the Leader of the House?

Mr. Ferris

I welcome the fact that we are taking the EC Joint Committee on Secondary Legislation Report on Disadvantaged Areas. Could the Leader of the House indicate whether there has been a positive response from the Community to the submission of the Government that there be an extension of the disadvantaged areas? Will that information be available during the debate? Otherwise we would be debating the issue in isolation.

Professor Dooge

Senator Lynch asked me if I could give him any information in regard to the Copyright Bill. All I can do is confirm the information I gave him two weeks ago, that is that the Copyright Bill has been returned by us to the Dáil. It is on the Dáil Order Paper. My understanding is that it was not proceeded with before the Dáil adjourned because it was wished to have further consideration of the Bill. I did say on the last occasion that my information was that this had nothing to do with the Performing Right Society or the Performing Right Society aspect of the Bill. I can confirm that, but, needless to say, it is not possible for me to indicate exactly what is the difficulty which has arisen. My information is that it is not concerned with that aspect.

In regard to the question of the Report of the Joint Committee on Secondary Legislation, in reply to Senator Ferris all I can say is that I anticipate that whatever spokesman comes in here on behalf of the Government will give the most up-to-date information in regard to the position. I do appreciate, as Senator Ferris said, that by debating it tomorrow, if sufficient information is not available, this may be self-defeating. But I am afraid I am in the hands of the committee who have asked for a debate at the earliest possible opportunity. I have already been in touch with the Department of Agriculture and I will be in touch with them again within the next hour and I will convey the point to them.

Order of Business agreed to.