It is proposed to take Items Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7. The Social Welfare (No. 2) Bill will start when the Restrictive Practices (Amendment) Bill, 1987, is concluded. We will continue with the Social Welfare (No. 2) Bill to 1.30 p.m. We will take the Science and Technology Bill at 1.30 p.m. and go back to the Social Welfare (No. 2) Bill on the conclusion of the Science and Technology Bill and the other items ordered.
Order of Business.
I would like to ask the Leader of the House when it is proposed to take the Fisheries (No. 2) Bill, 1987, what business he envisages the House taking tomorrow and when will the House rise for the Christmas recess? Also on the Order of Business, on a different matter, four weeks ago this House came together in eloquent grief over the tragedy in Enniskillen. Last night in Derry a 70 year old man was bombed into eternity and innocent children were maimed. It is appropriate that this House should express our sympathy with the families of those who were killed or maimed last night and our condemnation of this atrocity from whatever source it came.
I wish to join with Senator Manning in expressing sympathy to the relatives of those involved in that atrocity in Derry last night. This is one more time that we have to rise and express our grief to those who were stricken by the scourge that has gone on in that part of the country. I do not know if an expression of any kind is a contribution to the situation. It is very hard for this House, the other House, or any parliament, to contribute anything other than to implement the law as far as we can and to restrict the activities of those who are involved in this kind of action. It is a dastardly act to have committed in Ireland on the eve of Christmas. I do not know what the answer is but I certainly would like to see the House sending their sympathy to the relatives of the dead and wounded.
The Independent group would also like to be associated with the remarks that have just been made about the latest atrocity in the North. We have become almost desensitised and anaesthesised against this type of atrocity which happens so regularly. We should, at least, say that this kind of activity is against everything that all Members of this House believe in. It is anti-socialist; it is anti-republican; it stands for nothing; and it is against everything that we hold dear and sacred.
I would like to ask the Leader of the House if the Companies (No. 2) Bill and the Insurance Bill are not being taken before Christmas, could we at least ask at this point to have a copy of the proposed Government amendments, at least as far as they have got. We do not want to be faced with a raft of amendments to be discussed at a half a day, a day or two day's notice. It would be useful to have them early so that we could discuss them.
On Item No. 7, I would like to have that motion ordered to be taken today. I raise this point because I want a guarantee that it will be taken. Is it intended to take it at 6.30 p.m. or when is it intended to take it? I make this point because we expected it to be taken yesterday. The Independent group want it to be taken today.
I want to join with my colleagues in expressing sympathy for last night's further atrocity in the North and to identify with the bereaved and the wounded. On this occasion although one life was lost it could have been a lot worse because this bomb went off without warning. We have to start asking ourselves the question: when will it ever end, or are the people who perpetrate this kind of violence listening to anybody who represents people on either side of the Border? It is a tragedy that our country is being torn with strife of this nature. We dealt with it last night in another part of the world. This is happening on our own doorstep and it is appropriate that we should condemn it outright.
I would like to refer to the Order of Business as outlined by the Leader of the House. He indicated that Item No. 1 will be the Report and Final Stages of the Restrictive Practices (Amendment) Bill. He listed the Second Stage of the Social Welfare (No. 2) Bill to be interrupted at 1.30 p.m. to take the Science and Technology Bill which he then indicated would be completed on all Stages. I hope the Leader of the House is not indicating that all sections of the Social Welfare (No. 2) Bill will be taken today, that at least there will be a break between Second Stage and Committee Stage tomorrow morning.
On the issue of what happened in Derry, everything that needs to be said has been said. Can I ask the Leader of the House if he will privately or publicly let me know why the Adoption Bill is taking so long to come to Committee Stage? I know there are certain constitutional overtones but they will not go away by virtue of the fact that the Adoption Bill is indefinitely delayed. It is not a complex or a long Bill. It is complex because of its constitutional implications. It is not complex in itself. I am intrigued and frustrated by the apparent sitting on this Bill by the Government for the past number of months. We discussed it before the summer hoping that we would have amendments after summer. It is an important Bill. It affects up to 3,000 children in the country.
The Senator cannot make a speech on the contents of the Bill.
I should have been aware of that; I am now fully aware of it. I would like the Leader to explain to me whether he has any idea when it will be taken and why it is being delayed, and if he has an idea, would he share it with us, or would he remind those who are responsible for this Bill that our patience is running out.
I have a question for the Leader of the House. It is the third time we have asked if he has a report for the House on the establishment of the Committee on Co-operation with Developing Countries and the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs which would deal with such matters. I have raised the question today because every day we learn from the media of famine spreading in Ethiopia, Mozambique and Angola. In 1985 the then Committee on Co-operation with Developing Countries did an awful lot in awakening this country to the problem of——
The Senator is asking the Leader a question. I do not think he needs to go into details about it. I am sure he has got the message.
It is no harm to embellish it a little.
That is the trouble. People are inclined to embellish things too much.
I mention again that this is the third time we have asked this question and we have not got a positive reply.
I should like to be associated with the vote of sympathy to the people in the North. We have being passing those votes of sympathy in our local authorities for many years now and it is sad that the situation seems to be getting worse instead of better. Indeed, a humble person like me would like to make a special appeal — I know, unless they listen to appeals, they will not listen to anything else — to all the paramilitaries and all the people of violence "for Gods sake for the days of Christmas at least do not bring any more sadness or disruption to families in this country." On a brighter note I would like to congratulate Deputy Nealon on the very good books he has out. It is very good coverage.
I do not think this arises on the Order of Business.
We mentioned here another day that another book did not include the Seanad.
No commercials.
A number of questions have been asked. Regarding the Social Welfare Bill, at this stage it is intended that we take all Stages of that Bill today. The Whips can meet later on to discuss what length of break there can be between the Second and the following Stages. Unfortunately, the reason we have to break off discussion on that Bill at 1.30 p.m. is that the Minister is in the other House at Question Time.
The Fisheries Bill will be in the House tomorrow. The Dublin Transport Authority Bill and the Appropriations Bill will also be coming in tomorrow and there is a motion on finance tomorrow. On the Appropriations Bill we will have a short number of contributions and the main body of discussion can take place in the New Year. With regard to Senator Connor's query about the Committee on Co-operation with Developing Countries, we will try to get that report before the House as soon as possible.
I was asking if there was any report on the establishment of the committee?
I thought it was about debating a report. There really has not been any movement to set up that committee. I will bring the request to the notice of the Government. On the question of the Companies and Insurance Bills and amendments which are already drafted, I will go to the Government and request that we get those as soon as possible. On the Adoption Bill again we will take that when the Government send it back to us. I will bring Senator Brendan Ryan's remarks to the attention of the Minister.
Like the other Members I, too, would like to join in the expressions of sympathy to the families in Derry on the latest atrocity. As has been said in this House, one would often wonder whether a motion such as this can carry any weight. Nevertheless I think we have to continually remind ourselves and other people that we do not agree in any way with the perpetrators of atrocities from whatever source they come. It is particularly difficult for families. Christmas should be a time of joy and of coming together of families. Here we have a situation where year after year these atrocities occur and people are left in hopeless situations. The expressions of sympathy from this House might be of use to the families but I do not think asking murderers and committers of this type of atrocity to stop will be heard by them, however I join with the other Members in our expression of sympathy.
Will the Senator have time to take No. 7? He was asked that question.
We will discuss that matter later on in the day with the Whips.
I am not clear. Is the Leader of the House saying it will definitely be taken today?
Yes, but I cannot give a time for it at present.
Order of Business agreed to.