Seanad Éireann debate -
Thursday, 16 Nov 1989

Vol. 123 No. 5

Order of Business.

Mr. Lanigan

Before I call the Order of Business, I wish to refer to a matter raised yesterday in connection with the speakers. I am not sure exactly what the technical problems are but I believe that it is the people who are in front of the Cathaoirleach who dictate which speaker is on and apparently if two speakers are on at the one time there is a problem around the House. Perhaps I could direct the attention of the people who have control of the speakers to this matter. It is not an issue of grave importance but if there are two speakers on at one time there is a distortion around the House. It is up to the people in front of the Cathaoirleach to control what happens with regard to the speakers and it is not a matter for anybody else.

In regard to the Order of Business, it is proposed to take items Nos. 1 and 2. Item No. 1 will commence now and the Minister will come in at 1 o'clock. Item No. 2 will commence at 3 o'clock. We will not sit later than 5 p.m. this afternoon but we will not conclude the debate unless the business has been concluded at 5 p.m. Next week we will have the Trustee Savings Banks Bill and the Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence) Bill and there is a maritime Bill from the Minister, Deputy Wilson, next week.

Mr. Manning

My impression was that it was agreed yesterday that we would not conclude item No. 2 today. I ask that it not be concluded as there are some speakers who want to come in.

Mr. Lanigan

Absolutely.

Mr. O'Toole

On the question of the speakers which the Leader of the House referred to, I do not think there are difficulties with the microphones: the difficulty is with the speakers. There is one speaker pointing to the Press Gallery, there is one speaker pointing to the Visitors' Gallery, but there is no speaker bringing the sound back down here. That is the problem. It has nothing to do with the microphones or the people

On the debate which is now beginning I suggest that it would be appropriate to restrict speakers, other than the Minister to 15 minutes each. There is a fair number of people who wish to speak before 1 o'clock and this would allow everyone in.

Would the Leader of the House clarify a matter which was discussed here yesterday and again at the Committee on Procedure and Privileges last night? I understood he would clarify it this morning; that is, the question of the pairing of Ministers on Seanad business who may be required in the Dáil. I am happy with the developments, the Independents are really pleased, but I think it should go on to the record of the House.

Mr. Norris

I would like to add to what Senator O'Toole has said. I also think it is the speakers but I do not think it is the speakers in the mechanical sense. I think it is the human speakers, some of whom mumble and cannot be heard and could not be heard no matter how much electronic amplification was made available. I do not wish to join in criticism of the technical resources in this House. I simply appeal to people who wish to be heard to ensure, by using their vocal chords that this is the case.

Mrs. Honan

We always hear the Senator.

Mr. Norris

And Senator Honan. I would like to ask the Leader of the House if he can give me some information which would enable me not to seek an amendment to the Order of Business to take item No. 41. I am hopeful that he may have some information for me. I am not sure if it is to be given to the House publicly — that was my understanding — or whether it is to be given privately to me. I would welcome it if it was to be given publicly on the Order of Business. I would also like to know if he can give us an indication of when the Prohibition of Incitment to Hatred Bill, 1988 will be coming before the House because in the light of the positive developments in the Dáil it looks as if the Leader of the House may have some interesting news for the House on item No. 41 for us today.

Mr. Lanigan

On the question of the amplification, if somebody is not capable of projecting themselves it is their fault but there is a technical problem with the monitors. Let us get the technical aspect sorted out and then sort out the other things. On item No. 41, I will talk to Senator Norris privately about that afterwards.

Mr. O'Toole

What about the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, the pairing of Ministers?

Mr. Lanigan

We have a guarantee that Ministers will be paired in the House. Senator Norris can be assured that from now on the Minister will be paired with an Opposition person and we will not have to have a break in business in this House. This is an excellent advance. For too many years we have had disruption of debates because Ministers had to go to divisions. I want to thank the Leader of the Opposition for the work he did and also Deputy Higgins, a former Member of this House who knows the problems, has agreed and the Government have agreed that Ministers will not have to leave this House when there is a vote in the other House.

Order of Business agreed to.