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Seanad Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 6 Jun 1990

Vol. 125 No. 6

Order of Business.

The Order of Business for today is item No. 1, the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Bill, 1989. This is a Seanad Bill which has been amended by the Dáil; we are on Report Stage. The item following that will be item No. 2, the Turf Development Bill, 1988 and it is proposed to complete Second Stage of that Bill at 5.30 p.m. The Minister will reply at approximately 5.15 p.m. From 5.30 p.m. until 8.30 p.m. we will have a three hour debate on the Independent motion, item No. 10 on the Order Paper.

I am very pleased we are having a full three hour debate in Private Members' time. This should be the normal practice rather than the exception. On the Order of Business, may I ask the Leader of the House what steps he has taken to clarify the constitutional issues which were mentioned here in the House on Friday, 25 May last arising out of the High Court settlement. He said then he would try to get clarification on those issues and I wonder if he has anything to report to us today on that?

Secondly, on the Order of Business would the Leader of the House consider at this point, given that we have a fairly light work-load, making time available for a full debate on Northern Ireland within the next two weeks in the light of recent developments there and in view of the fact that we have not had a debate on Northern Ireland for quite some time. Thirdly, I would like to support a call made by Senator Upton on a number of occasions that we should have an opportunity to discuss the current crisis in agriculture caused by what is commonly known as Mad Cow Disease.

I would just put to the Leader of the House one or two matters on which unfortunately I got no response. There is the Intermediate Education (Amendment) Bill, No. 6 on the Order Paper, and I requested that that matter be put to the Minister for Education. Is the Minister prepared to clear away the discrimination against girls in secondary schools by way of amendment of that Bill? I would like to know the position on that.

Also, I ask the Leader of the House to indicate to us the programme of new legislation which it is intended to initiate in this House between now and the summer. After the difficulties we have had recently one of the best exercises of rehabilitation we could undertake at this point would be the initiation and debate of legislation in this House. It is important that we get a commitment from the Leader of the House that certain legislation will be initiated in this House between now and the end of the term.

May I ask the Leader of the House what progress he has made in amalgamating those motions on the Order Paper which are suitable to be so dealt with and, in particular, is he prepared to make time available, as Senator Manning has said, for a debate on Mad Cow Disease? Indeed, he might widen that out into the question of farmers' incomes which I think could be easily incorporated in such a debate.

Ar an gcéad dul síos ba mhaith liom rud a tharla anseo le déanaí a lua nuair a bhí díospóireacht againn faoi sheirbhís teilifíse don Ghaeltacht. Chuir sé isteach go mór orm go raibh mé ábalta píosa a léamh sa nuachtán Domhnaigh faoi cad a bhí i gceist ag an Rialtas faoi sheirbhís Teilifís Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta agus é a chur isteach i Network 2, agus cé go raibh sé ar an nuachtán seachtain ó shin, ní raibh éinne ón Rialtas in ann faic á rá linn anseo faoi.

I would like to be assured that if there is a debate in this House on a serious issue the Government will treat the House seriously and tell us what is going on, instead of having it leaked to a political correspondent who was able to tell us that the Government had in mind to impose two hours of Irish on Network 2 at some stage in the future. I do not think it shows any respect for this House if a Government Minister comes in here, debates a matter in a lively way and vigorous way, but does not tell us things that clearly have been announced at the time and which are subsequently leaked — as it turned out in one of the Sunday papers recently — about an Irish language television service. May I ask the Leader of the House to give us some idea on tomorrow's business and in particular the nature of the debate. Is there to be a time limit on the debate on the Middle East, or will there be a time limit on speeches? That information would be helpful for Members who are preparing their notes.

Thirdly, with the Irish Presidency of the EC Council coming to an end, may I ask the Leader of the House — there is a degree of urgency about this — whether he would consider allocating time in the next couple of weeks to enable Members on all sides of the House to express their support, and their continuing support, for the Government campaign to ensure that full economic sanctions are sustained against South Africa until such time as there is an irreversible change in the system of apartheid. Lest there be any ambivalence about it from any circles in this House, I think we should have a debate in which Members on all sides of the House can express their views, which are close to being unanimous. To avoid any ambiguity, we should give our support from all sides both to the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs in this very high principled struggle of theirs to maintain a position of principle. I ask the Leader of the House to give us the opportunity to record our views in this House.

May I take up where Senator Ryan ended and support his statement in relation to economic sanctions and the role being played by our representatives in this area, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Taoiseach. Now that Nelson Mandela has left South Africa and is beginning his tour of Europe, I would like to ask the Leader of the House, what arrangements he has for the Seanad in relation to his visit here and how he is going to accommodate the Seanad and the Senators in relation to that visit. We have had requests on a number of occasions that both Houses be addressed but I would like a statement from the Leader as to how he is going to accommodate this House in relation to that matter.

I also support Senator Manning in his request for a debate on Northern Ireland. It is a request I have been making for many months, as indeed have a number of other Senators. In the light of the developments that have taken place in recent times, as Senator Manning has mentioned, it is extremely important that we have a debate. We have not had a debate in this House on Northern Ireland since the beginning of this present Seanad. In relation to the Supplementary Order Paper, is any progress being made in the context of compositing the Motions?

The question has been put already and I think it may be covered in the reply.

I would like to get some commitment from the Leader of the House in relation to the initiation of Private Members' legislation in this House and whether he is going to make some provision for that in this session.

I would like to remind the Leader of the House that he undertook to get further information for me on the progress of the Nationality Bill and the Misuse of Drugs Act. The Misuse of Drugs Act requires amendment and in the absence of this amendment certain persons living with the AIDs virus are debarred from access to a particular drug, DDI. I understand that the Leader of the House may not have this information to hand but perhaps he may be able to get it for me.

I would like the guidance of the House, particularly the Leader, as to whether time might be made available either for a debate or for a statement from the Minister for the Marine with regard to requests from the Irish Shipping workers who are currently picketing the Oireachtas. It is a very serious issue. It would not be appropriate for me to make a speech on this matter, and I am sure I would not be allowed, but they have been given certain undertakings. I know there are difficulties, but perhaps the Minister could make a statement either in this House or in the Dáil or perhaps we could have a debate in a non-confrontational manner because I think this House should be made relevant to people who have good humouredly, but quite firmly, picketed both Houses over a number of weeks.

May I first join with my colleague, Senator Norris, in asking the Leader of the House to convey the spirit and content of what he has suggested. I have a particular interest in the Irish Shipping employees. My brother, who lives in Marseilles, had been a source of sustenance to one of the ships that was berthed there for many, many months when they were far away from home. It is very sad to see young children outside the Houses of the Oireachtas with their families, families who have had commitments from the Government——

You are making a speech, Senator.

My main reason for standing, a Chathaoirligh, is that I would like to ask the Leader of the House if he would give consideration to the proposal, and this would be with the agreement of all sides of the House, that a telegram be sent to the Irish football team in Italy as they start on their odyssey. For those who may suggest this is a trivial or irrelevant matter, the Irish football team hold a unique place in the affection of the Irish nation and for those again who would suggest that it should not have any place in this House I would remind the House——

Senator, you can put a motion down to that effect if you want to.

I am asking the Leader of the House, purely on behalf of the House, to send a telegram of good wishes because the point I want to make——

It is inappropriate that you should raise that matter now. Senator, please, I request you to desist.

I hope that the Leader of the House——

Senator, your co-operation is as essential as that of everybody else.

The question of the three hour debate is something I am considering and I will come back to Senator Manning and other Senators on that matter. Regarding the constitutional issue which he raised, I have been in touch with the Attorney General on two occasions in the past fortnight. I am sure the Senator will realise that the problem is not an easy one, it is a complex legal matter. I am assured by the Attorney General that he is investigating it and I would like to think I may be in a position to have some statement regarding the matter next week or the week after.

On the question of whether we should have a debate on Northern Ireland, a matter raised by a number of Senators, it is not a proposal in the short term but it is something I will consider and I will have discussions with the leaders of the other parties.

On the question of Mad Cow Disease, my own view a fortnight ago was that we should have had a debate on that. I certainly have no objection to it. I mentioned to Senator Upton a fortnight ago that his motion might be more appropriate for a debate at this level. It is something we will consider for next week, if we can manage it.

Senator O'Toole referred to the programme for the balance of this term. I have nothing to add to what I gave here two weeks ago, which brought us fairly up to date. He specifically referred to item No. 6. I will talk about that matter to the Minister for Education and will contact him on it.

On the question from Senator Upton regarding composite motions on the Order Paper — it was also raised by Senator Costello — I can assure both Senators that that matter is being examined and worked upon. Senator Ryan referred to item No. 102 — the debate tomorrow. We thought we might conclude at about 2 p.m. but if it is felt that it should go on longer and if there are enough speakers, then certainly there would be no objections. It is a flexible motion and one that I will talk to the Whips about in the morning or this afternoon.

On the question of economic sanctions and apartheid generally, it is not something I have been thinking about as a debate in the near future but it is something I will consider and report back on.

Senator Norris referred to the Misuse of Drugs Act. I have not made any investigation on that but I will do so and come back to the Senator on it. He also referred to a marine problem which I regard as not being appropriate to the Order of Business and Senator Mooney referred to it also. However, I will convey the sentiments of the Senators to the Minister. I have no other comments to make on the Order of Business.

I am asking the Leader of the House to respond to——

There can be no discussion. The Order of Business has been decided. The Leader of the House has concluded his reply — that settles the business. We either agree or we do not agree on the Order of Business. Is the Order of Business agreed?

Order of Business agreed to.
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