Today's business is item No. 1 until 1 p.m., and we see how the debate develops during the morning; we might take all Stages, depending on progress. There will be a sos between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., and item No. 2 wil be discussed between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Order of Business.
We have no difficulty with taking the Censorship of Films (Amendment) Bill as far as it will go this morning; if that means going into Committee Stage that is acceptable, at least to my group.
In view of another outrageous libel award made in Dublin courts yesterday, where all that seemed to be involved was a genuine mistake on the part of the newspapers, could the Leader indicate what the Government's intentions are in relation to the recent Law Reform Commission report on libel and defamation? This has been around for quite some time. We raised it before. The Leader said that he would try to find what the Government's intentions were.
Second, could I draw to the attention of the House a report in the Irish Press this morning indicating grave disquiet among senior gardaí about the possibility of MI5 operating in this country?
In fairness, Senator Manning, it is not appropriate to the Order of Business.
I will bring it to a conclusion simply by asking the Leader of the House if, in view of the fact it is inconceivable that one friendly country would have spies operating on the territory of another friendly country, he would ask the Minister for Justice to investigate these claims as a matter of urgency and to make a statement to either this House or the other House on the matter?
I am surprised that the Leader of the House could not have an outlined programme of legislation as he indicated he would have. As regards Item No. 1 on the Order of Business, we do not object to it going through as quickly as possible subject, of course, to there not being any censorship or guillotine on the comments we would like to make on it.
Like Senator Manning, I would be very interested in hearing how many spies we have in this country who they are and where they can be found. It would be very interesting to know.
What is the situation in relation to the foreign affairs committee? When are we going to see it? Will it take on the dimensions of the old programme for draining the Shannon, which is still with us 50 years after it was initiated?
I am not sanguine about accepting the proposal from the Leader of the House, as my colleagues from the Independent benches and Fine Gael have indicated, to taking all Stages of the Censorship of Films (Amendment) Bill today. We have enunciated before that we have a basic objection — and a principled objection — to taking all Stages of any Bill in the same sitting. It is improper to establish a principle of that nature which would mean that we could run through any legislation without having the opportunity of presenting the Second Stage argument and then reflecting on them and presenting whatever amendments are required. I would be opposed to taking all Stages today.
I would like to advert to Item No. 18 on the Order Paper which relates to the Prison Reform Bill and again to ask the Leader of the House if he would bring to the attention of the Minister a visiting committee report on Mountjoy. This visiting committee was specifically established by the Fianna Fáil Government, having got rid of the old visiting committee because it did not come up with the type of report they wanted and the previous Minister had delayed releasing that report. Finally, he released it, but he also released the visiting committee and appointed a new visiting committee which came up with an even more hard hitting report on the conditions there. Would the Leader bring to the attention of the Minister the proposal for a Prison Reform Bill, and ask him to reconsider his decision in relation to this issue and take the responsibility, as it is his brief, to institute appropriate legislation in this area?
Before I call the Leader of the House, could I say that I was hoping that the reforms would be effective, but not as effective as they have been this morning.
We will be touting for business.
I am sorry the incoming Minister for Justice is not here to answer many of the questions raised, but I will pass on to him many of the issues that have been raised here, such as the law reform in relation to libel or defamation and the recent report. I will look at the up-to-date position on that, and will come back on it. With regard to today's paper reports on M15, I will again seek the Minister's view on the up-to-date position on the validity of that.
As regards Item No. 18 — Prison Reform Bill — the Minister said he intends to bring in reforms. I am confident that the Foreign Affairs Committee will be in place sooner rather than later.
Senator O'Toole yesterday asked about the legislative programme we hope to deal with between now and the end of this session. It is hoped that we will deal with the Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunications Messages (Regulation) Bill, the Censorship of Films (Amendment) Bill, which we start today, the Milk (Regulation of Supply) (No. 2) Bill, the Electoral (No. 2) Bill, the Local Government (Planning and Development) Bill, the Control of Dogs (Amendment) Bill, the Roads Bill, the Housing Bill and Financial Transactions of Certain Companies and Other Bodies Bill. That is the programme as of today. I have sought out one or two Ministers to see where they stand on legislation. As you can see we will have a very busy schedule over the coming weeks. It is the intention that we will be sitting three days a week.
As Senator Cosgrave might say — what about the Galway races?
Order of Business agreed to.