Seanad Éireann debate -
Friday, 5 Jun 1992

Vol. 133 No. 2

Order of Business.

Mr. Wright

Today's Order of Business is item No. 1 which will be taken from now until 1.30 p.m. As agreed with the Whips, there will be 10 minutes per speaker. We will have a sos between 1.30 p.m. and 2 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. we will take item No. 2.

I thank the Minister for coming to the Seanad today. Everyone is aware of his schedule over the last couple of days. We agreed that this debate would take place following his meeting yesterday, and I want to put on record our thanks to him for coming here this morning. We look forward to his contribution.

Mr. Manning

I, too, am very pleased that the Minister has been able to come here. What he has to say will be worth listening to. I would like to express sympathy to the people of Carrickfergus and the relatives of those who were involved in the appalling bus tragedy last night. It is right that the sympathy from the people in this House should go out to the people of Carrickfergus and to the Members of the DUP who have been bereaved by last night's tragedy.

Dr. Upton

I join with Senator Manning in expressing my sympathy and the sympathy of the Labour Party to the people who were bereaved and to the people of Carrickfergus. It was a terrible tragedy and all our sympathy goes out to them.

What is the situation in relation to the time allowed for speaking on topical debates on Thursday afternoons? Is there a time restriction? Would it be possible for an enthusiastic speaker to speak all Thursday afternoon, or every Thursday afternoon, if he gets the opportunity?

Professor Murphy

I wonder if someone should tell our colleagues in the Progressive Democrat benches that their haloes have slipped ever so slightly since yesterday?

Mr. Dardis

Explain, please.

Mr. Cosgrave

I, too, welcome the Minister who is a constituency colleague.

Are there any proposals to amend the national lottery legislation in the light of the recent controversy and in order to protect the punters?

Mrs. Keogh

I would like to be associated with the expressions of sympathy to the relatives of those who were so tragically killed in Northern Ireland.

I have no idea what Senator Murphy meant when he said our haloes had slipped. Perhaps he will tell us later.

Mr. Costello

I, too, would like to be associated with the expressions of sympathy for those who were bereaved in Carrickfergus. I also want to put on record my appreciation of the decision in the Judith Ward case.

An Cathaoirleach

That is not relevant to the Order of Business.

Mr. Costello

When is it intended to take the education Bill since it appears that the last remaining element of democracy in education is about to be eliminated? We would like to see what is going to happen to the vocational education committees. Is it intended to take it this session? Will the Leader indicate what format today's debate will take? Will we have statements or an open address from the Minister, and will he respond to the debate?

Mrs. Hederman

I asked the Leader yesterday, but did not get any reply, whether there was any news about setting up the eight regional authorities we have been promised and the sub-county structures for elections which should take place in June but which we know will not. I think this is relevant in view of the fact that we may be proceeding with closer European Union. We heard a great deal from the Taoiseach about subsidiarity when he was discussing it with his EC colleagues. We hear very little about subsidiarity when it comes to this country. I have always said that counter-balance is vital and it is germane to the debate here today.

Mr. McMahon

I got the impression yesterday that the Minister would make an opening statement of 15 minutes duration and a closing statement of five minutes. The Leader did not mention that today and I ask him to clarify the position.

Mr. Wright

Regarding today's debate, I am not sure of the Minister's position this morning. He will open the debate but I am not sure, due to circumstances, if he will close it. It depends on the time the debate finishes.

Mr. McMahon

We can allocate a time for it.

Mr. Wright

If that is agreed. He has difficulty in staying here until 1.30 p.m. He would like to reply to the debate and perhaps we can arrange something in the interim.

Mr. McMahon

Perhaps the Taoiseach might stand in for him.

Mr. Wright

I endorse the sentiments expressed by Senators Manning and Keogh on the tragedy in Carrickfergus last night.

Senator Upton mentioned time limits on topical debates. It was decided yesterday that it would be an open-ended debate in so far as we would give more time. In that respect, it was difficult to put a ten minute limit on speakers. The intention is that there would be a ten minute time limit. I understand the sentiments expressed by the Senator that——

Dr. Upton

The danger is they would change from topical to boring.

Mr. Wright

As regards the national lottery, that would be an ideal topical debate.

As regards the education Bill unfortunately the Minister is indisposed at the moment. It was his intention to have a debate on education and I hope it will be possible to have such a debate in the near future.

Senator Hederman asked about local government reform and so forth. All I can say is that it is still very much part of the Programme for Government.

Order of Business agreed to.