Seanad Éireann debate -
Thursday, 11 Jun 1992

Vol. 133 No. 5

Order of Business.

Mr. Wright

Before I announce the Order of Business for today I will state again the legislative programme for the rest of the session. Senator O'Toole and others mentioned it. I made contact with the Chief Whip's office to get an update. We will deal with the Local Government (Planning and Development) Bill, the Control of Dogs (Amendment) Bill, the Criminal Evidence Bill, the Roads Bill, the Housing Bill and the Bill we are dealing with today as well as the Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunication Messages (Regulations) Bill, the Censorship of Film (Amendment) Bill and the Milk Regulation Supply Bill. The Electoral Bill will also be dealt with and there may well be other Bills, depending on what the Chief Whip tells me in the next 24 hours.

Today's Order of Business will be Items Nos. 1 and 2. I am suggesting that on the conclusion of the first item we will go straight into Item No. 2. I will ask for 20 minutes for the spokespersons and 15 minutes for Senators thereafter.

Mr. Manning

May I compliment the Leader of the House on the very full programme of work he has for us between now and the end of this session? We have been asking for this for some time and, now that we have it, I want to compliment the Leader of the House. I also would offer him our full co-operation in getting through this work. It might be a good idea if either the Leaders or the Leaders and Whips would meet to see if they could set a realistic timetable so that each piece of legislation can be fairly and fully discussed. Perhaps he might have some comment on that.

Dr. Upton

May I ask the Leader of the House if it is planned to introduce the Education Bills this session, or was it an oversight on his part when he did not mention them this morning? May I also ask would it be possible, under this heading of topical items on a Thursday afternoon, to have a debate on food legislation and in particular the concerns which the public now have in relation to food poisoning and food toxins?

Professor Raftery

I would like to ask the Leader of the House to give priority to the Milk Supply Bill, because it will take producers up to two years to adjust their supply pattern in the event of their supply arrangements being changed as a result of this Bill.

I would like also to ask again for a debate on drug trafficking. This week the State Solicitor in Cork has pointed out that there is an increase in drug trafficking on the south west coast. After the 1 January 1993 we will have a borderless Europe and, therefore, freedom of movement of drugs.

Finally, may I ask for a debate on the subject of radon gas? It is now clear that we have a problem. I gather that this gas was a contributing factor to 150 people losing their lives from lung cancer in 1989. While we make a lot of noise about Sellafield, we like to cover up the problems we have at home in relation to radioactivity.

Mr. Costello

Could I get some further clarification from the Leader of the House in relation to the time schedule for today? Will there be a break between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.? How are we going to deal with the Statements on Banking? Will that item be a two hour one, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., or is it going to continue immediately after the Financial Transactions Bill is completed?

In mentioning banking, could I at last compliment Senator O'Keeffe on the successful execution of his initiative? The long-awaited debate on banking is about to take place.

May I also inquire about the role of the European Commissioner, Mr. Jacques Delors? He seems to virtually have a retainer for the Government at this stage.

An Cathaoirleach

Senator Costello, that is not relevant to the Order of Business and you know it. You are doing very well, so I will ask you to resume your seat. I have given a little leeway to some of your colleagues and certainly you should accept my advice.

Mr. Costello

I would be interested if the Leader of the House would care to comment on the matter of whether or not he is asking the Government about this issue. May I ask whether any business will be dealt with next week? What is the situation now in relation to the Green Paper and the two Education Bills that have just been completed?

Mr. Wright

I thank Senator Manning for expressing the sentiments of all the Leaders and Whips that we should sit down over the next 48 hours to try to come to some agreement on the business for the next six weeks. We will not be sitting next week, as most of us will be actively campaigning for a positive "Yes" vote on the Mastricht Treaty.

(Interruptions.)

Mr. Wright

With regard to the Education Bills, there is no oversight. I mentioned that in the next 24 hours I am hoping the Government Chief Whip will indicate to me what Bills other than those I have mentioned today will be dealt with before the end of the session. I mentioned that the Milk Regulation Bill will be dealt between now and the summer recess. I see the drug trafficking situation as an ideal topic for a debate between now and the summer recess. We will sit until 4 p.m. today and we will go straight through.

Order of Business agreed to.