Today's business is item No. 2, the Control of Dogs (Amendment) Bill, 1991, to be taken until 4 p.m. There will be a sos between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. With the agreement of the House, we will try to ensure that all Stages are dealt with today, without muzzling anyone or muzzling the debate.
Order of Business.
Following that dreadful pun from the Leader of the House, I would like to make two points. Can he explain what item No. 1 is and when he proposes to take it? Could the Cathaoirleach confirm the rumour that serious threats have been made against the safety of this House, including the threat to plant bombs in the House? Can he give us any information and say what steps have been taken?
It is news to me that threats were made against the House and I must express the greatest concern, if that is the case.
I am pleased to hear that the Leader is not going to resort to muzzling people in this debate. I was very concerned about the provisions in this Bill for selective muzzling and I sincerely hope that the Leader will not resort to that type of action.
What is the position regarding the taking of topical debates on Thursday afternoons? Is any debate that takes place on Thursday afternoons, by definition, a topical debate regardless of what it is about?
I welcome the Leader's commitment to have a debate on the laws of libel. The sooner we have such a debate the better, given that the Taoiseach seems to be waving libel writs at every newspaper in the country.
Like confetti.
On a point of information, item No. 1 is the Lord Altamont Bill. It deals with the fact that we have to nominate people to serve on the joint committee on that Bill. I understand it will be taken before the end of this session.
In regard to the issue raised by Senator Manning, I was informed yesterday — that security staff did receive a communication that a bomb would be placed in the Seanad which would self-explode at 3 p.m. today. Obviously, the security people had to take it seriously. Last evening we had a team of experts here with sniffer dogs. A team of about 20 people went through all the offices, my office, the ante-room and this Chamber. It was a hoax but it had to be checked out. There were about 20 personnel involved and that cost money. That is the position. Thankfully, it was a hoax but it had to be investigated.
I thank you, Sir.
In relation to the last point the Chair raised, it would be appropriate for us to record, as a House, that we will not be deflected from our responsibilities to the people and to the State by these actions. We are determined to fulfil our democratic responsibilities.
I join with Senators in condemning whoever was responsible for this hoax. It is appalling that the Houses of the Oireachtas would be subjected to that type of a hoax.
It is not relevant to the Order of Business.
We should reflect our abhorrence at the attitude of people who would subject the House to——
It was a hoax and we will leave it at that. It is not relevant to the Order of Business.
In relation to topical debates, it was made clear in the reform of the House that the legislative programme would take precedence over any topical debate. As the Senator is aware, the amount of legislation we are trying to deal with between now and the recess is extensive. As soon as we come back in the autumn I am sure we will have plenty of issues to debate on Thursday afternoons.
Order of Business agreed to.