It is proposed to take items 1, 2, 3 and 4 and all Stages of item 4; it is a money Bill and there is a 21 day stay on it. At 4 p.m. we will have statements on the position of Digital. The Minister has agreed to come to the House but he may be late, because the Dáil might be discussing the issue at 3.45 p.m. Therefore, the statements on Digital will take place as near to 4 p.m. as possible. We will have 15 minutes from the Minister and ten minutes from each Senator.
Order of Business.
May I thank the Leader of the House for having arranged the statements on this matter of vital concern for this afternoon? May I also raise the strike affecting many people working in this House? I do not want to discuss the details as it would not be helpful at this stage but, I hope every effort is made to resolve this strike as speedily and as justly as possible. Will the Leader of the House agree to a major debate on Northern Ireland next week? The Tánaiste will be making a major statement on Northern Ireland in the Mansion House next week. He is entitled to do that but this House would be an appropriate place to have the first major debate of this session of Dáil or Seanad on Northern Ireland. There are many new Senators who have particular insights on Northern Ireland — Senator Wilson, Senator Lee and others. It would be helpful at this time of political vacuum in Northern Ireland, when there are no ongoing talks that can be jeopardised, that we have a full discussion on this most important national topic.
I wish to make a correction to Item 2 on the Order Paper; the name of Senator Quinn should not have appeared on it.
On the point raised by Senator Manning, I appeal to you, a Chathaoirligh, to intervene with the Ceann Comhairle on behalf of those members of staff who are on strike. You will recall on the closing day of the last session all sides of the House praised their commitment and work. We are all clear on that.
I do not think it would be helpful to intervene publicly in an industrial relations dispute and I do not intend doing that but I appeal to you, a Chathaoirligh, to contact the Ceann Comhairle with a view to establishing some method of mediation for those people who are outside the gate at the moment. That is no reflection on either Transcribers or Audio Typists. They are given a job and they do it to the best of their ability. There is a clear need that we show support for those people who have worked with us for so long, and I ask you to intervene with the purpose of estabishing some form of mediation.
A list of legislation was circulated by the Leader of the House in recent days. This is very useful. We on the Independent benches would appreciate some indication of the legislation to be initiated in this House so that we may do the necessary preparation work. I ask that that be emphasised to the various Departments to ensure that we have enough notice to prepare.
I join with the request that the Leader provides time for discussion on the problems in Northern Ireland. For some time we have requested such an opportunity. I also request an opportunity to discuss the International Fund for Ireland. This is a valuable part of the support structure in the North and the sponsors of the fund are anxious to get a response, and the-most appropriate body to respond would be this House. I ask the Leader of the House to consider providing time for the dicussion on the North and the International Fund for Ireland.
I concur with Senator Manning and Senator O'Toole in seeking a resolution to the industrial dispute as quickly as possible.
I join with Senator Manning in hoping that we can resolve the issue of the pickets outside. Those people have worked diligently and industriously in this House and it is sad that they are outside. We should do everything possible to have this dispute resolved and have them working again. I also support Senator McGowan's proposal for a debate on the North and the cross-Border fund.
Have there been discussions within the Houses regarding this dispute? It is appalling that the Government is prepared to spend money in other areas while allowing its own people to stay outside the door. That is despicable. If the Governemnt is prepared to treat its own staff like that, what is it prepared to do to everybody else?
I agree with Senator O'Toole that it is not helpful to intervene in industrial disputes. I have to declare an interest as I served on the national executive of that union for a number of years. I would like to add my concern that staff who served this House well and loyally should be outside——
I will be making a comment on that before I ask the Leader to reply.
I ask the Leader and the Whips to look at the possibility of providing time to discuss the many reports of Oireachtas joint committees which he on shelves collecting dust. I would point out that today we will be discussing the National Stud. In fact, an Oireachtas joint committee report was produced a year and a half ago on that issue and both Houses ignored it.
It was discussed in this House.
I am not aware that there was a formal debate on it. I think it was raised, but not formally. There is little point talking about Dáil reform when we have Oireachtas committees preparing reports which are not being discussed. I ask that we give some time to that issue, and I can think of many fine reports we could valuably discuss.
Has the Leader any news for us regarding the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs? I asked this last week but I understand that he might not have had any information at that point. I would like to place that in the context of the fact, a Chathaoirligh, that you very properly permitted the House to stand in silence in memory of Nurse Place. It is important that we have a forum where we can discuss, for example, the protection of Irish voluntary personnel in these international conflicts.
I support what was said about the picket outside the House. I understand that you intend making a statement on that and I will simply record my concern that a dispute should arise which inhibits the production of the record of this House.
When will we have a major debate on the economy? It would be particularly appropriate in the light of various developments, and not confined to the Digital computer company. I hope that we will have a wide ranging debate on the economy, particularly in the light of the budget.
I agree with Senator Roche that there are a number of important papers laid before the House which should be urgently examined. I would ask the Leader of the House if there is any provision at the moment for taking some of the non-statutory reports, in particular the Second Commission on the Status of Women Report dated January 1993. This is a very important document which is being widely discussed, and it would be regrettable if we did not have an opportunity to ventilate this very important report in this House.
I am glad to hear there is a request to have an early debate on Northern Ireland. I want that to happen and hope to contribute to it. Next Wednesday was mentioned but that would present me with a problem, to say the least. I have a long standing, early evening engagement in County Tyrone which would mean my leaving here not later than 4 p.m. and I am sure that the debate would not be finished by then. Thursday and the following Wednesday would not present a problem but if the debate were scheduled for next Wednesday I could not be here.
We all agree that the debate on Northern Ireland should be held on a day to accommodate Senator Wilson. I am pleased, we have been given time to discuss Digital. I am sure the Leader and the House will agree that it is a tragedy for the West and for the country in general. If there are many Members offering on that debate, could the Leader be flexible on the time it concludes?
I join with others in asking that talks be initiated as quickly as possible to resolve the dispute in the spirit of the code of practice on industrial relations disputes. Would the Leader of the House consider changing the approach to Matters of Concern during the life of this Seanad? I especially ask him if he would allow it to take place after the Order of Business and if he would initiate a procedure whereby we would get an early reply from the Minister. At present it takes four to six weeks——
That matter is for another area of the House; the Committee on Procedure and Privileges will deal with it.
I ask the Leader of the House if he would introduce a system of early replies from the Minister? I support Senator Roche's request that we debate reports of Oireachtas joint committees in the House. Prior to the end of the last Seanad the Leader agreed to a debate on the report on Bord na gCon. I ask him now if he will give us his views on whether the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry should be invited to the House to discuss Bord na gCon.
May I ask the Leader of the House whether he intends to find time at an early date to debate the economic challenges facing the country? During the past few months when the Seanad was not sitting we had the currency crisis and devaluation and now the unemployment figures have reached a new high. We cannot ignore these events. The Seanad should debate these matters not just because it is important to show our interest but because we should concentrate on the future rather than on the past. The constructive contributions that could be made in the Seanad would be of great benefit and I ask the Leader to consider that at an early opportunity, as Senator Norris has asked.
I am glad a debate will take place today on the dreadful problems at Digital. It was shocking to hear this morning of the loss of 800 jobs at that factory. I suggest to the Leader that a debate should take place in this House which is not confined to the problem of Digital but to the totality of investment by the IDA in foreign companies or indeed their investment plans for the future. It seems to many people that there is a need for a change in emphasis in employment——
I do not want a debate or speech on the Order of Business.
I do not want to make a speech but I would like the Seanad to have an overall debate on the prospects for jobs being created by the IDA or under the Leader programme or any other scheme. I also ask the Leader to have an early debate on international matters concerning the United Nations and their intervention in places where there are problems at present. In this context there seems to be a conflict between intervention by the United Nations and unilateral or multilateral intervention by nations. We must debate these matters; the Mogadishu issue is one thing——
Senator Lanigan, you are making a speech.
There are many such issues that could be debated and I would like the Seanad to take the initiative in this regard.
I am sure the Leader will take that on board.
I would like to ask the Leader if he would consider having a debate or a series of debates on issues affecting the European Community. I refer in particular to the question of enlargement which is imminent and has profound implications for Ireland.
We must all sympathise with the people of Galway this morning on the announcement made a few moments ago that 800 jobs are to be lost at the Digital plant. A statement has just been issued to the workers there. It is a tragedy not alone for Galway but for the whole western region. Will the Leader allow time in the near future for a debate on the semi-State sector? I request such a debate for two reasons; first, there is our dependence on foreign industry and, secondly, the activities of semi-State companies in this country are being reduced in order to make them commercially and financially viable but we have never taken into consideration the human cost involved.
Last week Senator Manning requested a debate on the economy and the Leader of the House said he would reply at the first available opportunity. There have been two other similar requests this morning from other Members. I would have thought that the Leader, after having a week to reflect on the issue, would have told us this morning when time will be made available to have such a debate. I ask him to do so in his reply.
A Chathaoirligh, please excuse my lack of knowledge on this matter but perhaps you will give me some guidance. My understanding is that the debate on the budget takes place in the Lower House and subsequently the Finance Bill is published. I am anxious that we have a debate in this House prior to the publication of the Finance Bill because we are unable to make any real contribution in regard to amending the Finance Bill at that stage. It is important that we have a broad-ranging discussion in this regard to see what changes, if any, we wish to propose in this House and what input we can make. There is a range of views on this and valuable contributions could be made by this House. For instance, we could have some input in regard to the 1 per cent levy, to see if we could make any changes in a proposal of that nature. This debate should take place as soon as possible, with the Minister and his officials present in the House. It is very important that they be present.
Before calling the Leader I wish to make two points. One is in relation to the Order of Business. We have introduced reforms to streamline the Order of Business. I have allowed some leeway today to help the new Senators but in the future on the Order of Business we will deal only with matters arising from the Order Paper of the day.
A number of Senators have raised the question of the audio typists' dispute. I understand it is hoped that a third party mediator will be appointed through the conciliation and arbitration scheme. I am sure Senators will understand I would prefer not to comment further at this stage. I will keep the House fully informed of developments as they arise and, in regard to the point raised by Senator O'Toole, I will willingly talk to the Ceann Comhairle regarding the matter.
I am pleased, a Chathaoirleach, that you have outlined the efforts being made with regard to the dispute. I support all the comments made by Senators on the situation and I fully support mediation.
I hope all Senators have received a copy of the Government's programme of legislation. I hope in the next two weeks to have information on the Bills that will be dealt with in this session. I said last week I would write to each Minister, the Taoiseach and the Chief Whip of each party to ask them to give due consideration to the initiation of legislation in this House. I hope that will happen. In regard to Northern Ireland I have written specifically to the Tánaiste to ask him to come to the House at the earliest opportunity to have a debate on Northern Ireland. I hope he will respond positively to the suggestion.
Thursday afternoons will be set aside for two hour debates on reports of Oireachtas joint committees. Like Senator Quinn, I am very keen to have a debate as quickly as possible on the economy and perhaps the Whips will arrange today for such a debate next week or the week after. With regard to committees, I understand announcements will be made quite soon on the matter. In relation to Digital I am sure the Minister in question is anxious to be as accommodating as possible with regard to a debate. I am sure that today the Whips will arrange a debate on that matter and will finalise details regarding speakers and so on.
Is the sos agreed from 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.?
There will be a sos between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. We will take item 3, the National Stud Bill, to 1 p.m. and take all Stages of Item 4, the Údarás na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill, 1993 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Order of Business agreed to.