In response to yesterday's Order of Business there are some changes to today's Order Paper. I hope with the agreement of the House that we will get through the items I would like to see dealt with today. Item 1 is the National Stud (Amendment) Bill, 1993, and we propose to take all Stages between now and roughly 12 noon. We will take Item 2, Statements on Greencore, between noon and 1 p.m. Then we propose to take an item not on the Order Paper but requested yesterday. Between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. the Minister for Health will come into the House to make a statement on the inquiry into the Kilkenny incest case. From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. we will take Item 3, Statements on GATT. On the Greencore issue and the Kilkenny incest case, I suggest ten minutes per speaker.
Order of Business.
May I thank the Leader of the House for responding so quickly and comprehensively to the requests made yesterday. Of course there is agreement on the Order of Business today.
In view of the fact that there is no mention in the Programme for a Partnership Government of proposed reform of this House would the Leader of the House as a matter of urgency, try to ensure that the Committee on Procedure and Privileges is established and put at the head of the agenda so that we can begin by looking at changes we might wish to make in the House.
On the Order of Business, I raised the question of an early debate on Northern Ireland. The Leader of the House said he would inquire into the matter. Does the Leader have any news for me today on that?
I welcome the Leader's proposal to include statements on the items raised on yesterday's Order of Business. I am pleased it was done with such rapidity.
I want to raise an issue which created a problem last term. There have been changes in the speaking order at times. I understand that the first four speakers' statements are taken in the order of the Order of Business speakers. After that it goes over and back across the House. That was the arrangement at one time but recently it has been done in different ways. I have had arguments about this matter with the Cathaoirleach at various times but it was not the Cathaoirleach's fault; the official order of speakers has never been properly established. I understand that the first three statements should follow the order of the Order of Business before continuing as normal; I would like that clarified.
I notice on the Order of Business today the matter of organisation or preparation for the establishment of Oireachtas joint committees. Senator Norris among other Senators has raised the need for other joint committees many times. I ask the Leader to indicate when those committees will be established.
The order of speakers is a matter for the Chair.
I join Senator Manning in thanking the Leader for ordering today's business to include statements on Greencore and the Kilkenny incest and rape incident. In respect of next week's business, would the Leader allot time to a debate on the report of the Second Commission on the Status of Women? This is an important and comprehensive document which should be considered in this House.
A Chathaoirligh, I will leave it to your good offices to determine the order of speaking but I think you will agree that it has been Seanad tradition and ethos to enable all shades of opinion to be properly represented in debate.
I welcome the opportunity to debate items Nos. 2 and 3 on today's Order Paper. To avoid confusion about the order of speakers, what is the order for today's debate?
The order of speakers is a matter for the Chair. You can be assured, Senator Sherlock, that I will be fair in the alternation of speakers.
Thank you very much.
That has been the tradition of the House. It is for the Chair to decide on the order of speakers.
Thank you very much, a Chathaoirligh.
I support the call for reform of the House. Most Senators have just completed a Seanad campaign and the message we received on the ground is that the public wish to see this House reformed. I support the call to the Leader to organise an early debate on reform as is within the Leader's powers. Reform will be welcomed by everybody; it is long overdue. Most of us have expressed a desire for Seanad reform here and during Seanad election campaigns. We must respect the wishes of the people in this matter.
I ask the Leader of the House if he can give a time-table for the introduction of the Government's law reform in response to the case I took in Strasbourg. I have seen definite statements in the press that indicate the existence of a clear time table but in the draft programme of legislation for this session I could not detect anything about it. Perhaps I was looking under the wrong heading. I ask the Leader to reassure the House on this matter.
I support what Senator McGowan said about the need for Seanad reform. A debate on this matter is not sufficient because you, a Chathaoirligh, participated in a wide ranging debate in the last session on Seanad reform but marginal areas only were reformed. We need not only a debate but action and I am glad that only Senators are coming under pressure about Seanad reform.
The kind of change you want, Senator, it seems to me, is constitutional change and we cannot effect that——
That is an element of it.
Unfortunately that is the position. I call the Leader of the House to reply.
Not entirely though.
On the issue of reform that has been mentioned by Senator Manning, Senator McGowan and Senator Norris, we are totally committed to reforming the House. It would not have been possible a year ago to change the Order of Business as has been done today to bring in Item 2 and the added item of the Kilkenny incest case. We have made progress even if it has been slow.
The Committee on Procedure and Privileges will be dealt with next week I hope; I look forward to that. I repeat I am in constant touch with the Office of An Tánaiste regarding a Seanad debate on Northern Ireland and I hope to have some definite news on that next week. With reference to the joint committees, I understand some announcements will be made next week regarding the two committees mentioned. Regarding the report of the Second Commission on the Status of Women I understand, subject to agreement of the Whips, that it will be dealt with next Thursday. In relation to the European Court's judgment, I understand that legislation is imminent and I will convey the news to the Senator.