It is proposed to take Item 1, the Second Stage of the Roads Bill, 1991 until 6 p.m. and Item 7 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Order of Business.
In spite of the fact that, by a strange coincidence, the Government has today published its own Suicide Bill, I congratulate it on following the good example set by my colleague. The House should, as a principle, support the Bill in the name of Senator Neville, to make the case that this House and the Opposition benches can initiate legislation and bring it to fruition. The two Bills are almost identical and we would be striking a blow for this House if the Leader of the House found it possible to accede to that request.
I am grateful that we are having a topical debate tomorrow but I am not sure the subject of the International Fund for Ireland is one of immediate urgency while Bosnia is. Would the Leader at this late stage, with the agreement of all parties in the House, change the subject for debate tomorrow to Bosnia? The same Minister will be here and we would all like to hear the views of the Government on this matter and to make our own ideas clear.
It is not often that the Independent benches are of one mind on any issue, but we are of the view that Senator Neville has done a good day's work on the Suicide Bill, and he is to be complimented on it.
In the summer of 1989 there was a major row in this House when Senator Manning and I and other Members on this side of the House, raised with the Government the difficulties being created by rushing through legislation. On that day, we walked out of the House because we felt legislation was not being dealt with and disposed of properly. We felt legislation was being rushed through. I would like to put on the record that the issues which have arisen recently with the building societies and the problems that have been created might never have arisen had that legislation received the consideration from this House that we were demanding that day.
It is not relevant to the Order of Business.
I do not like putting it on the record of the House but I would like to say, we told you so. It is a classic example of the problems that can be created by the use of the guillotine. On the two occasions I was in this House when the guillotine was imposed——
You are making a speech and it is not relevant to the Order of Business.
I will conclude.
Please ask a question of the Leader of the House.
Will the Leader ensure that all legislation is debated properly in this House in the future?
I thank the Leader for bringing forward the debate on the International Fund for Ireland. I am very pleased with this. However, Senator Manning believes this subject is not of great importance.
I did not say that.
I consider it worthwhile and I want to express my gratitude to the Leader. Will the Leader of the House consider a matter which is of vital importance, that is the report of the Foyle Fishery Commission? This is the only institution which is managed jointly——
Will you please ask the Leader a question?
It is important to look at the success of the Foyle Fishery Commission because we spend a lot of time looking at negative issues.
You are continuing to make a speech, you have been given a lot of leeway.
I want to say very simply——
I have put it very simply; you are out of order. Will you please put a question to the Leader of the House?
I will try to be in order. This House spends a lot of time talking about the tragedy and problems of the North. Can we be positive and discuss an issue of which we can be proud?
I support what Senator Manning said about the Suicide Bill proposed in 1991 by Senator Neville. I appeal to the Leader of the House to permit this legislation to be initiated from the Opposition benches. It is an important principle because, in my six years in the House, no Opposition Bill has been accepted by Government. On those occasions when the Government was eventually persuaded, it took over and absorbed the Bill. This dog-in-the-manger policy reduces the degree of democracy. I join with Senator Manning in requesting the Leader of the House to consider allowing this legislation to be initiated from the Opposition benches.
You are making a speech, Senator.
I have made my point. Secondly, I ask the Leader if he will tell the Minister for Justice that the language in the memorandum published concerning reforming the law on homosexuality is deeply offensive to many people. I read it on the plane on my way back from London and I was horrified. I felt as a Roman Catholic must have during the debates in the 1820s about Catholic emancipation, listening to Tory MPs fulminating against the spread of papistry.
You are making a speech Senator. I call on Senator Lydon.
At the beginning of June this country will be revisited by someone who has received many distinctions and honours from various Governments including the Albert Schweitzwer medal, the Nehru award for international peace from the Indian Government, the Order of the British Empire and many doctorates. On Wednesday, 2 June she will receive the Freedom of the City of Dublin and an Honorary Doctorate from DCU. It would be a great honour if she were asked to address this House. I refer to Mother Teresa of Calcutta. I can assure the Leader that if such an invitation were proffered it would be accepted.
She would be better than John Hume anyway.
I think so too and I put that suggestion seriously. I do not know how to pursue the matter.
I support the Senator's suggestion. We should take up that offer. It is an auspicious occasion.
It is a matter for the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.
May I briefly give two reasons why it should be done. First, Mother Teresa has been a beam of light to all humanity. I do not think anybody would disagree with that. Second, as man proves his infinite capacity for inhumanity to man she has proven there is something worthwhile in this dismal world. It would be worthwhile for the Committee on Procedure and Privileges to consider inviting her because she has a connection with Loreto Abbey in Dublin and should be invited to address the House.
In view of the alarming number of suicides in recent times, particularly among younger people, may I ask the Leader of the House when it is intended to bring forward either Senator Neville's Bill or the Government Bill?
I would like the Leader to address the serious problems that have arisen in two of our major building societies. I ask if he could arrange for either the Minister for Finance or another senior figure in Government to come to the Seanad to outline what action, if any, is being taken on this matter or if an enquiry is intended. There is serious unrest among thousands of home owners having difficulty in repaying their mortgages.
You have made your point. I call on the Leader to reply.
I am sure the House welcomes the fact that since we last met it has been arranged to initiate legislation on two issues in this House. On the Suicide Bill I recognise the work done by Senator Neville over the years on this issue. I understand major changes have been made in his own Bill since it was last debated. We are debating his Bill tonight and I am sure the Senator will play a major part in the debate.
On the issue of changing the debate tomorrow I am sure, subject to the agreement of the Tánaiste as Senator McGowan has accepted, we could change to a debate on Bosnia if we can get agreement this evening.
The invitation to Mother Teresa of Calcutta, as the Cathaoirleach rightly said, is a matter for the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.
As to the building societies, at the moment there are many ways for the Senator to raise that issue.
Order of Business agreed to.