It is proposed to take Item 1, Committee Stage of the Unfair Dismissals (Amendment) Bill, 1993 until 5 p.m., Item 2, Second Stage of the Roads Bill, 1991, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Item 20 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Order of Business.
I ask the Leader of the House to allow time to discuss the Kilkenny Incest Investigation report and this would be an opportune occasion for this House to compliment the Chairman of the investigation, Ms. Catherine McGuinness, a former Member of the Seanad, on reporting so expeditiously and presenting such a fine set of recommendations.
I ask the Leader of the House to allow time to discuss the increased telecommunications charges, particularly the VAT increases on those charges. I hope he will accommodate us this week on this matter.
On a social note, may I take this opportunity to compliment Ms Niamh Kavanagh and Mr. Jimmy Walsh on the tremendous performance in Millstreet, County Cork last Saturday. I compliment RTE for their fine technical production of this event. They did great work for Ireland and it is important that we extend our good wishes to them.
Discussions are ongoing between the main Government party and the main Opposition party regarding accommodation for the Independent Senators. I am led to believe that this matter will be concluded by 7 o'clock this evening when I hope to receive the key to adequate accommodation for the Members of the Independent group. That will be an end to this matter with which we need not bore ourselves, ad nauseam, each week from now on.
May I ask the Leader of the House to advise us of proposed legislation. I am concerned that legislation is being sent from one House to the other and while there is a long term legislation plan, there is no short term plan. We do not know what legislation is due to be introduced in either House.
Like other Senators, I would like time to be made available to discuss the implications of the Kilkenny incest report. I commend the committee on their recommendations. I share concerns expressed by the ISPCC and others about the content and the conclusions of the report regarding the handling, by professionals, of that particular case.
Is there an appropriate manner in which we could raise today's decision of the High Court in London to dismiss charges against four policemen, charged with cooking evidence in the Guilford Four case. Obviously we must accept the judgment but British commentators today would differentiate between the innocence of these four men and the conclusion that the other four were simply——
The Senator is making a speech. We cannot discuss this decision on the Order of Business.
I am not making a speech. Is there a mechanism whereby we can discuss these cases involving Irish people? There is a need to monitor the way Irish citizens are treated in other jurisdictions.
I agree with the Order of Business as presented by the Leader of the House. I am sure the Cathaoirleach and the other Senators would agree it is important to record our satisfaction with the result of the Danish referendum vote yesterday. It opens up new horizons for the Community and I ask the Leader to make time soon for a formal debate on developments within the EC. I support the remarks made concerning the Kilkenny incest case but Senator Honan will comment further on that.
May I bring to the notice of the Leader of the House the serious situation concerning the Area Aid Scheme. We warned the Minister earlier about this possibility and newspaper reports this morning suggest that at least 2,500 applicants have not managed to get their application forms in before the deadline. May I also ask the Leader of the House to ask the Minister for Agriculture to attend here as soon as possible because we cannot eliminate that number of people from the scheme as it would wipe out their farms and incomes at a stroke.
I ask the Leader of the House to provide time to discuss the fishing industry and the aid it could be given from EC Structural Funds. This industry is at a cross-roads and seeks direction at the moment. A debate in this House on how best to help it develop and provide jobs would be appropriate.
I support the call made by Senator Taylor-Quinn for time in this House to debate the increases in telephone charges. Although the Minister for Communications, Deputy Cowen, said that there was no real increase, a 10 per cent increase in VAT has been imposed on phone bills for all including old age pensioners and businesses who are not in a position to benefit from cheaper call charges at the weekend because they do not usually operate then.
We are not having a debate on this matter now.
I would like the Leader of the House to ask the Minister to come to this House and justify these proposed charges, which will have a detrimental effect on businesses and on old age pensioners.
I also support the call for a debate on the Kilkenny incest case. Many matters concerning legislation and structures need to be discussed and I also hope that the issue may be extended to discuss violence against women.
In relation to the issue raised by Senator Honan I will ask the Minister for Health, Deputy Howlin, to come to the House to discuss the report on the Kilkenny incest case. I would also like to record, on behalf of the House, our congratulations to the Chairperson and the committee for their speed in formulating this report and also compliment the Minister and the Government for their response.
I have asked the Government Chief Whip for the legislative programme from now until the summer and I understand the Animals Remedies Bill and the Broadcasting Bill will be included, but there will be two, or possibly three other Bills initiated in this House between now and the summer and this will require three day sittings during June and July.
I also wish to record my welcome to the results of the Danish referendum and I will ask the Minister to take part in a debate here on changes within the EC.
With regard to Senator McGowan's issue, I understand the Common Agricultural Policy debate will resume next week. I am sure the Whips would agree, that the fishing industry merits time for debate in this House.
Order of Business agreed to.