I endorse the sentiments expressed about Deirdre Lane and Jodie Blake. Today's Order of Business will be items 1, 2 and 20. Item 1 will be taken until its conclusion; item 2 will be take when item 1 is concluded and until 6 p.m.; item 20 will be taken from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Order of Business.
Will the Leader of the House make time available today or tomorrow for clarification on the Government's tax amnesty proposals? Will he confirm that this measure, which discriminates against law-abiding PAYE taxpayers in favour of what the trade union movement terms "social criminals who evade tax", has the full support of the Labour Party?
I move:
That item 14 be inserted before item 1.
I have raised over the last number of weeks the accommodation available to the Independent Senators. I appreciate the efforts you, a Chathaoirligh, have made in that regard. Unfortunately, despite numerous meetings, I still have not received a clear understanding of how the situation is to be resolved. I propose that item 14 on the Order Paper be taken as part of today's Order of Business to allow a discussion of the disgraceful conditions in which we and our staff are expected to work. The facilities are not appropriate and the situation is unacceptable. I recognise the help I have received and I regret having to interfere with the smooth running of business but the situation is impossible. We have a duty to the people who work with us and as legislators we have a responsibility to do our work properly which we cannot do at the moment. I have made a proposal to the Government Chief Whip that a room to be made available to us but there are apparently other problems. To draw attention to this problem I moved an amendment to the Order of Business.
Many of us have been actively pursuing this matter and I have a report on my desk which I plan to put before Committee on Procedure and Privileges this evening. It is a matter for the Senator if he wishes to move an amendment to the Order of Business.
Does that include giving us extra space?
I cannot say that that will be done immediately but it is under urgent consideration.
Good.
I wish to ask the Leader of the House about his statement last week regarding legislation which is to be dealt with between now and the summer recess. The Criminal Law (Suicide) Bill, 1993, is not included. Is it the Government's intention to bring in this legislation prior to the summer recess and, if so, why is it omitted from the list?
I support Senator Manning's call for an early statement and, if possible, a debate on the proposed tax amnesty, if it is an amnesty rather than a gift. Perhaps the Leader can comment on whether the fact that there is a 20 per cent tax rate in the Isle of Man has anything to do with the 15 per cent rate proposed in this measure.
Will the Leader indicate if there are any legislative implications or if there will be any legislation coming before the House as a result of today's Supreme Court decision on the interpretative centres.
I ask the Leader to allow time for a discussion on the current Dublin Bus strike.
I ask the Leader to allow time in the near future for a debate on school transport. Initially when school transport was provided in some areas it was because a school closed. However, circumstances are changing and the House should review the situation. There should be a debate on the issue because it is important. Those who need school transport most should be considered and I ask the Leader to arrange a debate as soon as possible.
I support previous speakers who asked for clarification on the proposed outrageous tax amnesty. Will the Leader of the House state whether the proposals are in breach of the Finance Act? Of course he will not say that they are in breach of the Act but have they been considered in the context of the present Finance Bill and particularly of sections of the Finance Act, 1984? I know people have been prosecuted because of an oversight under that section of the Act.
Will the Leader of the House provide time to debate in the House today's Supreme Court decision on the Mullaghmore and Luggala cases because they are matters of extreme importance in relation to public policy? We would like to know the Government's plans on the issue.
I formally second Senator O'Toole's amendment to the Order of Business. Perhaps those Members who are interested in its substance might care to look at the text of the amendment which we have tabled. We feel strongly about this matter because we are being asked to make bricks without straw.
Could I also ask if the Government might consider as a token of goodwill, in the wake of the disastrous intervention in removing from this House the Suicide Bill, taking, for example, a small item such as the Interpretation Bill, which seems to have disappeared from the Order Paper and which I intend putting back? This would cure certain difficulties recently experienced in legislation and would indicate goodwill in terms of participatory democracy from all sides of the House. I would like the Government to consider accepting this or another Private Member's Bill or a Bill from the Independent benches.
I wish to support the remarks on the tax amnesty and it is important to debate it. People who have been taking immense amounts of money from this State are apparently being given some sort of leeway in contrast to the treatment of ordinary people. Recently, a 95 year old relative of mine received a demand threatening the intervention of the sheriff for a debt of less than £200. It is an astonishing contrast in behaviour and should be examined.
Finally, might I ask you, a Chathaoirligh, to seek with your usual tact and discretion, some sounding from the Government with regard to item 19 which concerns the possibility of establishing a press officer for the Oireachtas?
I support the request to the Leader of the House for a debate on the interpretative centres following the Supreme Court decision. This has wider implications because the Office of Public Works is building projects without planning permission and if this is wrong, then every other development must also be wrong and outside the law. It is time for the matter to be clarified and for the relevant Minister to explain the Government's views on the issue. Another case was decided in the High Court——
Keep to the Supreme Court decision. Please put a question to the Leader.
Does the Government intend to appeal the decision of the High Court, in that officials from the Tax Office visited——
The Senator has gone far from the point.
It seems the courts are making decisions and that the Government is not implementing the law.
The Senator is totally out of order.
I support the speakers who have called for a debate on the Supreme Court judgment in relation to interpretative centres. I also support the view that we should have a debate on the tax amnesty.
What good would that do?
I have already warned Senator Farrelly.
Senator Farrelly has just called for that debate. The best efforts of the State so far have not been able to recoup that money and in the view of the Labour Party it should go into the pockets of the PAYE taxpayers who have to bear the burden of taxation.
(Interruptions.)
Senator Wilson without interruption.
It if is in order, may I ask the Leader of the House to thank the Minister and the Government for their decision regarding the hospital at Tallaght which will have an enormous impact on Protestant public opinion in the North?
Will the Leader of the House say when we might have a debate on a matter which I raised last week, the report on the Kilkenny incest case? This is very important.
I wish to clarify the Order of Business — item 1 will be taken until its conclusion. Should this occur before 4 p.m. we will suspend business and take item 2 from 4 p.m until 6 p.m. On the first item which was raised by many Senators, the proposed Government decision on a tax amnesty, the Finance Bill will be debated here on 9 and 10 June which will give——
On a point of order, the Taoiseach said this morning that it would not be part of the Finance Bill.
——an opportunity in the Seanad for a wide-ranging debate in which this can be discussed. The Criminal Law Bill will be debated next Thursday morning. I will ascertain the Government's position on the Supreme Court decision on interpretative centres and will speak to the Ministers involved. I hope the Kilkenny incest report will be taken in two weeks' time. The delay is due to the unavailability of the Minister in question who wishes to take the report himself in this House.
Is the Leader of the House prepared——
I am sorry but the Leader has replied.
He did not reply to my question about the Dublin Bus strike.
The Leader has given his reply.
On a point of order, if a Member raises a question, the Leader should reply. I am sure it was inadvertent. Senator Doyle asked about time to debate the Dublin Bus dispute, which deserves a reply.
I have no control over what the Leader says and I would like his reply to be accepted. Members can raise these matters again at the next sitting if they wish.
Senator O'Toole has moved an amendment: "That item 14 be inserted before item 1". Is the amendment being pressed?
In deference to you and to the fact that you have a report on the issue, I am prepared to defer a vote on this until tomorrow.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
Order of Business agreed to.