Today's Order of Business is Items 1 and 2. On Item 1 it is proposed to conclude Second Stage by 1 p.m. today, if that is agreed. There will be a sos from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. Item 2 will be taken at 2 p.m. The provisions of Standing Order 112 will not apply in relation to the Order for the Fifth Stage of Item 2. If anyone wishes to understand the implications of Standing Order 112, I have notes on it but our able staff will explain its meaning for Senators.
Order of Business.
I thank the Leader of the House for evading explaining the matter in simple language. On the Order of Business I ask for clarification from the Leader on a matter of legislation. I do not expect the clarification this morning but I ask him to arrange it. It arises from the Industrial Development Bill 1993, passed here earlier this year. My understanding — and the understanding of most people at that time — was that Forfás would be the umbrella body and have a major role in co-ordinating the activities of the other two agencies. It appears from unconfirmed reports in the newspapers this morning that a different and more modest role is now envisaged for Forfás.
There may be good reasons for this but one would not want to see the implementation of legislation being different from what was outlined by the Minister in this House and from what may be in the legislation. If there is a major change in the implementation we should know what it is and I ask the Leader of the House to come back with clarification on that point.
I raised with the Leader of the House over the last number of weeks the need to have a list of the legislation with which we will be dealing over the coming months and in particular the Bills we will be initiating in this House. This morning we will be dealing with the Adoptive Leave Bill which is progressive and important legislation. Apart from that we are not clear about what is to happen and we are entitled to know.
Last night we debated at length the area of the marine in Private Members' Time. It was an important debate and many matters were discussed in the Chamber, although it was obvious we did not have enough time. That issue requires a greater period for discussion and both sides of the House agree much can be said on it. It goes far beyond party considerations and I ask the Leader of the House to give it more time in the near future.
Prior to the summer I received a commitment from the Leader for a debate on developments in education. Some fundamental discussions and movements have occurred in education in the last number of months. There should be a full discussion on those developments with the Minister in the House similar to a debate we had last year when she took questions. That would be welcomed by the Department of Education and the Minister and it should also be put on the agenda.
The business as presented by the Leader is agreeable to me. He makes me a little uncomfortable when he starts resorting to Standing Orders. I hope this will not be a permanent departure because he might start doing things we do not like and we might not know what he was doing. However, we will always refer to the book.
It is necessary and important to discuss agriculture in the coming weeks because the GATT agreement is due to be completed by mid-December. Our views on that should be put on the record. The Minister introduced a new farm retirement scheme and while the scheme is welcome there are aspects of it that could be fruitfully debated here. There is also the matter of headage payments and the way they are being paid — or not paid — as the case may be. I am aware that we had an opportunity to discuss agriculture when we debated EC developments but it was peripheral to the central part of that debate. It is important to devote time specially to agriculture but it has to be done quickly because of the urgency of the GATT negotiations.
Finally, it would be appropriate for the House to congratulate Roddy Doyle on winning the Booker Prize in the past few days.
I ask the Leader to provide some time to discuss the county enterprise partnership boards which are now being set up. The reason I ask for the debate is that there are many different approaches and many of the boards have their own set of rules, regulations and standards. It is important to have a discussion in this House to try to understand the legislation's intention and to have a uniform approach throughout the country. I would welcome the opportunity to have a debate on the county enterprise partnership boards and how effective they will be.
I once again ask the Leader of the House to arrange a discussion on Northern Ireland as soon as possible. From telephone conversations last evening with friends, some of whom are not without influence in Northern Ireland, I know that they were very impressed by the non-divisive statements and by our vote of sympathy and support. They saw what happened in this House and in the Dáil yesterday as being supportive and helpful and that can only be for good. It is important that this House should again, and very soon, give some time to talk about Northern Ireland.
As a member of a local authority, in view of the time of year and the serious situation that exists for local authorities vis-a-vis funding, I ask the Leader of the House if time will be provided for a debate on the funding of local authorities. It is a major issue. As far as I can see the Government plan is making provision for everything except local authorities.
I support Senator Wilson's request for a debate at the earliest opportunity on Northern Ireland, the situation with regard to Ireland as a whole and the problems we face because of the continuing conflict. The debate in the Dáil and the motion in this House yesterday showed that everybody is most concerned and there is an excellent spirit of co-operation on all sides.
We should also congratulate John Rocha on winning the British designer of the year award.
We do not go around the world congratulating people, I regret to say——
What about the Kerry football team?
Having said that it is an important——
It was a good suit. He is well dressed.
May I say this——
You may be the best dressed man in the room but that still does not give you the right——
My reason for saying it is the number of job losses in the clothing and footwear industries over the last number of years. It is very serious and a number of retail outlets——
I am not objecting. I am saying there are procedures and ways of doing these things.
——and shops have closed. The point I am making is that somebody has won one of the most prestigious——
The Senator wants to have a cut at the Minister for Finance.
——awards in fashion in the world. It is good that it was an Irish man and his wife is from Offaly——
The Senator should get Roddy Doyle to write his script, ha ha.
Senator Enright, you are missing the point. I am not objecting but there are correct procedures for those matters.
I think we should do so.
I wish to make two points. Last evening we had a discussion on fisheries but, sadly, it was very short. It was a motion put before the House by a party in Government. We can learn from the National Development Plan and if particular sections of the plan are put before the House by the relevant Ministers we should have more time to debate them. We learned a few things last evening. Indeed the Minister was very helpful but, sadly, many Members did not have enough time because of the structure of a Private Members' motion. More time should be given, particularly to the National Development Plan because much can be learned from it.
I support Senator Sherlock's remarks on local government funding. There are problems within local authorities regarding funding and major problems in urban areas because of compensation claims that cannot be met. It is relevant and important to ask the Leader of the House for time. A case should be made to the Minister for the Environment regarding what help can be given to urban areas.
You are making a Second Stage speech, Senator Cregan. You are doing well.
It is a very good one.
There should be an urgent and serious debate about it because it is quite obvious that many urban areas will end up in bankruptcy.
The Senator can send that speech out with his Christmas cards.
I call the Leader to reply.
I will make contact with the Minister to, I hope, allay any fears Senator Manning may have in regard to media reports vis-a-vis the IDA Bill.
With regard to future legislation, as Senator O'Toole correctly said, a Bill will be initiated in this House and I very much welcome that. I am sorry I do not have the information I promised him last week but I assure him I will get it. I reiterate, as I did last week, that I am quite confident we will have many Bills initiated in this House between now and the Christmas recess.
An education debate, will be arranged subject to agreement between the Whips. Regarding the Department of Marine debate, the House will most definitely have another opportunity for discussion. The debate last night was probably one of the best I ever heard, given the amount of expertise in the House. I was chastised by my family for the fact that I had not taken the opportunity to promote fish last night. I look forward to the opportunity to debate the future plans of the Department of the Marine.
We will arrange an agriculture debate, subject to the Whips' agreement, between now and the Christmas recess. Regarding a debate on the county enterprise partnership boards, I would like to see that a little later to give them an opportunity to establish themselves so that we can get a feel for what is happening in each part of the country.
In respect of Senator Wilson's request, I will make contact with those involved in the Northern Ireland situation with regard to whether we will have a debate. I am sure the leaders will meet about that. I would welcome such an opportunity.
With regard to funding for local authorities which Senator Sherlock mentioned, the Dublin Authority Bill will be coming before the House soon. I am sure he can avail of the opportunity then to discuss what he feels is the lack of funding for local authorities.
Order of Business agreed to.