Seanad Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 30 Mar 1994

Vol. 139 No. 18

Order of Business.

Mr. Mullooly

Today's business is Item 1. As today is the last day of the session I thank Members on all sides of the House for their co-operation during this session. We had a very productive session. We completed a number of important Bills including the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill, the National Monuments (Amendment) Bill, the Road Traffic Bill, the Social Welfare Bill, the Industrial Training (Apprenticeship Levy) Bill, the Terms of Employment (Information) Bill and the Stillbirths Registration Bill. We also completed Second Stage of the Criminal Justice (No. 3) Bill. We debated important matters such as the tourism industry and early retirement for teachers. I am delighted to see news of a positive response to the latter debate in today's paper. We also debated the budget, the residential property tax, the report of the National Education Convention, the Developing the West Together report and the extension of the free legal aid service.

We have had a constructive and productive session and I wish all Members a relaxing recess. I look forward to another busy session after the Easter recess. One of the Bills we will have in the next session is the Irish Horse Racing Industry Bill. The Leader and I have been looking for the initiation in the Seanad of a substantial piece of legislation and I am delighted that this important Bill is coming to the Seanad. We will also have to complete the Committee and remaining Stages of the Criminal Justice (No. 3) Bill and we will debate the Casual Trading Bill, the Solicitors (Amendment) Bill, the Landlord and Tenant (Amendment) Bill and the Electoral (Amendment) Bill, which deals with the urban elections. I assure Senators that we will have a busy session after Easter so I would like Members to take things easy during Easter and come back refreshed and relaxed.

Mr. Manning

That is a hard act to follow.

An Cathaoirleach

You have to follow that now.

Mr. Manning

I join with the Acting Leader in thanking the staff of the House for their help. I thank the Leader of the House for the generally co-operative, helpful and positive approach which he adopted during the last session. Quite an amount of work was done and it was carried out in a spirit of genuine goodwill and co-operation which I hope will continue.

I was about to ask the Acting Leader of the House for a list of legislation for the next session but he pre-empted me. I support the attempt to have as much legislation as possible begin its life in this House. In many ways this House is better suited than the other House to discussing technical and complex legislation in a disinterested and calm atmosphere, as was the case with the Companies Bill and other important legislation. Anything the Leader can do to have legislation begin its life in this House will have our full support.

I would make one request, however. I ask that very early in the next session we would deal with two topics for which frequent requests were made during the past session. The first is a further debate on Northern Ireland, which is more than timely. The second is a request which was first made by Senator Quinn but which has the support of all groups. We should as soon as possible debate the enlargement of the European Community and the implications of the enlargement for this country.

Mr. Magner

In relation to what the Acting Leader has told us about the amount of legislation which came before the House, I echo what Senator Manning says, that it is easier in this House for some reason to debate these issues in a more non partisan manner than it seems to be in the other House. For that reason the idea of tacking on the Seanad to the Oireachtas broadcasting brief is not a good idea. The other House deserves television coverage of its own and so does this House. It is not enough to simply add it on as a filler rather than give it the coverage it deserves. The sort of debates we have here in relation to Northern Ireland have been a lot more reasoned than some of the debates in the other House. The Press should also look again at the way this House is covered, not by the reporters present but by the amount of coverage that is actually given by the owners and editors of these newspapers. The House deserves better; it is trying to give of itself more than it has in the past and that should be acknowledged.

Ms Honan

I too thank the Leader of the House for his co-operation during the term up to now. Every debate in this House seems to be carried out in a much calmer fashion than the other House. I take issue with what Senator Manning said. We in this House are never disinterested. The level of debate is far higher; we are probably more detached from it and as such we can debate it in a calmer manner. We do not seem to be as politically aggressive as the other House. I also thank the staff of the House who have been very helpful to me during the last session. I wish everybody a very happy Easter holiday.

An Cathaoirleach

Before I call the Acting Leader to reply I thank you all and indeed our staff and all who work here for the courtesy and support they have shown and the help they have given to me during the year. I appreciate it very much and I hope all of you have an enjoyable Easter break.

Mr. Norris

A Chathaoirligh, may I formally——

An Cathaoirleach

Senator, we really had fears for you. I am delighted that you are back in one piece.

Mr. Norris

Thank you very much. I wish to be formally associated with the feelings of the House on this occasion.

Mr. Mullooly

I thank Senator Manning for his very constructive comments and I assure him that both issues which he mentioned, Northern Ireland and the enlargement of the European Community, will be high on our priority list for inclusion in the items to be debated in the next session. I agree with Senator Magner's comments in relation to the way in which the proceedings of the House are covered by the media and I thank Senator Honan for her comments.

I thank you, a Chathaoirligh, for your assistance and courtesy to me as Whip and as Acting Leader and I also thank the staff for all the help I received from them during the session which is ending. I wish you, the staff and all the Members a very happy Easter.

Order of Business agreed to.