Seanad Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 29 Jun 1994

Vol. 140 No. 17

Order of Business.

Mr. Wright

Before I give the Order of Business, I am sure that the House would want me to recognise the fantastic result last night and to congratulate the Irish team, management and supporters for all they have given to this country. It is a great morale boost for the country. They have been fantastic international ambassadors, both on and off the field. I am sure that we all wish them well in their high noon match in Orlando next Monday.

Today's Order of Business is Items 1, 2, 3 and 42. We will deal with Item 1, Report and Final Stages of the National Monuments Amendment) Bill, 1993, and Item 2 between now and 1 p.m. It is intended to take a sos at the conclusion of Item 2. We will begin Item 3, Second Stage of the Irish Horseracing Industry Bill, 1994, at 2 p.m. and I suggest 30 minutes per spokesperson and 15 minutes thereafter. Item 42 will be taken between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. We will return to the Irish Horseracing Industry Bill, 1994, at 8 p.m., if necessary, to conclude Second Stage. The Adjournment will be at the conclusion of business.

Mr. Manning

I join with the Leader of the House in expressing the pride which we all feel in the success to date of the Irish team. As the Leader said, they are great ambassadors and they have had a great unifying effect on the country. On that subject, I also wish to pay tribute to the work of the Department of Foreign Affairs — especially Mr. Tom Brady, our consul in Orlando — for looking after people who found themselves, through no fault of their own, in difficulties. There were universal feelings of satisfaction with the way Mr. Brady did his best to sort out a very difficult problem.

On the Order of Business, can the Leader of the House indicate today what other legislation he intends bringing into the House between now and the end of the session and when he thinks the end of the session will be? Could he — and this is something which has been supported by all sides of the House — provide time for a debate on Northern Ireland between now and the end of the session? All parties in the House very much want to have a debate on that subject.

May I draw the attention of Members to the very fine speech made recently by Uachtarán na hÉireann in Poland on the role of the universities? It is one of the finest speeches I have read. Is there any provision whereby the full text of speeches made by An tUachtarán can be made available to Members of either House? It could form the subject of a very useful debate in this House.

Mr. Norris

I join in the compliments to the Irish team and fans. It was not as spectacular a result as may have been suggested; a draw never can be. However, it has had the effect of getting us through to the next round which is very satisfactory. We have appropriately complimented the fans. I have work being done in my house today and I was amazed when the workmen turned up at 8.30 this morning. It is a great tribute to the Irish workforce that they are able to celebrate and enjoy themselves and still turn up for work.

Mr. Cosgrave

They were on their way home.

Mr. Norris

The Cathaoirleach mentioned the amendments to the Bill. The House will be pleased that the amendment to the Health Insurance Bill passed here was approved by the Dáil. This is very significant. I am sorry that once again not one element of the broadcast or print media took the slightest notice of this.

I recall working on a similarly technical Bill, the Child Care Bill. A group of us succeeded in amending the Bill, including an entire section and the Minister unusually referred the entire Bill back to the Dáil. On that day the Order of Business was reported but there was no mention anywhere of that Bill. Within a couple of weeks some of us were being chastised for looking for headlines on the Order of Business.

Since we are in a congratulatory mood — I do not mean this frivolously — I would refer to the fact that, most unusually, an entire page of The Irish Times was taken out by an international agency to pay a compliment to the Taoiseach and the Minister of State, Deputy Dempsey, for the crucial role they played at the international whaling commission. When a marginal vote was taking place, they operated in a decisive way to ensure the survival of this species. We can all be proud that an international agency took a one page advertisement in our national press to compliment the Prime Minister and a Minister of State. I am sure this House would also wish to be associated with those congratulations.

I support what Senator Manning said about a debate on the North of Ireland. I also ask for information about the end of term which we all anticipate with relish. I support Senator Manning's request for some information on the legislation to be dealt with by this House before the recess. I hope it will not be done in too much of a rush. I particularly have in mind the Refugee Protection Bill which the Government promised before the Dáil adjourned. The time scale is getting tight on that and Members from all sides have played a role in urging this measure. We would all like to hear when the Refugee Protection Bill will be scheduled for debate in the Seanad.

Mr. Dardis

I endorse the remarks of the Leader about the success of the Irish soccer team and the conduct of the fans and everybody associated with the team in America. We derive great national pride from the manner in which they all have conducted themselves. However, this World Cup will always, in my mind, be associated with the dreadful incident in Loughinisland. Once again I join with others in asking for a debate on Northern Ireland. If there has been one consistent theme since we resumed this session, it is the wish to debate Northern Ireland in the restrained and moderate way in which we have debated it in the past. I am asking for that on the assumption that the Tánaiste will not be otherwise engaged next week in Orlando.

Mr. Cosgrave

He will be on his way to Dallas.

Mr. Dardis

With regard to the ordering of business between now and the end of the session, the Leader is to be congratulated on the careful way in which he has ordered the time. I appeal to him to continue to order the business as he did today between now and the end of the session. I also ask him to ensure that we will not be faced with a succession of guillotines.

Mr. Sherlock

I join in congratulating the players and managers, particularly Jack Charlton, and the fans whose enthusiastic support meant so much to the team yesterday. Nothing has given more pleasure to the Irish people at home and abroad than the performance of our team in the World Cup. However, I hope our fans will never again suffer the same treatment that was endured by a large contingent of fans from Cork city and county. The story was reported to us by The Cork Examiner which handled the situation very well on behalf of the disappointed fans.

Mr. Maloney

I join in congratulating the team. I will be somewhat partisan in doing so because I must congratulate Packie Bonner on his wonderful game.

In addition I thank the country's employers who were more than helpful in giving people time off last night to watch the match. Senator Magner should also be complimented for making arrangements for staff and Members to watch the match.

I welcome the women from Letterkenny who are in the Visitors' Gallery today.

An Cathaoirleach

They are not on the Irish team.

Mr. Maloney

If some of them had their way they would be. They are not Labour Party supporters — perhaps one or two are. They are very welcome to the Seanad.

Mr. Neville

I support Senator Norris's request that the Refugee Protection Bill be introduced in the Seanad before the end of the session. We were promised, following the introduction by Fine Gael of a Private Members' Bill, that a refugee protection Bill would be introduced before last Christmas; then it was promised that it would be introduced before the end of this session. Will the Leader of the House confirm that the Bill will be introduced by the end of this session?

Mr. Wright

It is hoped that the House will sit on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday next week. Tomorrow morning I will give a conclusive list of what we hope to achieve before the recess. I have asked for and hope to have a decision on a debate on Northern Ireland before the recess.

We will endeavour to ensure that the Order of Business in the House during the next couple of weeks will be similar to today's so that we can clear our legislative programme. Members asked about certain Bills. Tomorrow morning I will confirm what Bills will be dealt with in the House before the recess.

Order of Business agreed to.