Today's Order of Business is Item 1, the ACC Bank Bill, 1994 — all Stages between now and 6 p.m. with the agreement of the House — and Item 24 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Order of Business.
Last week I asked the Leader of the House if he would give us a list of legislation to be taken this session. I did not press the point last Thursday but I had hoped he would indicate today what legislation will be taken this session.
At this early stage in the session I would like to raise a point which is of concern to Members on all sides. The newly reformed Oireachtas committees are so structured that Members of this House are excluded from three of the four main committees. Members are denied an opportunity to participate in the most satisfactory aspect of the work of Parliament. The Leader should see if a way can be found for Members of all parties to attend and participate at these three committees from which, for understandable reasons, we are now excluded.
I support Senator Manning and I am delighted he has raised this point. I raised this matter on a debate on the reform of the Houses when the committees were being instituted. It seemed to be the thin end of the wedge as far as this House was concerned. While the reforms were welcome and certainly contributed to the improvement of the mechanics of legislation in the other House, they had no positive impact on the affairs of this House. Rather they had a negative aspect as regards this House which Senator Manning outlined.
It is an important issue that needs to be addressed although I am not sure how we can address it as it is a matter for the other House how it conducts its business. I raised the point before and I am pleased that the leader of the Opposition group has now taken it on board. I hope we can progress towards an equitable resolution of the matter.
Would it be possible for the Minister for Education to make a statement regarding the report she has ordered and received on the Letterkenny regional technical college? There is a lot of speculation about it and the good name of the college and its teaching staff needs to be restored because——
Have you a question for the Leader?
The Minister was correct and I congratulate her on the action she has taken but the job is unfinished. The speculation should be ended and the Minister should take the next step of clarifying all matters regarding the administration and management of the college. She should do so in the two Houses of the Oireachtas as many here would be interested in the system of regional technical colleges——
Senator, you are going on at length. Have you a question for the Leader?
It is a long story.
Can we offer the Minister an opportunity to come into the House, tomorrow perhaps, to clarify the issue as a matter of urgency?
I support Senator Manning's comments regarding the lack of involvement of this House in a number of important committees. However, the issue cannot be discussed on the Order of Business. Could the Leader of the House arrange an early date for a debate on the matter? The issue is much wider than has been suggested because elected Members of this House are precluded from being, for example, chairmen of county enterprise boards. I was chairman of the board of management of Letterkenny regional technical college for five years but I was excluded from the formation of the recent board largely because I am a Member of this House. I resent that very strongly.
We cannot do justice to this subject without holding a proper debate in this House. There has been a lot of innuendo that the Labour Party is writing the agenda. We find it hard to accept many of the statements being made. It would help to clear the air if we were given the opportunity to state in this House that we are dissatisfied with our exclusion from a number of committees. I believe it is unconstitutional to exclude elected public representatives such as you, a Chathaoirligh, or me from a committee. There is no good reason for it. I am not far from pushing my protest to that point. First, however, I ask the Leader of the House to take this matter on board and to facilitate a debate on it.
When the Leader of the House replies to Senator Manning's question regarding the legislative programme for this term would he deal with Item 3 — Adoptive Leave Bill, 1993 — which is two weeks short of being one year on the Order Paper? It got much attention when it was introduced and we were assured that all Stages would be completed by the end of November last year. What is happening with that Bill and why has it been delayed for so long?
Last week I asked the Leader of the House about the prospect of having a debate on the Price Waterhouse report. Since then there has been a television programme on it so the report is in the public domain. Heretofore, we were led to believe that that was not the case. Many matters were raised on that television programme and I am sure you, a Chathaoirligh, have been approached——
It is a big issue in Athlone.
Will you thank me for raising it for you?
It is a big issue as the Cathaoirleach has agreed. I hope the Leader of the House will arrange for a debate on the matter in the not too distant future because many people are anxious about it. The report cost £0.25 million. The initial reason for seeking the report was to save money and the fact that the report has cost that sum is all the more reason for it being debated in this House.
When will the refugee Bill be put on the Order Paper?
Tomorrow morning I will have the list of legislation to be dealt with during this session. The Adoptive Leave Bill will be taken next week. I will bring the comments about committees to the attention of the Government Chief Whip. The issue of public representatives on public bodies and so forth mentioned by Senator McGowan might be a topic we could debate. With regard to Senator Belton's request, the Chief Whip will contact the relevant Minister. The same will apply to Senator Cotter's request.
The time limits on Item 1 are 20 minutes for each spokesperson and 15 minutes for other contributors.
Order of Business agreed to.