The Order of Business today is item 1 until 1 p.m. and the format is 25 minutes for the first speaker on behalf of each group and 15 minutes for each speaker thereafter. It is proposed, in reply to requests, especially from Senator O'Toole, that the Minister or Minister of State, whoever is replying, will take questions in the concluding period. The Minster will therefore address the House to conclude the debate not later than 12.30 p.m. and he will then take questions. There will be a sos and item 2 will conclude the Order of Business. For the information of Members, the House will sit earlier than usual next Wednesday, 29 March 1995, at 11.30 a.m.
Order of Business.
I thank the Leader of the House, the Minister and Minister of State in arranging for the format of item 1 by allowing a debate to be followed by questions. It is a positive way of dealing with issues such as this and I welcome it.
Will the Leader of the House let the House know the legislative programme between now and Easter at the sitting next Wednesday, 29 March 1995?
I agree with the Order of Business as proposed. With regard to item 1, I thank the Leader of the House for arranging the matter in this way and also the Minister and Minister of State for co-operating with the Leader in this regard. It should be a useful way of acquiring an understanding of the problems with the marine and I look forward to the debate.
Last week I raised the issue of European Nature Conservation Year. This morning we received notification in the post that the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Deputy M. Higgins, is launching the year today in Kilmainham. It is a pity he did not give us more warning about the matter. Does the Leader of the House intend to have statements or a debate on the Nature Conservation Year in the next month to six weeks?
The Framework Document has been published for two or three weeks and we have discussed it in the Seanad. Could the Leader advise us if there is anything further that we in the Seanad, rather than the Department of Foreign Affairs or the Dáil, could do to encourage Unionist politicians to come to the table and talk? I believe that if the Seanad sent out a statement or message, it would carry a different sort of nuance and, hopefully, a little weight to these men.
In view of the fact that there have been further problems at the blood bank, would the Leader again ask the Minister for Health when we will be able to see the special report on the Hepatitis C and anti-D globulin problem? This is causing great worry to the women involved in this issue. The emergence of further problems there has naturally increased their anxiety.
In view of the many issues which were raised during Private Members' Business last night, I ask the Leader if it is intended to have the promised plan on waste management introduced shortly.
I will have the legislative programme for next week later, but at the moment I can tell the House that the following Bills will be taken between now and Easter: the Civil Legal Aid Bill, which is a Seanad Bill; the Criminal Law (Incest Proceedings) (No. 2) Bill, which passed Second Stage yesterday, will be completed by Easter; the Family Law Bill is on Committee Stage here and should also be completed by Easter; the Heritage Bill is coming back to the House in quite an amended form from the Dáil next week; and we also take the Social Welfare Bill. These Bills are on the legislative programme and if there are any additions to that I will inform the Leader of Fianna Fáil in the Seanad.
Senator Fitzgerald spoke about the Nature Conservation Year. There will be a debate to mark this. The Minister is in foreign fields at present. accompanying the President, so I have not been able to get a definite date from him, but this debate will take place.
Senator Wilson raised an interesting question to which I do not have the answer. Perhaps he might use his good offices with some of his Unionist friends and some of the leaders of Unionism. If any of them wanted to address the House about their concerns, I am sure that under the provisions of Standing Orders the House would be willing to welcome them. The Senator might be able to help us in that regard. It would be useful for us to hear at first hand their concerns about the Framework Document.
I have been a little remiss on the question raised by Senator Henry about the blood bank. I should have come back to her with information on this. The Minister for Health has admitted very openly that there are serious problems in the blood bank and that they are being addressed. I will contact the Senator later on the question of hepatitis C.
I will contact Senator Sherlock later on the issue of waste management, which he raised.
Order of Business agreed to.