It is proposed to take item 1 now. Item 2. Statements on the Role of the Seanad, will be taken at 2 p.m. with the Acting Leader being called on to make a statement of reply not later than 5.30 p.m. Item 10. Motion No. 16, will be taken from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Order of Business.
As I requested last week, what will be the programme of legislation for the House between now and the Easter recess? As was also mentioned last week, it may be appropriate for the House to discuss the situation in the North of Ireland. I would welcome such an opportunity as early as possible.
The Order of Business is agreed as far as I am concerned. Could I ask the Leader to convey to the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht our thanks for his speedy response to our Private Members' motion of last week in respect of Mullaghmore? It is regrettable that it was not possible for anybody other than Senator Henry to rise when we sought a division on that matter because the Fine Gael Leader of the House indicated that they would be abstaining. It is significant that, in the course of the debate, the only person on the Government side who indicated clear and positive support was Senator Sherlock. We welcome the decision and we thank the Minister for his speedy response.
May I again ask the Government to produce the Efficiency Audit Group report on the Army and the changes that are purportedly to take place? Every week since the information in the report was leaked we have asked about what is in this report. This week the Army bands are to be disbanded; every day of every week there are leaks about this report but this House has not been given the opportunity to look at it. Hundreds of people in every constituency, town and city, are under threat because of leaks supposedly come from that report, yet neither this House nor the Lower House has been given the opportunity to discuss it. It is a matter of urgency.
I said previously, Senator, that such matters are suitable for Private Members' Business. I urge Senators to take that on board if possible.
It might be suitable for Private Members' Business but it is a matter of concern to the nation. We should have an opportunity to look at the report and discuss it.
Could the Acting Leader indicate when we might have an opportunity in this House to discuss the Government's immature decision in relation to Mullaghmore? Bearing in mind that this Government indicated very clearly its wish to have transparency, how can it reconcile that decision with the fact that an application was before Clare County Council, that the planning process was taking place and would probably be appealed to An Bord Pleanála? How can this decision have been taken in the light of these developments?
How does this relate to the Minister of State with responsibility for western development's programme of action? He indicated here last week the desirability of ensuring development in the west; this was a major project which had a great impact on one of the most remote and underdeveloped areas in Ireland. How does the Government feel that this decision will help the conservation or management of one of our most unique scenic areas? It is a very bad decision which will put the whole future of the Burren at risk.
I am sure Members will take on board that issues such as this were raised last week.
When does the Minister for Health intend to publish the report of the special investigative committee into the contraction by women of hepatitis C from the anti-D vaccine? I raised the matter last Wednesday and Senator Henry raised it last Thursday. I understand the Minister has had the report for more than seven weeks. The women involved are very concerned at the delay in its publication.
Would it be possible for item 9 on the Order Paper to be taken fairly soon? Item 10, motion 6, is related. This is an urgent matter because the Delors package is now being allocated. If this House is to have any useful discussion on the International Fund for Ireland, the INTERREG programme and the Delors package, we should have it sooner rather than later. The Leader of the House indicated here that he would be glad to debate this matter in Government time and I would appreciate a favourable response.
Could I ask the Acting Leader if it would be in order to send congratulations to the Minister for Finance, Deputy Quinn, on going before the Economic and Monetary Committee of the European Parliament in Brussels to answer questions on the state of the Irish currency, the Government's use of EU transfers, the likelihood of meeting European Monetary Union targets——
It is a great coalition.
——and on his handling in general of our foreign exchange policy? We are very lucky to have a Minister of the calibre of Deputy Quinn. One can imagine what would have happened to this country if he had taken advice from Senator Ross. Deputy Michael McDowell or Mary Ellen Synon.
(Interruptions.)
Could I ask the Acting Leader when it is envisaged that the Government will finally allocate money to Mallow racecourse? This is an ongoing debate and many people in the Cork area and the Irish Racing Authority are very concerned about this issue. Over £5 million was sanctioned by the last Administration and now consultants are being employed to find out whether it is efficient or economic. Mallow is the only racecourse in Cork which has a very high horse population and is the home of the thoroughbred industry. I urge the Government to sanction the immediate allocation of that money.
I will not rule the Senator out of order.
Thank you.
As bouquets and advice are being handed out to the Minister for Finance, whatever about the two gentlemen whom Senator Townsend mentioned, he would need to be careful of the lady. Financial journalists, when spurned, can be very difficult people to deal with.
On the issue of bouquets to the Minister for Finance, there is a Fianna Fáil motion — motion No. 10 on the Order Paper — on tax covenants. I see that the Minister has taken our good advice. We would be willing to congratulate and compliment him because he may have seen the way the wind was blowing in this House. I welcome his decision to change the Government's propositions on tax covenants, particularly where they affect people who suffer from long term illness. I think that motion has now served its purpose.
Would it be possible for us to have a debate at an early date on the Western European Union and on the issue of the intergovernmental conference? The year 1996 is rapidly approaching and I understand that there is now a considerable amount of preparation under way for it at official level. It would now be timely to have a debate on this issue.
Would it also be possible — perhaps it would be in the context of tonight's Private Members' Business — for this House to indicate its dismay at the daft and crazy proposition put before the European Parliament by members of the Green group, which includes two Irish MEP's, to withdraw European Funding from major road projects, particularly the Arklow by-pass? If there was ever a crazy, daft and ill-considered proposition this is it, and it should stand condemned. I compliment the Labour, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil MEPs who have taken a proper stand. It is crazy to play politics, which is what these daft people are doing, with the wellbeing of towns like Arklow or Mullingar and we need to register our dismay at that.
I raised a matter on the Adjournment today in regard to visa applications and you ruled it out of order, a Chathaoirligh.
It lacks ministerial responsibility, Senator.
I think there is discrimination there and maybe we can do something about it.
I will ask the Leader to arrange for a debate on the matter, but it is not appropriate now.
I would like to explain the situation.
I do not want my rulings raised in the House.
There is discrimination there.
My rulings are not to be discussed in the House. You can ask the Leader to arrange for a discussion some time in the future.
I will.
Contact President Clinton.
I ask the Leader if the question of visas to the United States could be discussed in this House?
I will get back to the Senator on that. On the programme of legislation, we will have the Social Welfare Bill tomorrow and next week. There are a number of Bills on the Order Paper with the Seanad, including the Family Law Bill and the Civil Legal Aid Bill. There will be details of other legislation coming from the Dáil in the near future and we will get the rest of the details for Senator Wright as soon as possible.
There have been a number of calls for a debate on Northern Ireland and. again, we hope to organise that in the very near future. I would agree that such a debate would be timely.
Senator Dardis and Senator Daly raised the question of Mullaghmore. As the House knows, we did have a long debate last week during Private Members' time on that issue. I would take issue to some extent with Senator Dardis in so far as I also spoke in favour of the motion last week. We have to agree to differ on the question of Mullaghmore. Senator Daly referred to the fact that stopping this development was an immature decision. I again would have to disagree with that. The Minister announced that a plan will be produced for the entire Burren area. That is a response to Senator Daly's concerns on——
Western development.
——the development of north Clare.
Can we get the Minister for western development?
We could have an Adjournment debate on the issue if the Senator wishes, but we did air it fully last week; it has been aired over a number of years in various fora.
And the poor Minister for western development was overruled by the Government.
That Minister should resign.
I will try to get information on the publication of the efficiency audit report on the Army for Senator Lanigan. Perhaps an Adjournment debate would also be suitable for that.
Senator Honan referred to hepatitis C. I agree that it is time for information to be made available on that as soon as possible and I will endeavour to get that information from the Minister for Health.
With regard to the point raised by Senator McGowan. the Leader of the House indicated last week that we would have a debate on the International Fund for Ireland and the INTERREG and hopefully this will take place as soon as possible.
I am not sure if Senator Townsend wanted a reply with regard to his question, but I agree with Senator Roche in that I am not certain what kind of advice we would not want to get from the lady the Senator referred to.
With regard to Senator Kelleher's point on Mallow racecourse, it would appear that this would be suitable for debate on the Adjournment. I am aware that it is an issue of concern to the people, not only of the north Cork area but of County Cork.
On the issue of the Western European Union and the intergovernmental conference raised by Senator Roche, we could have a wide ranging debate on this as there are many related issues. and the Senator referred to other issues of EU funding. The matter has been raised many times in the House and it would be fruitful to have a debate on it. We should be careful that we do not intrude on the territory of the relevant Oireachtas committee, but there is plenty of scope for debate in the Seanad and it would be suitable for Government time if it can be made available as soon as possible.
I am uncertain as to the details of the case referred to by Senator Rory Kiely. but perhaps if the Senator provided me with them. I could request information from the relevant Department, or it may be suitable for debate on the Adjournment.
It is not suitable for debate on the Adjournment as no Minister will attend on a matter such as this for which he has no ministerial responsibility.
Not on the specific matter raised by the Deputy.
The Senator may wish to pursue the matter by way of correspondence.
A Chathaoirligh, any time you can get the Limerick hurlers out of Ireland, you should support it.
Sour grapes after last Sunday.
Order of Business agreed to.