Today's business will be item 1 and item 2. Item 2 is to follow item 1, but not before 4 p.m. Next week we will be covering item 5 and item 4 and possibly the debate on banking if there is time.
Order of Business.
Will there be a sos today?
There will be a sos today from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Is the Leader of the House saying that we will continue on item 1 as far as possible until 4 p.m.?
Yes.
Should it finish before 4 p.m. will the House take a sos?
Yes.
Thank you. In relation to next week, I welcome the fact that item 5 is on the Order Paper. The Leader mentioned yesterday that we are sitting on Tuesday. Will we be sitting for three days next week?
Yes.
Very good. The Leader gave a commitment to Senator McGowan and others in relation to non-Government motions on the Order Paper, item 13 No. 4, on international funding in relation to Border counties. If the Leader can arrange a day for a debate on that item in the next couple of weeks it would be very appropriate and I would appreciate it.
I wish the Leader to clarify that we will only take Committee Stage today. There is no intention of going on to the Report Stage of the Bill, is there?
No.
Thank you.
In respect of item No. 2, what time is it proposed to rise this evening?
I wish to raise two matters and ask the Leader of the House to make time for debates on both, if possible. Would it be possible to reconsider having a general debate on the state of the economy? The Government is now actively borrowing abroad to a degree which we have not seen in recent years, the budget is in deficit this year and sterling difficulties in the year ahead will cause problems for whoever is in Government. It would be a good time for us to have a general and wide ranging debate on the economy and in that way we could discuss generally issues such as the state of the Irish pound and issues of exchanges. Could time be made available for that?
Could time be made available for a discussion on the issue of Clonmannon retirement village? It is because of the actions of this House that a section 19 official was sent into Clonmannon. I am personally bitterly disappointed at the response from the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte. He has adopted a Pontius Pilate approach to this issue. The findings of that official's report are well known to Members of the House. Some of the serious allegations have been disproved, but more of them have been upheld. The issue has now gone to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Perhaps an Adjournment debate on this matter would be more appropriate.
With respect, a Chathaoirligh, an Adjournment debate would not be sufficient. There is anxiety on all sides of the House about this matter and much benefit could be derived from discussing the summary report which has been issued. I ask the Leader to provide time for such a debate which could be held in the context——
Does the Senator have a question to the Leader?
I ask the Leader to provide time to discuss this matter as I know he shares my views on this issue.
There was a debate before Easter on the deteriorating condition of many county roads, some of which are now almost impassable. Members on all sides are aware that county councils are experiencing a very real crisis in relation to funding and some personnel who have been involved in the repair and maintenance of county roads face the threat of redundancy. The Minister indicated in the House that he intended to set up a review of this area and that he had set about getting some action on the problem. Would it be possible to invite the Minister for the Environment back to the Seanad so that he could update us on developments? Perhaps the Minister could indicate in the House whether additional funding will be made available to county councils to continue county road maintenance work.
I congratulate the Leader of the House for arranging the introduction of the Arterial Drainage Bill in the House next week. I hope the Leader realises the action taken last week, with regard to the publication of the Bill, was an effort to strengthen his position in ensuring that the House received recognition for promises made previously. I congratulate the Leader and I am delighted the Bill is going ahead.
Could the Leader indicate a date for a discussion on Northern Ireland? This issue may have been raised yesterday in my absence, but I assure the House that things are happening in the North. The balls are very much up in the air and we are at a very sensitive stage. I have no doubt that a debate in the House on Northern Ireland would serve a very useful purpose.
I support the request from Senator Wright in relation to a motion on cross-Border funding. This is a matter of urgency which should not be left on the long finger and I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Finance to the House to discuss it. There is growing anger in the Border counties about this issue, although I concede it commenced prior to this Administration, in relation to additional funds for the Border region. However, the situation has been exacerbated by the agreement at European level on the Delors package and the fact that the Northern Ireland Government has publicly committed itself to matching the substantial funds it will receive under the programme. The Government here has not yet come forward with a similar commitment. Unless something concrete and substantial is forthcoming on the question of additionality in the Border counties under the Delors package, INTERREG and the International Fund for Ireland, this anger will not be contained for much longer. The people in this area are in a desperate situation.
Does the Senator have a question to the Leader?
I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Finance, not the Minister for the Environment or any other Minister, to the House to discuss this issue. This is a budgetary matter, which is central to the Government's economic plan. The future of Border counties greatly depends on the response received from the Government regarding additionality.
The debate on the White Paper on Education began yesterday. The Leader of the House has indicated the business it is proposed to take next week, so I assume therefore this debate will not resume next week. However. I hope it will resume the following week or the week after because it is a most important debate.
Senators Wright and Wilson raised Northern Ireland. I will try to give the Whips a definite date for this debate before the close of business today. This discussion should be held sooner rather than later.
Regarding Senator O'Toole's question, we are only taking Committee Stage of the Civil Legal Aid Bill today. In relation to Senator Roche's request for a debate on the economy, the Finance Bill will be before the House on 30 and 31 May. There should be an overall debate on the economy, but I do not want to hold it before the Finance Bill has been taken.
Regarding the Clonmannon issue, which Senator Roche has highlighted and fought for over a sustained period, I am not sure it is an appropriate matter for a wider debate. Perhaps we could discuss the position later and see if a motion could be framed. An Adjournment debate would probably be more appropriate, but if a motion can be devised I would have no difficulty with making an hour available for a debate.
In relation to Senator Daly's point, the Minister for the Environment is preparing a major package for county roads and he should be in a position to unveil its details soon. It is reasonably imminent.
Hear, hear.
Senator Mooney raised cross-Border funding. There is a commitment for a debate on this topic, but the debate on Northern Ireland will probably take precedence, although not by very much.
Senator Mullooly raised the White Paper on Education. This debate will continue probably the week after next.
What time will the House adjourn today?
I have suggested approximately two hours for the Statements on Foreign Affairs, but I want to leave it reasonably open ended.
Order of Business agreed to.