Today's Order of Business is items 1 and 2. Item 1 will be taken until 1 p.m. with a sos from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and item 2 will be taken at 2 p.m. I think the House would like me to compliment the Information Officer of both Houses on the fine programme which went out on "Cursaí" during the week giving details of the operation of both Houses of the Oireachtas. It was a fine piece of work which should be complimented.
Order of Business.
May I ask the Leader if it is his desire to have all Stages of both Bills dealt with today?
If possible.
There was a very good debate on tourism in the other House over the last two days and I listened to the Minister speak on a motion put down by the Fianna Fáil Party. There is much expertise in this House about tourist boards and investment in various areas. It could be dealt with by a Private Members Motion, but I would prefer if the Leader would agree to set aside a Thursday afternoon in the near future as the high season approaches. We would all have an opportunity to give our views on the only sector of the economy where there is major growth.
I agree with the Leader's point about the "Cursaí" programme. The Information Officer, Verona Ní Bhroinn, is to be congratulated. The programme could be useful at school level. We have discussed on many occasions the need to bring an understanding of the Oireachtas and Leinster House to a wider audience. Making the programme more accessible to schools should be considered.
The Ethics in Public Office Bill will be before the House shortly. However, I am of the view that perhaps we should have a discussion before that Bill. Political correctness, attitudes towards politics and attracting people into political life is increasingly becoming a matter of concern to everybody, regardless of the side of the House on which they sit. Do we need a broader debate before we look at the Bill, or is the Leader happy to simply leave the Bill take its place? The debate in the other House has been pointed and difficult. We could simply tie ourselves up in knots and create a situation where people will not be attracted into politics, which would be the worst of all options, while trying to strike a balance between transparency and other concerns. Is this best done through the discussion of the Bill, or could it be done in another way?
Item 3 on the Order Paper is Report Stage of the Civil Legal Aid Bill. Do we have a date on which that will be taken?
I ask the Leader of the House if in future, when streets adjacent to the Houses of the Oireachtas are blocked, Members might be alerted in advance. I believe that this morning Members are late for the sitting of this House because streets are blocked. This is the second time in the last two months that Dawson Street has been blocked. While I welcome both events — the celebration for Steve Collins and the visit of Prince Charles — they coincide with the start of business in the House. On both occasions I have had difficulty in arriving in the House on time. I barely made it this morning.
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
But the Senator did get here.
I ask the Leader to take the matter up with the powers that be and ask that we be alerted in advance when a street near the House is blocked.
I endeavoured earlier to ascertain from the Leader the position in relation to county roads. We got an undertaking from the Minister for the Environment that he would make some announcements about additional funding for the upkeep of county roads. Council management are making people redundant because they do not have sufficient money. Can we get a clearer answer from the Leader?
May I also ask the Leader to draw the Minister for the Environment's attention to a serious fish kill in Cork in the last few days? Miles and miles of one of the most outstanding fisheries in the southwest was wiped out. There is a threat to fisheries as the start of the summer season approaches and the Minister for the Environment and the Minister for the Marine should do something about it.
I join with the Senators who complimented the job done by Verona Ní Bhroinn on the "Cursaí" programme.
Having read the statement issued by the Government in relation to the Attorney General's Office and the enormous amount of technology that is being installed in that office in terms of PCs, information retrieval systems and so on, it is still an outstanding disgrace in the House that despite what we have tried to do, and the Leader has tried to do in his capacity as Vice-Chairman of the Joint Services Committee, nothing has been done in the Library to enable Members to participate in the way we govern this country. There is no information available except through the efforts of Ms Maura Corcoran and her small staff. Frankly, it is disgraceful that immediate action cannot be taken, with all the information technology now available, linking into databases throughout the world, but here in the House, where Members are expected to compete with all sorts of vested interests and powerful lobbies, all of whom are equipped with the latest information techniques, we are still living back in the '40s and '50s. It might be timely that the House would consider a debate on the issue of services in the House, particularly with regard to technology.
The Leader of the House will be aware that the Minister for Justice, Deputy Owen, received a 40 page memorandum from the Garda Representative Association two days ago which put forward their proposals for ending the damaging divisions within the Garda Síochána. The Minister said she would consider these proposals. Will the Leader ask the Minister to come into the House when she has considered the report to inform us of the proposals she intends to bring in to end this damaging split which has had the effect of undermining public confidence in the Garda while it continues?
I add my voice to the sense of indignation expressed by Senator Magner and others about the neglect of the Library. I recall an excellent debate here to which Senators Manning and Magner contributed. I remember Senator Magner holding up some of the neglected volumes in the House. It is an absolute disgrace. Why can we not do something about it? All the sentiments have been expressed and are agreed. When can something be done about it?
Senator Wright raised the question of tourism and I think he said it was one of the many booming aspects of the economy at present. He raised an interesting point, as did Senator O'Toole, on the question of ethics. Day in, day out I am asked, quite legitimately, to make time available for issues which are of concern to Members and I very much want to do that. One of the proposals I will put before the small committee which is meeting to review our procedures during the recess is that we might have what is called a topical hour like the German Parliament has. Each week, perhaps on Thursday afternoons, issues could be nominated by Members in advance and discussed. That might take up some of the burden of issues which the House would legitimately like to discuss and which I certainly would like to provide time for.
On the question of tourism, Senator Wright, I will try to make time available within the next two weeks. It is topical and timely for that.
Senator O'Toole's question about a discussion of ethics in politics is timely. I am a little concerned as to the structure it might take and I will discuss with the Senator afterwards how it might be done. I am certainly not opposed to it.
Senator Fitzgerald raised the legitimate issue of streets being blocked off. Under the Constitution, we have a right to go unimpeded to meetings of either House of the Oireachtas. Obviously, if there are major events, we like everybody else must be inconvenienced. Nonetheless, prior notice should be given of what streets are being blocked off so that Members can make other arrangements. I will convey that concern to the relevant authorities.
Senator Daly asked me once more about county roads. I conveyed to the Minister the urgency — and there is urgency — and as soon as I have information I will come back to him on that. I was not aware of the fish kill, but obviously that is disturbing. Perhaps we can discuss it later.
Senators Magner and Lee rightly raised the question of the Library. I have been thinking about it and I intend, in the first place, to write to the Taoiseach on behalf of Seanad Éireann to ask that the matter be treated with urgency. If need be, it is a matter on which this House could put legitimate pressure on the Government. The Taoiseach is supportive and I think it is a question of jogging his memory to see if we can get action there.
Senator Mulcahy raised the question of the Garda representative body. I am not sure a debate in the House would necessarily help to resolve the dispute, which has been a scandal to the entire country for a long period of time. If a debate would be helpful, I would support one. It is a dispute which has defied the last Minister for Justice and it does not appear to be any nearer a solution at the present time, but I will convey the sentiments of the Senator to the Minister.
Order of Business agreed to.