It is proposed to take item 1 today. There will be a sos from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. For the information of Senators it is proposed to sit at 10.30 a.m. rather than 2.30 p.m. next Wednesday.
Order of Business.
Last week the Leader of the House indicated we would discuss the OECD report next week. Some Senators have not yet received a copy of the report and I ask the Leader to ensure copies are circulated.
I am sure all Members will join me in expressing serious concern and grave disappointment at the decision by France to resume testing nuclear weapons. I ask the Leader to ensure the concern of the House is conveyed through the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to the appropriate quarters.
Finally, does the Leader envisage there will be an opportunity before the summer recess to discuss Sunday trading?
I support the last call made by the previous speaker. I asked yesterday for a debate on the report on Sunday trading which has been submitted to the Department of the Taoiseach.
I ask the Leader to ensure there is a further debate on foreign policy on a Thursday this month, as had been agreed. I congratulate the Tánaiste on his visit to the PLO because it is important we keep open that relationship which has existed through various Governments. However, the Middle East has not been debated in this House for some time and it would be interesting to receive a report from the Tánaiste on his visit so we could be brought up to date on related issues.
In supporting Senator Mullooly, I suggest to the Leader that we should have a debate on either foreign or European affairs. The French decision is regrettable and has enormous implications, not just for peace and stability but for the Maastricht Treaty, the future development of European foreign policy and possibly the framing of defence policy. It is a retrograde step on the part of the French. I am pleased the Taoiseach has already voiced his dissatisfaction but I hope the Government continues to make clear to the French that we disapprove wholeheartedly of their actions.
I support Senator Mullooly's statement on France. I hope its EU colleagues, including ourselves, will exert pressure on them to reverse that decision. It is a most extraordinary and retrograde step.
I ask the House to pay tribute to the memory of the late rock musician, Mr. Rory Gallagher, who died yesterday. He was born in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, 47 years ago and was one of the finest musical ambassadors this country ever produced.
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
We recognise your interest, Senator, but that matter does not arise on the Order of Business.
I join with other speakers in condemning France. The strongest possible protest should be sent through the French Ambassador to Ireland and the EU should discuss the issue as a matter of urgency. These tests could be of enormous consequence. If the French feel they are needed, we should join with the New Zealand Prime Minister in suggesting that any tests which take place should be conducted in France. That will quickly soften their cough.
If we are to have a debate on foreign affairs, a matter of great concern which will arise in the EU is the joint aeronautical regulations, which could come into force shortly. These would eliminate all small private aerodromes throughout Europe. This will ensure that people cannot be tested for pilot licences without being trained by fulltime trained pilots at the small aerodromes at a minimum cost of £35,000 each. Additional support staff are also needed and this will increase the costs of running a small aerodrome.
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
Please put a question to the Leader.
I ask the Leader to ask the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications, Deputy Lowry, to consider this matter because it will eliminate the smaller aerodromes, such as those in Sligo and Kilkenny. Over 3,000 people have been trained in small aerodromes throughout the country, but this regulation will ensure that they will not be trained there in the future. We should ask the Minister to come into the House to discuss this matter further.
Some weeks ago I mentioned the report of the Insurance Ombudsman. I ask the Leader if time could be made available to discuss this issue. The Pensions Board had to investigate approximately 24 pension schemes. Perhaps it would be possible to have a debate on this matter, given the difficulties which occurred in the past.
I ask the Leader to have a debate on item 18, motion 4, which has been on the Order Paper for some time. The Leader indicated earlier that we would have a debate in Government time and I would like to know when this could take place. People in the Border areas are concerned about matching funding, because there are rumours that the various funds may not be matched by Government funding.
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
Please put a question to the Leader.
The Leader should arrange a debate as soon as possible.
I support Senator Mullooly, who asked for a debate on Sunday trading. The small shopkeeper must work on Saturdays and Sundays to 12 a.m. to stay in business. This is the final chapter of his survival. I hope there will be unanimity in our campaign against Sunday trading.
I join with others in asking the Leader to convey to the Tánaiste the point made by Senator Mullooly about French nuclear testing. This has the support of the House.
I am tempted to ask the Leader to ask the Superintendent to remove the cameras from the House because they do not seem to serve any useful purpose as regards the coverage given to this House by RTÉ. One of the best debates in a long time on an extremely important topic, the murder of people, took place here yesterday. However, I was amazed last night when it was ignored, apart from the three or four seconds coverage given to the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Burton. That is disgraceful. RTÉ gave the Dáil and a committee of the Dáil lengthy coverage. This is the second Chamber of the Parliament of Ireland, but it is not being treated as such. I propose to the Leader of the House to invite RTÉ before the Seanad Committee on Procedure and Privileges to discuss the total lack of coverage and respect accorded to this House.
I strongly agree with Senator Magner. I watched the entire programme and the proceedings of the Dáil were interesting. However, only two Members of this House were mentioned briefly by name and three or four seconds were given to the Minister of State. It then showed the proceedings of the subcommittees of these two Houses, which were treated with far greater respect. It is an outrage and a disgrace and I say that as someone who has consistently defended RTÉ in this House. Its behaviour is grossly irresponsible.
I am glad that a number of Senators, including Senator Magner and Senator Dardis, mentioned the French tests. I join with them in asking the Leader to find some method of communicating our concern, perhaps to the French Ambassador. I would go further and say that this shows what we are dealing with in the new Administration in France. It is a cynical and morally corrupt regime which has openly stated that its personal and individual interests as a country reign supreme over the health, welfare and foreign policy interests of other countries. We should not be surprised. During the debate on East Timor yesterday I quoted the Prime Minister, Mr. Alain Juppé——
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
I remind the Senator that we are not discussing that matter now. He has indicated his support for a discussion on it.
——who said that the European Union was not a human rights organisation. We should remember what the French did to the Greenpeace ship, The Rainbow Warrior. Agents of the state murdered people.
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
We cannot discuss that matter now. I ask the Senator to resume his seat.
I want to place on the record of this House that its secret service abducted and murdered a well known state psychologist who was a personal friend of mine.
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
I have ruled that matter out of order.
It may be out of order, but it is more out of order for the French Government to behave in this way.
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
You know you are out of order, Senator.
I ask the Leader for clarification on a statement made by the Taoiseach — I want to know if it represents Government policy — on "Oireachtas Report" last night when he referred to the legitimate republican tradition of Sinn Féin. I do not regard Sinn Féin as having a legitimate republican tradition. I am increasingly concerned at the use of such language and the casual easy acceptance of the Irish Republican Army as if the so-called IRA was the legitimate army of the Irish Republic.
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
What is said in the other House is not a matter for this House.
On yesterday's Order of Business the Leader mentioned approximately 12 pieces of legislation which will be dealt with during this session. However, there is no legislation on health. Over the past number of months we have asked the Leader for a debate on many issues, including treatment for the mentally ill. The Minister for Health has failed to publish the White Paper on Mental Health and the provisions of the Child Care Act, 1991, have not yet been implemented.
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
Please put a question to the Leader.
I ask the Leader when legislation will be introduced for the statutory reporting of child abuse cases, which has also been debated in this House, and other health matters.
Perhaps it would be possible to ask the technicians to investigate the low volume from the speakers. Some Members speak loudly, such as Senator Norris, but others, such as Senator Finneran, speak low and it is difficult to hear them. There is all party agreement that the volume from the speakers is poor, therefore, additional speakers should be placed in the House so that we can clearly hear what is being said.
I agree with Senator Magner and Senator Norris that our share of air-time in this House is ridiculous. We are supposed to have one-third air-time. I agree that we should invite RTÉ before the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.
We should have a debate on Sunday trading, which I mentioned yesterday and to which I am opposed. I ask the Leader if it would be possible to have statements on the Irish Press situation.
I join with colleagues in asking the Leader for a debate on Sunday trading. This issue goes further than the situation in Dunnes Stores. I want to know when the Government will introduce legislation to deal with this serious issue. The management and owners of Dunnes Stores are riding roughshod——
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
We are not discussing the matter now, Senator. You have indicated your support for a debate.
It is timely that we should discuss this issue. It has been going on for some time and it illustrates the inability of Government and the unions to come to the table to discuss some arrangements. The matter should be discussed in the near future.
I join in the condemnation of the French for their latest announcement on nuclear testing. As regards coverage of the House, and arising from what was stated here last week, I ask the Leader if any communication was received from the Cork Examiner Group or whether it had decided not to give further coverage to the Seanad. If the answer is in the negative, a response should be given by the Seanad.
I understand that there is a commitment in the Programme for Government to introduce a refugee Bill. A similar commitment was given by the previous Government in the Programme for a Partnership Government. We have obligations under the Geneva Convention for the Protection of Refugees and the New York Protocol to introduce legislation to cover refugees. Will the Leader consider asking the relevant Minister to introduce a refugee Bill in this House, where we could have a broad ranging discussion on refugees?
Will the Leader give the House an update on the status of the broadcasting control committee? I raised this issue in the House last January. At the time, the Leader admitted that, because of the change of Government, the committee had been lost in the slipstream and that he would investigate. I did not press the matter subsequently, but four months have now elapsed. This is a committee of the House. It acts in a regulatory monitoring role and it would, for example, reflect much of the commentary in the House this morning. A representative of RTÉ sits on the board. The Leader and I have shared many happy hours together on the committee down the years. Will he urge the Taoiseach to establish the committee as soon as possible?
I will try to get copies of the OECD report circulated today. I thank Senator Mullooly and others for raising the question of France's testing of nuclear weapons. If it is agreeable with the Whips, we could perhaps arrange to set aside 30 minutes today for statements on this matter. Statements from the Seanad carry more weight than me conveying the views as expressed on the Order of Business.
The question of Sunday trading was raised by a number of Senators. I will endeavour in the next fortnight to have a discussion on this issue.
Senator O'Toole and Senator Dardis raised the issue of foreign policy. Members will note that item 15 on the Order Paper is a motion dealing with a report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs on European Union Security and Defence. It was placed on the Order Paper by the chairman of the committee, Deputy Dukes. He is anxious that the House debate the report. I am also anxious that reports of committees would, as a matter of course, find their way to the House where they can be debated. This would allow us to keep abreast of developments. I will, therefore, try to find time and a format for this. The chairman of the committee may well be the person to present the report to the House rather than the relevant Minister. It may be a matter we can discuss in the near future at the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.
I will convey the point raised by Senator Lanigan to the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications but I cannot guarantee the same speedy results this time as happened last week. Senator Cosgrave raised valid and important points about the insurance ombudsman and the report on pensions. I will communicate with the Senator and attempt to arrange a debate on this matter. There will be a debate before the end of the session on the point raised persistently and correctly by Senator McGowan.
On the question of RTÉ, I join with Members in expressing extreme annoyance at the exclusion of the excellent debate we had yesterday. I have been informed by RTÉ that due to a technical hitch, the Seanad was not recorded until 5 o'clock or 5.30 p.m. yesterday. All of us are very unhappy with the level of coverage we are getting in a general way from RTÉ. It is a matter which should be on the agenda of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.
Senator Mooney raised the matter of the broadcasting committee. It has been established and members have been appointed by the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. A meeting has not been convened. I do not know why, but I will find out as it is long past time that there was a meeting of that committee.
The Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Currie, will attend the House before the end of the session to discuss the child care aspects of health. The White Paper will be published shortly.
Senator Cassidy and I discussed with the Minister the question of the Irish Press yesterday. If it is considered useful and we can find a proper format, we can have a discussion on this matter and on the newspaper industry generally within the next two weeks.
I ask Senator Sherlock to leave the matter of the Cork Examiner a short while longer and I will revert to him on it.
I am not aware of a forthcoming refugee Bill. It certainly will not be introduced in this session. I will ascertain the position and advise Senator Mulcahy.
Order of Business agreed to.