I thank Members from the benches opposite for co-operating to allow us attend the funeral of Senator Gordon Wilson yesterday by agreeing to take yesterday's business today. I am very grateful for that. Today's business is item 1. It is proposed that, after Second Stage, there will be a short sos before we move on to Committee Stage.
Order of Business.
I thank the Leader for his few words. The Leader is as aware as everybody else in the House of the group of disabled persons who have been outside the House for the past week. I ask the Leader, through his office, to speak to the Minister. Every one of us has had an opportunity to speak with those whose cause is basically the need for facilities in Dublin Bus transport. Every local authority in the country at the moment is working towards a programme for improvement of access for the disabled. I know the Minister has spoken to them but I hope the Leader will pass on the message from this House and will ask him to do whatever he can to make the resources available to Dublin Bus so that those who use wheelchairs have the basic facility of access to public transport.
Some weeks I raised the question of the current dispute regarding testing carried out by the vets. I have given a lot of thought to this issue in the meantime and I have read up a lot about it. I still believe that the position of the vets has been grossly misunderstood. It is time their advice as a professional group was taken; people can point the finger at them afterwards if it does not work. After spending a total of £1 billion on this scheme over the years it is time we listened to the one group who deal with this issue all the time and who have an interest in getting it right. A full discussion on this scheme would be very useful. People have prejudices about the subject and there is a great need to have a full discussion on it. Let us hear the arguments from both sides, let us hear the Minister's proposals and move forward from that point.
In relation to the point made by Senator Wright, these Houses only became accessible to wheelchairs when Senator Crowley was with us. This is indicative of an attitude which is widespread. It is a fundamental right of disabled people that they should be able to move freely within our community. I ask the Leader to do what he can to assist their cause.
On Senator O'Toole's point, my attitude has shifted since he raised it. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry might consider the fact that his behaviour to the veterinary surgeons is like that of Dunnes Stores management to its workers.
Everything changes.
The way money has been wasted on the TB eradication scheme is a national scandal. We discussed this issue before.
Today's Order of Business is unsatisfactory. I accept there were exceptional circumstances this week and it is right and proper that we meet today to discuss the Consumer Credit Bill. The Dáil Select Committee on Enterprise and Economic Strategy made 310 amendments to the Bill. The Government has tabled a further 145 amendments and there will be amendments from this side of the House. The Bill is fundamentally changed from the one which was published. I do not know how we can debate this on Committee Stage in a coherent form. I do not know how the staff of the House can deal with these amendments. I regard this procedure as highly unsatisfactory. I am not proposing an amendment to the Order of Business to the effect that we should not take this business today but the Bill should have been re-entered. It is completely different from the one which was published.
Last week I raised the non-availability of the OECD report to the House. The Minister for Finance replied that it would have cost the State approximately £3,000 to circulate it. This was based on the fact that the report is available from the Government Publications Sales Office for £16.50. I presume this office is selling copies of the report at a profit. He suggested that Members should purchase copies of the report so that we could debate it.
This is symbolic of the attitude of the Minister and the Government. It is not the first time there has been this attitude towards Members of this and the other House. There is not a spin doctor in the country who has not had a copy of the report. Spin doctors demand what they want from Departments when they want it and they get it. It is time we demanded our rights as Members. We should not have to beg for information so that we can have cogent debates. I ask the Leader to please ensure we are not treated as anything but Members of the Oireachtas. When matters are coming before us for discussion the relevant Ministers and the Government should provide us with the information necessary to deal with those matters.
I ask the Leader to call an urgent meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges to discuss the treatment of this House by the media. I am not talking about the faithful media servants who are here each day but the sub-editors of RTE, 98FM and the national newspapers. The House is being treated as if it does not exist. This was shown to be the case on Tuesday when we had expressions of sympathy on the death of Mr. Gordon Wilson. There was no mention of the Seanad on the news that lunch time. There was a belated interview with the Leader but everybody who spoke in the Dáil was mentioned. It was as if we did not exist. In newspaper reports the following day there was no mention of the Seanad of which the deceased had been a good Member. It was reported that the Seanad had adjourned but there was no mention of what happened here. I ask that a meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges be called and that the Director General of RTE be brought in and asked what is he doing about the second House.
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
You have made your point very clearly.
The newspaper editors should also be brought in and asked about their attitude to this House.
I join with Senator Wright's comments about the position of those outside the gates of the House in wheelchairs and other members of the public who are handicapped. I share the view expressed by Senator Dardis that action is only taken when there is no option, as was the case with the former Senator Crowley. Everybody is entitled to the same access and facilities as Brian Crowley because he is a citizen of the State. Having listened to a debate between the head of Dublin Bus and a spokesperson for the handicapped, the Leader might consider a short debate in the House next week to discuss what is a difference of opinion in terms of how this matter should be addressed and the social cost, etc., for CIE. I suggest that it is not CIE's problem but a national one.
The eradication of bovine TB and the amount of money spent on it would rank among the seven wonders of the world. After spending £1 billion we have not moved much further forward. It is timely that some radical overhaul of that system is put in place. I would welcome an opportunity for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry, Deputy Yates, to come to the House to tell us how the changes he proposes would advance the eradication of bovine TB.
I wish to join with previous speakers in calling for a debate on the availability of public transport facilities for handicapped people. I concur with Senator Lanigan about coverage of this House. The Director General of RTE should be called before the Committee on Procedure and Privileges to discuss this serious situation and the imbalance which exists at present.
I wish to refer to the weakness of the British pound against the punt. We are approaching the summer recess and a discussion should take place. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Quinn, should come to the House to tell us the Government's policy in this regard. Many companies in rural areas as well as in the cities will be in serious difficulty if this situation continues over the coming months. Many companies buy three months in advance and those three months are now up. These companies are selling at a loss because of the weakness of sterling against the punt.
I ask the Leader to ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry, Deputy Yates, to come to the House as soon as possible — perhaps next week — to discuss what measures can be taken on behalf of strawberry growers in the south-east who are facing financial ruin. This has been brought about by a combination of two factors, the late May frost and the prolonged spell of high temperatures. In order to cover production they would need to produce two and a half tonnes per acre. This year because of the combination of the frost and the high temperatures they are only producing one tonne per acre at best and they face financial ruin. If something is not done the entire strawberry processing industry in the south-east will be decimated. This section of the farming community never got any assistance from any Government over the years and something must be done.
I concur with what Senator Lanigan said. I am sure I am not the only Member frustrated by the lack of media coverage of the Seanad proceedings. This was accentuated in the past couple of weeks when, as spokesperson on three Bills, I carried out a considerable amount of research and made detailed contributions — which I am sure my colleagues will recognise — only to find that, as far as the media were concerned, it was as if it had never happened because I was not quoted. For those who I believe I have an in-built advantage in RTE, I can assure them that after seven years as a Member, the contrary is my impression.
Would the Leader of the House consider having a debate after the summer recess on the FÁS report on the film industry in Ireland which was launched two days ago by the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht? The issues dealt with in this report are quite serious for the future development of the Irish film industry. Its main recommendations are such that a debate would be useful and informative. It might help to contribute to improving employment prospects in that industry and, consequently, make a further significant contribution to the Irish economy in this area.
If the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry accedes to Senator Townsend's request for a debate on the strawberry industry, could he on the same day explain his position regarding investment in Mallow racecourse? The Irish Horseracing Authority has approved the investment in Mallow racecourse and it is up to the Minister to provide the funding. Perhaps he could come to the House in the next few weeks and explain his position. This matter is of major concern to the southern region and to the horse breeding industry in particular. It would be appreciated if the Minister would intervene.
I support the call by Senator O'Toole and Senator Dardis for a debate on agriculture. The last time agriculture was discussed it was in the context of the vets dispute. I am seeking a general debate on agriculture. I also live near Mallow and I am anxious to know the Minister's position regarding the racecourse. However, the main concern at present is the danger of the cessation of the bovine TB eradication scheme as a result of the dispute with the vets. I have consistently said that the vets are vital to the scheme. The scheme will not be successful, despite what Senator Magner said about the amount of money that has been spent on it, without the co-operation of the vets.
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
The Senator supports the principle of a debate?
Yes. I also support Senator Wright's request to meet the Minister regarding the disabled. As a result of an accident some years ago I was confined to a wheelchair for six months so I am aware of the difficulties experienced by the disabled. There is an urgent need for the Minister to meet them and to ensure that their needs are met.
Senator Wright and others raised the question of the disabled. I agree with Senator Magner's suggestion that we make time available next week to discuss it. We will allocate an hour or two hours next week for that discussion.
The dispute with the vets was raised by a number of Senators. I realise that it was their intention to be helpful and I will convey their feelings of concern to the Minister. Senator Dardis made a valid point about how we are conducting our business today. I take it on board and we will not do business this way again. I am as unhappy as the Senator about it.
Senator Lanigan mentioned the OECD report. He is absolutely right in saying that in future Members should have reports in good time and there should be no question of being under a compliment about it. The Committee on Procedure and Privileges and issues concerning Members were raised. I have had discussions with the Leader of the Opposition and other Members about issues that are of concern to Members. I will ask the Cathaoirleach to hold a lengthy meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, perhaps the week after the House rises. We need time because there are a number of serious issues that are of concern to all of us.
Senator Cassidy raised the exchange rate of the punt with sterling. I will see if the Minister can come to the House but we have a full schedule between now and next week. I was interested to see that the point raised by Senator Howard during the week about the problems that arise vis-a-vis sterling received wide coverage in the media yesterday. Senator Mooney asked for a debate on the FÁS report. I will be delighted to arrange such a debate but it will be in the next session.
Senator Townsend raised the plight of strawberry growers. That issue is close to the Minister's heart since the strawberry growers are mainly located in his constituency. Mallow racecourse was raised; the racing industry is close to the Minister's heart. I will see if we can arrange even a short debate on those two issues between now and the end of the session.
Order of Business agreed to.