It is proposed today to take items 16, motion 22, 1, 2 and 3. Item 22 will conclude at 1.30 p.m. and ten minutes will be allocated to each speaker and 15 minutes for the Minister; Members may share time. Item 1 will be taken at 2 p.m. and items 2 and 3 will be taken at the conclusion of item 1.
Order of Business.
I welcome the fact that the Leader has specified the length of time for the Minister's contribution. I hope, in the interest of fair play, the Leader will take up the matter of the length of time the Minister can contribute to a debate in Private Members' time at the Committee on Procedure and Privileges; this happened in the past.
I ask the Leader of the House to convey our thanks and congratulations to the Minister for Health in establishing a suicide task force, which he announced yesterday. This matter has been discussed in the House; indeed, this House could claim ownership for developing an awareness of this serious social problem. The germination of the idea for such a task force came from an Adjournment debate that took place in this House last January. I would like the Leader to convey our sincere thanks to the Minister.
I ask the Leader if he will provide time next week for a debate on East Timor because that is the date closest to the 20th anniversary of the illegal attempt of its annexation by Indonesia. We did get an undertaking that we would have a debate around that time. As the date of the anniversary is 7 December, the Leader might be able to do something for us on that matter.
With regard to the debate on universities, we accept the situation but ten minutes is not a lot of time, particularly for those who are speaking for a constituency that is directly affected by the proposed changes; perhaps there will be an opportunity to go into it in more detail when the Bill comes before the House. I would have liked more time. Perhaps not everybody in the House is as interested in the matter as I am.
It is obvious that Trinity College is a difficult bastille to assault by outsiders.
Not really.
I compliment the University of Limerick for conferring an honorary degree on Jack Lynch. The House should mark the fact that he seems to be fit and well; it is nice to see him being honoured in such a way.
Absolutely.
Recently I raised with the Leader of the House the anxiety in the mid-west about the Government's intentions on Shannon Development. There have been indications that the Government intends to give the role of tourism promotion and development in the mid-west, which is at present held by Shannon Development, to Bord Fáilte. The people in the region will be disappointed if that happens because Shannon Development has been successful in industrial and tourism promotion and development. Perhaps the Leader could get clarification from the Minister for Tourism and Trade, Deputy Kenny, or the Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Deputy Richard Bruton, as to what the future holds for the development of tourism in the mid-west, what SFADCo's role will be and whether there is any proposal to change it?
I would like to know the status of the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill which I understand the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht is drafting. Will it be taken in this or the Lower House? The Leader is probably aware that it is essential for solicitors, auctioneers and members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland to have an insurance bond to indemnify clients where funds are misappropriated or where there has been professional negligence. It essential that legislation is introduced to protect people who give money to agents acting for insurance companies or to accountants who are not covered or who give wrong advice. We should debate this matter so the relevant Minister will be made aware of the views of Members. A number of people who have given money in good faith to accountants, agents and so on have lost it and they have no redress. It is in the interests of accountants and others that there is protection.
Has the Government has any proposals to introduce legislation to counteract the growing trend where satellite television channels demand exclusive rights for sports events, including a number of events being staged in this country? Is he aware that it costs approximately £200 to get two sports channels? This trend will have a major impact on the majority of people and unless we list events such as All-Ireland finals and soccer and rugby home internationals, people will have to pay satellite television channels to watch them.
I ask for the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications to come to the House. I saw on the front page of the Irish Independent this morning that Eircell telephones are available at £19.95. Telephone 078 and 088 lines are available throughout the country, but 087 lines do not work outside Dublin, and definitely not in Kilkenny, while the 088 lines do not work in most areas. The Government Chief Whip is putting his mobile telephone in his pocket in case it goes off.
People are being ripped off. The cost of a mobile telephone initially seems to be very cheap but the ongoing cost is outrageous.
A question for the Leader.
I ask that the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications come to the House to explain the cost of a mobile telephone. Perhaps under ESAT or when the new systems come in, there may be some rationalisation. As regards Senator Enright's point, solicitors should also be brought into the area to which he referred. Clients are ripped off in areas where there is self-regulation; no group should be self-regulatory. There should be statutory regulation.
The issue of health was raised yesterday. I welcome the fact that the Minister for Health is to come to the House to discuss the White Paper on the psychiatric services. However, given my background, I am under a lot of pressure about other aspects of the health services. I ask for a debate on nurses' concerns as regards industrial relations and the ambulance service. For a number of years aspects of the Programme for Competitiveness and Work have not been dealt with and those involved in these services are concerned. A debate on the White Paper and other concerns would be much appreciated.
I would like to the Leader to convey to the Minister for Justice a situation which has arisen in a local court. Despite the fact that the Garda Superintendent in the area objected to the granting of a licence under the Gaming and Lotteries Act, 1956, and pointed out that the operators of the licence did not comply with the law, a District Justice did so.
I remind the Senator that they are independent.
I will put on the agenda of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges the amount of time Ministers have to speak in the House. Senator Neville mentioned the task force on suicide — most people here thought he set it up. He has taken a lead in this and brought the issue to prominence at the early stages. If I can find time next week for a short debate on East Timor I will do so.
I know ten minutes per speaker is short for the debate on the universities but there is an enormous interest in this subject and a range of speakers offering. We all join with Senator Magner in sending our congratulations to Mr. Jack Lynch on the honorary degree conferred on him by the University of Limerick.
I will again convey Senator Daly's concerns to the Minister and see if can come to the House. The Wildlife (Amendment) Bill will not appear before Christmas and I note Senator Enright's other concern. Senator Fahey raised the question of satellite channels which are a cause of concern. Yesterday I promised Senator Cassidy a debate in the next session on the Green Paper on broadcasting which could take in the concerns that need to be addressed. Senator Lanigan raised the question of mobile telephones previously and I will convey his views on that. We will have a debate on health early in the next session. I noted Senator Sherlock's point.
Order of Business agreed to.