It is proposed to take items 1, 2, 4 and 5. The House will deal with the Second Stage of item 1 and, by agreement, there will be 20 minutes for the first speaker and ten minutes for each speaker thereafter. Only the Second Stage of item 2 will be dealt with and again, by agreement, there will be 20 minutes for the first speaker and ten minutes for each speaker thereafter. All Stages of item 4 will be taken and the debate will be open ended. Item 5 will be taken without debate.
Order of Business.
In relation to item 4, I am sorry that my colleague Senator Bohan is not here to express his views on and support for the Intoxicating Liquor Bill. We will do our best to put somebody in to ensure that his views——
His interests.
——are accommodated in passing the legislation.
In the light of yesterday's publication of crime statistics and the recent statement by the Garda Commissioner, I cannot understand why the Estimates do not provide for extra prison places. Will the Leader ensure that this House will have an opportunity, at the earliest date in the New Year, to debate the crime figures and the Estimates? I know we will have a chance to debate them on Second Stage of the Appropriation Bill, 1995, tomorrow but this warrants more of a debate. I know the Leader is concerned, but this is probably the first time ever that a Fine Gael-led Government could be described as being soft on crime.
(Interruptions).
Is the Leader happy with the Order of Business for today and tomorrow? I presume he provided us with this timetable. It seems that every Government does this coming up to Christmas: suddenly we get a rush of legislation that is rammed through. I complained about this when Fianna Fáil was in Government, so — to use the good Fianna Fáil expression — in fairness — now I should complain about this Government.
Today we are dealing with the Commissioners of Public Works (Functions and Powers) Bill, 1995, Second Stage; the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, 1995, Second Stage; and the Intoxicating Liquor Bill, 1995, all stages. Tomorrow, however, we have the Harbours Bill, 1995, Report Stage; the Milk (Regulation of Supply) (Amendment) Bill, 1995, all Stages; the Appropriation Bill, 1995; the Commissioners of Public Works (Functions and Powers) Bill, 1995, remaining Stages; the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, 1995, remaining Stages and the morning's business if it is not concluded. That is an enormous amount of work if we are to take it seriously, which we will not. I will not take it seriously because this is such a rush; I will do my Christmas shopping tomorrow. We should be more serious in the way we order the business of the House. There are days when we do little then suddenly there is a glut of legislation at the last minute during Christmas week. This is daft.
I will not enter into a discussion on things being daft despite Senator Norris's invitation. However, I would be delighted to go shopping with him if he is prepared to finance the outing.
I am sure the Progressive Democrats would keep within the budget.
The only question is whether it would be 2 per cent in real terms or 2 per cent with inflation taken into account.
It was 6 per cent when the Senator's party was in Government.
I would be grateful if the Leader would clarify the figure because there seems to be a lot of confusion on the matter.
I was not in favour of debating Northern Ireland after the Taoiseach visited Downing Street and reached the agreement. However, in the light of subsequent events, it would be appropriate to debate that matter immediately after Christmas. As regards what happened yesterday, it was notable that a politician of the standing of Dr. Joe Hendron should point the finger directly at the Provisional IRA as being the culprit to what can only be described as an execution. We all hoped when the ceasefires were declared that we would never need to condemn a killing in this House. It might be helpful from the point of view of the international body on decommissioning if the Seanad debated Northern Ireland because it might give it some ideas. For those reasons, I ask the Leader for a debate on Northern Ireland immediately after Christmas.
I support the call by Senator Wright for an early debate on justice matters given that the Estimates as published yesterday appear to confirm that the Castlerea prison project has been deferred indefinitely.
The newspapers advertised for those affected by infected blood or blood products with hepatitis C to apply to the tribunal which is being set up. Will the Leader find out if people will be seen in chronological order or will those most seriously affected, for example, those infected following kidney dialysis or haemophiliacs, be dealt with first?
I support the call for an urgent debate on crime and the Government's penal policy. I was disappointed that there was no provision in the Estimates for Castlerea prison.
The Senator would be the first in it.
I ask the Leader to explain why, during the recent debate on drugs, there was no intimation from the Minister that this prison would not be built. She said earlier this year that this project was being postponed, not cancelled. Has this project been cancelled? My colleague, who is a constituency colleague of the Minister, did not want to be personal but we must ask if this Minister has any credibility as regards the law and order question.
Speech.
A question for the Leader.
Given that the Garda Commissioner has said that the lack of prison spaces is fuelling crime, will the Minister consider her position in the light of what he said? There is a conflict between the Garda Commissioner and the Minister.
I join with my colleagues in calling for a debate on crime. It is the single greatest problem facing both rural and urban Ireland. Is it proposed to have a discussion on broadcasting in the next session?
I admire the Leader and appreciate the great work he is doing.
A question to the Leader.
Will the Leader give time to a discussion on piracy?
Piracy on the sea?
An enormous amount of employment in the manufacturing, clothing and other industries is being lost because of piracy.
Is that why Senator Farrelly wants extra gardaí in County Meath?
I remind the Leader of the big find beside Senator Farrelly's home area where 180,000 commodities were got by a Pakistani firm which was duplicating goods and doing Irish people out of work.
The number of gardaí was reduced when Senator Dardis's party was in office. Now the Senator has his answer.
I am sure that the representations and work done by Senator Bohan and other Senators will be recognised when the debate takes place tonight. We will have a debate on crime and justice early in the new session. I gave that commitment and it will be honoured.
I am not happy with the way business is being ordered for these two days. At this time every year Departments suddenly discover technical and small pieces of legislation which they want passed before Christmas and we try to facilitate them. It happened in the last régime. I have made clear to the particular Departments my displeasure at what we are being asked to do and I will try to ensure it does not happen again. Some of the business for today and tomorrow is of a technical nature but we could have dealt with it three or four weeks ago. Some Departments are particularly bad offenders in this regard. I am not happy and I agree with Senator Norris.
It would be helpful to have a debate on Northern Ireland early in the new session. I am sure everybody joins with Senator Dardis in total and outright condemnation and abhorrence of the execution style killing carried out in Belfast last night. We all hoped that we would not have to stand in this House again to condemn any killings or murders in Northern Ireland. The spate of punishment shootings must be condemned out of hand.
I noted Senator Mullooly's point which ties in with Senator Wright's. I do not know the details of the tribunal mentioned by Senator Henry. However, I imagine that any rank ordering would be on the basis of the seriousness of the person concerned. I will get the information for the Senator. Senator Mulcahy raised the question of crime; I have already mentioned that there will be a debate on broadcasting early in the new session. The question of piracy is serious; I do not have any proposals to debate it.
Order of Business agreed to.