Today's Order of Business is items 1 and 19, motion 30. There will be 30 minutes per speaker on item 1 with the Minister to conclude not later than 5.45 p.m. Item 30 is a Private Members' motion. I propose, with the agreement of the House, to take item 2 — the changes made to the Harbours Bill, which went from the Seanad to the Dáil and has now been returned — tomorrow although it was not on the Order of Business circulated for this week.
Order of Business.
The Order of Business is agreed. It is also agreed to take item 2 tomorrow. This side of the House is very keen for that legislation to be brought in as quickly as possible and we will facilitate the Leader tomorrow in whatever way he wants to order the Business.
There are newspaper reports this morning of between 200 and 300 gardaí being transferred to Border duties because of the BSE scare; this is a total reversal of the policy announced by the Government as part of its fight against crime in Dublin. Over the next year it is possible that, as a result of this policy change, Garda stations in Dublin city and county could lose 600 gardaí. Will the Leader ask the Minister what measures she is taking to fight the escalating crime rates in Dublin city and county?
I am happy the Harbours Bill, which got such a full and comprehensive discussion in this House, will be put through as quickly as possible tomorrow.
Weekly Members raise the need for additional remedial teachers. Is the Leader aware that this afternoon the Minister is going to announce the socalled initiative on disadvantage, which will be widely accepted by people who do not know any better? Its effective impact will be that no further remedial teachers will be appointed in primary education for at least a year and all available teachers will be moved into what the Minister defines as disadvantaged areas. This will worsen the pupil-teacher ratio in many schools. This is being done without consultation, despite what is in the Programme for Competitiveness and Work. I will return to this issue but this is a regressive step for any Minister to take. There are calls every week in this House for more remedial teachers.
I support the Order of Business and we will facilitate the taking of the Harbours Bill tomorrow. Many worthwhile amendments were made to that Bill in this House. We regard it highly and would like to see it passed into law as quickly as possible.
I support Senator Wright's comments on the movement of gardaí to the Border. This is happening not only in Dublin but right across the country and there is grave concern among gardaí, particularly in rural areas.
Is it possible for the Minister for Justice to publish the visiting committee's report on Mountjoy Prison and for us to have an opportunity to discuss it in this House? This report raises many issues — overcrowding in Mountjoy Prison, the medical facilities available to prisoners and the drug problem which the committee says is out of control.
I thank the Opposition Senators for their co-operation on the Harbours Bill. The Bill was greatly improved in this House and we would all like to see it on the Statute Book and effected as soon as possible.
Senator Wright raised the question of Garda transfers. I had intended taking item 17 on the Order Paper yesterday but I will take it very shortly. I will make plenty of time available for a long discussion on all matters relating to the justice system.
Senator Honan raised the question of the visiting committee's report on Mountjoy Prison. I am not sure if it is appropriate to have a discussion on one visiting committee's report but I will inquire. It is also open to the Opposition to use Private Members' time to discuss that matter if I cannot find time for it.
I note what Senator O'Toole said about the pupil-teacher ratio. However, I suspect there are other ways of addressing that issue before raising it in the House.
Order of Business agreed to.