Today's Order of Business is items 1 and 2. Item 1 will be taken until 1 o'clock. There will be a sos until 2 p.m. Item 2 will be taken from 2 p.m. onwards to conclude. I suggest 20 minutes per spokesperson on item 1 and ten minutes thereafter.
Order of Business.
I suggest to the Acting Leader that we have 15 minutes per speaker, after the spokespersons, in relation to the Second Stage of the Health (Amendment) Bill, 1995. The Order of Business is agreed.
In a difficult year for the food industry, I ask my colleagues in the House to go to the RDS to see the Horizons exhibition, which is displaying everything related to the food industry. It is a tremendous shop window for the Irish food industry. Those involved in bringing every aspect of the food industry together under the one roof for the first time should be supported and encouraged.
I endorse what the Leader of the Fianna Fáil group has said about the Horizons exhibition. I said yesterday on the Bord Bia (Amendment) Bill that exhibitions and conferences of this nature were the way forward. They bring people to the country who see we have a green industry. It is something we can show them on the ground. I congratulate the Minister, An Bord Bia and everyone concerned with the initiative. It is a fine effort and I hope it is successful in increasing our market share.
I welcome the decision of the Supreme Court yesterday on the Divorce referendum. When does the Acting Leader expect that legislation to come before the House? It should progress speedily now that the legal impediment has been removed.
I notice in the House over the past number of years — and I am a slow learner in that respect — that Ministers, when they are perceived to be doing a bad job or when there is a crisis to control, are asked to come to the House to make a statement. For example, when there is a crisis in the beef industry, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry comes to the House. We should look at the other side. In that context I ask that the Minister for Finance be asked to come to the House and make a statement on the economy. Interest rates are at a historic low level. Jobs are coming on stream at a historic high level.
A question on the Order of Business, Senator.
I am getting around to the question.
I would ask the Senator to get around to it as soon as possible.
The Senator is a slow learner in questioning.
Income tax is being reduced, social welfare is increasing and there is more money being put into education.
We are not discussing the issue now.
The Government is also paying huge bills left behind by the previous Administration.
I have to ask the Senator to put a question to the Acting Leader on the Order of Business.
Could it be arranged for the Minister for Finance to come to the House and explain how he has performed such an economic miracle? People from all over Europe are coming here to ask him how he has done it. He should get credit for it.
Is that the election commercial?
Some recently arrested people have complained of medical problems while in detention. I am glad they have been given immediate access to medical treatment and examination. Would the Acting Leader ask the Minister for Justice to ensure this situation is maintained? It is important the public have confidence in the treatment of people in detention.
I compliment Senator Townsend on talking about being in control of a crisis.
Do not be jealous. Be generous.
Is it a crisis in need of control he is talking about?
Senator Lanigan, a question on the Order of Business.
The Cathaoirleach continually suggests we can get out of order on the Order of Business by not addressing questions and then suggesting the matter be addressed at a later date or somewhere else. I noted, and I would like the Cathaoirleach's guidance on this, that many Senators are using scripted speeches. I understand that, under Standing Orders, Members are not allowed to use scripts in the Seanad; but they may query matters, address the House or quote from notes. I ask for direction on this. The Seanad is being downgraded because if scripts are not passed to the newspapers, Members will not be reported.
There has been a practice in the House on this but there is nothing in Standing Orders.
Will the Acting Leader arrange a debate on funding to the National Roads Authority? When the Leader was on this side of the House he consistently requested a debate. The House has been seeking one for years. Last October the Taoiseach said that he would direct that the Authority, its partners or agents meet the roads authorities in Northern Ireland to consider the serious gap between the two sides of the Border. The southern Border counties have been neglected by the Authority.
I ask for a debate as soon as possible in the House, which will include the Minister for the Environment. I hope we can reach a satisfactory solution. Both authorities in the North of Ireland stop activities some miles from their side of the Border, as does the National Roads Authority on this side. This results in a no go area which has been wrongly imposed. Where does responsibility begin and end? How is funding spent?
I join with Senator Dardis in the hope that the Government will proceed as swiftly as possible with the divorce legislation as promised. In this respect the House will welcome the comments made this morning by Deputy Woods and Deputy Keogh.
It is fair that the House pay tribute to former Member, Des Hanafin, for his behaviour in the way he conducted the opposition campaign. Much as I fundamentally disagree with him on the issue, he behaved with impeccable fairness. It is fitting that the House pay tribute to him at the end of a long campaign on all sides.
I echo the generous words of Senator Magner. It is important that in political debate both sides always be put forward. A marvellous feature of Des Hanafin's campaign was that he was able to put his case with such dignity, given that he was genuinely committed, intellectually and in every other way, to his argument and ultimately accepted the verdict as he did.
Would it be possible to make time for a debate on the national lottery? It is almost ten years since the idea of the lottery was first mooted and put into operation. There is an unease on all sides at the apparent lack of public knowledge as to where the lottery surplus funds are going. There is a distinct lack of publication, especially of detail, as to what clubs got funding. A joint committee of both Houses produced a report some years back which did a good service in respect of the first three years. I understand that recently the Committee of Public Accounts obtained information. However, there is a need for a public debate because it is time to review the way in which lottery funds have been allocated and used. Could the Acting Leader make time at an appropriate stage for a debate?
I agree to the time suggested by Senator Wright with regard to the second speaker on item 1 on the Order Paper. Senator Dardis, Senator Magner and Senator Roche raised the question of the divorce legislation. I welcome the decision. I understand from remarks made by the Minister for Equality and Law Reform that he intends to introduce legislation as soon as possible in the Dáil. He has already obtained clearance from the Cabinet. It should have a fairly speedy passage through the Dáil as there is all party agreement on it. I hope it will be before this House as soon as possible, although I cannot pre-empt how long it will take to pass through the Dáil.
I also support the remarks on former Senator Des Hanafin. He conducted his campaign with good humour and took his defeat very gracefully yesterday. It is the way we should all behave in what-ever conflicts we have in our political lives. I also welcome the support of the Opposition parties on the introduction of divorce legislation.
Senator Townsend is not a slow learner when it comes to using the Order of Business. I am sure the Minister for Finance will have an opportunity to attend the House. I do not know if there is any finance business before the end of the session, but if there is it would present an opportunity to discuss the good progress of the economy. To quote Shakespeare: "The evil that men do lives after them, The good is oft interred with their bones." This reflects the principle expressed by the Senator.
That is a sexist remark.
Senator Henry raised the question of medical treatment in detention. I agree with her remarks and will pass on her views to the Minister for Justice.
Shakespeare also said: "I have come to bury Caesar, not to praise him."
That is correct.
That is a vicious attack on Senator Townsend.
Senator Lanigan raised the issue of scripted speeches. You have advised on the position regarding Standing Orders, a Chathaoirligh, and I would bow to your wisdom in that regard. Senator McGowan raised the question of National Roads Authority funding and Senator Roche raised the question of the national lottery. Both are worthy of debate. It is a question of finding time before the end of the session. I will advise the Leader of the views expressed that both these items be discussed.
Order of Business agreed to.