Today's business is items 1 and 2. Item 1 is to be taken from now until 5.30 p.m. and it is proposed that there be 15 minutes per speaker. Members may share their time. The Minister will not speak at the beginning of this debate. He will listen to the debate and respond. Item 2, the Health (Amendment) Bill, 1996, Second Stage, will be taken from 5.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.
Order of Business.
I thank the Leader for making statements on agriculture the first priority this week as he was asked. We have also asked for time to debate EU fisheries policies. I am aware, as is the Leader, that the Minister has often been in the House. However, several Members on this side of the floor have vast experience of the fishing industry and are well aware of the possible outcome of the policies being pursued at the moment within the EU. We ask the Leader to provide an opportunity in the next week or two for the Minister to bring us up to date since the last meeting in Brussels. He has the support of this House in his efforts on behalf of the industry.
I welcome the fact that the Minister is making the north of the city and the airport a priority after the meetings on Luas last week. It is significant that it took a European Commissioner to come to Dublin to imply there was a need for a connection north of the city and to the international airport for this suggestion to be heeded. My party and I would welcome an opportunity for the Minister to bring us up to date on his thinking in this area. Making this extension to the north of the city and to the airport a priority is most welcome.
The Leader of Fianna Fáil has raised most of my issues. I thank the Leader for providing so promptly time for this welcome debate on agriculture. I look forward to hearing the Minister's intervention and I appreciate the opportunity to participate.
I am also concerned about Luas. As the Leader will recall, we had a number of meetings with the Minister and the Minister of State and we had some very tense discussions. The northern connection was raised time and again. It is disappointing to hear that the Minister was more amenable to responding to a question from Europe than he was to one from this House. This is worrying at a time when the issue of sovereignty and involvement in Europe has such a high profile. Commitments could have been given. If the Government had intended to move, the concerns of Members might have been given some consideration.
We discussed law and order recently and I hesitate to ask for another debate on it but I would like to place on the record that, after a particularly difficult week for the Garda, it is appropriate for us to express our confidence in the Force. Despite media publicity it deserves our confidence. Gardaí are doing an almost impossible job with very few resources and against all the odds. I have a lot of sympathy for the leadership and for rank and file gardaí. As I said, the last week has been a particularly difficult time for them.
I raised the issue of a discussion on the White Paper on Education with the Leader some months back and he was agreeable. At the same time Senator Magner raised the question of the involvement of politicians in the education sector, the need for political involvement as in the vocational education committees to be transferred to the regional boards and how that might impact on a balance of power within the education sector. I take the wider issues as well. I raise it because the Minister is bringing in different legislation. It is important that the House is informed of the changes that are likely to take place and offers an opinion before legislation is drafted. We make our input to legislation when it comes before the House but it is also important that we inform those who draft it and that is best done through debate. I would welcome a chance to discuss the White Paper on Education and the Minister's most up to date plans on it at an early opportunity.
I endorse the remarks of Senator Wright and Senator O'Toole on the arrangements for today's debate. It reflects well on the House that this matter will debated today and is the first item of business this week. I also endorse the remarks about Luas.
I would like the House to give consideration to the question of economic and monetary union. Opinion is divided on how we should proceed, particularly in respect of the single currency, and what Ireland should do in the event that is opts for that and Britain decides to stay out. For those reasons it would be important for us to give our views on the matter either by way of a narrowly focused debate on economic and monetary union or a more widely focused one on European affairs. I commend this to the Leader.
The Leader has previously answered questions on the introduction of the credit union Bill. Does he have any more up to date information on when we might expect that Bill?
I call upon the Leader of the House to provide time for a debate on the milk quota structure. We have two groups of producers, dormant and active. People might not realise that some dormant producers receive between £200 and £300 per week. They have no cows yet they are still paid for producing milk. On the other hand, active producers, some of whom are small quota holders and are the backbone of this country, have provided much money for dairy hygiene and are paying others up to 50 pence per gallon to produce milk.
I support the sentiments expressed by Senator O'Toole again on the rationalisation of the vocational education committees a matter which I raised last week. It is a serious issue for public representatives who serve on the boards. The Minister for Education is going ahead with the implementation of something which has not been debated. It would be a golden opportunity for her to come into the House to discuss this serious issue. Politicians of all persuasions are anxious that this should be discussed here. Will the Leader give us an indication as to when she might come into the House before she implements this rationalisation plan?
Will the Leader ensure the Minister for Justice is made aware of the rising influence of Sinn Féin in law and order matters in Dublin where it sees fit to hold a press conference in which it seeks greater influence through its President? The primacy of the Garda Síochána should be emphasised. The Sunday newspapers highlighted that many people are concerned at this development.
I support Senator Wright's call for a debate on fishing. The proposals being put forward by the EU for a cut of 40 per cent in our fishing fleet are totally out of line because their results for this island, North and South, will be disastrous. The west and small rural communities will be affected. I, as spokesperson on the Marine, and other Senators are in the dark about what is happening apart from what we read in the newspapers. Other Departments issue press releases on behalf of Ministers. I would like the Minister for the Marine, Deputy Barrett, whom I admire, to give us an idea about what stage the talks are at rather than have us find out from the newspapers, which seem to get the information.
I would like a discussion on the Irish language. It would be timely if it could take place when Teílifís na Gaeilge comes on air. It would be good for this House and it would show those in Teílifís na Gaeilge and those watching it go bhfuil cúpla focal Gaeilge ag Seanadóirí. I look forward to the Leader's cooperation.
I support the call made by Senator O'Toole and Senator Ormonde for a debate on the proposed changes in the vocational education committee. There is much concern among teachers, pupils and parents about what will happen. We want to debate the effects and enormous cost of the changes before legislation is introduced.
The question of fisheries was raised by Senator Wright and Senator Fitzgerald. I had a bilateral discussion with the Minister for the Marine on Saturday evening on this matter. He appreciates the support he is getting in the House and he is keen to come here. Members will appreciate he has an extremely difficult schedule at present but he wants to come to the House to discuss events. He is reasonably hopeful of a good outcome. I will bring to his attention Senator Fitzgerald's point about the lack of ongoing information and I will see that it is rectified.
I have no difficulty with an early debate on Luas and I will see where it can be fitted in. Senator O'Toole and Senator McAughtry raised the question of the Garda Síochána. There are two messages which Members would support. The first is that the reputation of the Garda Síochána is an essential ingredient of our democracy and that we stand behind it and want to see it maintained to the highest standard. The second is that the Garda Síochána, and nobody else, has an exclusive role in law and order; this is something we all endorse. I am glad Senator McAughtry raised that issue.
Senator O'Toole called for a debate on education. I have no difficulty with that but perhaps Senator O'Toole, Senator Ormonde and others would get together and provide specific guidelines for the debate; this would be helpful. Senator Dardis raised the question of the European Monetary Union as did Senator Quinn last week. I spoke to the Minister and he will be happy to have a debate on the future of the European Monetary Union and on the state of the currency in the near future.
Senator Dardis also asked about the credit union Bill. It is at an advanced stage but I will try to have more up to date information for him on Thursday's Order of Business.
I agree with Senator Fitzgerald that it would be appropriate to have statements on the Irish language prior to or at the same time as the inauguration of Teilifís na Gaeilge.
I will take account of Senator Townsend's request for a debate on the milk quota structure.
Order of Business agreed to.