Today's Order of Business is items 1, 2 and 22, motion 22. We will take item 1 until 1 o'clock. There will be a sos from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. We will take item 2 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and item 22, motion 22 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Order of Business
Yesterday was a very successful day for the Seanad and one that we should encourage the Cathaoirleach and the Leader to take a stage further by ensuring that we invite someone else deemed worthwhile by the House during the nest session. On behalf of the House I congratulate the Cathaoirleach and Leas-Chathaoirleach.
Yesterday I asked about the credit union Bill. I am sure every member of the House is being lobbied on this issue at the moment. There are over 400 credit unions throughout the country. Considering the size of its membership and the type of people involved — including 1,500 employees and 10,000 volunteers — I ask the Leader when this Bill will be before the Dáil or the Seanad.
I also congratulate the Cathaoirleach and the Leader on the organisation of yesterday's invitation to Commissioner Kinnock. It was a very informative and useful debate and will help inform us on our future debates on Europe. It was the most illuminating discussion in either House on that area in a long period because the question of the enlargement of the market is passing many people by. It is appropriate to move that discussion on to a debate on European Monetary Union and the single currency, as the Leader promised, so that people can understand those matters.
A full discussion is needed on the whole communications area, especially broadcasting over the coming years. There is Radio Ireland and TV3 and other related areas. It is appropriate to raise that today with Teilifís na Gaeilge beginning tomorrow, which will create more broadcasting capacity which should be used for establishing educational broadcasting. We are the only country in Europe not to have educational broadcasting. Ireland should also establish a short-wave radio service for tourism and emigration reasons and to allow us to take our place among the nations of the world. We should bring that back into the mainstream. I ask the Leader to consider a full debate on broadcasting and Government policy and plans, by that I mean the steps beyond the Green Paper.
We all found Commissioner Kinnock's address very illuminating. It underlines the point that addresses of that nature can inform our subsequent debates and make them far more informed than they would otherwise have been. The Leader should consider introducing other Commissioners and distinguished people to address the Seanad. The Committee on Procedure and Privileges might consider publishing these addresses as a separate booklet rather than as part of the day's proceedings in the House.
I ask the Leader to provide time to discuss the White Paper on science and technology which has been published by the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise and Employment with responsibility for Commerce, Science and Technology, Deputy Rabbitte. It is a very important area and we might not have some of the troubles in the beef sector at present if we had had a more scientific and analytical approach to these matters at the outset. In that context and the context of the wider value of science and technology within education, it is important to debate that matter in the near future.
I also welcome President Arafat to Ireland. I hope the Presidency of the EU can be used by Ireland to advance the peace process in Palestine and Israel. We hope we can contribute to lasting peace there and that we can emphasise that the terms of the Oslo Accord, agreed between the various parties to the dispute, should be implemented in full.
Will the Leader provide time for a debate on the national food inspection service, proposals for which are before the Cabinet? We wish to know the details of how that service will operate, the degree to which it will be independent of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry and other aspects of its operation.
Will the Leader ascertain from the Minister for Education when she proposes to bring the new education boards on stream? There is much discussion and concern about this and people in the educational process would welcome details.
The Leader should also ascertain from the Minister for Education when the proposed new Bills on education arising from the deliberations of the accommodation committee are likely to come before the Dáil and Seanad.
I ask the Leader if he has information on setting up the new national food advisory service as this country imports and exports food. Everyone in the ports knows the amount of traffic going in and out of the country. Are we to go it alone? This is a European issue. There is a necessity to monitor our present difficulties but we should not set up the new national food advisory service without consulting the import and export sector. It is a broader issue than inspecting food available here because every type of food is coming in by the container-load every day. We class ourselves as a food exporting country but we import vast amounts of food. There should be the same inspection of all imported food as we envisage for our own food. The Leader should inform the House why the Government plans to go it alone on this issue. That is a very narrow approach.
I join other Senators in commending the Leader for organising yesterday's session with Commissioner Kinnock and the Cathaoirleach for the very dignified and appropriate welcoming address to the Commissioner. I was disappointed by his response to marine matters and the lack of subsidisation for Irish ferries and other marine elements such as cargo ships. A debate on how marine transport affects Ireland's ability to export fairly in the near future might be appropriate.
I am extremely disappointed that the newspapers persist in not reporting the proceedings of the House. This was a unique opportunity: a question and answer session with a Commissioner who has a portfolio that is vital to this country. The coverage this morning was quite pathetic.
There was no bad news.
There was no news. That is the problem. Members asked pertinent questions on a range of issues and it is as if nobody asked a question. Perhaps the Committee of Procedure and Privileges should meet the press interests to see if we can get decent reporting of the House.
The report on the salmon industry issued by the Department of the Marine has created confusion in the salmon fishing industry. I ask the Leader to arrange for the Minister for the Marine to brief us on his intentions for that report's recommendations: whether he intends to introduce a system of tagging salmon, whether it is proposed to restrict salmon drift-netting and how it will be done, if legislation is required to give effect to the report's recommendations and what timeframe the Minister of State at the Department of the Marine, Deputy Gilmore, has to introduce these measures. There appears to be total confusion in the salmon industry at present. While that confusion reigns, the salmon industry is being decimated. Salmon stocks are probably at their lowest ever level and the situation is critical. We are getting no action from the Minister of State except to initiate more studies. The shelves of the Department of the Marine are lined with studies going back over 20 years but there is very little action.
I ask the Leader for a discussion on afforestation, particularly with the felling programme and replanting going on throughout the country. It is of extreme importance for State forests but we could broaden the discussion to include forestry and agriculture, forestry and tourism and employment in forestry. In the past forestry provided valuable full-time employment in rural areas and it is of particular importance in places such as west Cork and the western seaboard.
I thank the Leader for organising yesterday's debate with Commissioner Kinnock. It was most enlightening. Would it be possible to invite the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications, Deputy Lowry, to the House to speak about the proposed upgrading of the railway network which is in a deplorable state? As I told the House last week, the line between Tralee and Killarney has been downgraded.
I support Senator Daly's call for a debate on the proposed salmon management task force. There is total confusion about the matter between net fishermen and rod fishermen and no side is satisfied. If the Minister implements new rules without legislation or debate it will be detrimental to the future of salmon fishing. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister of State, Deputy Gilmore, to debate his proposals in the Seanad.
I support holding a debate on the proposed food safety authority. It is time our views on the subject were made known. It is important that whatever authority might be established should be both independent and have sufficient clout to protect consumers and deal with their many concerns.
The House should also have a debate on the national lottery. Today's prize fund of £6 million is scandalous. Many charities and youth and sport organisations are crying out for money, yet £6 million might be won by just one person. We must voice our concerns in that regard.
Will the Leader of the House convey my concern to the Minister for Education about the current confusion regarding higher education grants? I refer particularly to students who have completed certificate or diploma courses and wish to proceed to degree courses. When they apply for the higher education grant they discover they cannot do so if they move to another college, although it appears they can if they remain in the same college. There is a great deal of confusion and the Minister for Education should make a statement on the matter. To get her to come to the House would be an impossibility but she should make a statement to inform the public about higher education grants particularly with regard to students who have completed certificate and diploma courses.
I also support the suggestion that the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications come before the House to discuss transport issues, particularly in the Dublin area. There is confusion in Dublin about what transport model the city should pursue. The issue gets more confusing by the day. The Minister should come to the House for a full discussion on the matter. There cannot be enough discussion about it. The public needs to know what road we should choose, if the Leader will pardon the pun.
Since its inception the social welfare system has persistently treated women as adult dependants. Consequently, the National Women's Council and the INOU are organising a national sign on day for women. Signing on also means access to training places for women. Could the Leader invite the Minister for Social Welfare to the Seanad in advance of the signing on day for a discussion on the rights of women vis-a-vis the social welfare system? The Minister might also give the House an outline of the good work his Department is doing in the context of community development and aid to women's groups.
Will the Leader organise a debate on the status of Ireland as an Objective 1 country in the EU in view of the current review and the catastrophic possibility that Ireland might lose that status? The debate should be informed by an analysis of the expenditure of Structural, Regional and Cohesion Funds over the last ten years. The analysis should examine the disparity of expenditure within and between regions. It would be useful to make a critical analysis of the priorities for expenditure. Would we agree, for example, that building a light rail to Ballymun at a cost of £250 million is more important than attacking the serious poverty traps in Dublin city or knocking the Ballymun flats and rebuilding them? Would we agree that building that light rail has a higher priority than providing water to people in the Aran Islands or Connemara who, for the last six months, have been buying bottled water at £1.80 per five litre bottle?
It would be useful to have a discussion on our spending priorities thus far and on whether the proposals being put forward are the correct ones. I am worried that they are not. There is a serious disparity in spending within and between regions.
I support the call for a debate on the national lottery. Six million pounds for one winner is an obscene amount. It creates materialistic ethos which we could do without. When one considers that the English lottery prize fund is sometimes £25 million it appears that spending on the lottery in Ireland is very high. We should invite the Minister for Finance to tell us what impact the national lottery is having, the average spend and where the money is being spent. It would be a good debate.
I also reiterate my call last week for a debate on the bail referendum. The Leader of the House suggested a date but I wish him to confirm it. It is just 30 days to the referendum and I have been alarmed by the lack of public debate so far. If the referendum is passed it will result in one of the most far-reaching changes to our judicial system since the institution of Bunreacht na hÉireann. The Minister for Justice is proposing the referendum and most Members of the House support it. Would it be possible to invite an outside speaker to present the contrary view so the important points at issue could be discussed? The Minister has appointed a commission whose members include the Clerk of the Dáil and the Clerk of the Seanad to ensure a balanced debate, which is most important. Can the Leader of the House give a commitment on the date for the proposed debate?
Senator McAughtry wishes to speak.
The Cathaoirleach has taken me by surprise. I was simply waving my lottery ticket to the Senator.
In that case we can proceed. Senator Manning to reply.
Northern Senators were always a hard act to follow.
I thank the Senators who referred to yesterday's discussion which was most worthwhile. It was useful to have an old parliamentary hand such as Mr. Kinnock because he treated everybody's questions seriously. His answers were characterised by their depth and the serious manner in which he replied. My only regret is that a number of colleagues did not have an opportunity to ask questions. We must look at that problem the next time a distinguished person addresses the House. The experiment can now be deemed a success. We can make it part of the normal business of the House and have a more regular series of such visitors and encounters. I will discuss the matter with the Cathaoirleach and other groups at the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. I thank the Cathaoirleach, the Leas-Chathaoirleach and their staff for the dignity with which they handled yesterday's visit.
Senator Wright raised the credit union Bill, which is a Government priority. The delay is because a number of additional suggestions which will greatly enhance the Bill have been made for inclusion in it. Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte has given it priority and we hope it will be published before Christmas. It will be a priority next session.
Senator O'Toole raised the debate on broadcasting. It would be useful to have a debate on the full implications of broadcasting policy, especially in relation to the use of additional available channels. Perhaps we could discuss how that might be structured later on today. The Senator also mentioned the European Monetary Union debate on currency, which has been provisionally fixed for 4 December, so as to give Members time to prepare.
Senator Dardis raised the White Paper on science and technology. I would be open to inviting Minister Rabbitte in to have a structured discussion on that. I join with the Senator in welcoming President Arafat to Ireland. Senator McGowan raised the question of the national food inspection service, which is at Cabinet today. While everybody welcomes it, perhaps we could raise the details when we have them rather than prejudging the proposals. I propose an early discussion on the matter. In relation to Senator McDonagh's query, the legislation on the new education boards is close to completion and we can expect it shortly.
Senator Magner raised the debate on the marine, as Senator Fitzgerald has done for some days. I will arrange it. I agree with Senator Magner that the newspaper coverage of yesterday's serious and substantial debate was very poor. That there was no witchhunt or nobody was attacking anyone, but rather discussing serious policy issues, may be part of the reason. I regret it.
Senator Daly raised the question of the salmon industry. I will be happy to arrange either a briefing or a short discussion on that. In relation to Senator Calnan's request, I do not have any plans in the immediate future for a debate on afforestation. Senator Gallagher and Senator Mulcahy raised the national lottery. There is disquiet as well as excitement about the size of the prize today. People accept the lottery as a way of life. They accept it does a great deal of good and enjoy doing it. We should not be too puritanical in talking about the lottery. There is concern, perhaps unjustified, about the destination of lottery funds and how they are spent. I have no difficulty in having a useful discussion on that matter.
Senator Ormonde had a fair point on the confusion about higher education grants. The Adjournment debate would be the right vehicle for that matter. The Minister could provide all the necessary information. There will be a debate on Luas. I listened with great interest to Senator Fahey's contribution, after which I think we do not need a debate. He covered almost every issue raised. I will discuss the matter with him later and see if we can find a suitable way of raising those issues.
Senator Mulcahy raised bail reform. It would not be useful to bring someone into the House to put the case. We work hard to get into this House so we can discuss matters of current political interest. It would not be appropriate to bring in someone to put his point of view during the current controversial debate. That is the prerogative of Members of this House. It is a useful thought but I do not agree with it.
What is the date of the referendum?
It is 28 November.
Order of Business agreed to.