Seanad Éireann debate -
Thursday, 7 Nov 1996

Vol. 149 No. 5

Order of Business.

Mr. Manning

Before dealing with today's Order of Business I wish to give Senators information arising from yesterday's Order of Business. Senator Dardis asked about the food security board legislation. There will be widespread consultation before it is published and that will involve a debate in this House so Members' views can be taken into account. I will announce the date for that debate shortly. Senator O'Sullivan asked about the Children (Juvenile Justice) Bill and it will be published in about three weeks. Senator McGowan asked about the Education (Boards of Management) Bill and it will be published in early December.

Today's business is item 1, which will be taken until 1 p.m., and item 2 which will be taken from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. with a time limit of 20 minutes per speaker. There will be a sos from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Mr. Wright

We agree to the Order of Business. What progress is being made on the report on fisheries safety launched by the Minister for the Marine? There is great concern in the fishing industry that the report is gathering dust rather than being put into effect. The report was welcomed by all those interested in the fishing industry. It is time for action. Will the Leader inquire as to the Minister's intentions on the implementation of the report?

With regard to yesterday's release of republican prisoners, it is our view that this is another cockup by the Department of Justice which undermines public confidence in the judicial system.

Mr. O'Toole

The debate on the food security board legislation is welcome. It will meet our need to discuss the connection between agriculture and food issues. Will the Leader give a commitment to have a debate on European Monetary Union, its impact on currency, the impact of Britain being in or out of the system, whether we can meet the convergence criteria and the problems in reducing inflation in other European countries? Members need to be aware of the issues involved to respond to the questions put to them. There does not have to be a motion directing the Government to take a course of action but we should have a consultative discussion so we may inform ourselves of the issues involved and consider the consequences. There are shared views in the House which should be articulated and receive a response.

Mr. Dardis

I dtús báire, ba mhaith liom iarracht a dhéanamh beagán Gaeilge a labhairt. Tá a fhios agat nach raibh dóthain ama againn oíche aréir mar gheall ar dhíospóireacht ar Theilifís na Gaeilge. Ba mhaith liom thar ceann an Pháirtí Daonlathaigh inniu céad míle fáilte a chur roimh Theilifís na Gaeilge agus comhghairdeas a chur in iúl don fhoireann a chuir an stáisiún i gcrích.

Mr. O'Toole

It is an election year.

Mr. Dardis

It is an important point. I realise the House ordered its business that way but a number of people were unable to make a contribution because there was not enough time. I thank the Leader for his reply on the food security board.

I support Senator Wright in raising the issue of 15 people being released from jail and then rearrested because of an administrative shambles. It sends an appalling signal to the general public on the administration of the justice system and it might be appropriate to discuss that matter in the House.

Mr. Finneran

In view of Lord William's statement in London yesterday, is it appropriate to have the second coming of St. Patrick?

Ms Kelly

Last week I asked the Leader for a debate on social welfare, particularly in regard to adult dependency. I welcome the spending of £2 million by the Minister for Social Welfare on an aid package for security for the elderly.

St. Patrick is welcome any time because there is more than one snake in the grass.

Mr. O'Toole

The Senator might want to rephrase that comment.

Mr. Kelleher

The Senator gave ground there.

Mr. McGowan

Donegal County Council will meet tomorrow to examine the estimates for the coming year. This body is largely representative of local authorities in Ireland and it is imperative that this House establishes whether there will be water charges nationally. It will cost my local authority £1 million if water charges are abolished. This House is entitled to look for clarity on the matter because there are internal rumblings and rumours on this issue. Will the Leader consult the appropriate authorities and advise Members on this important aspect of local authority funding?

Mr. Magner

I have spoken many times about the ridiculous system of so-called ministerial responsibility and it arises this morning. Everybody knows that if Deputy Geoghegan-Quinn were in charge of the prison system, the same incident would have occurred.

Mr. Lanigan

But it did not.

Mr. Magner

It is ridiculous to say otherwise. There have been many discussions in this House on crime, drugs, etc., but never one specifically on the Department of Justice. There ought to be because that Department has not covered itself in glory down through the years. Will the Leader consider a debate on the responsibilities of these highly paid officials who frankly at times mismanage the system in the most appalling way?

Mr. Lanigan

When Michelle Smith won gold there was euphoria in the House and it was decided that a debate should take place on sports funding and various other aspects of sport. When will we have a debate on that?

On the matter raised by Senator Magner, will the Leader ask the Minister for Justice when prisons will be open on a regular basis to Members of the Oireachtas?

Mr. Hayes

The trouble will be getting back out again.

Mr. Dardis

Will that be a day trip or a holiday?

Mr. O'Toole

The great problem is that some of us might get out again.

Mr. Lanigan

Over the next couple of weeks an opera will take place in Mountjoy Prison. Members of the public have been invited and 60 prisoners will take part. It is imperative that if people are put into the prison system they are not just taken out of society and forgotten about which is what happens at present. Some of those imprisoned are there because they consistently commit crimes.

An Cathaoirleach

That matter is not relevant to the Order of Business.

Mr. Lanigan

When will there be a debate on the prison system? These prisoners are human beings with families. Many of them need to be incarcerated but there are many others who need to be rehabilitated and educated.

Mr. Daly

Will the Leader ascertain from the Minister for the Environment the current position with regard to applications for cohesion funding? A huge number of water and sewerage projects are awaiting sanction by the European Union. There is no indication from the European Commission on what the reasons are for the delays in sanctioning them. The Minister indicated earlier this year that he hoped to have decisions on these within a matter of weeks. It is over a year since the applications were made and I want clarification from the Minister on the current situation.

I again raise the proposals to close the railway line from Ennis to the West and the serious concern of those employed there.

An Cathaoirleach

There are other ways in which the Senator can raise that issue.

Mr. Daly

It is a serious matter.

An Cathaoirleach

I am not disputing the seriousness of it but the Senator can find another way of raising it.

Mr. Daly

There needs to be some indication from the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications on this matter. Perhaps he can do this through his public relations advisers.

Mr. D. Kiely

Will the Leader ask the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, Deputy Deenihan, to come into the House and debate the lack of funding for the Leader II scheme? It has been brought to my attention in Kerry that funding of as low as 10 per cent has been offered to applicants. The scheme is under-funded and does not come near the funding of the Leader I programme.

I support Senator Daly in his call for a debate on the railway system. The most rural parts of the country are excluded from cohesion funding for railways. I refer particularly to the line between Tralee and Killarney along which there have been severe accidents.

Mr. Manning

First, I am aware of the concern raised by the Leader of the Opposition about safety at sea. I am also assured by the Department that a great deal of progress has been made but I would be very happy to have the Minister in the House as soon as possible to discuss the issue. I know it is of great concern to many Senators.

On the issue of the release of prisoners, there will be statements and the usual question and answer session in the other House later today on that matter. If there are further points to be raised next week, we could have some time on that.

With regard to Senator O'Toole's question, the debate on European Monetary Union is fixed for 4 December and I will try to give as much time as is needed to it.

I will certainly make more time available to Senator Dardis for any short contribution he wishes to make in Irish on Teilifís na Gaeilge. Last night's debate was very useful. We should have further such debates and I am very open to that.

Senator Finneran's contribution had too much tailspin for this hour in the morning and I do not intend to comment on it.

I must apologise to Senator Kelly for not replying to her query last week. It was an oversight. I would be happy to try to arrange a discussion on those issues between now and the end of session.

I do not have the information which Senator McGowan seeks but there will be a debate on the funding of local authorities between now and the end of this session. The Minister who is responsible will be here to take that debate and there will be no restrictions on it. I think he is as anxious to have that debate and hear the Senator's views as Senator McGowan is to have the debate.

I agree with Senator Magner's point and I would not be averse to the type of debate he suggested.

Senator Lanigan sought a debate on sport. I have discussed that with the Minister of State and he is very keen to have that debate. It is a question of finding time between now and the end of this session but it will take place.

I will try to get information on cohesion funding for Senator Daly. With regard to the railway line, my understanding is there is no question of it being closed; it is simply under review. We will be having a debate on Luas this afternoon and perhaps we can move on from there to look at the problems of rural railway networks.

I have no plans at present for a debate on Leader II, to which Senator Dan Kiely referred, but perhaps the Kerrymen could get together and sort it out. If not, I will try to find time for him.

Order of Business agreed to.