Today's business is items 1, 2, 3 and 4. Item 1, the Child Sex Tours Bill, has been scheduled simply to allow Senator Henry to withdraw it as a great deal of it was incorporated in the legislation passed yesterday. Item 2 is a technical amendment made by the Dáil to the Control of Horses Bill, so it should not take long. Item 3 is Statements on the White Paper on Science and Technology, which was requested by Senator Quinn and other Senators. I propose 20 minutes per speaker, if that is agreeable. On item 4, the Fisheries (Amendment) Bill, I propose 30 minutes per speaker on Second Stage. Item 3 will conclude at 1 p.m. because I do not want to have too many Statements (Resumed) on the Order Paper. There will be a sos, item 4 will commence at 2 p.m. and our business will conclude not later than 5 p.m. If item 4 has not been concluded at that time it will continue at a later date.
Order of Business.
The Order of Business is agreed as outlined. I have read a synopsis of the interim report of the Commission on the Family, which was issued in the last week. It would be worthwhile if the House could discuss the report in the new year in order to debate in detail the relationship between the family and society, including taxation and all other aspects. Major changes have taken place in tourism within the last month. The island of Ireland, North and South, is to be marketed as one unit. As an item dealing with tourism is on the Order Paper, perhaps before the recess we could debate the major changes in marketing, in the formation of Bord Fáilte and in the selling of the tourism product in the coming year.
The Independent Senators also agree to the Order of Business. I am glad the debate on the White Paper on Science and Technology will continue on another date if there is not sufficient time today for those who want to contribute.
I ask the Leader to pass on to the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs the best wishes of many Protestants in the Northern Ireland for the achievement of success in the peace process. I regret the hold up caused by the parliamentary arithmetic in Westminster but I hope Sinn Féin will try to understand this problem. That party is anxious to enter the political arena and this is something which happens in politics. The IRA activities reported in the newspapers and elsewhere could lead to an outrage before Christmas, as has been widely advertised. The preliminary movements and transport activities of the IRA have been uncovered in the Border area. There could be casualties on both sides — young Catholics could be killed along with the IRA's targets, because the army is well aware of what it is doing — and that would be a tragedy. I appeal to the IRA to think again before doing anything.
I have a personal suggestion. The proposals currently going forward to the British Prime Minister are coming from a republican and a Nationalist — that is, Mr. Adams and Mr. Hume — so they are excessively green in colour.
A question for the Leader, please.
I am asking the Leader to put the suggestion to the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs that they should consider a third element in these talks when formulating proposals. I will take only a few more seconds, Taoiseach, I mean, a Chathaoirligh. Many Protestants in the North of Ireland are not Orangemen or members of the Unionist Party. They are held in high regard. I will not name any of them but you know the people of whom I speak. It would help a great deal if this element were brought into the preparatory Hume-Adams talks then proposals might be put forward which would be more acceptable than hitherto.
I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on decentralisation as soon as possible. While we have had many such debates, I am concerned, as are many others, that most jobs are provided in Dublin. This causes serious social, housing and traffic problems. It has contributed to the depopulation of rural areas, especially in Border counties where not a single job has been provided in the last number of years. It is not unreasonable to ask for a debate on job location. It is not correct to say that a company coming into the country decides where to locate its premises. The Minister for Enterprise and Employment largely directs the IDA in these matters. I request a debate on this matter.
Is the Senator asking for a debate?
Yes. If we allow this trend to continue we will have nothing to sustain those in rural areas but a van load of social welfare money, guarded by the army. That is not desirable and I request a full and frank debate on this issue. This phenomenon can no longer described as decentralisation. Dublin is turning into a concrete jungle. I ask for an urgent debate on this matter.
I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on refuse and waste disposal. This is one of the biggest problems facing local authorities and a debate at an early stage would be very useful.
Yesterday evening a number of Deputies and Senators from the west attended a seminar by an organisation involved in the development of the west. We heard some startling statistics on the imbalance in expenditure between the east and west. I ask for a debate on this issue. To give an example, many people in Connemara have to boil water for four minutes before they can drink it. It is barely credible that such a situation exists today. Very little money has been spent on that region in the past ten years on major infrastructural projects such as the water supply. I ask the Leader to provide time for a debate on western development and on the difficulties people encounter every day due to the lack of infrastructure.
I ask the Leader to find out whether there are any plans to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the founding of this State next year. We could have a very interesting debate on the issue just before Christmas and various proposals could be put to the Government. It is important that we celebrate the founding of this State and that we do so in an appropriate manner which would unite all strands of Irish society.
Senator Wright's suggestion about a debate on the report of the Commission on the Family is worthwhile and I will arrange such a debate early in the next session. He also raised the question of a debate on tourism and I will take item 13 on the Order Paper, Statements on Tourism (Resumed), next Wednesday, 18 December and bring that to a conclusion. Senator McGowan has also been asking for this debate for some time so I am happy to be able to oblige him.
Senator Henry asked whether there would be more time if we do not conclude statements on science and technology today. If it is not concluded today I will put it on the Order Paper again, but if the time allocated today is not availed of then I will not do so. If it concludes today that is it; if it does not we will take it again. Senator McAughtry made an interesting and constructive contribution and I will forgive him his slip of the tongue. I will pass on what he said to the Taoiseach.
Senator McGowan and Senator Fahey raised the question of a debate on the report on western development which I told the Leader of the Opposition yesterday is very important. I am more than happy to make time available for that very early in the new session. If Senator Burke can find some way of framing a motion on refuse and waste disposal we can debate that. Senator Hayes made a very interesting suggestion that this House could have a commemorative debate on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the State in the next session. People from all sides of the House would like to contribute to that and I would be very happy to organise it.