The Order of Business is items 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Item 1 will be taken until 2 p.m. Item 2, which is very brief, will be taken at 2 p.m. and item 3 will be taken from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. It is proposed to allow 20 minutes per speaker and speakers may share time. The Minister will be called to conclude not later than 5.45 p.m. Item 4 will be taken from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. with 20 minutes per speaker, and item 5 from 8 p.m. until the conclusion of Second Stage.
Order of Business.
Everyone is satisfied with the Order of Business as outlined. Is it correct that the Finlay tribunal report will be taken between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.? Do I understand that the Minister will conclude but not begin the debate?
The Minister will begin and conclude the debate.
I thank the Leader for allowing the Daly/O'Kennedy Bill to be taken during Private Members' time. It is a very good Bill and I hope it will be successful.
This is our last sitting day before Easter and I thank the Leader for his co-operation during the current session. I believe information about the possible date for the general election might be blowing in today's strong gale force winds.
Will the Leader clarify the situation in respect of item 5? He stated that Second Stage will be concluded this evening and I accept that an adequate amount of time has been provided for this purpose. However, in the event that speakers are still offering at 11 p.m., I assume the debate will not be decided by putting a question at that time and it will continue? I realise that this is an unlikely eventuality but we must be aware of the necessary arrangements were it to come about.
It is important that the House register its strong disapproval and condemnation of events surrounding the explosion of two devices in England this morning. This appears to be the work of the Provisional IRA and we must re-emphasise that such conduct is unacceptable, irrespective of whether people are injured or loss of life occurs. The House must express its hope that there will not be a proliferation of these incidents in advance of the general elections in Britain and Ireland. Such action is totally anti-democratic and must be rejected. People must not be influenced in how to cast their votes in the elections as a result of these activities. It is important that the House register its strong condemnation of these acts.
The House recently debated early school leavers and youth unemployment. I understand the interdepartmental committee established to consider the report of the NESF on that issue is due to publish an interim report at the end of the month. If that is the case, the House should be given information because Members on all sides expressed interest in this issue when it was debated.
I welcome the publication of the Finance Bill, particularly with regard to the provisions concerning the removal of VAT from creches. Recently, on the Order of Business, I stated that creches and child care facilities should not be subject to VAT. I understand that this matter will be specifically dealt with in the Finance Bill and such facilities will not be subject to 21 per cent VAT. The Revenue Commissioners decided to withdraw its earlier recommendations in this regard, but the Government has decided that creches and child care facilities will not be obliged to pay VAT at 21 per cent in the future.
I concur with Senator Dardis in respect of this morning's incident in England. I do not know whether the identity of those responsible has been confirmed, but the indications seem to be that the Provisional IRA was involved. Like Senator Dardis, I utterly condemn this act. The idea that any organisation would seek to strike fear into the hearts of ordinary British people for some political motive is condemnable. I agree with everything the Senator stated.
With regard to the Minister for Justice's announcement about the implementation of the measures relating to the bail referendum, I welcome the fact that she has added to the provisions decided upon by the people by strengthening the legislation concerning concurrent sentences for those on bail. During the debate in this House on bail it was suggested that people who commit crime while on bail should serve consecutive sentences rather than just one sentence for a number of offences, so this legislation is welcome.
Like Senator O'Sullivan, I welcome the Government's wise decision not to impose VAT on child-minding and related services. We should also consider the wider implications — when we discussed this issue we suggested that other matters could be regularised and it would be in everyone's interest to do so.
I asked previously for a debate on educational funding and the Leader undertook to provide for one. It should also deal with political involvement in educational decision making, which has pluses and minuses and should be examined carefully. I was delayed on the plinth by a strong rumour that the Taoiseach would declare the "end of the rainbow" this afternoon. That may be another of the wild rumours circulating, but perhaps the Leader could confirm it and save us difficulties so that we could start licking envelopes. Nonetheless, I ask that the education debate take place as soon as possible. The INTO has concluded a survey on the funding of primary schools and we will circulate information to every Member of both Houses.
Senator Dardis and I have often mentioned the increase in interest rates and the changes to and pressures on the Irish economy which could result from the introduction of economic and monetary union. Last night interest rates increased in the US, so we need to be more informed and have greater debate. This is a crucial issue — our currency may be revalued, we may enter economic and european monetary union without Britain and problems are being created in Germany — and these problems should be clarified. It would be better to maintain the firm consensus which exists at present rather than have people worrying and adopting a herd instinct. I would particularly welcome such a debate before a general election so that people could be prepared and to prevent it becoming a fring election issue. There is a consensus among the social partners and political parties and we should try to keep it that way.
Mr. Naughten
Following today's publication by the National Youth Council of Ireland of an opinion poll showing that 17.5 per cent of eligible voters are not registered, I urge the Leader to ask the Minister for the Environment to conduct an advertising campaign to ensure that people are registered to vote and to make them aware they can do so up to 14 days before the upcoming election. I further ask him to request the Government to introduce Friday voting because it is vital that people living away from home have an opportunity to vote, which they will not have if the election is held on a Thursday.
I thank the Leader for agreeing to take the Bill promoted by Senator Daly and myself in Government time today. In view of the broad welcome it received when it was initiated, I hope the purpose of the Bill can be supported on Second Stage. We are open to any changes which colleagues may suggest which would make the Bill more effective in dealing with the growing level of pollution in Lough Derg.
If we have time.
Yes. As this may be the last opportunity in the House, I wish to note the record of public service of yourself, a Chathaoirligh, and your family. I understand you will not be contesting the general election and this will be the first time since the foundation of the State that a person bearing the distinguished name of Cosgrave will not be standing. I would like to record our appreciation of that honest and honourable service to the State.
I do not think that arises on the Order of Business.
That is not to say he may not decide to contest a future general election.
He will be contesting the Seanad election.
We should always respect and honour the contribution to democracy made by the founder members of the State. I am privileged to acknowledge that in the context of the Cathaoirleach's family.
I support Senator Naughten's point about the arrangements for polling day. Due to enlightened programmes for education introduced by successive Governments — I served as a Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education — we have a high percentage of young people in third level education. It is essential that those young people will have the opportunity to vote in the election. As they face examinations it is unreasonable to expect them to interrupt their studies during the course of a week. For most of them it would be physically impossible and intellectually draining. It is essential that the young people who will play a vital part in the future of the nation are facilitated in the date of the election. I urge the Leader of the House to recommend that the election be held on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday to enable young people to exercise the franchise for which the founding fathers of the State fought.
On a point of order, people are required by law to vote where they are normally resident. Anybody organising buses to bring people from Dublin to vote in other areas is breaking the law. Students should vote where they are normally resident when attending college. That is the rule.
They are entitled to vote in their home constituency.
That is the law of the land — where they are normally resident.
Will the Leader consider inviting EU Commissioners to the House? Commissioner Neil Kinnock addressed the House in the past and I would like a mechanism put in place to facilitate such addresses. I appreciated the opportunity to put questions to Commissioner Kinnock, his having readily accepted the invitation to address the House. The Leader should consider organising a format whereby Commissioners might occasionally be invited to address the House. It would give Senators an opportunity to raise questions on European issues of interest to Members.
I join in the condemnation of the Wilmslow bombs. I hope they will not have the practical effect which the IRA desires, but I fear they may, because extra democratic methods have been rewarded traditionally, not merely by politicians but also by the media. I have just taken part in a BBC programme about members of minority Churches in the State and the first two thirds of the programme were taken up by a debate on the bombing.
Will the Leader of the House raise with the Government the murder by a so-called punishment beating of the Rev. Templeton, a Presbyterian minister, and particularly the role played by the RUC, the customs authorities at the airport and a squalid newspaper which splashed the story of the seizure of an erotic video from this man? That newspaper is morally responsible for this man's death. In the context of intergovernmental relations the matter should be raised on the grounds of the abhorrence we feel at punishment beatings and to examine how an unpleasant individual in the customs or immigration services or in the RUC maliciously released information to a tabloid newspaper, thereby causing the death of this man. In the past the RUC has contained elements that not only targeted sections of the Nationalist community but which organised witch hunts against the gay community.
I join with Senator Dardis and other Members in condemning this morning's bombings. Attempts by any group to bomb its way onto an election agenda are unacceptable. I hope there is no recurrence during the British or Irish general elections.
A related issue, which in no way excuses the bombing, is the current state of the peace process. Will the Leader tell the House whether the Taoiseach intends to make a statement to the House regarding the peace process? Is the process frozen in the run up to the general election, or are contacts between the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister continuing? The problem in Northern Ireland can never be put in a vacuum. It behoves us all to work on a full-time basis towards solving the problems there.
I am gravely concerned at the suggestion by the Garda Síochána to make Garda pay an election issue. Crime will form a major issue of debate in the election. It would be distasteful and negative and not in the public interest if that debate was clouded by the separate issue of Garda pay. The Minister for Justice should make an urgent statement on this issue in the context of the impending general election. The public will thank no politician if Garda pay is allowed dominate the election agenda. It would be distasteful if gardaí march on the Dáil on 15 or 16 April. It is not appropriate and would send a very bad signal to law abiding members of the public.
I join my colleagues in condemning the bombing in Cheshire. The resumption of a bombing campaign in the United Kingdom will not advance the prospect of a settlement in Ireland or of establishing long-term peace. My party totally condemns this outrage and hopes it is not an indication of resumption of a bombing campaign in the UK or anywhere else.
I wish to raise the issue of primary schools. We have discussed this matter on a number of occasions in the House but we do not seem to have been successful in getting the Minister to announce decision on the number of new schools awaiting sanction from the Department. The Leader is aware that Leinster House was picketed by those concerned about the school in Ennis. The Minister has also been criticised regarding the position in Kilkee. A number of schools are awaiting approval from the Department to proceed to the tendering stage. The Minister should give an indication of her intentions before Easter.
I join with Senators in totally condemning the bombing outrages in England this morning. Whoever planted those bombs had only one purpose in mind, which was to ensure that the peace process would be damaged and that it would be even more difficult to resume some sort of normal politics in Northern Ireland.
I thank Senator Fitzgerald and other Opposition Members for their co-operation during the past session. The resumption date for the next session is Wednesday, 9 April and I expect the session will be a lengthy and full one. At a meeting of the Legislation Committee this morning, I was informed there are 32 Bills which the Government hopes to enact between now and the end of this Parliament. Fianna Fáil seems to be the only party starting rumours about a general election at the moment. Even Mr. de Valera's Constitution does not give the Leader of the Opposition the right to dissolve Parliament. We can all expect to be back for a lengthy, productive and friendly session after Easter.
Senator Dardis raised a question in relation to the Universities Bill. Members may speak for 30 minutes and may share time. There is no question of the debate concluding until all speakers who wish to do so have had an opportunity to have their say on the matter.
Senator O'Sullivan raised a number of issues. I pay tribute to her role in ensuring that the case against VAT on creches was made. She was the first person to raise the issue in this House and did so very effectively. The decision which has been made in relation to that matter is a very sensible one.
Senator O'Toole raised a number of issues on the question of education funding. There will be a debate on European Monetary Union midway through the next session. My environmental spokesman informs me that, on the rather dubious point of order raised by the Senator, students do have the option to declare to vote in their home constituency or in their college one, but may not vote in both. We will leave that issue for another day.
That is not true.
Senator Naughten raised the question of the registration of voters, as did Senator O'Kennedy. The points made by them were valid. It is a shocking statistic that 17 per cent of younger voters are not registered. I do not accuse Senator Naughten of having a vested interest in ensuring that younger voters are registered; his point is well made and if some way can be found to speed up that process between now and October, it should be availed of. I agree with Senator O'Kennedy's point about possible weekend or Friday voting.
I share in the tribute paid by Senator O'Kennedy to the Cathaoirleach and his family. I imagine that the Cathaoirleach is merely taking a temporary respite and that we will see him back in full action at the appropriate time.
Senator McGowan raised an important point in relation to having a Commissioner come in to address the House; this has worked well on a previous occasion.
Senator Norris made the important point that the murder of the Reverend Templeton was an appalling act. Apart from the sheer horror of the so-called punishment beating carried out by thugs who are the scum of the earth, the way in which he was set up is something which should be seriously investigated. There is no doubt that somebody in the RUC, the customs or in the appalling newspaper to which the Senator referred did set him up. Reverend Templeton was a marked man and even if he had not been killed, his life would not have been worth living from that point onwards. I am glad the Senator raised the issue and I am sure Members join with me in condemning what is a hideous and barbaric breakdown of law and order.
Senator Mulcahy raised two points, one in relation to the IRA bombs which I have already mentioned. I find that this House is having an extraordinary effect on Senator Mulcahy, who is increasingly sensible. I found myself in agreement with everything he said today.
I think the Leader should examine his conscience.
Garda pay should not become an election issue. There would be an element of scandal in the Garda Síochána marching on Leinster House in the manner which has been advocated. People respect the Garda and do not expect to see them behaving in this manner. I thank Senator Mulcahy for having raised the manner in such a constructive way.
I will refer Senator Daly's request to the Minister for Education once again.
Order of Business agreed to.