Today's business is items 1 and 2. Item 1 will be taken from now until 1 p.m. and item 2 will be taken from 2 p.m. until Second Stage concludes. I suggest 15 minutes per speaker on item 2, but if Members need more time we can arrange that.
Order of Business.
The Order of Business is agreed. The recent fishery agreement stated that fishing quotas would be cut by one third. Although the fishermen's organisations seem happy about this, I would like more information other than what we get from the media and newspapers. Perhaps the Minister for the Marine could come into this House for statements on the fishing industry.
Will the Leader convey to the Minister for Foreign Affairs our support for the stand taken by the Government with the Chinese Government? It is an important move forward. We have expressed our concern in this House about human rights in China, from Peking to Tibet, on numerous occasions.
The Leader should make as much time as necessary available to deal with the Universities Bill as quickly as possible.
Senator O'Toole, I and others have asked for a debate on economic and monetary union on numerous occasions. A report yesterday stated that a senior banker suggested that Ireland was going to change its currency from a strong to a soft one. That underlines the need for a debate. I know a special committee is dealing with this matter, but it should be discussed in detail in this House so that we know what fiscal policy should be pursued in advance of European Monetary Union. If we decide to join European Monetary Union and Britain does not, it will have serious implications for us in terms of our volume of trade with the United Kingdom. It is important to discuss this matter for those reasons.
Yesterday I asked the Leader about the legislation establishing the food safety board and he said he might have information for me this morning. Perhaps he could give that to me.
I understand the heads of a Bill dealing with aggravated damages for hepatitis C sufferers have been circulated. Will that legislation come before the House in the next few weeks?
Mr. Naughten
I read in today's newspapers that a recently bereaved Dublin man in his 20s is being sent to a nursing home for old people because he is mentally handicapped and there is no other place for him to live. He is getting day care services in St. Michael's House in Dublin. I ask the Leader to raise this matter with the Minister for Health so that this disgraceful situation can be rectified as soon as possible.
I join with Senator Dardis in asking for a debate on European Monetary Union and on the problems associated with the difference between the Irish pound and Sterling. This is a matter of urgent debate among commentators. It appears that while we are strong on parity with the Deutsche Mark, there are serious implications regarding Sterling and the US Dollar. It would be in our interest to debate this matter and I join in the call for a debate to contribute to the wider necessary national debate. Incidentally, the British Prime Minister, Mr. Major, made a clear statement yesterday regarding Britain's intentions on European Monetary Union if the Tories were returned to power.
I ask the Leader to have a debate on three organisations which have been set up to save the west. First, the bishops got together and produced Developing the West Together. Then were was a council for the west, which was to produce a programme for developing the west. Now there is a commission of the west and we are told that it will receive funding. All of us are interested to see what will happen. Ireland is being called the Celtic Tiger and I hope it does not turn out like the Lough Neagh Monster.
It does not exist.
I am sure everybody in this House wants to see what will be done to develop the west. Are we to appoint one organisation after another? The people find it hard to believe in anything after a while. Are we going to con the people of the west with another organisation or is there a real attempt to make a difference? I ask the Leader to organise a debate on the matter.
It would be appropriate this morning for the House to pay tribute in a way the Leader thinks fit to the late former President of Israel and very distinguished Irishman, Mr. Chaim Herzog. Some of us who had the privilege of meeting him knew him as a man of peace who made a great contribution to this State, where he was born, and his adopted country, Israel, both of which he loved with a warm passion. Those of us would had the privilege of meeting him all too briefly feel aggrieved by his loss. He was a great statesman.
I was not here yesterday and lest my absence or silence be taken in any way as a disassociation from the views of the House expressed on the outrageous attack on Senator Norris, I must say, as one who finds himself normally in disagreement with Senator Norris on every possible conceivable issue, that this was an outrageous attack on a Member of this House. We admire his consistency, courage and understanding in this area. I just wanted to put that on the record.
I agree with what has been said about the position of the Government in relation to China. It is unacceptable that a country such as Ireland, whose Government have pursued a consistent policy, is to be hauled in and criticised for expressing its concern on human rights. I want to be associated with what has been said already here in that connection.
My final point is a more sensitive one but it is appropriate. On the big issue of MMDS and the deflector systems in respect of which the Minister has announced a decision in the Dáil, it is only appropriate, at a time when his party is to celebrate its position in Irish life and what it would see as its major role in politics, that I should bring to the attention of the House to the fact that the Minister misinformed this House as recently as 27 February 1997.
It looks as though Fianna Fáil made a mistake by giving an exclusive right.
Senator O'Kennedy without interruption. Senator Sherlock, I would ask you to resume your seat. If you wish to make a contribution on the Order of Business, you may do so in a moment.
Senator O'Kennedy, I ask you to desist from making a speech on the Order of Business.
I have not. I did not make any statement. I was about to raise an issue when——
Fianna Fáil gave an exclusive licence; that is the problem. The Senator must face up to that.
There is only one Cathaoirleach.
Senator Sherlock, Senator O'Kennedy is in possession. If you wish to contribute on the Order of Business, you may do so subsequently.
The Minister indicated in this House, Official Report, 27 February 1997; Volume 150, column 490, in a speech delivered on his behalf by Minister of State Currie, that the Minister's primary responsibility "is to consider the South Coast application. This process is underway and he will make a decision on the matter as soon as possible". He went on to state that, "in coming to a decision on the South Coast application, he will have regard to the implications of, and for, deflector systems generally".
It is not customary to read the Official Report on the Order of Business. Will the Senator put a question to the Minister?
I have finished. Will the Leader bring this to the attention of the Minister in that he has committed himself in this House to take that decision, first, as his primary and fundamental function and then consider the implications of that decision on the deflector systems generally. How can he now reverse that decision as has been set out by South Coast Community Television?
We are not debating this matter on the Order of Business. A question to the Leader.
Will the Leader find out from the Minister, who misinformed this House and those involved in South Coast Community Television, why he has changed his view when he said that he would make a decision in respect of its application first and that the issue of deflectors would follow that decision?
That is not a matter for the Order of Business. There are other ways to raise this matter.
The Minister got legal advice.
The Senator means he got legal advice which enabled him to misinform this House.
I would imagine the Leader understands your point.
When there are issues of this kind in which a Minister comes in here and states a formal position, surely it is in the interest of the procedure of this House that a Minister would adhere to that and not misinform us or that he would not reject totally what he said a short time later.
I join with my colleague, Senator O'Kennedy, and others who mentioned the outregeous attack on our friend and colleague, Senator Norris. In light of the comments attributed to Senator Norris in this morning's newspapers about what might arise if he were to meet his assailant again, will the Leader consider appointing some of the many Government consultants to carry out market research on the possibility of a match between Senator Norris and Steve Collins.
The Senator knows only too well that that matter does not arise on the Order of Business.
We might open a book. I would the back Senator Norris against Steve Collins.
With or without the shillelagh?
Will the Leader tell the House when the Finance Bill will be debated here? Will he ask the Minister for Finance if he will now adopt what I am glad to say is now official Fianna Fáil policy in relation to supporting legislation currently going through the US Congress to create a tax-free zone along the Border counties, North and South, which, if and when implemented, will mean many multinational organisations which wish to export product to the north American continent, including Canada and Mexico, could locate manufacturing industry in the Border counties? This particular piece of legislation, if passed, would prove to be of immense economic benefit to the Border counties. Will the Leader establish from the Minister if the Government will come on side on this particular initiative, the implementation of which will not cost this country one cent?
I want to raise a matter which has been raised in the other House but has not been vented properly here to date, that is, the £91,000 paid to a journalist in settlement of a claim arising out of telephone tapping. One serious matter, the allegation that these transcripts have been destroyed, arises out of it and I hope the Leader will make time to debate the matter. If they were destroyed, perhaps this was done in contravention of the National Archives Act. I am aware that the Leader spends much time trying to protect the Minister for Justice from sensitive issues.
The Leader is blushing.
Does Senator Mulcahy have a question for the Leader?
It is not good enough that Members of this House should only be able to read about these events as outside observers. This matter involves £91,000 of public money, the National Archives Act——
Who caused Mr. Browne's telephone to be tapped in the first instance?
What about the letter involving Senator Sherlock's former party?
(Interruptions.)
Senator Mulcahy will continue without interruption. I ask him to put a question to the Leader.
Who initiated the telephone tap?
From where did Senator Sherlock's party's finance come?
Senator Sherlock will resume his seat.
I consistently raise the issue of Garda pay in a non-controversial way and I believe it behoves the Minister for Justice to provide the House with a full explanation. To date, this House has not received any information from the Minister for Justice regarding the £91,000 or what happened to the transcripts.
Is the Senator seeking a debate on the matter? It will not be debated on the Order of Business. I believe the Leader understands the point made by the Senator.
I am sure the Leader will attempt to dream up some reason that the Minister should not appear before the House.
Those involved at the outset of this affair are jumping ship.
If the Leader accepts that this is a matter of genuine concern to Members on this side of the House, will he ask the Minister for Justice to provide information on this important issue?
The issue raised by Senator Naughten is a matter of great concern to everyone. I accept the references to human rights violations in China, and the House has discussed human and civil rights violations in various parts of the world. However, there are as many abuses of such rights in Ireland as occur in other jurisdictions.
Senator Naughten raised the issue of mentally handicapped adults who are not afforded the facilities to enable them to receive the care they need. They are forced to enter homes for people suffering with Alzheimer's Disease and various other institutions. These people are not a minority but they form a small group within the community. There are large numbers of other people with handicaps of various kinds, including that of old age, who are trying to gain access to institutions where kindness will be afforded to them. It is an abuse and a violation of their human rights that they cannot do so. With an ageing populations, these people must be cared for, as must mentally handicapped adults, who at present are not a matter of concern to the public at large.
Will the Leader ask the Ministers for Health, Social Welfare and Finance and the community in general to consider the needs of those with handicaps, because those needs are not being addressed? The question raised by Senator Naughten highlighted one aspect of the requirements of a large group of people about whom the Government and the public do not seem to be concerned at present.
Does the Cathaoirleach not intend to call Senator Sherlock?
I thank the acting Leader of the Opposition for his agreement, to today's business.
I will communicate his comments on the need for further information on fisheries to the Minister for the Marine.
I am glad Senators O'Toole, O'Kennedy, Finneran and others raised the Government's stance on human rights in China. The support of the House for that stance would be welcomed.
I thank Senator O'Toole for raising the Universities Bill. This is important legislation and it underwent many changes during its progress through the Lower House. The Bill now incorporates a great number of amendments put forward by the Opposition and other groups. At present, it has the support of the governing bodies and the presidents of all the universities and also that of the virtually everyone involved in that sector. The universities have expressed a grave concern to Members that the Bill should find its way into law, because in many cases, particularly those of Maynooth, Dublin City University and the University of Limerick, there is a need for its speedy enactment. I want to allow the fullest possible debate on this issue but I also want the legislation to make progress, which it is not doing at present. Therefore, I intend to make available as much time as needed for Committee Stage of the Universities Bill. Beginning at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday next, I intend to have an open ended debate on the legislation to see how much progress can be made. Those are my intentions and I thank Senator O'Toole for raising the point.
Senator Dardis and others raised the possibility of a debate on European Monetary Union. I have no difficulty with arranging a debate on this important issue and the Minister is willing to come before the House, but it is a question of finding time to do so. I do not have the information the Senator requested in respect of the Food Safety Board. The Cabinet's normal meeting on legislation was not held this morning because the Government Chief Whip is accompanying the President on her visit to Sweden. As soon as the meeting is convened, I will obtain the information requested.
On the issue of legislation to tackle the hepatitis C issue, I assure the Senator that the Government is making every effort to publish the Bill as quickly as possible. When it comes to the House, we will sit on a Saturday if necessary to ensure its passage. The legislation will not be delayed in this House.
Senators Naughten and Lanigan raised the issue of people with disabilities. I will convey the important points they made to the relevant Ministers. Senators McGowan raised a question to which I do not have an answer. I am not sure whether I am in a position to give an answer even if I obtain the information requested.
Senator O'Kennedy raised the issue of Members being allowed to pay tribute to the late President of Israel. I propose that at the commencement of business on Tuesday next, before we tackle the Universities Bill, time will be made available to pay tribute to the late President, given his special relationship with this country. I thank Senator O'Kennedy for raising that issue but I do not thank him for raising that relating to deflector systems. My sentiments are entirely with Senator Sherlock on that matter and I am certain the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications would welcome the opportunity to cross swords with his old adversary on the opposite side of the House. I will afford him that opportunity to enable him to win the debate on this particular issue. The matter raised by Senator Mooney is irrelevant to the Finance Bill.
Senator Mulcahy raised the issue of telephone tapping. I listened carefully to the Minister for Justice's statement in the Lower House and I must inform the Senator that those who were making most of the fuss at the outset have been remarkably silent since she placed a number of facts on the record. I advise the Senator that only fools rush in on an issue such as this. Many Members on his side of the House would be very happy if this issue were not aired further. I will convey the Senator's concerns to the Minister. I am sure the Minister will be happy to come before the House to answer questions——
We will take our chances.
The Leader of Fianna Fáil suggested the establishment of an inquiry.
I am glad Senator O'Kennedy raised that point and it might be a good idea to establish an inquiry, provided it does not cost too much to do so. However, I listened to the debate in the Lower House and I have been interested to note the silence that followed it.
Senator Lanigan raised the issue of the old and the handicapped, and I welcome the points made.
Order of Business agreed to.