On the original list of business for this week the Bail Bill was scheduled for this afternoon. However, thanks to the co-operation of the Opposition, all Stages were completed yesterday. This means that item 1, Report Stage of the Universities Bill, will be taken from now until 1 p.m. I hoped to make this afternoon available for the Bill, but unfortunately the Minister is taking Committee Stage of the Education Bill in the other House. Many Members who have been most involved in the debates on the Universities Bill have expressed their desire to try to complete it today and I hope their contributions will be brief and to the point.
Order of Business.
As the Leader is aware, I have endeavoured as the leader of the main Opposition party in the Seanad to be as co-operative as possible in relation to necessary legislation, such as the Universities Bill, which should be enacted before the end of the session. I assure the Leader that the Fianna Fáil spokespersons will do all they can to ensure that the Bill is brought to a conclusion today. I also assure the Leader that this side will co-operate in relation to other legislation he will endeavour to have enacted before the end of the session.
The Leader is aware that all Members have received many representations on item 2, the Adoption (No. 2) Bill, 1996, and this side would like it concluded. After all the work that has been done on the legislation, we do not want it to fall in the context of an election. Will the Leader make time available for item 8, the Shannon River Council Bill, 1997, which was introduced by my colleagues? This is important environmental legislation and I hope the Leader will find time to deal with it between now and the end of the session.
Regarding the meningitis scare, last week I asked the Leader to ask the Minister for Health to establish a national diseases surveillance centre immediately to ensure that a monitoring system is in place. Unfortunately, meningitis has caused some tragic deaths in my constituency and there is a great desire for an early warning system. The Minister agreed that there is a need for such a centre and I ask the Leader to request him to address this matter forthwith.
Regarding the current paramedics' dispute, the Leader is aware that the people involved have no wish to be on strike. They are completely frustrated by the fact that they are in dispute with the Government and they want an early settlement. Many people are becoming aware of the work done by paramedics and there are stories today that people who have had strokes have been without treatment for a full week. The concern is that another week will go by and that real damage will be done to the recovery of many people who need expert treatment. I ask the Leader to use his high office to urge the Government to do all it can to bring about an early settlement to this dispute.
The Independent Senators are as anxious as the Leader to ensure that the Universities Bill is concluded today. Can latitude be given on the duration of the debate to allow it go beyond 1 o'clock if necessary? It is in everyone's interest that the contributions be brief and that if a vote is necessary it is pressed as soon as possible. We are anxious to co-operate and do not want the Bill to be caught in the interregnum between elections.
I strongly support Senator Wright's comments on the adoption legislation. I have raised this matter on a number of occasions with the Department and am led to believe that the reason for the delay is an outstanding judgment from either the High Court or Supreme Court which was being awaited. A related issue is that of Paraguayan adoptions. I did not get a chance to contribute to the debate on the Bill but this issue was raised on Second Stage. There is general agreement in the House and the Department that children adopted in Paraguay should be protected by this legislation. The Bill should be brought before the House and passed by it. Let other people worry about subsequent legal difficulties. The matter of constitutionality does not arise. The Minister shares our view that passing the Bill is in everyone's interest. It would relieve much pressure and worry on families.
The first item on the Adjournment concerns a school in County Clare. The Leader will recall that on at least four occasions over the past couple of months I have said that the work of the House and Department could be made easier and more efficient if the Minister produced a list of the work to be undertaken in each school year covering new school building, extensions, the replacement of prefabs and the completion of outstanding work. This would save Members putting down such items on the Adjournment. I want the Leader to recognise this proposal as emanating from me and that the INTO feels clarification for teachers is necessary.
Kilmurray national school in Clare met with the Minister for Education and Finance yesterday. The Minister for Finance told them he would be happy to produce a list but that the INTO was not in agreement with this. That is completely at variance with the facts. I wish the Leader to confirm to the Minister that I have said on a number of occasions——
This matter does not arise on the Order of Business.
I am trying to make the work of the Cathaoirleach easier. There should be a clear list and not one with biro and pencil marks changing the priority of schools for funding for the benefit of local Deputies and Senators and local newspapers. There should be an open and transparent list, available to teachers. Teachers are prepared to discussed this in a reasonable manner. Schools such as Kilmurray need to know where they stand and the INTO support the publication of lists.
We should pass the Universities Bill as a matter of urgency to facilitate its enactment. This is particularly important in the context of the University of Limerick and St. Patrick's College, Maynooth. When is the Education Bill likely to come before this House and what is the timetable for discussion of it over the next fortnight, assuming we are here for a fortnight?
I appreciate our priority is legislation but there are important issues which the House needs to discuss. One such issue is economic and monetary union and our fiscal policy. The strength of the Irish £ is creating serious difficulties for exporters and particularly for the agricultural sector. Our currency is 9 per cent above the centre rate of ERM. It has been suggested that if interest rates were to fall we would import inflation. However, we now have a global economy so that is not the case and there is expert opinion to support that view. We should discuss these matters. We should also discuss the crisis in the agriculture sector. The Minister last night attended a large meeting, at which the degree of difficulty within the beef sector was made clear. That is related to the currency issue and should be tackled.
Item 33, motion 24 on the Order Paper, in my name and that of Deputy Honan, concerns this. I also sought to raise it by way of Standing Order 29 but the Chair ruled it could not be debated. I accept that ruling but it is an important issue. One way of dealing with it would be to allocate Government Private Members' Time to our motion and perhaps the Leader would consider that proposal,
Mr. Naughten
I ask the Leader to hold a debate on genetic engineering, specifically genetically modified foods. Senator Norris will raise the matter on the Adjournment this evening but more time should be given to it. I oppose the holding of field trials for genetically engineered beet. People do not have enough information on this area and current regulations are far too restrictive. As a genetic engineer I have a vested interest in the matter.
Will the Leader ask the Minister for Justice whether the Garda report for 1996 is available to her yet and, if so, whether she intends to publish the crime statistics before the general election? If she does, will the Leader make time available to debate the report before the House is dissolved?
Will the Leader ask the Minister for the Environment to review the age restrictions for recruitment to county councils? The Employment Equality Bill has been sent to the Supreme Court but its provisions on age discrimination are Government policy and could be introduced now. Recently, a 51 year old man applied to Limerick County Council to become a driver of a mobile library but was one year too old. In the spirit of Government policy on the Employment Equality Bill, that matter could be dealt with now and does not impact on the President's decision to refer the Bill to the Supreme Court.
The point I wanted to make was raised by Senator O'Toole. Some of us stayed here until 3 a.m. the other morning — that was largely our own fault but it showed our interest in the Universities Bill. I hope there will be flexibility to allow us to debate the issue after lunchtime because I would like to see the Bill completed by close of business today.
I am glad my friend and colleague Senator Naughten expressed an interest in my Adjournment matter. I am happy to give him some of my time if it suits him. I support his call for a full debate and this would be a prelude to it.
I support Senator Dardis's call for a debate on agriculture and appeal to the Leader to find time before the Seanad dissolves. There is a crisis in this sector. The Senator has a motion on the Order Paper and we should discuss it.
I thank all sides for their promised co-operation on the Universities Bill. Senator Norris and Senator O'Toole made requests about the timing today. When the business was ordered last week we thought the House would take the Bail Bill this afternoon. Unfortunately, the Minister for Education has to be in the other House for Committee Stage of the Education Bill this afternoon. As the Minister has taken all Stages of the Universities Bill up to now herself, she would want to be present in this House for the entire Report Stage. Perhaps we can speed up matters this morning if we get co-operation from all sides of the House.
It is a pity it is not an agriculture matter — the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry, Deputy Yates, could be in both Houses at once.
If the Bill is coming to a close at 1 p.m. we will try to have as much flexibility as possible. I thank Senators Wright and Fitzgerald for their co-operation on the Universities Bill.
My understanding is that a very real legal difficulty has arisen with the Adoption (No. 2) Bill over the question of some of the Paraguayan children who were adopted. In appears that, in some cases, the adoption processes were legal but not in others. Bearing in mind the views which have been expressed on both sides of the House, this is primarily a human problem where enormous hardship may yet be inflicted, both on the adoptive parents and the children. I have asked that every urgent attempt be made to find a resolution of this problem so that we can take the remaining Stages of the Bill. There is no question of bureaucratic digging in of heels or bad will — it is a question of trying to find a formula which will achieve the end we all want. I ask Members to bear with me a little longer on that matter.
I have ordered time next Thursday for the Shannon River Council Bill so that we can at least complete Second Stage and then see where we go from there. I take the point made by Senator Wright on the need for a surveillance centre to monitor meningitis. I have already conveyed his views on that matter to the Department. I agree with him in hoping the paramedics' dispute can be resolved. It is sad that it takes a strike to bring home to the wider public the enormous amount of quiet, vital work these people do, which we all appreciate.
I thank Senator O'Toole for his promise of co-operation on the Universities Bill. I trust the party whip will be exercised among his group.
There is a three line whip.
That is what the Senator thinks.
Senator O'Toole asked about a list of proposed work to be done in schools, which he has raised for some time. I see no problem with that perfectly reasonable request. I am not sure, however, that Deputies and Senators feel burdened by having to raise constituency matters.
Senator Dardis asked about a debate on the Education Bill. Such a debate is not scheduled in the next two weeks in this House because the Bill has not been passed by the Dáil yet. I suspect we could look at it in the middle of June.
On the question of a debate on agriculture and economic and monetary union, next week's schedule is already very crowded. I have allowed time for Senator O'Kennedy's Bill. We will be sitting the following week and I will make time available then for that debate.
Senator Naughten received a generous offer from Senator Norris, which I am sure he will accept. In regard to Senator Mulcahy's question, I am sure the Minister will follow normal procedures in publishing the Garda report. Many of us will have sympathy with Senator Neville's point on age limits and I will refer that matter.
There is a question on the timing of the business today.
Business is ordered until 1 p.m. If perchance we are coming to the end of the Bill at that stage we will continue for a short while longer. However, bearing in mind the Minister has to be in the other House this afternoon, if we do not conclude the Bill I have provisionally ordered time on Tuesday at 6 p.m. to conclude it then.
Order of Business agreed to.