Today's Order of Business is item 1, Report and Final Stages.
Order of Business.
I congratulate our colleague, Seán Ryan, on his victory yesterday. We will be sorry to lose him from the House but not half as sorry, I suspect, as some of my colleagues opposite. He was a respected Member of the House and I wish him well. I also congratulate a former colleague, Jan O'Sullivan, on her election to Dáil Éireann. She was a splendid Deputy Leader of the Seanad in the last Administration and will be a welcome addition to Dáil Éireann. I congratulate my colleague, Senator Jackman, on her fine performance yesterday. Happily, she will still be in the House to move her Bill to grant equality of representation to all university graduates much, I am sure, to the gratification of our university colleagues.
I congratulate the editors of the two Belfast newspapers who have been awarded an international journalistic award for their efforts towards the furtherance of peace in Northern Ireland. It is not so long since the two northern papers, the Irish News and the Belfast Newsletter, were part of the problem in reinforcing the prejudices of their particular communities. In recent years each has been courageous in taking a lead in trying to build understanding and encourage peace between the two communities and the award is well merited. On behalf of my party, I congratulate both newspapers.
Yesterday I was angry that it was proposed to take item 1 today and I opposed it. I am still not happy that a timescale was not given for further discussions on this matter but I accept the decision of the House yesterday that this business will be taken today. I intend to keep in mind that we are dealing with specific problems people are experiencing and it is our job, as far as possible, to try to resolve those problems. I intend to be constructive in what I have to say, as I have always been on this issue, because it should not be a matter of division among Members. We all have a common end as regards this legislation, so I hope we can make progress today.
I take the opportunity to congratulate our colleague, Seán Ryan, on his tremendous victory. While his success is great, it reduces the Labour quota in the House from four to three, a reduction of 25 per cent. I am sure the Government side, which has such an overwhelming majority, will be delighted to see a Labour nomination succeed in the forthcoming election, so I do not expect any opposition from that quarter. I congratulate Jan O'Sullivan, a former Member of the House, and commiserate with Senator Jackman. The fact these people were the main contenders in the two by-elections underlines the stature of Senators and the Seanad. I commiserate with the Government on its double loss.
Single loss.
It was a single loss, but a victory in neither camp. It was a double victory for Labour as Fianna Fáil was unable to hold on to its seat.
I refer to item 11 on the Order Paper relating to the Amsterdam Treaty. I express my disappointment that we do not have the changed wording, which was agreed three weeks ago by the leaders of the main parties and changed in the other House. I do not see why we are using the old wording in item 11 which relates to the Amsterdam Treaty and the text of the constitutional referendum. Perhaps the Leader might give an explanation.
There have been numerous calls for a debate on the Amsterdam Treaty and on the text of the referendum. Will the Leader state whether we can embark on a different approach? We have significant expertise in terms of Commissioner Flynn, who had a major input into the employment and social inclusion sections of the Treaty, and in terms of our Members of the European Parliament. There have been calls for us to conduct our business in a varied fashion and that rather than making statements, we should open up the debate. Will the Leader explore the option of inviting such people here when the debate he has promised on the Amsterdam Treaty takes place so that we can benefit from their expertise?
I congratulate Senator Seán Ryan and Jan O'Sullivan on their election. Ms O'Sullivan was a very effective Member of the last Seanad. I also congratulate Senator Jackman on her performance and commiserate with her on not being elected. Every cloud has a silver lining, however. According to Senator Costello, the Labour Party will lose 25 per cent of its strength in the Seanad. There are some positive aspects.
Surely the Senator would not object to our nomination?
As regards the Adoption (No. 2) Bill, I do not disagree with Senator Manning when he states that we are all anxious to find a satisfactory solution to this problem which affects some people in a certain way. It is to be hoped that, when the Bill is passed by this House and moves to the Dáil, a resolution can be found before it is passed by the other House.
I congratulate the two Northern newspapers on their award. I half-jokingly suggested yesterday that we should debate broadcasting and the press because it appears to be the way to get coverage from the broadcast and print media.
It did not work yesterday.
I have a more serious reason for asking for a debate on broadcasting. For the first time in over 30 years, the live international rugby match between Ireland and England will not be broadcast live on RTÉ but at 4.30 in the afternoon. This is because Sky has the broadcasting rights which it was sold by the English Rugby Football Union. It is to be regretted that the match will not be seen live by the Irish public. It is part of the erosion of the national broadcasting service by satellite television. For that reason, it is appropriate to discuss broadcasting in its widest context.
I wish to be associated with the congratulations to Senator Seán Ryan and to Jan O'Sullivan, a former Deputy Leader of the Seanad, on being elected to the Dáil yesterday, and to our colleague, Senator Jackman, for having achieved such a great vote. I also congratulate Michael Kennedy and Sandra Marsh, two other candidates who were not eliminated. It should be noted that they were the only two candidates who were not elected but were also not eliminated.
I also wish to be associated with the congratulations of other Senators to the editors of the two Belfast newspapers. We all agree with and congratulate them from the bottom of our hearts for their efforts to sustain the peace initiative in Northern Ireland.
Senators Manning and Dardis spoke about the Adoption (No. 2) Bill and about trying to find a satisfactory solution. I join with their sentiments. There was a delay in restoring the Bill to the Order Paper to see if it could be amended to accommodate families who had effected ordinary adoptions in Paraguay. Such adoptions are not recognised in Ireland. After consultation with the Attorney General, it was found that it is not possible to amend the Bill to recognise the adoptions. There is no point, therefore, in delaying the Bill further and that is why it is being debated in the Seanad this morning. It should also be noted that the Council of Europe has repeatedly inquired as to the reasons for the delay in making legislative provision for the judgment in the Keegan case.
As regards Senator Costello's views on and queries about the Amsterdam Treaty, the Whips are meeting after the Order of Business this morning where the Government Chief Whip will attempt to set a date and get agreement for a debate on the Treaty.
Senator Dardis called for an urgent debate on broadcasting in the context of the rugby international between Ireland and England. It is regrettable that it will not be seen live on television here. The Governments of Europe must come together to assure the European people, especially those who cannot afford the satellite television channels, that they will have an opportunity to see their favourite sport at least when their countries are participating. I will ask the Government Chief Whip to put this down as an urgent matter for discussion with the other Whips.
Order of Business agreed to.