Today's order of Business is item 1, Second Stage, to conclude today. Business will be interrupted between 6 o'clock and 7 o'clock. Spokespersons will have 20 minutes while other Senators will have 15 minutes and Senators may share time.
Order of Business.
I move amendment No. 1: "That item 10 be taken before item 1." This technical amendment to the Order of Business would allow First Stage of the Shannon River Council Bill, 1998, to be taken, thereby facilitating the printing of the Bill and arrangements for Second Stage. I agree to the arrangements for item 1 as outlined by the Leader.
I second Senator Manning's amendment. It is important that discussion of this Bill begins and I know those on the other side of the House support it. I presume that acceding to this reasonable request will not pose any great difficulty for the Leader.
The Labour Party will be supporting the Bill, with which it is associated, and would be delighted if the Leader would accede to our wishes.
In the context of a date having been set for the constitutional referendum on the Treaty of Amsterdam, does the Leader have plans in the short term for a debate on it in the House? The new wording has been circulated but has not arisen on the Order of Business. We should have a more balanced and original debate by inviting the Commissioner and representatives of MEPs from all parties to the House. This would be particularly useful as the Irish Commissioner, Pádraig Flynn, has had a substantial input into the proposals contained in the Treaty. There are also significant developments in relation to extending the powers to the European Parliament in order to address the democratic deficit, a major issue in the EU. Will the Leader indicate the nature of the debate and when it will take place?
Will the Leader consider a debate on Northern Ireland? In less than two months there will be a constitutional referendum which will include a package of proposals. It will be one of the most important decisions to be taken since the foundation of the State. It is time the Oireachtas discussed the matter, considering it is being speculated upon and written about, that the Cabinet spent yesterday discussing it and that the Taoiseach will brief the British-Irish Parliamentary body at the weekend.
Will the Leader facilitate the House by having an early debate on the insurance industry, particularly the problems facing many people who have pension policies for many years? Many of these people took out policies on the supposition, provided by insurance companies, that they may have a 14 per cent return on their investment. This was reduced to 9 per cent and now stands at 6 per cent. A representative of the insurance industry suggested 11 per cent was the current equity rate given on pension policies. This is not true as a number of companies——
Senator Lanigan, you cannot discuss the matter. You have sought a debate and that is sufficient.
In view of the horrific problems which will be confronted by people who thought they had adequate pensions, I ask that we have an early debate on this matter and find out from the insurance companies where the money invested in equity funds on behalf of private pension schemes has gone.
In the light of a promised new Private Member's Bill, will the Leader of the House comment on the apparent unevenhanded implementation of the zero tolerance policy as it applies to the liquor laws? I am told by people who might enjoy a pint in the late evening after a hard day's work that a fussiness is creeping into the system in parts of the country. You will be aware of this yourself, a Chathaoirligh, because of geographic considerations, of course. A customer might only have quenched his thirst when he feels the tap on his shoulder from a member of the force, anxious to record his name.
You are seeking a debate on the matter?
I am simply begging your indulgence. This is a serious matter because the law is being brought into disrepute.
We need to tidy it up urgently.
I welcome the announcement by the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands of an independent assessment and analysis of the work programme, value for money and relevance to the broader community of the Arts Council. While we recently had a debate on this year's funding of the Arts Council, I ask the Leader for a broader based debate on the Arts Council. People demand and expect accountability and transparency regarding public funding. Members of the Seanad can make a major contribution and avail of this unprecedented opportunity to have a say in the funding of the arts.
I regret that we did not meet at all last week and will meet on four days this week. This is untidy.
I cannot agree with my distinguished colleague, Senator Coghlan, with regard to the implementation of the licensing laws. There should be complete deregulation of the sale of alcohol, but as long as the laws exist it is extraordinary that this House should be encouraging their breach. This is a very serious issue indeed. We can all be proud of the wonderful parades and celebrations held recently on St. Patrick's Day; but I heard visitors from all over the world saying on the radio that they came to Ireland, and particularly to Dublin, because they knew they could get rat-faced drunk for three consecutive days without stopping. I live in the centre of an area where people were urinating, excreting, vomiting and throwing rubbish all over the streets of Dublin.
It is not in order to discuss this matter on the Order of Business.
I am responding to a suggestion that the Garda should not implement the law. Will the Leader inform the Government that we would like the laws of this land to be implemented, particularly with regard to the behaviour of people when they leave public houses?
The Senator is well aware that that is not relevant to the Order of Business. A more appropriate opportunity can be found to discuss this matter.
I shall certainly seek it. I live with this situation and it is absolutely and utterly intolerable. We demean ourselves by tolerating such behaviour.
I was sad to see that the last time the House met RTÉ did not broadcast an edition of "Oireachtas Report". This happens repeatedly. Have RTÉ decided to redefine the Oireachtas as consisting on only one House, Dáil Éireann? At any time that this House sits on its own, "Oireachtas Report" is scrapped. If we have had a constitutional change which means that the Oireachtas consists of one House, then the governing authority, RTÉ , might be kind enough to inform this House of its broadcasting demise.
Mr. Cregan
Senators Chambers and Lanigan raised the issue of private pensions. Will the Leader request the relevant Minister to come into the House to debate this issue? People from the private sector who invested in their pensions are now looking to the public sector. As a result more money will be taken out of the taxpayers' money because pension schemes are not forthcoming.
I ask the Leader to endeavour at the earliest opportunity to have a debate the various aspects of adult education, the fastest growing educational sector. There is very little reference in the forthcoming Education Bill to adult education. A debate on this issue would be very useful as a prologue to the Green Paper.
I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on the Santer proposals on which many organisations and expert groups have commented. The collective wisdom of Seanad Éireann may also benefit from a debate.
I agree to the amendment tabled by Senators Manning, O'Toole and Costello to the Order of Business. Former Senators, Deputies Daly and O'Kennedy, originally proposed this amendment.
Senator Costello requested a debate on the Amsterdam Treaty and I will inform the House tomorrow when I propose to debate the issue. He also called for a debate on the North. I will review this during the week and inform the House before the Order of Business on Friday, 27 March.
Senators Cregan and Lanigan pointed out the serious position in which the insurance industry finds itself. I will try to allocate time for such a debate before the Easter recess.
Senators Coghlan and Norris expressed their views on the liquor laws. This is a very serious situation. At present there is a lot of debate on changes to the liquor laws as regards hours of business. Perhaps Senator Coghlan can consult his Leader because the Fine Gael Party will have Private Members' questions in two weeks' time. This is the only way there will be a debate on the issue as there will be a lot of legislation coming before this House before the Easter recess.
I will facilitate Senator Ó Murchú's call for a debate on the Arts Council and its funding at the earliest possible opportunity.
Senator Norris asked me to contact RTÉ to find why Oireachtas sitting days are not reported on television and radio. This is a very serious matter and I will contact the Chairman of RTÉ this afternoon.
Senator McDonagh requested a debate on adult education and I will facilitate him.
Senator Callanan requested a debate on the Santer proposals and I will schedule it for after the Easter recess.
The Leader of the House has indicated that he will accept Senator Manning's amendment.
Amendment agreed to.
Order of Business, as amended, agreed to.