Today's Order of Business is items 1, 2, 2a, 3, 4 and 5. Items 1 and 2 will be taken without debate. Item 2a on the Supplementary Order Paper will be taken at 4.00 p.m. with all Stages to conclude at 10.30 p.m. The debate on items 3, 4 and 5 will be taken in conjunction with Second Stage of item 2a. The contribution of spokespersons on Second Stage should not exceed 15 minutes while that of Senators should not exceed ten minutes and Senators may share time.
Order of Business.
I thank the Leader for structuring the business in such a way that as many Members as possible will have an opportunity to speak. I hope Members who wish to speak in this historic debate will have an opportunity of so doing. However, I am somewhat concerned by the Leader's outline of the Order of Business in the context of adequate time for Committee Stage. There are a number of important matters which require teasing out; perhaps the Whips can meet to ensure there will be no obstruction if extra time is needed. It is important that there be adequate time for Committee Stage as Members may wish to address a number of issues debated but not fully teased out in the other House.
In the absence of our leader — the Order Paper informs me I have one, something I was previously unaware of — we agree to the Order of Business. I share Senator Manning's concern that there be some time left for Committee Stage. I appeal to Members to keep their contributions short as most will wish to speak on this historic day.
I accept the speaking allocation for Senators set out by the Leader. As many Senators as possible should contribute. A reasonable length of time should be provided for all Stages to enable us tease out some of the aspects of the referendum text. While we will not be tabling amendments, I would like answers to questions on a number of issues, especially as the Taoiseach will be present for the debate.
It is unfortunate that item 1, which restricts the Order of Business to 30 minutes, has been tabled today as there is an hour and a half available. The Labour Party does not accept this guillotine on the Order of Business as many Senators wish to ask questions or refer to motions, legislation, etc. on the Order Paper.
There is no curtailment of Senators' right to ask questions relevant to the Order of Business. The Senator can be assured that I will be most lenient as long as he is relevant.
Relevancy extends to 30 minutes. Many Senators may wish to speak beyond this time.
Even though this order has applied for the past two sessions, I have never had cause to resort to it on the Order of Business.
I am delighted to note that the Cathaoirleach will apply the same flexible approach in the future.
In regard to item 3, all the groups in the House have indicated their support for the joint motion. My name is down as leader of the Labour group but unfortunately, according to Standing Orders, I will be the tenth person to speak. I find that unacceptable when all parties in the Dáil and the Seanad are lending their full support to the motion.
That is not a matter for the Order of Business. It is for the Chair to decide the order in which speakers will be called. The Senator is well aware that the decision in regard to the order in which speakers will be called has been made by the Select Committee on Procedures and Privileges.
Can I take it that the Cathaoirleach will be flexible in regard to this matter?
The Chair, as always, will abide by the rules of the House.
I merely wanted to highlight the position. It is unfortunate that, as one of the leaders whose name appears to the motion, a considerable period will have passed before I have an opportunity to make a contribution.
I want to comment on item 7, motion 20, which calls on the Minister for the Environment and Local Government to obtain an independent assessment of the health effects of microwave transmitters which are being erected en masse throughout the country. This issue was raised on a number of occasions during the previous Seanad session. Can the Leader give some indication when a debate on this issue might take place?
It could be stated with reasonable accuracy that if all contributions on the Order of Business were confined exclusively to the Order Paper it would require far less than the half hour provided for by the sessional order to complete the Order of Business.
Today is a historic day by any standards and this afternoon's debate on the Agreement will be historic. We are obliged to pass the Bill before midnight tonight in order that the referendum can be held on 22 May. I am aware that we will have to put the question and pass the Bill in time for the President to sign it but it might be in order for people to be allowed to contribute after that has happened. That would not necessarily have to happen tonight but it might be one way of ensuring that everyone who wishes to do so would have an opportunity to contribute to the debate. I understand that some difficulties were experienced in the Dáil yesterday with people having to confine their contributions to one minute towards the end of the Second Stage debate. That would not be desirable here. I am sure the Cathaoirleach and the Leader would agree that everyone who wishes should have an opportunity to contribute to the debate.
In regard to the action plan on unemployment which was announced earlier this week by the Tánaiste, I understand she is anxious to come into the House to discuss it.
That issue is not on the agenda of the Seanad.
The Cathaoirleach, not the Senator, will rule on whether the matter is in order.
Is the Senator seeking a debate?
Yes. Perhaps the matter could be debated next week and could link into a debate on the minimum wage to which, I suspect, even the Labour Senators might wish to contribute.
Today is indeed a historic occasion. I regret that gardaí are currently protesting outside the Oireachtas on the issue of just wages.
The matter is not relevant to the Order of Business.
Will the Leader ask the Minister to seek an urgent resolution of this problem which should never have reached this stage?
This is a very historic and important day for the House. Will the Leader arrange a debate on the restructuring of local authorities? This House has a responsibility to local authorities. They make a large contribution to this House by electing Members. The reform of local authorities is important. This is a major review of the structure of local authorities and I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for the Environment and Local Government in so we can discuss this issue and that this House can make a contribution. It is vital we be given this opportunity and I ask the Leader to take this on board.
I ask the Leader about item 12 on the Order Paper, the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Bill, 1998. Initially we had hoped to take this in the first week after the Easter recess but, given the historic business before us, it is not possible to do so. Will the Leader give an indication of when that Bill will be taken in this session?
I support Senator Dardis's suggestion that in the debate on matters relating to the Good Friday Agreement, if adequate time is not found today for all Members to contribute, time might be made available tomorrow for those Members who wish to do so.
The House will be aware of the growing concern about the future of the European Social and Structural Funds. In light of the meeting which took place between the Taoiseach and the Regional Affairs Commissioner, Monika Wulf-Matheus, on Monday, where her comments were reported in the media, it may be an opportune time to hold a debate in this House as the Government are preparing their submission on this. The main concern centres on whether this State will maintain its Objective one status post 1999 until 2006 or whether there will be regionalisation. Based on the comments of the Regional Affairs Commissioner, it is a valid request that we have an opportunity to express our views, in particular those of us who will be most directly affected by any diminution in the Objective one status.
"Without any visible means of support", so ran a well known advertising slogan for a brand of ladies' stockings once manufactured in Killarney.
How does the Senator know that?
Was the announcement by the Tánaiste and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform that a replacement factory would be in place by Easter in a similar vein?
I support Senator Ridge's call for the Minister to intervene in the Garda dispute as soon as possible. It is ironic when we are debating security in another area that such a serious issue should arise here. I hope this will be resolved before 1 May as it would be a bleak day if the dispute were to go ahead.
I support Senator McGowan's call for a debate in this House on local government reform and financing. I bring to his attention, however, that last week I asked the Leader if he would provide Government time to discuss this important matter but he refused to do so. In order to help the Senator, we are moving a motion on this in Private Members' time next week.
The Senator took my advice.
I have raised this matter before and hope the Leader will be able to fit a debate on sudden infant death syndrome into the session before the summer recess. There has been a dramatic increase in the syndrome and I request that the Minister would come before the House so we could debate the matter and perhaps succeed in getting more research funding for the syndrome.
I support Senator Mooney's call for a debate in this House on Objective one status for the western region and the midland counties. As the next round of structural funds is being negotiated, it is vital we debate this at the earliest opportunity.
I thank Members for their co-operation on this historic day. This is an occasion we will never forget and we all look forward with great anticipation to the Taoiseach's presence and to Members' contributions. I hope every Member will participate in this debate.
I agree with the request made by Senators Manning, Ryan, Dardis, Costello and Gallagher for more time to be made available tomorrow to debate this issue if everybody has not had an opportunity to contribute but we must have this Bill signed before midnight tonight.
Senator Costello and many other Senators have, over the past few months, called for a debate on the problems arising from the use of microwave and telephone masts. I will try to arrange for a debate on this issue in a fortnight's time.
Senator Dardis requested a debate on the employment action plan and the minimum wage proposal. I am delighted to make time available for a debate on these issues.
Senators Coogan and McGowan requested a debate on local authority reform. I hope to facilitate a debate on this matter in two weeks. Senator Coogan has persuaded his party to take this matter in their Private Members' time next week. If two hours is not enough perhaps the Fianna Fail Party could join with them the following week and make it a two week Private Members' time. We are all here as a result of support from the local authority electorate and it is our priority to facilitate a debate on this issue and bring it to the Minister's attention.
Senator Gallagher mentioned the Housing Traveller Bill. I am pleased to inform the House that Second Stage of this Bill will be taken on Wednesday next.
Senators Mooney and Burke expressed concern about Ireland's post-1999 Objective One status, particularly in relation to poorer regions. We will have a day long debate on this issue as soon as possible.
Senators Jackman and Ridge asked me to contact the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform about the Garda dispute. The Minister held late night discussions with the senior officers of that organisation trying to reach an agreement. We hope there will be a successful conclusion to these discussions at the earliest opportunity.
Senator Cox requested a debate on the sudden infant death syndrome and I will allocate time for such a debate. Many families have suffered as a result of this terrible syndrome.
Order of Business agreed to.