The proposed Order of Business is item 1, the Investor Compensation Bill, 1998, Order for Second Stage and Second Stage. There will be 20 minutes for spokespersons and 15 minutes for speakers thereafter. Senators may share time if that is agreeable. Item 1 will be interrupted at 6 p.m. for item 16, motion 19, in the name of the Fianna Fáil group, on Objective One status. That item will conclude no later than 8 p.m. If item 1 has not concluded by 6 p.m., it will be resumed at 8 p.m. and be brought to a conclusion.
Order of Business.
The Order of Business is agreed. I welcome Senator Dardis to the role of Leader of the House. He will forgive me if I ask whether it is a temporary little arrangement or if we will see more of him in that role.
It may be a sign of things to come.
In a personal sense, yes; otherwise, no.
Recently Senator Farrell called for a debate on the establishment of a press council or on the role of the media. Many people will be greatly disturbed at the apparent way the major media group is abusing its position apparently in pursuit of its commercial interests.
Hear, hear.
The element of bullying we saw last week is unprecedented. I say to those opposite that the same thing could be done to them by the same people. This is an attack on one party at the moment but it could easily be on any other party in the House. It is a worrying development and we have not seen its kind before. The question of the dominance of one group and the pervasive effect on the quality of public discussion is a matter which we would like to discuss in the House.
I agree with the Order of Business. I would like to ask about the Geneva Convention Bill, which has reached Report Stage in the other House. This Bill concerns our power to ratify the protocols to the Geneva Convention, 1978, which prohibits, among other things, the use of civilian populations as a means of war, which we see happening in Kosova and Sudan. The Bill was published by the previous Government last May but then there was a hiatus. The Bill was not presented in the Lower House until May. In case of an accident, I would be grateful if the Geneva Convention Bill could come as soon as possible to the Seanad because it is extremely important. We signed these protocols but we are not in a position to ratify them. As the old saying goes, there is many a slip between cup and lip, and there was a slip last year and we do not want another one this year. I would be grateful if the Bill was introduced in the House before the summer recess.
On item 12, does the Leader have any information when it will be moved by the Government? It replicates item 11 on the list of non-Government motions, which I and my colleagues tabled in February. I would be interested to know what intentions the Government has in that regard.
In respect of legislation, has the Acting Leader any information so far on proposals which the Government is bringing forward in relation to tribunals of inquiry? It was most unfortunate that amendments were not accepted which my colleague, Senator O'Meara, had tabled to the Bill we debated recently in the House. Had they been accepted I do not think the ordinary business of this House would be facing the prospect of further interruption with the necessity of taking further legislation. The amendments would have enabled the matters which are now the subject of public comment and debate to be referred to the tribunals without further legislation. I would welcome an assurance from the Acting Leader that the Government will rectify that situation. I cannot see how the Attorney General was informally consulting with the chairpersons of the tribunals when this House and the Lower House voted against our having the power to refer matters to them. It is a matter that needs to be clarified in the public interest. I would welcome a statement from the Acting Leader on the Government's intentions in that regard.
Last week on the Order of Business I asked the Leader of the House if he would arrange a debate on a critical issue for the people of Gort where flooding has taken place in the last few years. It is imperative that such a debate should be brought before the House at this time of the year rather than waiting until winter when flooding is liable to recur. The Minister for the Environment and Local Government has said that the cost of £40 million involved is too much. If he has an alternative it is only right that the people should hear it. Will the Acting Leader ask the Minister for the Environment and Local Government to report his intentions to the House?
The matter I wish to raise was to a certain extent anticipated by Senator Manning. Is it intended to have a debate, as I think there should be, on the question of tribunals and the Burke payments? What interests me specifically at the moment is what has attracted the attention of Senator Manning. It was absolutely horrifying to read the Independent group's newspapers — the Sunday Independent and the Irish Independent— over the last few days. In the Sunday Independent there was a unanimous chorus of toadying from journalists to the interests, as they perceived them, of their boss. Not one even mildly critical voice——
We cannot debate this matter now. I allowed some latitude to Senator Manning but it would be wrong of the House to anticipate points which may be made if time is provided for such a debate.
In that case I accept your ruling. If I may say so, I concur also with what I think was the implication of what Senator Manning said: that it illustrates how extraordinarily dangerous it is to allow the control of the media to pass into one pair of hands, however excellent that person may be.
Does the Government have any further information with regard to item 8 on the list of non-Government motions, which deals with the question of East Timor? The Leader, Senator Cassidy, indicated that this matter would be taken fairly soon. Now is an appropriate time, bearing in mind the internal collapse of the Indonesian regime. We in Ireland have a role to play in attempting to ensure that recognition of the incoming regime is not finally consolidated until guarantees are given about human rights internally in Indonesia and the holding of a referendum on independence on the island of East Timor.
I strongly support the earlier comments of Senator Farrell and others pertaining to the establishment of a press council. Those of us in public life are well aware of the need for the establishment of such a body.
I recently called for a debate on litter and the Leader indicated he would be favourably disposed to granting it. Now that we are in the early part of the tourism season I urge that such a debate be held sooner rather than later as the need for it is obvious.
I want to comment on the refugee crisis and the conditions in which people are travelling to Ireland, particularly from France; the toilet facilities were described on the radio. In excess of 5,000 people are awaiting processing at the moment. This is a huge problem about which Members do not have sufficient information. I would be very grateful if the Department of Foreign Affairs could provide an update on the actual numbers involved and their status either as refugees or asylum seekers. We cannot continue to bury our heads in the sand on this issue.
What are the Government's intentions in regard to the obvious need for amending legislation on tribunals of inquiry which has arisen out of the farcical situation created by legislation passed in this House only a few weeks ago? The Government at that stage chose to ignore an amendment which I tabled——
We cannot debate the merits of the amendment tabled by the Senator to legislation which was passed some weeks ago. If further legislation in regard to these matters comes before the House in the future, the Senator will have an opportunity to comment on it at that point.
Is it the Government's intention to bring forward legislation in response to concerns which would have been met through the acceptance of my amendment? I did not think such amending legislation would have been required so soon.
I want to comment on the call for a debate on the possible establishment of a press council. Although I sometimes disagree with the way politicians are treated by the media, I would not like the message to go out from this House that there is a cosy consensus on this issue. It seems there is a tendency for some people — I am not attributing this motive to Senator Manning — to shoot the messenger. The Fianna Fáil Party is subjected to more bile in the media than Senator Manning's party.
It shoots more messengers.
We should proceed slowly in regard to the possible establishment of a press council. Perhaps we should get out of the kitchen if we cannot take the heat.
In regard to comments made by Senator Manning and others, I would welcome a debate on the establishment of a press council, press dominance and the role of the media. From the point of view of good democratic debate, it is very unhealthy that any one group of newspapers should dominate the media to the extent witnessed in Ireland.
I do not want to anticipate events in the Dáil later today but, were it considered appropriate to amend the scope of the Flood tribunal, legislation would be required and perhaps it would be appropriate to debate this matter under the scope of such legislation. If that cannot be done, we could table a motion on the matter. In the event that it is considered appropriate to extend the scope of the Flood Tribunal, the Bill will come before the House and these matters will be debated then.
Senator Henry raised the Geneva Conventions (Amendment) Bill. That Bill is due to conclude in the Dáil on 18 June. We hope that it will come before us as quickly as possible thereafter, preferably before the end of the session because, as the Senator says, it is an urgent matter.
Senator Coogan mentioned the flooding in Galway. This was given extensive coverage in the last Seanad and is a serious matter for the people concerned. It should be debated by way of Private Member's Business or raised on the Adjournment. If that is not possible it may be debated more widely in the House.
I agree with Senator Norris' remarks concerning East Timor. The transition which is taking place in Indonesia provides a window of opportunity to ensure human rights in East Timor are vindicated and that self determination can be advanced. I note the motion on the Order Paper in the name of the Senator and his colleagues and I hope to make time for this important matter.
Senator Glynn commented on the problem of littering. In the newspapers this morning there were reports that the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government, Deputy D. Wallace, has some proposals related to this area. When he makes those proposals he will want to come before the House to explain them.
Senator Ridge is correct that there is an appalling amount of human misery involved in the passage of refugees into the country. Applications for asylum should be expedited as quickly as possible. It is a matter for the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. I will ask the Minister to come before the House to discuss this.
Order of Business agreed to.
I indicated that I wanted to speak before the Acting Leader finished. On a point of order, I want to correct something which I heard on the monitor. The remarks made about the Sunday Independent were incorrect.
That is not a point of order, Senator.
It is. It is a correction of what was said to be a fact.
The Order of Business is concluded. The Acting Leader has replied. No further interventions can be allowed after the Leader has replied.