Today's Order of Business is items 1 and 2. On item 1, Statements on Sellafield, the contributions of spokespersons will not exceed 20 minutes and those of other Senators will not exceed 15 minutes. On item 2, National Disability Authority Bill, Order for Second Stage and Second Stage, the contributions of spokespersons not to exceed 20 minutes and those of other Senators not to exceed 15 minutes. Members may share time.
Order of Business.
The Order of Business is agreed.
The Order of Business is agreed. I congratulate my fellow Independent Member, Senator Quinn, who highlighted the importance of the House by virtue of the changes he encouraged the Minister to include in the George Mitchell Scholarship Fund Bill. It was interesting that the Bill passed all Stages in the other House without anyone recognising that it would be invidious if people from America who wished to undertake research in Northern Ireland would not be able to do so because of the way the legislation was drafted. I thank and congratulate the Minister for readily accepting the Senator's amendments.
I congratulate Senator Quinn on his sharpness and perspicacity in perceiving the obvious flaw in the George Mitchell Scholarship Fund Bill. As Senator Henry stated, that flaw was only observed when the Bill came to this House having been passed by the Lower House. I compliment the Minister on his alacrity in addressing the situation.
I am disappointed the Leader has not agreed to requests made yesterday by myself and other Members for a debate on human rights, particularly when one considers that today marks the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, that Amnesty International has collected one million signatures in Ireland to mark the occasion, that General Pinochet was yesterday served with extradition papers, that tomorrow the United States intends to mark Human Rights Day by executing its 500th prisoner since the reintroduction of the death penalty in 1976 and that John Hume and David Trimble will be conferred with the Nobel Peace Prize for their work on the Good Friday Agreement, human rights and reconciliation on this island. Yesterday the Leader made sympathetic noises with regard to making time available to discuss human rights and mark the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is a shame that arrangements have not been made for such a debate.
Mr. Ryan
Will the Leader attempt to uncover — this relates to human rights and immigration — the circumstances under which the ex-President of Mexico was granted permission to live in Ireland for an indefinite period? People over whom lesser clouds of suspicion hang are being deported from the State regularly. This matter is an embarrassment to Ireland because two million people have sought the return of this man to Mexico to face charges for a variety of offences. It is not pleasant that he should find refuge in this country; his circumstances bear a resemblance to that of General Pinochet in London.
With unfortunate and monotonous regularity I must ask the Leader to make time available for a debate on overseas development aid. I will not move an amendment to the Order of Business in that regard, if only to prove that I can be agreeable on occasion. The House was, de facto, misled in respect of the situation regarding ODA in 1999.
We have debated that matter on numerous occasions and the Senator's point was made during the recent debate on overseas development aid. Do I take it that he is requesting a further debate on that issue?
Mr. Ryan
I am seeking a debate on the facts on ODA as distinct from the bluster. We already had a debate on the bluster, we now want a debate on the facts, which are that ODA for next year has been frozen and that humanitarian aid for next year will be reduced by 17 per cent. The latter is perhaps the most disgraceful provision a Government has ever made in this area.
One of the key components in the inclusion of people with disabilities is the availability of accessible transport. Can one call a system which is not accessible to all the public, a public transport system? I ask this question in the light of information which has come to hand regarding the purchase of 150 buses by CIE. Not one of these buses is accessible to people with disabilities and I ask the Leader to send the strongest possible message to the company in this regard.
I ask the Leader, when replying, to say if it is intended to take item 2 at 2 o'clock.
Following the request from Senator Costello, I will allow time from 1 p.m to 2 p.m. for statements on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Contributions are not to exceed seven minutes. Item 2 will be taken at 2 p.m.
I agree with Senator Henry's sentiments regarding Senator Quinn's amendment to the George Mitchell Scholarship Fund Bill, 1998, and the co-operation of the Minister and civil servants. This amendment demonstrates the importance of a second House. It was very satisfying to be able to enhance legislation and very pleasing to all of us and to the Minister and his officials that this happened yesterday.
I will pass Senator Ryan's views on the person from Mexico to the Minister. As you have said, Sir, we have had many debates and statements on overseas aid. If the Senator feels as strongly after the Christmas recess as he does now, I will find time to facilitate him in expressing his concerns.
I will pass on the views of Senator Kett regarding public transport to the Minister. The National Disability Authority Bill, 1998, will be before the House this afternoon and I look forward to hearing the contributions on that legislation.
Order of Business agreed to.