The Order of Business is items 1 and 2. Item 1, Committee and Remaining Stages to be taken today, and item 2, statements on the Kosovo crisis, with the contributions of Senators not to exceed five minutes.
Order of Business.
Will the Leader provide time today or early next week for a debate on Agenda 2000 and the conclusion of the negotiations in Berlin last night? Does he agree that only half the cake has been baked, as it were, and that there is a real need to put in place a national development plan with a view to compensating the counties which have been excluded from Objective One status?
The second matter I wish to raise relates to the Tánaiste's statement yesterday in respect of renegotiating the Programme for Government. Do I take it that Fianna Fáil has agreed to the Tánaiste's proposal and that a new programme, different from that on which the electorate voted at the last election, will be introduced? It is reported in The Irish Times that the Tánaiste has indicated that she will seek a re-negotiation of the Programme for Government. Does the Government intend to ask the people to accept a different programme to that on which the electorate voted at the last election?
Will the Leader provide a report to the House with regard to the matter of former Garda Superintendent Geary who was dismissed from the Force in 1928? Mr. Geary was stationed in my home town of Kilrush at that time and his dismissal occurred in questionable circumstances. There is an obligation to ensure that this matter is properly clarified so that justice can be seen to be done.
Do I understand that statements on Kosovo will immediately follow the debate on the Bretton Woods Agreement (Amendment) Bill?
Yes.
Is it correct that there is no time limit on the statements on the Kosovo crisis?
Senators' contributions must not exceed five minutes.
We agree. I support Senator Taylor-Quinn's call for urgent action on the case of former Garda Geary who was dismissed from the Force many years ago. Seventy years is a long time to wait for a conclusion to a case and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform should make haste with its deliberations.
I agree that we should seek a speedy resolution of the case of former Garda Geary who is now a centenarian. It would be proper if the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Government resolved this matter as quickly as possible.
I again raise the issue of the inquiry into the assassination of Rosemary Nelson. It should be communicated to the Minister for Foreign Affairs that it is not satisfactory to have the inquiry conducted by the RUC which has been found guilty of intimidating a professional person pursuing her daily work. We should seek the establishment of an independent inquiry conducted by an outside police force, preferably one from the United States or Canada. The inquiry, as proposed, is not acceptable.
Will the Leader of the House arrange a debate as soon as possible on Agenda 2000? There is widespread disappointment that a more satisfactory outcome to the Berlin talks was not secured in terms of transitional arrangements, Structural Funds and Cohesion Funds, the reduction of the farming fund by £100 million and the hype surrounding Objective One status for the 15 counties. The Minister or the Taoiseach should come before the House for a full discussion of this issue.
The Tánaiste said yesterday that the Progressive Democrats intend to negotiate a new programme for Government. Does this signal the demise of the coalition? Are new arrangements envisaged and how wide will the parameters be? Will the House sit again after Easter?
It is not in order to speculate on these matters on the Order of Business.
The Cathaoirleach should allow Members to indulge in a little speculation on occasions such as this. It is most helpful. There would be no point seeking a review of the pro gramme if the Government intended to leave office in the near future.
There could be a different combination.
I am pleased Senator Taylor-Quinn and Senator Costello raised Agenda 2000 and the negotiations in Berlin. The Leader of the Labour Party did not consider the outcome of the talks a disappointment. It is widely accepted that securing £3.4 billion in Structural Funds was an achievement by the Taoiseach, the Minister for Finance and the negotiating team in Berlin. The House should extend its congratulations to those involved. The fears that the CAP negotiations would be reopened were unfounded and the package secured by the Minister for Agriculture and Food is also secure. In the circumstances, a good day's work was done.
It would be useful to discuss the outcome of Agenda 2000, the national plan which will be submitted in support of that funding, European enlargement and the outcome of the Berlin Summit. Perhaps that debate could be arranged after the Easter break. It should be a matter of celebration that this country has reached the point, as a result of the actions of successive Governments, that it has sufficient wealth not to be as dependent as in the past on European funding. We look forward to increased public private partnership to fund the infrastructure the country requires to advance as a mainstream European country.
It is reported correctly in the newspapers that the Tánaiste suggested a review of the programme for Government. It is appropriate, after being in office for two years, that the programme for the millennium should be reviewed. Circumstances have changed significantly in the last two years. It is an indication of the Government's confidence that it will last five years that such a review would take place. The programme for Government was not an election manifesto but an agreed programme negotiated after the election.
Mr. Costello: The Taoiseach was not aware that it was going to be reviewed.
One nil to Senator Dardis.
I am sure the ongoing discussions which take place between both partners in Government will be continued in respect of the review which will take place.
Will copies of the programme be circulated to Members?
Senator Dardis stole my thunder to an extent. I support his comments. I rose to ask the Leader, given what has happened in Berlin, if he will examine the regional policy the Government will be obliged to adopt. We are entering a new system where three regional authority areas will have Objective One status while the remainder will have Objective One status in transition. This will impose a different set of priorities on the Government. I wish to echo Senator Dardis's comments on what happened in Berlin.
I am sure these matters will be pertinent to the debate when it takes place.
What I wished to do, with the Chair's indulgence—
I am always indulgent, Senator, sometimes too indulgent.
Senator Taylor-Quinn and Senator Costello commented on the newspaper headlines on the Berlin Summit. They appear to have read a misplaced headline in one of the leading newspapers which referred to the summit as "a disaster". I am not sure if the two journalists concerned were in Berlin and I do not know where they got their story. It certainly is not in keeping with reality.
Senator Costello commented on the inquiry into the murder of Rosemary Nelson. I met Rosemary Nelson on a number of occasions; she was one of the most impressive people I ever met. I was impressed by her sense of fair play, her views on human rights, regardless of which side of the divide one came from, and the manner in which she looked after the Nationalist community, particularly in the Portadown area. I have no faith in what is happening at present. It is sufficient to know that her husband, a reasonable man, has asked that the inquiry be redirected.
I also wish to refer to a related matter. I accept we can have no input into the decisions of courts in Northern Ireland but Rosemary Nelson was closely involved in the Robert Hamill case. Last year I attended an anniversary vigil walk in Portadown. I walked through The Tunnel and to the centre of Portadown with Rosemary Nelson. The Hamill family will be devastated. Their only hope of upholding any sense of law or justice in their case was Rosemary Nelson and she is no longer alive to carry on their case. I hope somebody else will put themselves forward because the survival of the peace agreement depends on what happens in Garvaghy and Portadown.
I also wish to respond to Senator Mooney's comments on the Berlin Summit. We are aware of the Taoiseach's great success at the summit but I support the Senator's call for a closer examination of regionalisation. I have no wish to be in this Chamber in a few years' time making the same pleas Senator Coghlan is currently obliged to make on behalf of his county.
I share other Senators' deep concern about the manner in which it is proposed to conduct the inquiry into the murder of Rosemary Nelson. I have no faith in the RUC's participation and the overwhelming majority of people, North and South, share that sentiment. If the inquiry proceeds on the proposed basis, there will be no confidence or trust in its outcome. I ask the Leader to call on the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Government to insist on an independent inquiry with no participation by the RUC other than its co-operation with the inquiry team. It is of no matter which country carries out the inquiry – the US was suggested – so long as the RUC is not part of the team.
On the Order of Business yesterday I congratulated the Minister for Agriculture and Food on his achievement for Irish farmers in the CAP negotiations and sought a debate on the subject. I repeat my request today. There is an old saying that one should not believe everything one reads in the newspapers. I understand that what was achieved last night was a great success and was described by the President of the IFA, Tom Parlon, as a significant achievement for Ireland.
I support the requests for a report on the former Garda Superintendent, William Geary. I made representations on his behalf many years ago. He is from my neighbouring parish, I knew his late brothers and he was a friend of my father. An injustice was done and I would like his case to be reopened.
Will the Leader arrange for a debate on policing in Dublin? Nationwide, the crime rate has dropped but there are problems in areas of urban deprivation. In my area there are two unsolved rapes and dreadful instances of attacks on the elderly. There is an urgent need for special policing methods in these areas. No one realises how bad matters are for those communities. They feel threatened and it gives carte blanche to groups working outside the law to take control and to claim they are the only ones protecting law and order.
I strongly support the call for an independent inquiry into the murder of Rosemary Nelson. I have relations living not far from that part of County Armagh and I know that the local people have no confidence in the RUC.
I ask the Leader to arrange for a debate on learning difficulties, particularly dyslexia, and the problems they cause to children. I acknowledge the improvements to the education system made by the Minister, Deputy Martin, but this House should address the subject of learning difficulties as a matter of urgency. Much work has been done but more is needed.
Senators Taylor-Quinn, Dardis, Costello, Mooney, Henry and Kiely expressed views on the conclusion of the discussions in Berlin on EU funding for the next seven years. On behalf of the House, I congratulate the Taoiseach, the Minister for Finance, the Minister for Agriculture and Food, and everyone concerned. Senator Rory Kiely yesterday asked that we discuss the CAP element of Agenda 2000 and I have set time aside for this on next Tuesday evening, when the Minister will be here.
I agree with the Senator and with Mr. Tom Parlon, President of the IFA, that this was a significant achievement for Ireland. One of the Taoiseach's great skills is negotiations and his time as Minister for Labour has stood him in good stead when finalising many important matters. I will leave time aside to discuss Agenda 2000 as a whole in the first or second week of the new term. The leaders of the groups will discuss this after the Easter recess.
The deputy leader made a good response to the question about the mid-term review of our achievements in Government and our plans for the remainder of our term in office.
Surely it is the plans of the Progressive Democrats?
The success is there to be seen and all fair minded people would say the Government is doing a magnificent job. It must be difficult for the Opposition to find something substantial to complain about or to maintain significant debate.
They do not even turn up anymore.
I will allow as many statements and reports as possible to be discussed to facilitate the Opposition.
Senators Henry, Costello and Kiely requested the re-opening of the case on Superintendent Geary. I will contact the office of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform this morning and come back to the Senators on this point.
Senators Costello, Bonner, Fitzgerald and Glynn were concerned about the inquiry into the death of Rosemary Nelson. I agree that it should be totally independent and will communicate their views to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. I share the concerns of Senator Mooney and Senator Bonner about the death of Robert Hamill and will pass their views to the Minister also.
Those Senators also called for a debate on regionalisation. Given the new structures, and the position of Clare, Kerry, west Limerick and west Cork, it would be timely to have this debate during the early part of the next session. I am sure the acting leader of the Opposition would agree.
In response to Senator Ridge, I can arrange for a debate on policing in the early part of the next session. Senator Glynn asked for a debate on learning difficulties; the Committee and Remaining Stages of the Education Bill will be debated in the House next Thursday and that would be an ideal opportunity to raise the matter with the Minister.
The Leader said he would arrange a debate for next Tuesday on the CAP proposals of Agenda 2000. Could he broaden that debate to include all of Agenda 2000?
I will consider that but I do not wish to keep Senators here after midnight because it is unfair.
Order of Business agreed to.