The Order of Business is Nos. 1, 2 and 20, motion No. 23; No. 1 to be taken without debate; No. 2, Second Stage (resumed); and No. 20, motion No. 23, to be taken between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Order of Business.
The Order of Business is agreeable as far as I am concerned.
Anyone who is following the Northern Ireland situation must be depressed at present. The prospect of a settlement or an agreement being reached by the end of the week is now seen as dismal. Could the Leader indicate the possibility of having a debate on Northern Ireland within the next two weeks? We have not had one this session. Could he also indicate whether he has given any thought to the proposal, which came from all sides of the House last week, to have a state of the nation debate in the near future?
The Order of Business as outlined by the Leader is agreed by the Labour Party, apart from the Private Members' motion. There was a request yesterday that we would substitute that with a debate on the nurses' dispute. Again, I request the Leader to do that or indicate when he is prepared to allow a debate on this dispute. It is the first time that a nurses' strike has taken place in the history of this State and it is of enormous concern and seriousness. Before further decisions are taken in relation to the business for tomorrow or next week we should know whether there will be an opportunity to debate this issue. The nurses have placed pickets on Leinster House and they will march on it tomorrow. In the interest of democracy and because there has been no debate on this issue since strike action was initiated, we should have a full debate now. I would like the Leader to address this issue in his reply and perhaps outline whether we will have an opportunity to debate this industrial dispute between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. today or some time tomorrow.
Can the Leader bring to the attention of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the money laundering racket that was uncovered through the joint efforts of the RUC and the Garda Síochána, particularly the Criminal Assets Bureau? An estimated £100 million has been laundered from the proceeds of crime, drugs and other activities – which is equal to the total amount of DIRT tax that we discussed for the past six weeks in the Committee of Public Accounts. If one bureau de change or financial institution in County Louth can launder that amount of criminal money, then we want to know whether it is possible for other financial institutions to do the same. Again, I ask the Leader to bring this matter to the attention of the Minister. I also ask him to seek a response from the Minister as to how any financial institution at present can be immune from proper mechanisms of restraint and control and thus allow money laundering to continue.
On a number of occasions I have asked the Leader whether the Radiological Institute of Ireland had completed its report on radon gases. He expressed a keen interest in this subject as he is from one of the areas most affected. Nevertheless, I have not received a response to date. Again, I ask the Leader whether the report is completed and, if so, to bring it before this House.
I join with Senator Costello's call for an immediate debate on the nursing crisis. Yesterday the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children held an emergency meeting to deal with this issue. The committee tabled a motion which called on the Minister for Health and Children to immediately intervene in support of conciliatory and constructive dialogue. Now that the strike is in its second day I am extremely concerned and beginning to think that the strategy of the Minister has been to delay the process in order to alienate public opinion and put him in a better bargaining position at the end of the day. It is essential that we debate this issue in this House.
Following the wishes of Senator Manning to have a debate on Northern Ireland I will have time left aside the week we come back, that is, the week after next. With regard to calls for a state of the nation debate, I have already agreed that we will leave as much time as possible and we can have that in the first two weeks of November.
With regard to Senator Costello's views and the alarming announcement of a money laundering racket, the Garda Síochána and everyone involved are to be congratulated on the discovery of this racket and the large sums of money involved. I will convey the Senator's wishes to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. If we feel time is needed to discuss this issue then we will have a debate on it early in November and have the Minister present if possible.
The House will adjourn this evening and will not sit tomorrow as a mark of respect to the former Taoiseach, Jack Lynch. With that in mind I would like to meet the leaders of each party after the Order of Business to see if we can facilitate the request made by Senator Costello and many other Members yesterday, and all sides of the House, who might want to make brief statements on the nurses' strike later tonight.
With regard to Senator Coogan's request, I agree to have a debate and statements in the House on the radiological report. I will allow time for such a debate early in November.
Order of Business agreed to.