The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on the national development plan, with the contributions of spokespersons not to exceed 20 minutes and all other Senators not to exceed 15 minutes, and to conclude no later than 2.30 p.m.; and No. 2, statements on the incidence of suicide in Irish society, to be taken at 2.30 p.m. with contributions of Senators not to exceed 15 minutes and to conclude no later than 4 p.m.
Order of Business.
The Order of Business is agreeable. Will the Leader indicate the legislation that will be taken in the House before Christmas? Will he indicate also when the House will deal with the Local Government (Planning and Development) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill? This is an important Bill. While I appreciate that the Minister for the Environment and Local Government is currently taking Committee Stage of the Planning and Development Bill in the House, will we see the local government Bill before Christmas, as there is a great deal of interest in it?
The Order of Business is agreeable. I have asked the Leader many times if there is any sign of the mental health Bill. I have more or less given up on it. The Bill has been promised for years by previous Governments and by this Government, and many Members on the Government side of the House are aware of its importance. While we are waiting to see that Bill, could we have a debate on the report of the inspector of mental hospitals? It is welcome that this report was published earlier than was previously the case. We now have the 1998 report and it would be a good idea to debate it because all Members of the House would have an interest in discussing it before it becomes an historical document.
The Order of Business is agreeable. I support Senator Henry's call for both the mental health Bill and a debate on the report of the inspector of mental hospitals. The 1998 report is now published and it would be timely for this House to have an early debate on it.
Will the Leader of the House ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to come into the House? This is becoming a daily request. The issue yesterday was asylum seekers.
I wish to raise the Naval Service press officer's remarks concerning yesterday's seizure of 1.5 tonnes of cannabis worth £15 million. He said that drug traffickers were 20 times more likely to escape detection when landing narcotics on the Irish coast and that our continental EU partners spend four times more than we do on safeguarding the coast. He also said that the cannabis seized was probably destined for the European mainland. The drugs were brought in by foreign nationals who came from Morocco and it is clear that Ireland has become a clearing ground for drugs heading for Britain and the European mainland. Will the Leader invite the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy O'Donoghue, to the House for a debate, not just on drug abuse and distribution in Ireland, but on the manner in which the country is being used for drug distribution for virtually the entire Continent? We are seen as a soft target.
The national development plan includes proposals to build new roads between Dublin and Cork and Dublin and Limerick. In light of these proposals will the Leader ask the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Deputy Dempsey, to suspend projects proposed for towns along these routes? Traffic can be delayed for up to an hour at Abbeyleix and Johnstown on the Dublin to Cork road and projects for these towns should be suspended in view of the fact that new roads are to be built.
Will the Leader outline the Government's plans for the opening of Killarney House? This is a fine property which has been in State hands since last December. The house is the nearest point of entry to the national park from Killarney town.
Yesterday in the Central Criminal Court the State decided not to proceed with serious charges against two individuals, yet no apology was offered. Will the Leader ask the Government to issue an apology or to offer some recompense to the two individuals?
Senator Joe Doyle has raised the issue I wished to mention. It is not appropriate to have a debate in the House on this matter. However, at the time I said – although not loudly enough because I was nervous – that there were serious flaws in the case and there was much to be concerned about. These people, particularly the woman who is a former nun, were judged, sentenced and garrotted in the press. We have spoken about a press council but what recourse has that person available to her? Senator Doyle asked an appropriate question in light of the manner in which the case was handled. The House should express its concern to the Minister to see if anything can be done to rectify the damage done to this person and her companion.
Mr. Ryan
I am beginning to sound like a cracked record but the peripheral regions desperately need proper infrastructure, particularly technological infrastructure. The Telecommunications (Infrastructure) Bill is on the Order Paper but the Leader does not know when it will be taken. This Bill is of vital importance, particularly to those living outside places like Dublin and Cork. I do not agree entirely with the approach in the Bill but it involves a fundamental principle which is to facilitate the development of a high-tech telecommunications infrastructure. If the Government cannot introduce this legislation it should explain why. The country's development is being held up because the Government cannot make up its mind what to do about this Bill. That is not the way to develop a high-tech industry. Perhaps the Government should explain to the Independent Members of the Dáil who vote with it that it is their supporters who will lose out in the long run. We must have a high-tech infrastructure. I do not like the way the Government is handling this issue but it is its job to get legislation through the House. If it cannot do so it should get out because this matter is fundamental to the future of the country.
Will the Leader arrange for a debate early in the new year on the national waste management strategy? This issue affects all parts of the country and there are fears about thermal treatment. It would be useful to invite the Minister for the Environment and Local Government to the House for a debate which would help inform the public on this issue.
Senator Burke asked for a list of legislation to come before the House before Christmas. I will inform the House of the position next Tuesday. The Senator has a keen interest in the new local government Bill, as do all Senators. The Bill will be published before Christmas and will come before the House early in the next session.
Senator Henry again inquired about the mental health Bill which is designed to update provisions for the detention for treatment of mentally disordered persons. The Bill will be published before Christmas and I hope to arrange for it to be initiated in the House. Senator Costello asked for a debate on the manner in which Ireland is being used as a possible drug trafficking location. I am pleased that three men were arrested in connection with yesterday's £15 million cannabis haul in west Cork. This was one of the largest drugs seizures in the history of the State and I congratulate the Garda Síochaná. I will pass on the Senator's views to the Minister.
Senator Tom Hayes expressed concerns about the national development plan. The Senator will make a worthwhile contribution to today's debate on that plan and I look forward to the contributions of those Senators who make suggestions to me on the Order of Business. The issues raised by Senators Ryan and Cox are also worthy of consideration in the debate on the national development plan and I know the Senators will contribute to that debate. If we do not have sufficient time to conclude the debate today we can further discuss the matter next week.
Senator Coghlan inquired about Killarney House. The Senator knows that such a matter is suitable for Private Members' business or the Adjournment and I encourage him to raise it in that way.
Senators Joe Doyle and Norris inquired about yesterday's decision by the DPP. The House knows that the DPP is totally independent. I have much sympathy for the sentiments expressed by the Senators but the House's hands are tied in terms of getting involved in the DPP's decisions.
Order of Business agreed to.