The Order of Business is No. 2, Electronic Commerce Bill, 2000 – Second Stage, with contributions of spokespersons not to exceed 30 minutes and of all other Senators not to exceed 20 minutes.
Order of Business.
I ask for a debate as soon as possible on the Local Government Bill, 2000, to which the Minister referred last night in County Monaghan, particularly the provisions relating to the election of mayors of cities and directly elected chairmen of county councils.
The Senator will have an opportunity on Second Stage to debate all aspects of the Bill.
I have no difficulty in that regard. However, the Bill has already been reported to the press and Members of this House have not yet got a copy of it. The Bill is commented on in detail in today's edition of The Irish Times and it is in that context I request a debate in this House as soon as possible. I also ask for an early debate on the future of Aer Rianta, particularly the proposed privatisation of our airports.
I thank the Leader for indicating that No. 1 will be taken before Public Business on Tuesday of next week. I hope as many Senators as possible will be in the House to debate the Bill.
I ask that the Local Government Bill, 2000, be introduced in this House, given that Senators are by and large elected by councillors and are deeply rooted in local authorities. Clearly much expertise and experience could be articulated in this House, which is the obvious House for the introduction of the Bill.
On the proposed provisions in the Bill whereby lobbyists will have to declare their interests, will the Leader of the House facilitate a debate next week in relation to motion No. 18 in the names of Senator Ross and mine whereby Seanad Éireann calls on the Government to introduce a register of political lobbyists? This aspect will be included in the new legislation and is of public interest.
I ask the Leader to inquire when there will be statements on the White Paper on Adult Education. Given the implications for adult education, particularly in relation to the status of the teaching profession and the changes which will take place as a result of the proposals in the White Paper, it is necessary that educationalists should have an opportunity before the summer recess to debate the future of adult education. I asked yesterday for a debate on FÁS and I believe the two issues should go hand in hand.
I ask the Leader to request the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to come to this House at the earliest opportunity to clarify the controversy surrounding the granting of a licence to a certain licensed premises in County Wicklow.
I congratulate the doctors who called on the GAA during the IMO conference in Killarney to find a sponsor other than a drinks company. Alcohol is the most potent drug in society and I call for a debate on the matter.
RTÉ called on the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to comment on street violence. It is time it got the facts right and called on the Garda Síochána whose duty it is to keep our streets safe. A very serious allegation has been made that some young lad—
Senator Farrell should find a more appropriate way of raising these matters than on the Order of Business.
A 999 call was not answered.
But Senator Farrell—
The Garda Síochána are not answering 999 calls. It is a very serious matter.
Yes.
I call on the Garda Commissioner—
These matters may be very serious and important but they are not relevant to the Order of Business.
—to give an explanation to correct the statement and ask that it be withdrawn. It is sad if we are losing confidence in those who should be protecting society. If we have no confidence in the Garda and if they are not doing their work – for which they are well paid – and are not answering 999 calls it is a scandal.
Senator Farrell, please.
If it is true that they are not coming to the assistance of young people in their hour of need and they are left to be kicked and beaten on the street that is scandalous and those girls—
Senator Farrell, please.
I call on the Garda Commissioner to answer the question and to come on the airwaves to explain his policy. It is not the task of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. It is the job of the Garda to keep the streets clear.
Matters are being raised on the Order of Business which are entirely inappropriate and are not relevant to the Order of Business. I appeal to Senators to find a more appropriate way of raising these matters.
I draw the Leader's attention to the fact that the majority of Government Bills promised by the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, Deputy Brennan, on 15 January for publication before Easter have not seen the light of day. I understand one Bill may be published today and possibly another next week. That suggests that 15 Bills will be left in limbo, although Senator Doyle may well tell me that limbo has been abolished. In the run up to the summer recess a number of Bills are published in the last few days and weeks. This charade which goes on every year is not acceptable. The promise of 17 Bills was made in January, two of which will have been published before Easter. I urge the Leader to have the Government act on this immediately.
While I recognise that last week we had a debate on the situation in Mozambique and the problems arising in Ethiopia, we note that Somalia is coming back into the picture again as an area ravaged by poverty and deprivation. Can we have a major debate on how we might deal quickly with the problems, natural disasters or manmade disasters, arising on a regular basis all over the world? It is time we in this House and Europe started to address these matters seriously.
I seek this debate in the knowledge that the EU Commission has plans, announced ten days ago, to produce an overseas development co-operation document which will plan how overseas development is to be dealt with over the next five years. No Government has been acquainted with what is contained in those proposals. It is timely to address the problem before the Commission decides what it will do. We are the people and the people are Brussels. Brussels is the people. We should have the right to discuss anything coming from the Commission. I ask the Leader for a debate on that matter as soon as possible.
I support Senator O'Dowd regarding the Local Government Bill and ask the Leader for an update on when it will be published. I hope it will be initiated in the Seanad. I was disappointed to hear on the "Marian Finucane Show" that the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform would not 'phone in or allow himself to be contacted—
Senator Burke, these matters are inappropriate to the Order of Business.
I ask the Leader to arrange for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to come into the House where we can have an urgent debate on crime levels. In view of what Senator Farrell has said, the buck stops with the Minister. Given the high level of beatings, drug use and crime it seems the Minister has gone into hiding. I ask that the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform come to the House at the earliest opportunity to update Members on the situation highlighted by the very disturbing telephone calls to the Marian Finucane radio programme during the week.
The introduction of a Bill which will recognise the work of local authority members is an historic occasion. I commend the Minister for that.
Last week I spoke about the National Roads Authority. Major road works are taking place throughout the country and it is necessary to discuss the impact of these road works, particularly on small businesses. I call for a debate on this subject as soon as possible. We welcome road improvements but they can cause serious inconvenience.
I raise the recent newspaper reports regarding the cost of housing, particularly in Dublin.
Do you have a question for the Leader of the House?
I request a discussion on the cost of housing. Builders in the Dublin area have recently offered houses for sale by tender. This approach to the sale of houses is creating an enormous anomaly in the cost of houses per unit. In the new Planning and Development Bill, the Government is trying to—
Senator, you are debating the matter. Do you wish to request a debate on it?
I request a debate on this matter. The cost of housing is escalating even further, despite the best efforts of the Government to bring down the cost of housing per unit. The process now being applied by contractors is escalat ing the price of housing and is not in the interest of purchasers, especially young people.
The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is doing an excellent job. The attack made on him this morning was unfounded and unfair. I also defend the Garda Síochána. The members of the force do an excellent job.
Senator Kiely, I have already spoken of the inappropriateness of raising such matters on the Order of Business.
Senators O'Dowd, Costello, Burke, Glynn and Dan Kiely called for a debate on local government. The Bill is at a very advanced stage and will, I hope, be before the Oireachtas early in the next session. I hope it will be initiated in this House.
Senator O'Dowd requested a debate on Aer Rianta and the mooted privatisation of the company, which is one of the most successful ever in Ireland. I have no difficulty in allowing time for this debate.
Senator Costello called for a debate next week on lobbyists. Three Bills will be debated in the House next week and no time will be available for such a debate. However, time will be allocated for it after the Easter recess. Senator Ormonde requested a debate on FÁS and education. As I said yesterday, I have no difficulty in allowing time for this debate.
I will pass the views of Senator Doyle to the Minister. Senator Farrell requested a debate on the abuse of alcohol and on sponsorship of sporting events by alcohol producers, following the call by doctors at their conference in Killarney. I will allow time for this. I have also noted Senator Farrell's views regarding RTÉ.
With regard to Senator Quinn's perception of the published list of legislation, two Bills were published this morning. These are the Education (Welfare) Bill, 1999, and the Criminal Justice (Illicit Traffic by Sea) Bill, 2000. Three Bills will be initiated in this House this week and next. This Government has brought 72 Bills before the Oireachtas since it came to power. No Government in my 18 years membership of this House has brought so much legislation before the Oireachtas. The Seanad can claim much credit for this. One-third of legislation is initiated in this House to assist the Government. The Government Chief Whip, who is chairman of the legislation committee, should be congratulated on the volume of legislation processed through both Houses each year. I will update the House next Thursday on the progress made with the published list.
Senator Lanigan called for a debate on overseas development. I can provide for this when time is available.
Senator Burke made an unfounded statement about the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform who, as we are all aware, has initiated legislation many times in this House. One-third of legislation introduced by the Government in its first year in office was initiated by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform who is one of the hardest working Ministers and is in full control of his brief. To say that he has gone into hiding is unfair and untrue. It may not have been meant in the way it sounded but it is not a statement with which we can be associated.
Senator Glynn called for a debate on the NRA. I have promised to make time available for such a debate in the first week or two after the Easter recess. It would be well worthwhile. The sums made available to the NRA by the Department of the Environment and Local Government are mindboggling and will transform the road network. It was very uplifting to witness at first hand when travelling to Monaghan last night to attend the conference of the General Council of County Councils the massive development taking place compared to a few years ago when our roads were in very poor condition. We should discuss the NRA from time to time.
Order of Business agreed to.