Today's Order of Business is No. 2, Illegal Immigrants (Trafficking) Bill, 1999 – Committee and Remaining Stages, and No. 3, Courts (Supplemental Provisions) (Amendment) Bill, 2000 – all Stages. Business will be interrupted between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.
Order of Business.
I thank the Leader for having no surprises on the Order of Business, which is agreed. Given that we have amendments to the Trinity College, Dublin and the University of Dublin (Charters and Letters Patent Amendment) Bill, will the Leader inform us if it will be taken in the near future?
Yesterday the Leader said we would meet on Monday week because the Office of Public Works wants us out of here. My understanding is that most Senators will remain in Kildare House and I do not see how meeting on a Monday will make much difference. I ask the Leader to arrange for a sitting, in an orderly way, on Tuesday and Wednesday of that week—
Hear, hear.
—to process business in an orderly way and not be dictated to by the Office of Public Works which should not tell us when we can meet.
Monday is a day for other matters.
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
I call the leader of the Independents, Senator Ross.
Thank you, a Leas-Chathaoirleach, but I wish to point out that we do not have a leader because like every other group in the House we cannot agree on anything. On my own behalf, but not on behalf of Senator Henry, the Order of Business is acceptable.
I wish to again ask if we will have a debate on inflation before the end of session as an item on its own. It is totally unacceptable for the Leader to say we will have a debate on a finance related Bill which will probably concern housing and have nothing to do with inflation.
I support Senator Manning's comments regarding the Trinity College, Dublin and the University of Dublin (Charters and Letters Patent Amendment) Bill. When will the House debate it as I understand it must be completed by the end of session?
As a former county councillor, I am perfectly happy for the House to sit on Monday week.
As the House is aware, apart from being disadvantaged and handicapped, the area from which I come has many small hill sheep farmers—
The sheep or the farmers?
I am very concerned as to whether our sheep farmers are getting full market value for lamb. I am led to believe the French are obtaining 35p per pound more for their product.
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
Is the Senator addressing a question to the Leader?
I am. What is An Bord Bia doing in France to overcome this blatant discrimination?
On a related matter, will the Leader say whether the quota review group has altered the rules for the distribution of new milk quota? Can the circumstances in which milk quota leases are exempted from clawback be clarified? Both matters are of grave concern to the agricultural community and I look forward to the Leader's reply.
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
I will consider the matter favourably if the Senator wishes to raise it on the Adjournment tomorrow.
I appreciate that.
Last week during Private Members' time we had a debate on the staffing levels in hospitals. I am sure Senators heard the announcement by the Irish Hospital Consultants Association that the situation is grave in some county hospitals. Will the Leader draw the statement to the attention of the Minister? Perhaps it would be wiser if some casualty departments were closed and others were adequately staffed, rather than have adjacent hospitals poorly staffed, perhaps giving very bad service to people. I know this would be politically unpopular, but it may be the only thing to do. For example, the consultant anaesthetist in Naas general hospital contacted me to tell me there would be one anaesthetist consultant some of the time from 1 July and no juniors. The hospital is adjacent to the busy Cork-Dublin road which is being used more than ever as a result of the rail strike. There is also a very serious situation in Cavan-Monaghan. I dare not speak on the Midland Health Board or I might get statistics from the Leader. Something dramatic will have to be done to ensure the safety of patients.
Will the Leader bring to the attention of the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the grave disquiet and annoyance among parents, particularly mothers, about the delay of nine months in bringing forward the increase in child benefit, when many other benefits were brought forward earlier this year? Many mothers in particular feel this is discriminating against them and are angry about it. I wish the Minister would again look at this and try to bring the payments forward.
Regarding the Trinity College, Dublin and the University of Dublin (Charters and Letters Patent Amendment) Bill, will the Leader of the House ensure arrangements are made to facilitate the three Senators representing Dublin University who wish to speak on the Bill and who have played a useful role?
When we were allowed.
The university will acknowledge that without the assistance of the university Senators the Bill would have collapsed at a number of stages, first, through bad drafting and, second, through inadequate political lobbying. It was the Senators who saved the day. It is important that we are present for the final Stages to have our say.
The Senator finally admits that it is badly drafted.
There was an error in drafting at a much earlier point—
That is what the argument was about.
—which was appropriately corrected by the House.
I thank the Senator for agreeing with me.
It took a while.
Then your crowd started nit-picking for their own personal reasons without declaring their interest in the matter—
The road to Damascus.
—which casts a certain gloss on the high moral ground that they attempt to occupy from time to time when it suits them.
To return to more mundane matters – a lower level of education – will the Leader of the House use his good offices to impress on the Minister for Education and Science the importance of accepting the applied leaving certificate as a qualification for entry to third level colleges? For it to be acceptable one has to do a PLC course. This amounts to discrimination against the students concerned.
I congratulate the Minister for Health and Children on his initiative in sending patients abroad for treatment, given that there are not enough doctors to treat them at home. Is it not great that hospitals no longer complain that they are not getting enough money? That day is gone. It is no longer a question of money, but one of personnel. This was not the case in years gone by.
Government policy on Aer Rianta is confusing. Will the Leader of the House ask the relevant Minister to explain why the impression is being given that the £60 million due to be allocated over a five year period will not be forthcoming? The impression is being given that a privatisation programme is in hand. There has been a 20% increase in traffic in Cork. I seek clarification of the true policy of the Government on Aer Rianta.
On the point raised by Senator McDonagh about the need to review the status of the applied leaving certificate as a qualification for entry to third level, I would go further and say that the institutes of technology have a very big role to play in terms of the courses they provide for students who complete post-leaving certificate courses. If we are to have a discussion on this matter it should be more holistic than what Senator McDonagh has in mind.
Will the Leader of the House bring to the attention of the Minister for Health and Children the urgent need to review the career structure and pay of nurses? In Lourdes hospital in Drogheda there are 50 permanent staff nurse vacancies which cannot be filled. Hospitals throughout the country are unable to function at full capacity because of the shortage of staff.
I wish to raise a matter which I have raised on numerous occasions. I welcome the announcement by the Taoiseach last week that he has called for an independent judicial inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Robert Hamill. I visited the Hamill home two years ago on the occasion of an anniversary walk through the centre of Portadown when I was impressed by the genuineness of his family, in particular his father and sister, Diane, who has fought to have his case highlighted. I am delighted that the Taoiseach has taken up the matter. I know that time is short but I ask the Leader of the House to ascertain what the up-to-date position is on this matter and the investigation of the murders of Rosemary Nelson and Pat Finucane.
I was interested in what Senator Farrell had to say about hospitals having more money than ever before. How does this fit in with VHI subscriptions which have increased substantially in each of the past four years? While inflation is running at 5.2%, medical inflation is running at well over 12%. Will the Leader of the House ask the Minister for Finance to deal with this matter in the debate on inflation?
Consultants.
Will the Leader of the House ask the Minister with responsibility for energy matters to come into the House to explain when Bord Gáis Éireann envisages that the gas pipeline to the west will be put in place? When does the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation intend to announce national lottery grants, or will that money be used as a slush fund during the summer months?
Senators Manning, Norris and Ross inquired when Report Stage of The Trinity College, Dublin and the University of Dublin (Charters and Letters Patent Amendment) Bill, 1997, will be taken in the House. It will be taken after Private Members' Business next Wednesday.
Senator Ross inquired when the debate on inflation will take place. It will take place after the Order of Business tomorrow morning. I look forward to hearing his lengthy contribution.
It will be long and lengthy.
I know that Senator Coghlan's party is looking hard at replacing a by-election candidate in the portfolio of agriculture – I note that Senator Manning has a contented look on his face – but I will pass on his views to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development.
I thank the Leader of the House for conceding.
I agree with Senator Henry's sentiments regarding staffing levels in hospitals. Senator O'Dowd called on the Minister for Health and Children to see what he can do to make it more attractive for young men and women to pursue nursing as a career. The problem is not confined to the medical profession. Those involved in the services sector are also finding it very difficult to maintain lines because of the shortage of staff who do not want to work unsocial hours. They want to work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Everyone recognises that we are confronted by a major problem.
I will pass on the views of Senator Keogh to the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs who is doing an excellent job. Public representatives have no greater friend when it comes to the art of communication. We receive a communication from him every second day about improvements to the service.
A future leader.
All sides of the House will join me in congratulating him on the great job he is doing. I know that he will look seriously at the views of Senator Keogh in the context of the next budget.
I will pass on to the Minister for Education and Science the views of Senators McDonagh and Ormonde who have vast experience in the area. Senator Cregan expressed concern about Cork Airport. The Minister for Public Enterprise was in the House yesterday to take Second Stage of the Aer Lingus Bill, 2000. The Senator will have the opportunity to raise the matter with her when Committee and Remaining Stages are taken next week.
I will have inquiries made for Senator Bonner regarding the independent inquiry for which the Taoiseach called last week into the circumstances surrounding the death of Robert Hamill. I will pass on the views of Senators Farrell and Joe Doyle to the relevant Minister. Senator Burke inquired about extending the gas pipeline to his part of the country. I will make inquiries in this regard and advise him of the outcome early next week. Senator Burke also inquired about the position of sports grants. I understand these are at an advanced stage of being finalised.
Order of Business agreed to.