The Order of Business today is No. 1, motion re referral of Article 3 of the Fourth Protocol of the Treaty of Amsterdam to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality and Women's Rights, to be taken without debate; No. 2, motion re referral of draft order of the Extradition Act, 1965, to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, to be taken without debate; No. 3, resolution re the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996, to be taken without debate; No. 4, Protection of Children (Hague Convention) Bill, 1998 – Committee and Remaining Stages; No. 5, statements on the agreement of the Council of Agriculture Ministers on BSE to be taken from 1.30 p.m. to 4.15 p.m., with the contributions of spokespersons not to exceed 15 minutes and all other Senators not to exceed ten minutes and on which Senators may share time. No. 24, motion No. 29 will be taken from 6 p.m. to 8. p.m. and business will be resumed thereafter if not previously concluded.
Order of Business.
I have no difficulty with Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, being referred to committee without debate. However, will the Leader investigate if there is a mechanism whereby these committees could report back after they have finished discussing these items? There are Members of this House who are not members of these committees and who would like to comment on them. I would like the Leader to look at that matter.
I thank the Leader for his speedy arrangement of statements on the BSE crisis. It is to his credit that we are having a full debate on that this afternoon. The Leader said that Committee and remaining Stages of No. 4 will be taken today. It may well be that that can be done, but can we leave the decision on taking Report and Final Stages to be discussed by the Whips after Committee Stage rather than agreeing to take them now?
No. 16 on the Order Paper is the Registration of Lobbyists Bill which is in the name of the Labour Party. Committee Stage of that Bill had been ordered for last Friday. My understanding was that the Leader had made a general commitment when we debated Second Stage of the Bill six months ago to make Government time available for its remaining Stages, on which there is all-party agreement. Will he let me know the position in that regard?
I want to ask for a debate on the operation of the legislation covering immigrants. I do so, not just because of the case of the Pakistani businessmen that was discussed in the House last week, but also because of the situation of a lecturer in the Russian department in Trinity College Dublin who has been refused the right to have his wife and child here, although his predecessor had his wife and children here. He was allowed to have his wife and child with him in his previous job in the University of Glasgow. I wonder what is going on. I would like an assurance that the Minister will come to the House to explain this.
In anticipation of an unsatisfactory answer, I propose to move an adjournment of the Order of Business, that instead of No. 1, we take the question of immigration policy—
Is the Senator proposing an amendment to the Order of Business?
Yes. I formally propose that instead of No. 1, we take the question of immigration policy and require the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to be present in the House.
I second that proposal for a debate on immigration policy. As Senator Norris said, there are questions in regard to the Russian lecturer, the Pakistani business people who were arrested and put in prison and the Mosney holiday centre, which was used for the community games and is the main holiday centre for working class families in Dublin and the north-east. It is now to be confiscated, effectively, by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform for use by asylum seekers. That is very unsatisfactory. Issues arise on an almost daily basis that give rise to concern about immigration policy. It is appropriate, therefore, to debate the matter as soon as possible.
I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on Northern Ireland before Christmas. Many issues have arisen, including the legislation on policing and the recent IRA statement on decommissioning. It would be appropriate for the House to tease them out.
I agree with Senator Manning on No. 16, dealing with the Registration of Lobbyists Bill, 2000. Last week's Order Paper indicated that the Committee Stage of the Bill was to have been taken on Friday, 1 December. This was raised in the House last week but the Leader made no reference to it. Why was Committee Stage not taken as agreed and why is there no reference to Committee Stage on today's Order Paper? Will the Leader indicate when it will be taken?
I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on alternative energy, if not before then immediately after Christmas. Wind farms are appearing everywhere. They put a blight on the countryside, yet there does not seem to be a national policy on them. It is very important to ensure that a policy is agreed and guidelines are in place, especially in tourism counties.
The National Adult Literacy Agency, NALA, issued a report this week recommending that funding be provided for literacy modules for workers on community employment schemes. According to the report there is a big problem in this area. The funding recommended would be well spent and it would be appreciated if the Minister for Education and Science would designate it.
I ask the Leader to arrange an urgent debate on waste disposal with the Minister for the Environment and Local Government in attendance. The urgency of the problem is evident, given that the regions are having extreme difficulty with landfills. In view of the impending disposal of meat and bonemeal it is becoming a crucial issue.
Will the Leader ask the Minister for Public Enterprise to advise the House on what is happening to the railway provisions in the national development plan? My area has been denied the Luas light rail project but has been promised an underground metro.
Hear, hear.
I should probably be underground with Senator Norris.
Is that a promise?
Is it an invitation?
I have seen many nice brochures and colourful plans but no timescale has been indicated. Extra lines are to be provided for the Arrow service from Heuston Station to Sallins. However, like St. Thomas, I must see, touch and experience before I believe.
Is that adding to the proposal for Senator Norris? The Senator will have great fun.
I ask for a discussion early in the new session on the impact of regionalisation. The south east is the most underfunded region in the country—
The Senator has finally realised it.
—in terms of road and rail infrastructure and the take-up of third level education. The statistics for the south east are abysmal.
The Senator blamed us.
I am not asking for a debate on the south east in particular but on the impact of regionalisation.
The south east has the best hurlers.
I have not abused the Chair on the Order of Business—
What?
—and I never said I would be brief.
That is one promise the Senator has kept.
I ask for a debate early in the new year on the possibility of introducing Question Time once or twice a week to discuss matters raised on the Order of Business. Perhaps this issue must be discussed first at the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. That would be one of the most appropriate ways of dealing with me in particular.
I was delighted to hear Senator Callanan call for a debate on incineration. This side of the House has asked time and again for an honest debate on that subject and for the Minister to come before us and tell us his thinking. We know he supports incineration, but his own people are voting against it. We would like him to clarify the position and Fianna Fáil's policy. I am delighted to support the call for such a debate. Senator Callanan will get an opportunity during the debate from 1.30 p.m. to 4.15 p.m. to discuss the issue.
I can tell the Senator now that I am in favour of incineration.
It is the biggest burning issue in the country.
I support Senator Callanan's request for a debate on waste management in the context of the beef industry and our responsibility to deal with some of the discharges. I also support Senator McDonagh's point about the literacy requirement for community employment or FÁS schemes. This is an important issue which should be dealt with.
We have heard in the past 24 hours about the sale of the TSB and the ICC. The TSB was formed when the Cork Savings Banks and the Dublin Savings Bank amalgamated. I would like to know from the relevant Minister if the original shareholders of these banks will get any money back. It is only right and proper that we should have a debate on what the people who set up the banks should get.
I support the call for a debate on waste management. I ask the Minister for the Environment and Local Government to come into the House as a matter of urgency to discuss this issue. I ask the Leader when he proposes to have a debate on the BMW region. It is only fair, in light of what Senator Lanigan said, to have a debate on the regions, particularly the BMW region which is a special area in terms of funding.
The BMW region is ten times better off than the south east in terms of funding.
That is rubbish.
It is not rubbish. It is statistically correct.
I support the call for the Minister for the Environment and Local Government to come into the House for such a debate.
I agree with Senator Manning's call to report back on Nos. 1, 2 and 3. It is a good suggestion. As regards No. 16, I hope to have this matter clarified today and I will come back to the leader of the Opposition later.
Senator Norris called for a debate on the legislation governing immigrants. I will leave time for such a debate.
Senator Costello called for a debate on Northern Ireland. I was extremely impressed by the contribution of the Minister for Foreign Affairs during the debate on Northern Ireland the week before last. I thank all those who took part in the debate which we will remember for a long time. There is no time available to have the issue debated before the Christmas recess. However, we will judge the situation as matters move on early in the next session.
Senator Dan Kiely called for a debate on alternative energy such as wind farming given the difficulties that will arise in relation to that issue. I will make time available for this debate. I will pass on the views of Senator McDonagh to the Minister.
Senators Callanan, Coogan and Chambers called for an urgent debate on waste management and waste disposal. We are all aware that this is a very pressing problem for local authorities. I will consider this debate for either Tuesday, 19 December, or Wednesday, 20 December, before the Christmas recess.
I will pass on the views of Senator Ridge to the Minister for Public Enterprise, Deputy O'Rourke. Senator Lanigan called for a debate on the impact of the regionalisation programme. I may be able to allow time for this debate on 21 or 22 December.
Senator Cregan expressed his opinion on the TSB Bank and ICC Bank buy-out. As I said yesterday, most small and medium sized family businesses owe their survival and present day success, including the employment this has provided, to ICC Bank in particular. I hope the new purchasers of ICC Bank and TSB Bank will be the caring banks they have been in the past in dealing with small and medium sized family businesses. People involved in small and medium sized business throughout the country would not be in business today but for the understanding of ICC Bank.
Senator Burke asked for a debate on the BMW region. With the permission of the House, I will include that debate with Senator Lanigan's call for a debate on the impact of the regionalisation programme.
Senator Norris moved an amendment to the Order of Business: "To delete item 1 and substitute a debate on immigration policy". Is the amendment being pressed?
I am afraid that despite the good intentions—
Senator Norris has spoken already on the Order of Business.
As the Minister did not get the message, we need to send him one. Therefore, I will press the amendment.
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Burke, Paddy.Connor, John.Coogan, Fintan.Costello, Joe.Cregan, Denis (Dino).Doyle, Joe.Hayes, Tom.Keogh, Helen. |
McDonagh, Jarlath.Manning, Maurice.Norris, David.O'Dowd, Fergus.Ridge, Thérèse.Ross, Shane.Taylor-Quinn, Madeleine. |
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Callanan, Peter.Cassidy, Donie.Chambers, Frank.Cox, Margaret.Farrell, Willie.Finneran, Michael.Fitzgerald, Liam.Fitzgerald, Tom.Gibbons, Jim.Glennon, Jim.Glynn, Camillus.Kett, Tony. |
Kiely, Daniel.Kiely, Rory.Lanigan, Mick.Leonard, Ann.Lydon, Don.Moylan, Pat.O'Brien, Francis.O'Donovan, Denis.Ó Fearghail, Seán.Ó Murchú, Labhrás.Ormonde, Ann.Quill, Máirín. |