Today's Order of Business is No. 1, statements on foot and mouth disease, to be taken after the Order of Business and to conclude no later than 1p.m.; No. 2, Twenty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 2001 – Second Stage, with the contributions of spokespersons not to exceed 20 minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed 15 minutes, and Senators may share time; and No. 3, motion re information to be issued to voters in connection with the referendum, to be debated in conjunction with Second Stage of No. 2. Business to conclude thereafter.
Order of Business.
I would like the Leader to provide some clarification on today's Order of Business, but I agree to it in principle. I thank him for giving me good notice yesterday that there would be a change in today's Order of Business and I am pleased we will have an opportunity to give further consideration to the position vis-à-vis foot and mouth disease. Do I take it that we are taking only Second Stage of No. 2 today? If there is one lesson to be learned from the Lower House, it is that it is not possible to rush a constitutional amendment and that adequate time for debate must be provided. I presume the Leader will be able to give an assurance in that regard.
I wish to refer to the arrangements announced by the Revenue Commissioners yesterday, which are widely advertised in today's newspapers, for, in effect, a new tax amnesty – although it is not being called that – for the holders of bogus offshore accounts. It is important that we have a full debate on the various implications and aspects of this matter at the earliest opportunity. We do not want a situation to arise where an item of great importance, in respect of which many questions have already been raised, will be merely rubber stamped by the Oireachtas. Will the Leader give a commitment to invite the Minister to come before the House next week to debate the implications and issues involved?
I understand the difficulties in respect of the changes to the Order of Business. As Senator Manning pointed out yesterday, stating that items A, B, C and D will be dealt with by the Oireachtas and put to the people one month later looks like poor planning. We should note that the Senator alerted the House to difficulties in this regard on yesterday's Order of Business.
I also wish to refer to what should be referred to as a tax amnesty. The information made available in respect of this matter yesterday is the most significant to emerge for a long period. We need to know the exact details of what will be involved. I want to know if the tax amnesty will apply to people who availed of an amnesty previously. This seems like a recipe for disaster and it will not go down well with the social partners. We have all made a commitment in recent years to work together to improve the taxation system and to make it more equitable. We will not accept a situation where people are now rewarded for hoodwinking us. Perhaps I have got it wrong.
Those points could be more appropriately made in the debate which has been sought.
I do not want to get into a debate but I want to stress to the Leader that this is a matter of great significance for all levels of society, not just the trade union world. It deserves a full debate and an explanation and we must have the opportunity to express our views on it.
Mr. Ryan
What is the status of the Electoral Bill? I cannot find it on the Order Paper this morning but I presume that is a misprint. Perhaps the Leader will clarify that. I have asked the Leader on a few occasions about the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Bill, 2001. Does he know when we will discuss that legislation? Perhaps he will also tell us when the Sustainable Energy Bill, 2001, which is on the Order Paper, will be taken.
I ask the Leader to consider marking in an appropriate and dignified way an historic event which will take place in the coming months. The bodies of ten Irish patriots buried in prison soil will be exhumed and reburied in Glasnevin Cemetery. Many people have campaigned for this for many years and the decision has now been made by the Government, with the agreement of the relatives of those patriots. It is an historic and moving event and it will provide the opportunity for people to visit the graves in the future and to show their respect.
I also ask the Leader to investigate the possibility of doing something similar in Cork. The well-known patriot, Thomas Kent, is also buried in prison soil. As it is happening in Dublin, we should also look at other areas of the country. I compliment the Government on its decision which has all-party support.
I want to clarify a matter for Senator Ryan whom I compliment on being observant. The Electoral Bill is not on the Order Paper. It was omitted in error by the printers, but it will be restored to it.
Mr. Ryan
I thank the Cathaoirleach.
I ask the Leader to use his good offices with the Minister for the Environment and Local Government to establish a proper channel of communication between the National Roads Authority, the local authorities and the ESB, particularly in terms of school warning lights. Perhaps we could have a debate in this House on the role of the National Roads Authority. I can pinpoint one case at Annagh on the Galway to Roscommon road where it took ten months for the school warning lights to be switched on. When they broke down, it took a further seven months to repair them. There is a breakdown in communication between the National Roads Authority, the local authority and the ESB. Perhaps the Minister for the Environment and Local Government will do something to streamline the liaison between these bodies.
I strongly support Senator Ó Murchú who raised this matter in the House approximately a year and a half ago. It is only right that the founding fathers of this State should be treated in a proper manner, not like common criminals as they are at present by being buried in prison soil.
I also raised on a number of occasions the possibility of a debate in this House on bullying in school. This is a serious practice, as you, a Chathaoirligh, know as a former member of the teaching profession. A lot of good would come from an in-depth debate on this serious matter. Many of the victims suffer in silence and they often resort to serious resolutions, such as suicide in certain cases.
In light of the increasingly high incidence of cancer, particularly among women, I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Health and Children to the House to debate the issue. I am alarmed that a scientist who is doing major research on cancer and has almost found a cure for ovarian cancer is finding it extremely hard to continue her work because she does not have funding. I do not know if the Minister is aware of that. We should have a debate on this important matter.
In view of yesterday's report on the quality of tap water versus bottled water, I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to the House to discuss the price of bottled water and soft drinks. There is always a furore every time the price of the pint is increased, but the margin is higher for soft and bottled drinks than for spirits and beers.
As regards Senator McDonagh's request for a debate on the NRA and the flashing warning lights at schools, I was not aware there was a problem on the national primary or secondary roads. I thought funding had been provided by the NRA. I would like a debate on the NRA and on our roads.
I join Senator Bonner in raising the issue of flashing amber warning lights at primary schools. The Department of the Environment and Local Government provides funding through the NRA for this measure for schools located on national primary and secondary roads. However, it does not provide funding for schools on other roads. It expects local authorities, which have depleted resources, to do so. If we discuss this issue, we should also discuss the fact that the Minister and his Department, not the NRA because it does not have responsibility for non-national roads, should provide funding for this safety measure at all schools, irrespective of the classification of road on which they are located.
It is time we had another debate on decentralisation. Over the past three and a half years the Government announced three dates for the commencement of a decentralisation programme. With the exception of what happened by good fortune in Roscrea and Cahirciveen, decentralisation has not taken place. The three dates had to be postponed to the great disappointment of many towns, including towns in the county in which I live which anticipated some form of decentralisation. A Government spokesman said recently that the decentralisation issue was alive and well. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Finance to the House for a debate on this issue so he can outline the Government's policy in this last year or less of its lifetime.
County Monaghan has one of the poorest records of students entering third level education and of students leaving second level education early. Monaghan Youth Federation, which was previously funded under the Programme for Peace and Reconciliation, does not have funding for the future. I ask the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science, Deputy O'Dea, who is responsible for this area, to look favourably on a request not only from County Monaghan but from all the Border counties for funding for the youth federations which have provided an invaluable service for students who have not stayed in mainstream education. As Monaghan Youth Federation will not have funding from the end of this month, I ask him to look at this case as soon as possible.
In view of the proposal in the national development plan to build many new motorways, dual carriageways and bypasses around our towns, I call for the Minister for the Environment and Local Government to come into the House to explain the position in terms of compensation for people whose land will be divided and whose houses will be knocked. People are living in fear because of proposals in some cases to build roadways through their houses. The compensation available is less than what should be available. It is important that the Minister comes into the House for a debate on this issue to allay the fears of many people who are concerned about it.
I invite the Leader of the House to indicate the revised parliamentary timescale for the Local Government Bill. As Members on all sides are aware, he originally promised that it would be through the House by Easter. Obviously that did not happen and contradictory signals continue to come from the Government. Perhaps the Leader of the House will enlighten us.
I ask the Leader of the House to outline the position on the Local Government Bill in view of the disappointment shown at the Local Authority Members Association annual conference. It was very disappointed when the Minister for the Environment and Local Government did not show up and he did not send his speech to the conference. It is very anxious to know what is happening. I ask the Leader of the House to arrange for the Minister for the Environment and Local Government to come to the House and give us an update.
I did not mention a time limit for No. 1, statements on current status of foot and mouth disease. With the agreement of the House, I suggest that each speaker have ten minutes.
In reply to Senators Manning and O'Toole who called for a debate on the proposed tax amnesty by the Revenue Commissioners, I envisage that we will have an all-day debate which, with the agreement of the leaders and the Whips, will take place, if not next week, the week after.
Senator Ryan inquired about three Bills. On Tuesday, I outlined the 13 new Bills to be published this term. I will respond to the Senator next Tuesday with a timeframe for the Electoral Bill, the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Bill and the Sustainable Energy Bill.
I agree with the sentiments expressed by Senators Ó Murchú and Glynn which I will pass on to the Government. I will come back to them with a response on the points raised.
Senators McDonagh, Bonner and Connor again called for a debate on the NRA which the Seanad has debated as many times as any other topic since 1997. I will have no difficulty in allowing further time to discuss and debate the NRA's allocations and achievements. Senator Hayes made the point that landowners do not have control of their own destiny in relation to the land being acquired for road projects from Dublin to Cork, Galway and Limerick. We all want them to receive a fair reward for their land. Often their holdings have been totally disrupted and, in some cases, divided. This makes life difficult during the two to three year period of construction. We welcome, however, the massive allocations being made for the improvement of the roads concerned. While we want landowners to be properly compensated, I fully agree with the sentiments expressed. I will allow time allow in about three or four weeks for Senators to again express their views on the NRA.
Senator Glynn called for a debate on bullying at school for which I will, certainly, allow time. Senator Jackman called for a debate on cancer in respect of which yesterday, in response to a request from Senator Kiely, I agreed to allow time.
Senator Bonner called for a debate on the huge increase in the price of bottled water. We are aware that still bottled water has been subject to the biggest increase of any beverage. I will have no difficulty in allowing time for such a debate.
Senator Connor called for a debate on decentralisation. I understand the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Cullen, is in charge of the matter. I will also allow time for such a debate.
Senator Leonard called on the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science, Deputy O'Dea, to urgently review the funding available to the Youth Federation. We all join her in making this call.
Senators Coghlan and Burke called on me to indicate the timeframe for the Local Government Bill. Senator Coghlan has a personal friendship with people in very influential places in keeping the Government going. I am aware that he is well informed on these matters and that he is very sincere when he calls on me to bring him up to date.
There are some very important provisions in the Bill.
While I have a funny feeling that he, possibly, knows the answer as well as I do, I take his point.
Order of Business agreed to.
Sitting suspended at 10.55 a.m. and resumed at 11.15 a.m.