The Order of Business is No. 1, motion re Trade Marks (Madrid Protocol) Regulations, 2001, to be taken without debate; No. 2, Irish National Petroleum Corporation Limited Bill, 2001 – Second Stage, with contributions of spokespersons not to exceed 15 minutes and of other Senators not to exceed ten minutes; No. 3, Company Law Enforcement Bill, 2000 – Committee and Remaining Stages; and No. 4, Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2000 – Second Stage, with the contributions of spokespersons not to exceed 15 minutes and of other Senators not to exceed ten minutes.
Order of Business.
As far as I am concerned, the Order of Business is agreed. I was very pleased with the outcome of the meeting yesterday between the leaders and the Whips on the programme for the rest of the session. That sort of consultation would lead to more harmonious relationships in the House if it took place more often.
I am happy with today's Order of Business but I have been asking one question every day for the last two weeks, that is, when we can expect the reports of the Attorney General and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on the Arms Trial. We were promised them six weeks ago. I ask this question because we were told at the time that these matters could be discussed in the House. Obviously, if the reports do not appear until after the House has risen, we cannot discuss them. Will the Deputy Leader enlighten me on that?
I also express my thanks to the Leader for taking on board the two suggestions from this side of the House – one to deal with tomorrow's proposed business this afternoon, thereby enabling us to co-ordinate this week a bit better, and the other regarding the commitment given to Senator Norris to have a debate on the Nice treaty referendum early the week after next. We appreciate the commitment given on those two issues.
I would like to raise the issue of the delivery of broadband services throughout the country. I raise one issue which I would like Members to consider and the Deputy Leader to take into consideration when arranging a debate on it. Over the weekend Chris Horn of Iona Technologies asked that the State buy back the fixed line business of Eircom. People might wonder why that is the case. The fact is that the delivery of broadband may well depend on the fixed line service. There has been confusion about this in many countries. It is an issue I do not intend getting into but it is complex and complicated because it depends on the availability of the lines for the provision of the service. If the lines are being held by some private company, then it becomes impossible to roll out the service. That is the only point I will make on it.
I stress the importance of the Government having a strategic view on the fixed line service in order to look at it in the context of the roll out of broadband and the development of IT throughout the State. It is time to have another look at this in terms of our future. Will the Deputy Leader ask the Minister to consider coming in to have a discussion on this matter?
I am not sure how we are fixed in regard to a debate on health. I hope we will be able to fit one in before the recess. Every day there is a new surprise in terms of some unsavoury event from the past. There is nothing more shocking than to find that an animal vaccine was injected into children and that secret drug trials were done on children in care and children in the wider community by a major multinational drug company. That is a very serious matter and it indicates the degree of neglect in the operation of some of these companies in relation to some of the most vulnerable citizens.
Linked to that is an equally tragic development where a cancer patient has to go to the High Court to vindicate her right to get lifesaving health treatment. It indicates that there is something seriously wrong with our health system at a time when we have the resources to deal with it. I ask for a full debate on the health service.
Will the Deputy Leader arrange a debate at an early date on the insurance business? I do not know if Members have noticed but their car insurance premium has gone up by about 40% this year, even though they may not have had any accidents or problems and inflation is running at about 5.5%. I congratulate the Tánaiste who is taking a hands-on approach to trying to put some type of cap on insurance. I would like a debate in this House which would enable us to support her.
The way motorists are being treated by insurance companies is grossly unfair. There is a cartel and there is no opposition as they are all united. The advertising of cheaper insurance is merely a cherry-picking exercise by some companies and it is not providing cheaper insurance to anybody. I appeal for an urgent debate to deal with this very serious problem of how motorists are being treated by insurance companies.
I am sure all Members are concerned about the increased carnage on our roads. Will the Deputy Leader exhort the Minister for the Environment and Local Government to bring in measures which have long been promised and which would make our roads safer – measures such as the points system and prohibiting motorists from driving while using hand held mobile telephones?
I support my colleague, Senator O'Toole, in calling for a debate on Eircom. I would like it to be broadened a little. The reason is that we have to see it in the context of the negative aspects of privatisation. Just this morning people have been talking on radio about the closure of local pay phone boxes by Eircom. One telephone box has already been removed and a further 700 are to follow. This is a worrying development. We all have connections with the countryside in which banks and post offices have been closed and now even the humble pay phones are to be removed. We should discuss this matter during the debate on Eircom.
Senator Costello referred to the court's decision that a lady suffering from cancer should receive treatment. I am very pleased the lady in question will finally receive treatment. As recently as three weeks ago, I sought to arrange treatment for a cancer patient who had been turned away from hospital on two occasions. When I telephoned the relevant hospital, I was informed there was no point in the lady coming in. I asked whether it would make any difference if I accompanied her to the hospital and stayed with her until a bed became available. In other words, I would demand her right to be hospitalised. I was informed that under no condition would she be seen in those circumstances. What is a person to do?
I do not blame the current Minister for Health and Children as to do so would be facile and futile. It is time, however, we recognised the enormity of this crisis which will not go away. The Minister should come into the House to inform us whether it will now be necessary for us all to resort to court to avail of treatment, be it in a public or private capacity.
I support Senator Farrell's call for a debate on motor insurance. Will the Deputy Leader bring to the Minister's attention the manner in which insurance companies load the policies of people aged 70 and over without subjecting them to any medical assessment? These people have clean driving records and it is abhorrent that, having driven all their lives with the utmost care and responsibility and not having been involved in accidents, they are being disgracefully treated on age grounds at a time when they are most in need of transport.
I support Senator O'Toole's call to bring the Minister for Public Enterprise into the House to debate Eircom. The west has been treated very badly in view of the removal of broadband services. A monopoly will develop in this area and the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment should come into the House to explain that. Mr. O'Reilly's monopoly position will have very serious consequences. This is akin to a private company owning our airports, waterways or national roads.
I reiterate my call for a debate on tourism. We are midway through the tourist season and I would like to know the up-to-date position on the Government's proposals to restore the industry to its former position.
A nation's civilisation is measured by the manner in which people with disabilities are treated. Civilised countries install ramps and lifts in state buildings etc. I was impressed to dis cover that from yesterday US Government websites will be treated in the same way as Government buildings. Will the Deputy Leader ask the relevant Minister to investigate the possibility of introducing software to allow users to navigate by voice rather than by mouse and photocopiers which loudly declare when the toner has run out? I was unaware of these developments but we should aim to follow the lead shown by the US.
I want to refer to recent reports that an all-party motion critical of the failure of the British authorities to co-operate with the inquiry into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings will be tabled in the Dáil. If this is the case, the Seanad should debate a similar motion. Uncovering the truth is an important element of the healing and reconciliation process, however embarrassing it may be for the British authorities. The Dublin and Monaghan bombings represent the greatest atrocity carried out during the past 30 years and they must be fully investigated. Only when the truth is uncovered can the different traditions on this island and between Ireland and Britain be reconciled.
Will the Deputy Leader ask the Minister for the Environment and Local Government to come into the House to debate the issues of housing and homelessness, particularly the fact that local authority housing lists are growing at an alarming rate? In Drogheda, the lists have doubled from 300 to 600 in the past four years. The debate should focus on the fact that local authorities are now responsible for homelessness. However, unlike the health boards they are not uniformly applying regulations in this area. This is giving rise to difficulties as health board directors of homelessness no longer have any statutory responsibility in this area. A debate would help to clarify these issues.
I called for and received a somewhat diluted commitment from the Leader for a debate on the trade union movement. In view of the controversy surrounding one of our trade unionists, Mr. Mick O'Reilly, who appears to have been very badly treated, it is important that we debate this matter. If trade unions wish to run themselves in a manner of which Joseph Stalin would be proud, it would be useful for us, as members of a parliamentary democracy, to debate the role of the social partners, particularly that of the most powerful social partner in Ireland. Perhaps the Deputy Leader would give us a commitment to arrange such a debate prior to the recess.
The Senator is trying to get his own back for Tony's Eircom deal.
Senator Manning raised an issue he raises regularly in regard to a report on the arms crisis. I understand that the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has completed his report which will go to Cabinet next week. I hope the Minister's report and that of the Attorney General will be available to the House prior to the recess.
Senator O'Toole spoke about broadband services and I agree that it would be highly undesirable for access to be denied due to the lines being controlled. Senators Norris and Burke raised wider issues in regard to the debate on Eircom. We will see whether time can be arranged to debate the matter before the end of session.
Senators Costello and Ridge spoke about health issues. Other Senators have called for a debate in this area for some time. I share Senator Costello's concern about the accidental use of animal vaccines. It seems extraordinary, given the potential confusion which could result, that two products would have such a similar name. The case of the cancer patient to whom Senators referred is sub judice. As I understand it, an agreement rather than a judgment was reached in this case to the effect that the ERHA would find a bed for the patient.
An accommodation was reached for one person.
Senators Farrell and Liam Fitzgerald raised the issue of motor insurance which is a recurring concern among Members, ranging from the lack of availability of affordable insurance for young people to the burden placed on compliant drivers by uninsured drivers. Although this is an issue worthy of debate, it will be difficult to find time for all these matters before now and the end of this session. However, we will do the best we can.
Senator Doyle raised the related issue of road safety and the matter of motorists using mobile phones when driving. On a drive from Kerry the other day I saw the drivers of two large articulated trucks negotiating bends and coming off minor roads while holding hand-held mobile phones to their ears. That does not appear to be sensible. It is an issue that requires some degree of control. It has been argued by the motoring organisations and others that even hand-free mobile phones do not particularly improve the safety standard, but it seems to be common sense that it is preferable for motorists to use a hand-free as opposed to a hand-held mobile phone. Given the expense of buying a motor car, I do not understand why the extra expense that would be involved in putting in a hands-free kit cannot be taken care of.
Senator Burke raised the matter of tourism. It would be useful to have an update from the Minister and we can see what can be done about that.
Senator Quinn spoke about access for disabled people and an initiative taken regarding US websites. Given that we are one of the world leaders on software, it seems that is something that should also occur here. I will speak to the relevant Minister about the issue and see what can be done to progress it.
Senator Walsh raised the issue of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. As to the motion on that in the Dáil, what they do in the Dáil is a matter for the Dáil, but it would be useful to introduce a similar motion here, if that were necessary.
The issue of housing for the homeless was raised by Senator O'Dowd. He spoke about the inconsistencies and anomalies between various local authorities. When the local government Bill comes to this House in the next few weeks there will be an opportunity to raise some of those issues with the Minister.
Senator Ross spoke about the unions and the social partners. He might have a private discussion with Senator O'Toole about that after the Order of Business.
Order of Business agreed to.