Seanad Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 4 Jul 2001

Vol. 167 No. 11

Order of Business.

Mr. Cassidy

I will be asking the House to take an earlier signature motion on the Vocational Education (Amendment) Bill, 2000, without debate when the amendment made by the Seanad yesterday is dealt with in the Dáil this morning.

The Order of Business is No. 1, Dormant Accounts Bill, 2001 – Second Stage, with the contributions of spokespersons not to exceed 20 minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed ten minutes; No. 2, Standards in Public Office Bill, 2000 – Committee and Remaining Stages, not to be taken before 2 p.m.; No. 17, motion No. 24, to be taken from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m and business, if not previously concluded, to resume thereafter. Business will be interrupted from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Mr. Manning

Will the Leader indicate the business not ordered for this week which he intends to take before the end of the session? Will he confirm that the debate on the post-Nice Treaty situation will take place next week?

In view of earlier commitments and the assurance given to the Dáil by the Taoiseach yesterday, will the Leader ensure when the report on the Arms Trial affair is published tomorrow that time will be made available in the House for a short debate on it? That assurance was given last April and it would be wrong if Members of the Seanad had to wait until October for that debate. The delays in the Office of the Attorney General have now been dealt with and the report is expected tomorrow.

Can the Leader ensure when No. 4 is being taken, which I presume will be before the end of this session, that the House is briefed on the reasons for it?

Mr. Quinn

The Independent Senators are happy with the Order of Business, although we support Senator Manning's request for information about next week, particularly the promised debate on the Nice treaty and whether the Taoiseach will come to the House for it.

Will the Leader bring to the attention of the relevant Ministers the information provided by the National Road Safety Council on reduced figures for road deaths? The number of deaths could be reduced further if Ireland was not practically the only country in Europe without an air ambulance service. The coastguard has a search and rescue helicopter at Dublin Airport and saved a number of lives in the last two years. With an air ambulance service it would be possible to bring the hospital services to the accident scene. It would not mean a reduction in the number of accidents but in the number of deaths from accidents. Funding should be allocated for such a service immediately and its provision should be a high priority. I ask the Leader to bring the matter to the relevant Minister's attention.

Mr. Costello

I support Senator Manning's call for a discussion on the Arms Trial report. The Senator has been calling for the publication of the report for a long period and it would be a shame if the summer recess passed without giving Senators an opportunity to discuss it. I hope the Leader will allocate time next week to do so.

Yesterday, the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands announced an increase of £14.50 in the licence fee for RTÉ rather than the £50 increase sought. Will the Leader ask the Minister to publish the PricewaterhouseCoopers consultants' report on the requested increase? So far, there is no information in the public domain on the reason the Minister made her decision. It seems a strange decision and a belated one. It was not expected and I am concerned about its implications for public sector broadcasting. We need to know the reasons for that decision.

I again ask the Leader whether we can get clarification of the Government decision not to allow the ESB to purchase eight electricity distribution networks in Poland. When a semi-State body shows commercial initiative, we should laud and support that. For some reason, which we have not been given, the Government has vetoed this interesting and valuable initiative by the ESB. The Leader should ask the Government why this has happened.

Mr. O'Donovan

I ask the Leader for the repeal or reform of the Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Act, 1996, in the next session. I raised this matter three years ago. This law is outdated and archaic. It badly needs reform.

I also ask the Leader to allow time in the next term for a debate on internal air fares. It is noticeably cheaper to travel to Amsterdam and Paris from places like Cork, Farranfore and Sligo than to travel internally. It would be a great fillip to regional airports to have a proper shuttle service at a reasonable price. It perplexes me that international travel is cheaper than domestic travel.

Mr. Coghlan

I strongly support Senator Manning's call for a debate on the Arms Trial report before the House rises next week. It is a long time since this was promised. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform led us to believe that we would have had this debate some time back. The delay is not his fault but, now that the hold-up in the Attorney General's office has been resolved, we should deal with this matter before the House rises.

I again ask the Leader what, if anything, the Government intends concerning the establishment of a forum on the legal and the justice systems. Such a forum has been supported not only by the Attorney General but by the eminent counsel, Mr. Eamon Leahy. On the basis that justice delayed is justice denied, and given the huge backlog of cases clogging up the courts system, it is a matter of urgency that the Government should act.

Labhrás Ó Murchú

I ask the Leader to arrange an early debate on the tourism industry. The recent barometer survey carried out by Bord Fáilte has come up with some worrying statistics. It is evident that the foot and mouth crisis has had an impact in many parts of the industry. Some parts of the country are more vulnerable than others and my big fear is that vulnerable sections might never recover.

The debate should focus not just on this year, but on how to win back business next year. Many tour operators who chose a different tour destination for this year may not return to Ireland in the future. We owe it to the industry, particularly the weaker sections, to aid it in whatever way we can.

Ms Ormonde

I support Senator Quinn's comments on the National Road Safety Council. In the next session, we should have a wider debate about its role, its relationship with local authorities, how accountable the authority is, and other matters such as road design. The issue calls for a greater level of debate on and between the National Roads Authority, the National Road Safety Council, the Transport Authority, local government and the many other agencies involved. Their relationships are an important matter for debate.

Mr. Burke

I support Senator Ó Murchú's request for a debate on tourism. There is a total lack of commitment on the part of the Government and the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation in respect of this area. The tourism industry has been badly affected this year and, regardless of whether the foot and mouth disease crisis is to blame, the Government's commitment to it falls far short of what is required. Much of the revenue from this year's tourist season has been lost and it would probably be advisable to begin planning for next year. I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on this at the earliest opportunity.

Ms Cox

Will the Leader indicate if it would be possible to arrange a debate on water quality before the end of the session? Recent events in Galway focused the minds of members of the population of that city on the importance of water. It appears that the activities of those who claim to be providing solutions to both group water schemes and individual households are not regulated. The relevant Departments and Ministers should address this matter during the summer.

Mr. O'Dowd

Will the Leader arrange a debate on disability services as soon as possible? At present, the disabled person's grant is being administered by two agencies, namely, the health boards and the county councils, which is leading to unacceptable delays. For example, some grants can take up to six months to be processed. If one agency, either the health boards or the county councils, was responsible for administering the grants, they could be issued quickly and in a more efficient manner.

Mr. Bonner

In view of the decision of An Bord Pleanála to uphold the appeal of the anti-pylons group, will the Leader ask the Minister for Public Enterprise to encourage the ESB to review the position vis-à-vis the provision of 110kv lines to the north-west part of County Donegal? Everyone has an opinion on the decision made by An Bord Pleanála but the reality is that north-west Donegal is starved of a proper electrical power supply because the area is totally reliant on 38kv lines. Not only is industry hampered but the health board is also encountering difficulties, particularly in terms of being able to operate its equipment and machinery. It is imperative that the ESB addresses this situation immediately and puts forward an alternative as quickly as possible.

Mr. Cassidy

Senator Manning requested a list of the legislation to be processed by the House before the summer recess. I will circulate this to the leaders after the Order of Business. I am aware that many Senators will be attending a conference in Carlow later and I assure them that all Stages of the Local Government Bill will be passed by the House before the summer recess. I understand that many Senators are keenly interested in the current position in respect of the Bill.

Senators Manning and Quinn inquired when statements on the aftermath of the Nice treaty referendum would be taken. I hope these will be taken next week – they will definitely not be taken this week.

Senators Manning, Costello and Coghlan requested a debate on the Arms Trial report. I have given a commitment to the House on this matter and, if possible, I hope to arrange a debate on it on Friday afternoon.

Senator Manning also inquired about No. 4 on the Order Paper. I hope this will be before the House for agreement on tomorrow's Order of Business. I have an up-to-date briefing for the leaders and Whips on that matter.

Senator Quinn referred to he National Road Safety Council and the excellent proposal to provide an air ambulance service. I will pass on the Senator's views to the Minister.

Senator Costello requested that the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands publish the PricewaterhouseCoopers report. I understand this report will be made available to Members in the Oireachtas Library later today. I welcome the announcement of the £14.50 increase in the licence fee.

Mr. Costello

The Leader is probably the only person who does so.

Mr. Cassidy

I know there is a proposal that a further increase can be granted, based on the station's performance. Last Sunday we saw an example of RTÉ's great work in the sports department when it broadcast the Munster hurling final, the Connacht final, the Irish Derby, the golf open in Fota—

Mr. Costello

It is being well rewarded by the Minister.

Mr. Cassidy

RTÉ provides many services and last Sunday was magnificent. I congratulate those concerned. Senator O'Donovan called for a debate on the Gaming and Lotteries Acts and also on air fares. I will pass on his views to the Minister and set time aside in the next session for the debate. Senator Coghlan called for a debate on the proposed forum on the legal justice system. Delays have been reduced in the courts, although the High Court still has difficulties. I will convey the Senator's views to the Minister.

Senators Ó Murchú and Burke sought a debate on tourism, which is timely as we can review the difficulties created by the UK foot and mouth disease crisis. There will be time for that debate in the next session. The trade is not picking up compared to other years. The short season makes it difficult for the industry, which needs all the support the Government can give it.

Senator Cox called for a debate on water quality. I will discuss this with her after the Order of Business to arrange it late on Friday evening. Senator O'Dowd asked for a debate on disability services and the grant system. I will include this in the next session. I will convey to the Minister for Public Enterprise Senator Bonner's views on the 110kv lines in Donegal.

Order of Business agreed to.