The Order of Business is No. 1, Finance Bill (Certified Money Bill), 2002 – Committee and Remaining Stages; No. 1a on the Supplementary Order Paper – earlier signature motion re the Finance Bill, to be taken without debate; No. 2, Communications Regulations Bill, 2002 – Order for Second Stage and Second Stage, to be taken no earlier than 1 p.m., the contributions of spokespersons not to exceed 15 minutes and all other Senators not to exceed ten minutes. Senators may share time.
Order of Business.
Yesterday, I asked the Leader if he would consider the concept of introducing the Convention on Human Rights into Irish law and he assured me that he would let me know this morning whether the Government intended to do so. The Leader will be aware that this Bill has been on Committee Stage since October 2000, by which time it was supposed to have been completed. The Leader has failed to respond to my question on this matter.
Would the Leader consider holding a debate on the Electoral (Amendment) Bill, 2002 on 26 March? There is a certain depth to this Bill and the concept of rushing it through at the last minute tomorrow is not the way to deal with business in this House. In the interest of dealing with this matter properly, the Leader should hold a debate on 26 March and we will facilitate this by sitting at 10.30 a.m. on that Tuesday morning.
Following statements by the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government, Deputy Molloy, there is a great deal of confusion among members of the public regarding what exactly constitutes a hands-free telephone. When the Minister stated that a hands-free phone was one which was attached to a car, did he mean that it is attached completely or can it be detached by the person who owns the phone? Does such a phone have an ear-piece and is a person likely to be charged for not having such an attachment while using their phone? The Minister's statements are so ambiguous as to be ridiculous. His statements look like they were just pulled off the shelf as an experimental measure prior to the general election. The Minister should come into this House, explain his proposals and listen to some practical advice on how his scheme could be implemented, because we all support the idea.
Again, I call on the Leader to give me his assurance regarding a debate on the Electoral (Amendment) Bill, 2002, tomorrow.
I share Senator Coogan's reservations on the wisdom of pushing through the Electoral (Amendment) Bill, 2002, tomorrow. I recognise the urgency of the matter and do not object to its being dealt with, but I do not think that there has been sufficient debate on it. People were not aware until quite recently that this Bill was to be dealt with this week.
The debacle in Campus and Stadium Ireland has to be considered by this House. I ask the Leader to request the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation to come before the House. This issue has been dealt with by the Committee of Public Accounts, but that is a committee of another House. I am gravely concerned on a variety of levels. This House should have a discussion on the issue.
A man whom I consider a diligent, efficient and loyal civil servant is being pilloried publicly, made a whipping boy and a sacrificial lamb. If wrong has been done it should be dealt with in an open and efficient way. This House deserves an explanation. Rather than speculation and people having to look for information, let us instead have openness. Let us ask the Minister to come before the House and outline what happened regarding Campus and Stadium Ireland, rather than having the entire media conducting a sort of kangaroo court, a public hanging of a man who is doing a job. If he has made mistakes let him pay the price; if he has not, we should know that. Either way it should be dealt with openly and publicly, with accountability and responsibility.
I have raised many times the issue of waterways and the Shannon. There has been a huge development in that area, the establishment of Waterways Ireland. It has never really been fully discussed here, despite Senator Finneran and I having raised it time and again. It would be very helpful if the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands would come before the House and give a full report on the development of Waterways Ireland, north and south. It is the most effective North-South body I am aware of. It is working very efficiently and people living on the Border recognise the effects. We should celebrate that and discuss it in the House.
I agree with Senator Coogan in relation to the Convention on Human Rights. Having gone to the trouble of asking the people to decide on it by referendum, the least we should do 18 months later is ensure that legislation is put in place to make it operable. About 55 countries out of the required 60 have already signed it, and it is urgent that we get 60 signatures so that it becomes an international instrument. The Government should bring forward such a Bill before the dissolution of the Dáil.
Regarding the Electoral (Amendment) Bill, 2002, I agree with two other speakers that this should be left until next week. Currently we are to take all Stages, but even since then very important amendments have been introduced. The amendments seem more important than the Bill itself. We should have an opportunity to consider them without Committee and Report Stages being taken on the same day.
I support Senators O'Toole and Coogan's comments regarding the national aquatic centre. It seems that one person is being hung out to dry on this issue, and we need a debate in the House. The Taoiseach's Department was responsible for the issue when the initial decision was made. The Taoiseach then passed the buck to the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, and he in turn has passed it to a civil servant. It seems this civil servant is being left to carry the can, which is not good enough. The matter needs to be teased out fully. It is not satisfactory that it simply go before the Committee of Public Accounts because the Seanad has no input into that. This House has a role to play, and I would ask not only that the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation come before this House but that the Taoiseach likewise so that he could explain what happened when the issue was under his watch. That was when the decision was made.
The Select Committee on Foreign Affairs yesterday discussed the budget of the Department of Foreign Affairs, a process in which Senators have no input. I am a member of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, as are a number of other Members of this House, and we play a strong part in discussions and decision making. However, when it comes to the spending of money we have no input.
I particularly want to relate this to our spending on overseas development. I am just back from Mozambique, where we are spending £30 million this year. I remember a time when even the Department of Defence did not receive such a sum of money. It is important that the Seanad should have an input into the decision making process when it comes to such expenditure. I put it to the Leader that detailed discussion should take place as to the future role of the Seanad in these areas.
The discussion on the national aquatic centre brings to mind the book At Swim Two Birds—
We are back to the books again.
Alice in Wonderland.
It is the account books of the national aquatic centre we want to read.
Following a report in The Irish Times yesterday I ask that the Minister for Finance be invited before the House to discuss Fine Gael's plans to make Ireland the envy of Europe. Since Ireland is currently the envy of the world, why does Fine Gael want to downgrade us to merely the envy of Europe?
I share Senator Coogan's concern regarding the Convention of Human Rights. The Leader promised to inform us when it is planned to incorporate the convention into Irish law. I ask the Leader when he expects the Seanad will deal with the Courts Bill, 2002.
I agree strongly with Senator O'Toole's comments on Campus and Stadium Ireland. The Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation should come before the House to discuss the issue because if corners have been cut, and this has been admitted, we have a right to know precisely which corners. There must be total openness and transparency on the matter, including information on what fees have been paid to individuals. I ask the Leader to arrange for the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation to come before the House.
I agree with colleagues that we should have a discussion regarding the national aquatic centre and entire proposed development in Abbotstown. The basic question is who is in charge. Blame seems to be apportioned to various quarters but nobody seems to want to embrace responsibility.
I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to come before the House to discuss the whole area of disability legislation, and the huge distress, disappointment and anger felt by people with disabilities and their carers that we have no rights-based legislation in this area, nor will we have before the end of this Government.
I join the call for a debate on Waterways Ireland and ask that the Minister, Deputy de Valera, come before the House. It has been a success story, as Senator O'Toole said, and the levels of co-operation and activity are to be admired.
One area which does not seem to have been addressed by Waterways Ireland is the control of water levels, in particular how they affect different communities, a matter to which the Leader should ask the Minister to pay particular attention as it is causing great concern and hardship to those living in the catchment of the Shannon and the Suck where in recent weeks people were isolated, some of whom were ruined. It is an important issue which, although there are broader aspects, I would like the Minister to address.
Last weekend there were again many deaths on the roads and, as usual, there was one culprit, Mr. Alcohol. We do not seem to be taking alcohol abuse seriously, a matter on which I seek a debate. The position seems to be as bad now as it was 100 years ago in the days of poitín and shebeens. The Government at the time brought forward stringent rules to put an end to that system. We now need to put an end to the current abuse as too much sorrow is being visited upon families due to the abuse of alcohol. We have had several debates on the matter which the media are now headlining. We should continue the fight to bring to a halt the carnage on the roads. We are told that 70% is the result of alcohol abuse.
Senator Coogan and others raised the question of the European Convention on Human Rights on which I hope to have an update on tomorrow morning. I thank Opposition leaders for their promise of support for any legislation that might be necessary in relation to it.
Regarding the Electoral (Amendment) Bill, I am taking directions from Government on a daily basis and the Bill has been ordered for tomorrow. I will take into account the views expressed by Senators, but the Minister's diary already has a timeframe and the Bill will be taken tomorrow when there will be no restrictions on time. The debate on Second Stage will be open-ended, if Senators believe they can attend.
Senator Coogan made a valid point about the Bill dealing with hand-held mobile phones, a matter about which there seems to be enormous confusion. It appears that if a person has a mobile phone in his pocket, turned off, while sitting in a car, it will be an offence. All legislation must make common sense. The public has taken much exception to the Bill in question and I hope the difficulties can be addressed before it reaches the House. Measures must be workable and common sense must prevail.
Senators O'Toole, Coghlan and Keogh called for a debate on Campus Ireland and asked for the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation to update the Seanad on the present position. I will endeavour to make this happen and in the event of time not being available I will look at using Fianna Fáil Private Members' time next Wednesday. I take Senator O'Toole's point regarding alleged difficulties and one person being vilified in the media. I will make time available next week and discuss the matter with the leaders and party Whips.
Senators O'Toole and Finneran asked for the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands to come to the House to update us on Waterways Ireland and control levels in our waterways, particularly the Shannon. I will try to ensure this takes place.
I will consider the views of Senator Lanigan on the role of the Seanad in forming committees and pass them on to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. The Senator is a former Leader of the House and member of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges and has lifelong experience in the House. His views could be discussed further by the committee, which could see how the matters in question could be dealt with.
Senator Coghlan asked when the Courts and Court Officers Bill will come before the House. I will let him know later.
Senator Keogh asked for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to come to the House for a debate on disability. I will have no difficulty in trying to arrange such a debate before the general election if possible, but not before the Easter recess. Those of us who are members of local authorities know that they have been asked to sign up to the Barcelona Convention on the disabled, a matter on which I opened a seminar in Athlone last Friday. I fully support the aspirations of the convention.
Senator Farrell sought a debate on alcohol abuse and the number of deaths on our roads. Those who listened to the Minister of State with responsibility for road safety, Deputy Molloy, on Monday night heard him outline the reduction over the last five years in the number of deaths on the roads. However, there is massive abuse of alcohol and excessive drinking. I hope the Bill dealing with the matter will be brought before both Houses before the general election. It addresses abuses such as late night noise and other areas where the Garda has no powers at present.
Order of Business agreed to.