The Order of Business is No. 1, Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2006 — Report Stage, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business and to conclude not later than 3.45 p.m.; No. 2, Statements on the Appropriation Act 2006, to be taken at 3.45 p.m. and to conclude not later than 6.30 p.m., with the contributions of spokespersons not to exceed 15 minutes each, those of other Senators not to exceed ten minutes each and the Minister to be called upon to reply not later than ten minutes before the conclusion of the statements; andNo. 3, Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006 — Report Stage, to be taken at 6.30 p.m. until7.30 p.m.
Order of Business.
It is fair to say that at this stage, people are well and truly focused on the next general election, which is only weeks away.
At this stage?
The Labour Party should be congratulated for provoking another "Michael" moment yesterday.
They are so overcome.
Even if they are not here, I assure Senator Ross that I will be backing him on this issue.
I have met many people who know they will be away for a period during May or June. They are upset at the prospect that they will not be able to vote in the upcoming general election. Would the Leader ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to look at the possibility of allowing those who are away on holiday or on business to vote by postal vote or to allow them vote before they leave the country? We have established in law the principle of postal votes for members of the Army and the Garda, and now for prisoners. I do not think a huge amount of imagination or flexibility would be needed to allow people to vote in an election if they have bona fide evidence that they will be away on polling day. It could be done simply by establishing polling stations in local authority head offices or by extending the postal vote principle to include such people. Many people I meet in my constituency make the point that the forthcoming general election will be the third consecutive election to be held during the summer months, when people are more likely to be away, and therefore it would make sense to allow people who are away to use postal votes. I ask the Leader and her colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, to consider this proposal to see whether something can be done, even at this late stage, to make this necessary change to electoral law.
The Dáil will debate the report of the Moriarty tribunal later today. When does the Leader envisage this House will have such a debate?
I support the proposal made by Senator Brian Hayes about postal voting, which I have discussed in this House on many occasions over the years. I suggest that we should examine the possibility of electronic voting in that context.
The Independent Members of the House are finding it difficult to follow the various movements which are being made in advance of the forthcoming general election. The Labour Party has said that if it gets into office, it will reduce the basic tax rate from 20% to 18%. Fianna Fáil has said that if it is returned to office, it will reduce the top rate of tax from 39% to 38%. The Progressive Democrats have said that if they get back into office, they will increase pensions by 50%.
Wait for the rest of it.
Fine Gael has said that if it gets into office, they will sort out the health service within a year. The Green Party has said that if it gets into office, it will sort out global warming. Is this not the right time in the history of the State to propose a national grand coalition of all the parties, which will sort out the country once and for all?
So says the Independent.
The Senators on these benches would be very supportive of that kind of development.
I am sure they would.
We would do our best to work in such a climate. The Independent Members are not in a position to buy our way into office.
The Senator must be joking.
We cannot offer any inducements to the public. We just do our best.
I note the regret in the Senator's voice.
The issue of education has been raised in the House on a number of occasions recently. Senator Ulick Burke and others have asked for a debate on it. I understood that problems with class sizes in primary and post-primary schools were to be resolved during the lifetime of the Government, but an ongoing war continues to be fought on the issue. It has been reported that new schools have been built without playgrounds for the children, which is the antithesis of all educational philosophy as exemplified by the current curriculum. The Department has responded that it is concentrating on building classrooms, but we might as well put children in prisons as put them in classrooms without outside play areas in which they can work, operate, play, enjoy themselves and express themselves.
It would be useful for the Minister for Education and Science to come to the House to debate the Department's unacceptable failure to make such facilities available. When the Minister, Deputy Hanafin, came to the House in recent times to discuss the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004, she gave an absolute guarantee that appropriate resources would be made available. Given that the report of the National Council for Special Education, which outlines a timeline for the various levels of support, has been on her desk for the past three months, it is time for her to start looking at those resources, especially as money should have been made available from 1 January. I would like the Minister to update the House on the money and resources which have been made available to the National Council for Special Education as well as the training that has been put in place and the plans which have been developed. A debate with the Minister for Education and Science would be most timely at this point.
I understand that Senator Brian Hayes has already spoken about a subject that I would like to raise. I thank him if he did so. I heard something about it when I was running to the Chamber, but I am not sure if I have got it exactly right. I would like to ask for a debate on taxation. There is a need for a change in the Government's taxation policy, which in recent years has benefited the most well-off——
Statements on the Appropriation Bill will be taken today.
——with the cuts in the top rate of tax. The Labour Party proposes that the standard rate of tax would be cut when we are in Government and this would benefit lower and middle income people, which is the fairest way to approach taxation policy——
What about indexation?
——especially in light of the raft of stealth taxes that have been brought in by this Government over the past few years.
It is reported in today's The Irish Times that the TCD anti-bullying centre carried out a study on the level of bullying in primary schools, which is at 30%. There is a high rate of bullying against boys in primary schools in particular. One of the authors of the report commented that since the last report was carried out 14 years ago, bullying has not reduced in schools and the level of bullying now is similar to what was reported in 1993. A pilot programme to prevent bullying has been in operation in schools in County Donegal. I ask the Minister for Education and Science to consider having a nation-wide programme for the prevention of bullying in schools.
The Institution of Engineers of Ireland has stated that Dublin's commuter belt is now the same size as that of Los Angeles. This has not come as news to the Progressive Democrats and it is the reason we have launched a policy document entitled A New Heart for Dublin which recommends the relocation of Dublin port. The issue of the increasing size of Dublin must be addressed. Are young couples to be forced out of the city when there is a 600-acre land bank in the centre of the city that could be developed? I ask the Leader to have the Minister for Transport come to the House to discuss this subject as he has responsibility for the ports under the Transport 21 plan.
It disappoints me that in a rush to talk down the progress of the economy, a candidate in the general election in Dublin West — needless to say, a Fine Gael candidate ——
I never thought it would be Deputy Michael McDowell.
——has announced the loss of 350 jobs in an important international company——
Has Senator Morrissey moved again as I thought he was in Dublin North?
——and which is not true. I ask for restraint from the Opposition benches——
He is bouncing all over the place.
The Members opposite are attempting to talk down how the economy is going.
(Interruptions).
I ask the Fine Gael Leader in the House to comment in the absence of the person who made the outrageous allegation.
A line in the sand.
Senator Terry should be the candidate anyway.
I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Health and Children to the House to debate the poor quality health services around the country. Every week brings a new scandal in the health care system. It was brought to my notice that the HSE is now assessing domiciliary care applications that were submitted in 2005. There is a waiting list of almost two years for a decision on applications for domiciliary care allowances. This is nothing short of a scandal as the cost of rearing a child with special needs is higher than the norm. The Government has an obligation to become involved with the HSE and progress those applications.
I raised that matter on the Adjournment of the House last week.
A carer's allowance cannot be awarded until such time as a domiciliary care allowance is granted. There is a significant conflict of interest which the Minister for Health and Children needs to address. What is happening is scandalous. I know of a significant number of people who are waiting for their applications to be processed——
On a point of information, the matter was raised on the Adjournment last week.
——but nothing is being done.
Is the Senator seeking a debate?
Yes. On the issue of pensions, last night the Progressive Democrats announced a commitment to increase pensions by 50%. One could be forgiven for believing the party had not been in Government for the past ten years.
We delivered on two promises, one made prior to the previous election and one prior to the election before that.
Why does the party not pay the increase now? Does it expect to be in Government on its own after the next general election? It will be wiped out.
The wipe-out has begun in Longford.
I concur with Senator O'Toole on the need for play spaces, sports halls and so on in national and other schools. The line from the Department is that the INTO, of which the Senator is a former president, insists that all available resources are spent on classrooms.
That is the Department's line.
A debate could help clarify this and other issues.
The Department's line is new spin.
A Senator
It is rubbish.
Allow Senator Mansergh to continue without interruption.
If it is rubbish, I would like to be informed. Let us have a debate on the issue.
On a second point, if we are to move Dublin Port I wonder why we spent hundreds of millions of euro on the port tunnel.
I look forward to the debate on the Appropriation Act 2006 as it will allow the House to have a proper discussion of tax, spending and budgetary policies. I welcome convergence on taxation policy, first by the Green Party and, more recently, by the Labour Party, both of which have modified their attitudes. Government taxation policy since 2003 has removed 38% of income earners from the tax net. They will not be affected by proposals to cut tax. This has been the main thrust of Government taxation policy and it has won great praise from the European——
It has won praise from the Government.
It is a Government claim.
Is Senator Mansergh seeking a debate on the issue?
May I finish without interruption?
I ask the Senator to conclude.
The Government has won praise for having the most favourable taxation policy for low income earners. It is a distraction to talk about a little unfinished business from the previous Government in terms of the top tax rate. It would not even compensate the wealthy for the curtailment of various tax reliefs.
Did the Senator clear that with the Progressive Democrats?
I ask for a debate on the Middle East, specifically the deteriorating situation in Iraq. Yesterday, 85 people were tragically killed as they tried to buy foodstuffs in a market. Queues of unemployed men are being bombed in a sectarian civil war. Mr. Nuri al-Maliki was practically blown up by the reverberations from a bomb while appealing for peace at a press conference. It is a disaster. We have, in North Korea, an example of how United States policy can work if the State Department is allowed to do its job. Following difficult and protracted negotiations it appears negotiators are on the verge of success in persuading North Korea to abandon the nuclear option.
The plight of deaf people has been brought to my attention again by a constituent. Some time ago I asked the Leader about the universal new born hearing screening programme which can identify hearing loss in children at a very young age. The Government was asked to introduce it in 1998 but nothing has been done. I hope we can convince it to adopt the programme. Even Romania, Latvia and Slovenia, which have weaker economies than Ireland, have introduced it. The programme gives people a chance.
I ask the Leader to raise with the Minister for Health and Children the use of Irish sign language in hospitals. I understand there have been a number of cases where patients with hearing difficulties have found great problems in making their symptoms known to doctors. This is because even in hospitals with some signage system, the British system is used and there is nobody who can use Irish sign language.
While it is a slightly parochial matter, I am seeking a debate on the theatre. We could include the location of the Abbey Theatre about which I have tabled a motion on the Order Paper. Although I often praise Trinity College, I wish to express some concern in this regard. I am sorry Senator Ryan is not present to hear me say a few critical things about that establishment. We can be proud of the fact that a Trinity academic, Dr. Anil Kokaram, has been nominated for an Oscar for devising a film computerisation programme. However, it seems as if theatre will only be rewarded in the technical areas because of the closure of the drama studies course in Trinity College. I am concerned about reports that have reached me that members of the staff of TCD are being silenced. A fatwa has been circulated notifying staff that they are not to talk about this issue with the press, under any circumstances, even though it affects their livelihood and the standard of the university.
Is the Senator seeking a debate on the issue?
He is making a speech.
I am seeking a debate on the whole situation. In that debate I will point out that this stunt was tried by the discredited President George W. Bush when he went for the Dixie Chicks, but they got five Grammys.
What an act.
From one stunt to another.
Popular among the Trinity electorate.
Occasionally, one wonders what effect the Order of Business debate might have. I am pleased to report that on a number of occasions last week we raised the issue of pricing in a particular location. Later that week, I saw that petrol prices had dropped by almost ten cent a litre, which is 45 cent per gallon. That was as a direct result of the good work that was done here last week.
It was on television.
It has saved the consumer an amount of money. Long may that continue.
I ask the Leader to arrange for a debate on the situation in the Middle East with particular emphasis on Iran. In the recent UN vote on the Holocaust, Iran was the only nation that refused to condemn what had happened because it does not recognise the Holocaust ever took place. The Iranian President makes dangerous pronouncements, denying the truth. Sooner or later, they will see the writing on the wall but I hope it can be done peacefully.
I reiterate the call for the Minister for Education and Science to attend the House for an urgent debate on a series of educational crises that have arisen on her watch and particularly in the last 12 months. There is a proposal to close Seamount College, a second level school in Kinvara, County Galway. That school has been shown to be not only viable but also among the highest ranking schools in the country, according to various surveys of its students' examination achievements. As a former Minister for Education, the Leader will understand that this is unprecedented. The proposed closure has been sanctioned and approved by the Minister for Education and Science. As far back as 15 October 2006, the school's patrons announced that they were withdrawing from the school and that there would be no intake of students in September 2007.
Senator Kitt and myself raised this matter on the Adjournment last week but the signs in the Minister's reply were ominous. At a public meeting on Friday night, a letter from the Department was read out, which clearly indicated matters of serious import to the parents, students and staff of that school. The Minister had sanctioned and approved the appointment of a manager to the school, having examined the situation for four months during which the school did not have a board of management. The board's term of office ended on 15 October and it was not reappointed. According to the Education Act, the sanctioning of approval if satisfied that the functions of the board were not being efficiently discharged was one of the reasons the Minister has the opportunity——
Is the Senator seeking a debate?
I am urgently seeking a debate. In addition, catchment areas throughout the country have been in place without change for the past 30 years, despite the many representations of public representatives, parents and all the partners in education. We now find that the catchment area of Kinvara school has been abolished and subsumed into the Gort area. We are told that the children of Kinvara, who are in an already overcrowded school, will not begin first year in 2007.
That is matter for the debate.
I will finish on this point. There is collusion at the highest level between some of the partners in education to allow this to happen when the school has been shown to be viable, given that approximately 500 potential students could be accommodated there. There is also the fact——
The Senator must find some other way to raise the issue.
I do not know of any other way as the Minister will not reply to representations and we get answers that are only partially true.
The Senator must raise the matter on the Adjournment.
The last point I wish to make is——
I thought he raised his last point minutes ago.
——-that the Leader should personally take up the matter with the Minister. The Minister should come to the House and definitively state why, at a time when €184 billion is being spent on infrastructure, we are closing a viable school in Kinvara, County Galway.
We recently heard of the case of a well-known celebrity who contacted RTE on several occasions when she heard another celebrity was to appear on a television programme. She telephoned RTE because she was afraid something offensive might be said about her. RTE took the case very seriously and decided on pre-recording the interview in question and then having it examined by its legal people.
It is a pity RTE cannot be as sensitive in other cases. Every week there is constant demonisation of the clergy and we see fun being poked at religion. We know why this is the case — it is because of the terrible scandals which happened in this country. However, it is not fair to suggest every single person with a religious vocation should be demonised in this manner. We have heard compliments in the House, for example, that the hospital system deteriorated when the religious left the hospitals. We could say the same of many schools — in fact, the issue with regard to the school to which reference was made has a religious content.
RTE is not subject to good taste and decency regulation at present, as we know, but I understand it will be in the very near future. It should not be necessary to have regulations to do what is right and fair. I hope good taste and decency will in future be shown not just to the clergy in general but to their families and relatives and to those who admire the clergy.
Tomorrow is St. Valentine's day and people will focus on romance, but it also the tenth anniversary of the introduction of divorce in Ireland. It is interesting to look back on articles written at that time. The late Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa led a strong campaign and claimed divorce would lead to a 10% increase in marriage breakdown. If one considers recent figures, it appears they may have been correct, which is worrying. It is thought the percentage of marriage breakdowns has risen from 2.8% almost to 10%, and it is estimated it could involve 160,000 people.
It is important that we consider the issue of marriage and the supports we can give to the institution of marriage. Perhaps the Leader could arrange a debate for next week. We need to acknowledge that marriage breakdown can be a serious social problem and is in need of urgent attention. It is interesting to consider last week's The Irish Times poll which showed that three quarters of those sampled would support divorce again, and that it has gained support among women voters. It would be opportune to reflect on ten years of divorce to see what we can do to restrengthen marriage and relationships in a way that reflects modern Ireland.
I support Senator Brian Hayes's call for a debate on the issue of postal voting. The register of electors has been printed and at first glance appears a big improvement on the old register. The issue of giving votes to people going on holidays reminds me of the debate we used have about immigrants voting. Some people are away so long on holidays that we could not really give them a vote. However, I welcome any discussion to find practical ways of dealing with the issue.
Senator Burke raised the issue of Seamount College in Kinvara. It is the Sisters of Mercy, western province, who intend to close the college and there is no gainsaying that. I support the Senator's call for a site for a new secondary school in Kinvara if the Sisters of Mercy are not prepared to provide the site, lease the property or take in new students in September. With regard to the change in the catchment area, Senator Burke and I have campaigned for years to improve the situation in the context of school transport which has suffered because of the restrictions of the catchment area. Perhaps the change in the catchment will help. I would welcome a debate on the issue of an alternative site for a new co-educational secondary school in Kinvara, especially in light of the increased number of houses and the increasing population in Kinvara and south Galway.
Recently, we discussed the Defamation Bill and the establishment of a press council and press ombudsman. I listened to a sports programme last night on which a number of contributors referred to an article in a Sunday newspaper which suggested that the Irish soccer manager should buy petrol, pour it over himself and set himself alight. If we are to be subject to this type of journalism, we must return to the legislation to see what kind of a response we can expect from the press to articles such as this. This type of carry on is not acceptable.
Hear, hear.
We all know how badly the Irish team played, but please God it will do a lot better when it gets to Croke Park in March. Articles such as the one printed on Sunday are unacceptable.
I am delighted to see, based on her Adjournment matter, that Senator White has shown an interest in Waterford Institute of Technology, and I was happy to see her canvassing in Waterford yesterday. We hope to see many more people doing the same.
Senator Brian Hayes raised the matter of voting and of people being away in May and June. Let us not fret about June, but talk about May. I hope we all have a holiday in June.
Postal votes are not just for the Defence Forces or Garda, but also for people who are bed bound or invalids. Many of these have applied for postal votes. Senator Hayes suggests that as the postal vote principle has been established, we should try to find a mechanism whereby those legitimately travelling abroad during the general election could exercise their vote. I do not know if that can be done. The same question was asked recently at a meeting I attended. I will talk to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to see if the issue can be tackled.
The Senator also asked when the House would debate the Moriarty report. We hope to debate it as soon as the current spate of legislation is concluded as it is part of our schedule.
Senator O'Toole asked if we could have a grand coalition. No thanks.
The Leader should not rule it out. It is currently only a core principle, but everything could change.
Fianna Fáil is and always has been a grand coalition.
The Senator also seeks debate on education and said that some new schools have been built without playgrounds because the Department has prioritised the building of classrooms. I understand that, but a modicum of space to stretch one's legs is surely required. Senator O'Toole also spoke of a report on special education, something very much needed.
Senator Tuffy wishes us to hold a debate on taxation, which I am sure every Labour Senator would attend. One need look no further for an example of chutzpah, which I stress is an example of a good word rather than bad language. She also sought a debate on bullying in primary schools.
Senator Morrissey mentioned the belief at the Institute of Engineers of Ireland that a new heart is needed for Dublin and his ideas on moving the port to a new location. Senator Bannon suggested that we ask the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, to attend the House to discuss the domiciliary care allowance. If he consults the Official Report, he will see that last week I achieved a very good outcome in an Adjournment debate on such care in Westmeath and Longford.
Why is there a two-year waiting list?
Please allow the Leader to speak without interruption.
It is steadily improving. The Senator also spoke of the Progressive Democrats' pension plans, which I felt were very exciting. That was another example of that useful word, chutzpah.
I am sure that I would agree with the Leader if I knew what was meant.
It means "bravura". Senator Norris sought a debate on the Middle East. It is amazing that the deaths of 85 people there merited only a minor item on the news. I worry about President Bush raising his predatory paw to Iran, since he feels that he must go out in a blaze of glory, as he would see it. The Senator also spoke of the plight of deaf people and a test that can be administered universally to diagnose the condition in very young children. A debate on theatre would be very interesting and not at all parochial. He also raised the very important matter of the closure of the drama studies course at Trinity College, Dublin. I do not understand why a course that attracts so many new students should be cut.
It is also cheap, costing only €250,000 a year. The college is acting in a penny-pinching matter by closing it.
Senator Hanafin mentioned the Seanad having shown its relevance through effecting a 10 cent drop in the price of petrol. Senator Leyden discussed the issue in living colour on television on the night that it was raised, and it clearly had an effect. The Senator also raised the issue of Iran.
Senator Ulick Burke suggested that we invite the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, to attend the House to discuss Seamount College, a second level school in Kinvara. I have been following that because Senator Kitt has spoken to me over recent weeks on the issue, as has Senator Ulick Burke. A very large meeting was held in Kinvara last night on the issue. I know that the nuns have pulled out or indicated their intention to do so, but it is amazing that a thriving second level school in Kinvara should close. It is a very odd situation, and the catchment area is being divided, with part going to Gort.
Oranmore.
I stand corrected. Seamount College deserves closer scrutiny, and the proposal from Senator Kitt and, I am sure, Senator Ulick Burke for a new college on a greenfield site should be pursued. The nuns own the building and are going to move out. No one can take it from them.
Senator Ó Murchú raised the case of a certain woman who contacted RTE because of an appearance by Mary Coughlan scheduled for "The Late Late Show". It has nothing to do with her namesake, the Minister for Agriculture and Food. The Senator stated quite correctly that the station had taken great care, consulted its legal advisers, and had everything scrutinised. I would always prefer listening to Mary Coughlan rather than the other woman, but that is no concern of mine. He also said that RTE was not subject to good taste regulations and rightly provided evidence of its demonisation of the religious over an extended period.
Poor Senator Browne raised the issue of divorce. I think that pre-nuptial agreements have discouraged women.
That is separate.
He is very keen on them, and any woman wishing to approach him would decide to be haughty. However, Senator Browne is wearing a lovely tie which would be good for St. Valentine's Day tomorrow. He wants a debate on marriage. It is quite an unusual request.
And on divorce, the legislation for which is ten years old.
Anyone is due a second chance. In any case, Senator Browne wants a debate on marriage and asked could it coincide with St. Valentine's Day. It cannot because that is tomorrow. We might have it next week if we could, but there is no time. My difficulty is that I do not know who will come to debate it. There is no Minister for——
Marriage.
——religion, happy marriages, pre-nuptial arrangements, etc.
Families.
There is a serious element to this.
Of course there is.
There is an equality issue. Men are encountering problems accessing their children following marriage breakdown. We could include that in a general debate.
Senator Browne is quite correct. I am not being funny now. With the break-up of marriages, I find there are local authority housing issues. The mother in the main gets the children, and then the father wants them at weekends but has nowhere to take them. Considerable numbers of fathers are looking for local authority housing where they can bring their children at weekends. It is a significant problem and perhaps Senator Browne is correct, but I would not be in favour of curtailing the right to divorce, which is now set in law.
I am not suggesting we should. I am merely suggesting we reflect on the ten years.
Indeed. Senator Kitt spoke of Seamount College and stated he would support the idea of getting a new site.
Senator Cummins spoke of an article in The Sun. Although I did not see it, it was an awful thing to say. The disrespect for human life conveyed in that is unacceptable, and I thank him for raising it.
Order of Business agreed to.