I propose an amendment to the Order of Business to enable the House to debate Private Members' motion No. 30 on the Order Paper. The motion, which is proposed by me and seconded by my colleague, Senator Norris, is to annul the Cockle (Fisheries Management and Conservation Regulations) (Waterford Estuary) 2007. To give a little background, the regulations were signed by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Eamon Ryan, in the summer and have been laid before the House. However, a provision in the enabling legislation allows either House of the Oireachtas to annul any regulations made under the relevant legislation provided the annulment is done within 21 sitting days. By my calculation, this is the 11th sitting day since the regulations were signed. It is, therefore, becoming urgent that the House——
Order of Business (Resumed).
Is the Senator moving an amendment to the Order of Business?
Yes.
The proposal will be discussed later.
With respect, I would like to inform colleagues of the purpose of the motion because, on the face of it, this may not be clear. It relates to the Suir Estuary at Passage East, a special conservation area in County Waterford which many Senators will know. The regulation in question allows dredging for cockles within certain insufficiently restricted time periods. The national co-ordinator of Coastwatch Ireland, Karen Dubsky, has briefed me on the matter. Coastwatch Ireland has monitored the area and has found that enormous damage is being done to the seabed in the Waterford Estuary as a result of dredgers moving into the area on foot of this regulation and dredging up not only cockles but also other seabed life and matter. The practice is seriously damaging seabed life in the region and may be in breach of the Habitats Directive. If the Seanad agrees to annul the regulation, a more restrictive regulation could be introduced which, in keeping with European Union law, would prevent dredging for cockles in this manner.
I understand Ireland is out of line with other countries where dredging for cockles has been banned and cockle fishing is only allowed by hand. This does much less damage to the seabed, although it has resulted in cockles becoming very expensive. Virtually all cockles from Ireland are exported. The practice of dredging for cockles should not continue and the relevant regulation is too broad. I would be grateful if time were made available to debate the issue.
I raised the issue of dangerous dogs recently. Having examined the legislation on this issue in place in the North, I found that the relevant information is presented in a user friendly manner. Sometimes information is not presented clearly and people using the Internet may find the information they seek is presented in a less than user friendly manner. Providing simple features online, for example, a section on "Frequently Asked Questions", makes legislation much more user friendly. It is frequently argued that the Upper and Lower Houses fail to communicate our message to members of the public. I ask the Leader to bring to the attention of the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, Deputy Tom Kitt, the manner in which legislation on dangerous dogs is presented to members of the public in this jurisdiction.
With regard to the arrests of persons on suspicion of child trafficking, recent crime statistics indicate that the incidence of child neglect and abandonment is increasing at a faster rate than most other crimes. It would be useful to discuss this and other issues with the Minister of State with responsibility for children. He is new to the portfolio and has many interesting ideas. I am particularly interested in discovering what type of cross-Border engagement is taking place to ensure an all-Ireland approach is taken to child protection. For example, we need to make progress on developing an all-Ireland register of sex offenders and addressing trafficking in children on a cross-Border basis.
I second Senator Bacik's proposed amendment to the Order of Business to facilitate a debate on dredging for cockles in the Waterford Estuary, an area with a tradition of cockle picking where people are seriously concerned about the estuary's conservation. I fully support Senator Bacik's concerns in this regard.
The policy of the National Roads Authority on the provision of service and rest stations on national primary routes is a matter of national importance from a road safety perspective. The provision of such facilities on new motorways was not mentioned until 2005 when, in fairness to the then Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, he directed the National Roads Authority to review its policy on the matter. Following this review, proposals were made to provide rest stations on new motorways and dual carriageways. However, significant deficits persist on other national primary routes, notably the N25 from Cork to Rosslare which has no facilities to allow heavy goods vehicles or large articulated trucks to pull in for a rest period. Under EU law, the drivers of such vehicles are required to take rest periods at specific intervals. Truck drivers and other travellers have no access to basic facilities such as toilets or restaurants.
The National Roads Authority does not have a policy on the provision of service and rest stations on national primary routes and many local authorities are also silent on the issue. Heavy goods vehicles illegally pull in on the hard shoulder of these roads and the Garda traffic corps turns a blind eye to the practice because proper facilities are not available to drivers. This is unacceptable. I call for the provision of basic facilities and services on national primary routes for members of the travelling public. I am sure the Leader will agree the Minister for Transport and the Marine must come before the House for an urgent debate on this matter.
With regard to the request for a debate on waste management and incineration, I would be pleased if the House were to hold such a debate. It may be of interest to Senators to note that statements made in the other House yesterday arose from a natural confusion between 400,000 tonnes of waste and the construction of four incinerators. As the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy John Gormley, indicated in the House last week, two thermal treatment plants may be required if the 400,000 tonnes of waste produced cannot be dealt with by other means by 2016. These plants could be incinerators or another type of thermal treatment facility. This position remains Government policy.
Is the Green Party in favour of incineration?
Will we have two, four, six or eight incinerators?
I refer Senators to the Official Report and the proceedings on an Adjournment debate on the issue last week.
We heard the Taoiseach speak on the issue in the other House yesterday.
I ask Senators to allow Senator Boyle to continue without interruption, please.
I explained the confusion which has arisen regarding the two sets of figures.
The confusion is in government.
If Members are not prepared to accept the record of the proceedings of the House, perhaps the Minister should return to the Chamber to repeat the statement he made last week.
He should tell the Taoiseach.
It appears some things must be repeated three or four times before Senators understand the position.
It is the Taoiseach who requires an explanation.
To be fair to speakers and to the Leader, interruptions should not be made across the floor as the Leader may find it impossible to respond to matters raised on the Order of Business. Senators will then complain that the Leader did not reply to a query they raised but I would not blame him if he is interrupted. If interruptions do not stop, I will suspend proceedings. Senators who wish to discuss issues with one another should use a room adjacent to the Chamber.
I thank the Cathaoirleach. As I stated, I would welcome a debate on waste management and incineration. If other parties in the House want to eliminate incineration as an option, it would constitute a departure from their policy positions. I would welcome an all-party approach to this issue.
On Senator Bacik's proposal to amend the Order of Business, the Senator indicated informally that she intended to raise the issue of recent regulations on dredging and certain information was obtained on her behalf. The order signed by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has been superseded by a transfer of powers between Departments. Aquaculture is now the responsibility of the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Mary Coughlan. The order in question was one of three orders relating to Dundalk, Waterford and Tramore, respectively, which were done on the basis of information supplied by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. A licence similar to that issued for the Waterford Estuary was issued for Dundalk, while an application for a similar licence was refused for Tramore. In light of this, I ask the Senator to await the outcome of ongoing negotiations between Coastwatch Ireland, on the one hand, and Bord Iascaigh Mhara and the National Parks and Wildlife Service, on the other, and allow for a review of the order which will continue in its current form.
Yesterday, the House discussed the great sight that was many members of our Polish community voting in their national election. By casting their votes, they expressed their opinions on how they want their country to look, who should be in government and so on. The only Minister or Minister of State who has not been called before the House is the Minister of State with responsibility for integration policy. Will the Leader invite the Minister of State for a debate on matters in his portfolio? Just as one group expressed its opinion, we should debate what we want Ireland to look and feel like. Traditionally, Senators expressed their opinions on the meaning of citizenship and the social fabric. The House is well placed to return to that tradition due to the significant changes taking place in Ireland.
My constituency has the largest number of so-called newcomers as a percentage of the total population and they have made a positive contribution to the social, economic and religious lives of our community. We must all play our parts in creating a plan to harness that contribution to the long-term benefit of everyone. Will the Leader ask the Minister of State to explain to the House the work he is doing and the process he has set in place so that we may have an input?
I concur with Senators Bacik and Coffey on the cockle matter.
In no contentious spirit, I ask for guidance from the Cathaoirleach and the party leaders. The Cathaoirleach referred to the abuse of the Order of Business. While I accept that he must interpret the rules — I welcome that he is a firm Cathaoirleach, as I believe in order as a teacher — I am an inveterate reader of Dáil and Seanad debates. In preparation, I have worked my way through the Seanad debates as far back as the 1930s and have been struck by the Seanad's high profile. Most of the matters that are important to the public are raised on the Order of Business.
Hear, hear.
We discuss connecting with the public and the Oireachtas is anxious to have a high public profile, but one cannot have a bureaucracy in which everyone behaves well and still holds topical discussions. Last year, Senator O'Toole and others on the Committee on Procedure and Privileges investigated the establishment of a topical hour as in the Bundestag.
The Oireachtas is like an iceberg. The heavy work is done beneath the surface through committees, Ministers and so forth, but the public connects with the tip, namely, the daily topical business. Can we not discuss murders? Senator Fitzgerald commenced with a matter discussed widely around town, that is, the coverage in "Oireachtas Report" of Senator Regan's statement on crime. Can we consider a system that would allow the House to debate topical issues everyday without pressure and in which the Cathaoirleach would be free to interpret the rules? Everyone rushes because they fear being caught by the gavel. Instead of cheating, why can we not have a topical hour honestly and openly?
Senators
Hear, hear.
Our hands are tied by the CPP, which has discussed this matter and changed the times. During the Order of Business, we debate what will take place. I allow latitude to people making valid points, but this can be done without speeches. Mobile telephones are not allowed in the House, which has hopefully improved the situation in which the media used to face mobile telephone interference with the PA system while an important point was being made. My hands are tied. Unless the CPP makes changes, I cannot.
The Leader replies to questions as well as he can. I compliment him on the number of times he has arranged the attendance of Ministers during important statements this session. While important contributions are made during debates on legislation, they are not picked up on by the media as much as the first events of the morning.
Senators
Hear, hear.
We must move on. The matter may be debated by the CPP, on which all groups have representatives. If it decides on changes, I will be a party to them.
The default of a number of prominent solicitors is a serious matter. The protection of clients' funds is of paramount importance. Like Senator O'Toole, I do not want to be critical of the Law Society, but the regulatory regime must be examined if people managed to play fast and loose with funds or granted undertakings and increased borrowings against them. The society's powers could be increased, an independent body could be established or there could be an overarching arrangement involving an outside agency and the society. It is feared that there are many more cases and I would welcome the Leader's input during a debate in this regard.
I support Senator O'Toole regarding Shannon Airport. It appears there was a conspiracy, but irrespective of whether it involved people asking not to be told or the Sir Humphreys ensuring that people did not know, it is no way to run the business of Government. I support the call for a committee of the House or a joint committee to examine the matter. If civil servants behave in that way, parliamentarians should not tolerate it.
Senators
Hear, hear.
Doomed.
I support Senator Corrigan regarding this week's District Court decision to dismiss the case of the alleged sexual assault of a 20 year old disabled girl because she failed a competency test. That the laws are such that one loses protection upon entering adulthood at 18 years is a disgrace. When the House passed the Disability Act 2005, I believed we were levelling the playing pitch for all disabled people. As there is an anomaly, perhaps I was naive. I encourage the Leader to ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to consider this urgent matter.
Will the Leader invite the Minister of State with responsibility for disability issues and mental health to revisit the Act in the House to determine the progress made? Two years ago, many fine commitments were given and it would be nice to know how much progress Departments have made in proofing their decisions and sectoral plans against disabilities by the dates set out.
Ba mhaith liom plé a dhéanamh ar dhá cheist a d'ardaigh mé anseo sa Seanad cheana. Yesterday I raised the student support Bill and the delay in students' being able to acquire grants from local authorities or VECs. I appreciate the difficult job the Leader does in trying to facilitate debates for all the requests he has received. I commend him for allocating time for some of the debates I have requested. I did not seek a debate on education, although one would be welcome to discuss the broad issue of education. My question was whether this Bill will come before the Seanad before Christmas, whether the measures will be in place by September 2008 so that students will not have to go through the same rigmarole as this year and whether there will be discussion with the USI before the Bill is presented to this House or the Dáil.
My second question is an issue I raised last week and the week before, namely the new child care funding arrangements. Senator Fitzgerald addressed it this morning. This is a serious issue and this is the third week running I have requested a debate. I appreciate that the Leader has agreed a debate will happen here but would like to impress on him the urgency of the matter. The office of the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children with special responsibility for children has issued a letter to over 1,000 voluntary community child care groups informing them that if they do not return statutory declarations by next Friday, funding will be discontinued. These declarations are forms that the parents of the children attending the child care facilities have to fill in identifying their social welfare incomes, PPS numbers and other private information they do not want to hand to community and voluntary groups. That threat must be lifted and I ask for a debate on this issue next week. Next week it will be November and the Leader has said we will be sitting three days a week. If so, we need to make that time available so that we have the debate and ask the Minister to lift this threat to more than 1,000 community child care facilities in the 26 counties.
I support the cause of the NRA and its brief in facilitating services along many routes. I have experienced the routes mentioned today. I also support the call for the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, to come here concerning his new brief on integration and how he will proceed with that. As Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children with responsibility for older people, Deputy Hoctor has responsibility for dealing with ageism and it would be good if the Leader could make time for her to come here and outline her intentions on how that will be administered.
I support Senator Harris's point. It is obvious, and I have said it many times, we should play to our strengths. It is nonsense to say our hands are tied by the CPP. The CPP is supposed to represent the views of the elected Members. On this issue it clearly does not. When Senator Harris spoke a murmur of agreement passed across the Chamber so let us have some action. Last session I mounted a long campaign and eventually squeezed a measly ten minutes extra for the Order of Business but we are still in trouble. Senator Harris is right, we should play to our strengths.
I share Senator Fitzgerald's concerns and am glad she raised this question of child trafficking. As a result of this morning's disclosures we know that 320 children, many from African countries, entrusted to the care of the HSE in care facilities have gone missing. Two of them, teenage girls, turned up in brothels. That is an astonishing to have happened.
I welcome the establishment of the committees. It was high time they were established. I am glad my colleagues have put me again on the Committee on Foreign Affairs. I call for a debate on the situation in Cuba particularly in light of the extraordinary attack by President George W. Bush in the last 24 hours. He is man of extraordinary effrontery and a stranger to truth. He unexpectedly and unwittingly hit a correct note when he said there was a gulag on Cuba. There is, and he should know because he is its proprietor. It is called Guantanamo Bay. The United States harbours terrorists, including a terrorist who blew up a civilian aircraft in Cuban airspace, and arrested the agents who are trying to protect civilians against that.
Does the Senator seek a debate on that?
Let us have a debate on Cuba——
Does the Senator seek a debate on that?
That was the general drift of my remarks. I noted that Senator Coffey seconded Senator Bacik's motion but in case that was not in order I am happy to do it. Like the call for an extension of the Order of Business and a recognition of its signal importance, there was agreement throughout the House by members of different parties that this is an important matter and I am happy to second it.
There are 60 Senators in the House, all entitled to make contributions on the Order of Business, but we have only 40 minutes and my hands are tied. I can let somebody ramble for the 40 minutes, but what happens to everybody else? I have no intention of doing that. In a short time I will have to cut in and leave out people who could not speak yesterday or today because people have overrun their speaking time.
If that happens I will call a vote every day on the Order of Business. It is nonsense to say our hands are tied by the CPP. Let us get at the CPP and untie them. It is an abuse of democracy and I will not stand for it.
That motion was agreed by this House. Senator Norris has the right to call a vote each morning if he wishes. I cannot stop him.
No, the Cathaoirleach cannot.
I support the call today and other days for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to come to the House to discuss implementing a plan through our local authorities for the protection and development of beaches. I come from County Donegal, which has some of the nicest and most unspoilt beaches in Europe. However we do not have enough funding through our local authorities to promote and develop those beaches and provide them with the ancillary facilities required, including bins, lifeguards, lifebelts and signage. I would like a general discussion with the Minister on the potential of our beaches and their development on a par with beaches on mainland Europe.
Given that a proposal on a zero alcohol limit for drivers could come before us, I ask for a debate on the regeneration of rural Ireland in the context of the national development plan. I say that without condoning drink driving or drug use by drivers. We need a serious debate on the regeneration of rural Ireland which, in the past ten years, has suffered an erosion of population, services and transport. Last week Senator Kelly and I raised Government aviation policy. This morning it seems the Government does not know what questions to ask of its civil servants and there is no accountability on the provision of information to Ministers. In light of the situation, has the Leader made any progress on asking the Minister for Transport to come to this House? It is imperative for the Cork and Shannon airport authorities that we debate this issue. Government aviation policy is flying without wings and going nowhere.
Senator Boyle raised the issue of incineration on the Adjournment last week. There must be Government clarity on its policy regarding incineration. Yesterday, the Taoiseach said in the Dáil that four, not two, incinerators would be required. We must have a debate on this, and replace the Government's pantomime with reality.
Senator Ross is the last speaker I will call.
The issue I wish to raise has been addressed already by Senator Coghlan and Senator O'Toole, that is, Aer Lingus, the DAA and Shannon. This has wider implications for all Members of the House. What Aer Lingus does is not our business; it is out in the private sector. However, the Byzantine manoeuvres of civil servants, supposedly to protect their Ministers, could concern us. We debated the Shannon issue in the past two weeks but we were doing it in the dark because we have incomplete information. It is very serious if civil servants are deciding of their own accord to filter information to their Ministers because it might be politically embarrassing for them to find out about something or it might impinge on the empires which civil servants administer.
Even worse is the attitude of the DAA, and that is a matter for this House. The DAA took the unilateral decision to tell Aer Lingus something confidentially. The DAA for all its faults, and God knows it has plenty, is answerable to the Government because the Government is the shareholder. The DAA apparently decided not to give anybody but Aer Lingus information that is political dynamite but which also has an enormous effect on the Shannon region. This issue should be taken on board by the Leader of the House. We are being rendered, to some extent, political eunuchs. Not only is power leaving this House, but information is not being given to it. There is no point debating this issue if civil servants are deliberately hiding information from their Ministers and are not held accountable for it. It is most important, not that the Minister visit the House, but that the committee on transport addresses this issue immediately. It is equally important that necessary information is not withheld from the House when we are debating issues of this nature.
I was pleased with the massive response to the debate on suicide prevention that took place in the House yesterday. However, many speakers did not have time to make their contributions and I will revisit the issue and allocate time for it to be discussed again before the Christmas recess. I thank the Senators for their considered and meaningful contributions, which I am sure will be helpful to the Minister in planning how to address this important challenge.
Senators Fitzgerald, Keaveney, Coghlan and Doherty expressed their serious concern about international child trafficking and the related serious challenges facing us. I will allocate time for a debate on this and will discuss it at the leader group meeting next Wednesday to ensure an early date. Senators O'Toole, Coghlan and Ross expressed their serious concerns about Aer Lingus and Shannon. Every Member of the House is concerned about the plight of the people of Shannon and the west. We will do what we can to assist in this matter. Aer Lingus is a worldwide brand name and the airline has huge potential for the future, and we wish to support it also. However, it would be wise to wait until the Minister receives the report and if there are other issues of which the House was unaware, they will have to be addressed. When the report is published I will invite the Minister back to the House to have a further discussion on this important matter.
Senators O'Toole and Hannigan referred to the Law Society and the various alleged breaches by members of that society which are reported in this morning's newspapers. The most important issue from the Law Society's point of view, as I said yesterday, is trust. Down through the years people have trusted solicitors, barristers, auctioneers and other professionals. They have been family and trusted friends. Generations of solicitors have handled the legal affairs of our forefathers in an honourable and decent way. Only a few have breached that trust and we cannot condone that. As in the case of the insurance inquiry, the experts are the people in the Law Society. They must urgently introduce corrective measures and we will assist them in any way we can. We will also assist the Minister in helping the Law Society. When it is opportune I will allocate time to discuss this. I will also take the advice of the newly appointed spokespersons who will be appointed to the various committees with regard to whether it should be dealt with in the committees as well as in the House.
Senator Hannigan expressed strong opinions about the ESB dispute. I will convey his views to the Minister. Senator O'Sullivan made two relevant points which every Member of the House can support, particularly with regard to the difficulties experienced by members of local authorities. They are expected to give a service. The officials are quite properly remunerated for their expertise and their time but the public representatives are not and should not be disenfranchised. I will take up this issue with the Minister and report back to the Senator. I also support the proposal regarding the Ballylongford gas station. The people of north Kerry and west Limerick are waiting with bated breath for this. They are well represented by Senator O'Sullivan on the issue.
I have known Senator Twomey for some time and have great respect for his expertise, ability and talent. I assure him I have done everything I can as Leader to have as many issues dealt with as possible. From 14 November the House will sit for three days each week and will sit for four days when necessary. The issues on which Senators are seeking debates will be addressed. The committee system will be in place from next week. That will be addressed before the conclusion of business in the House today, and Members will be appointed to the committees. I assure Senator Twomey that any matter prioritised by his party's leader in the House is receiving the utmost attention. If Fine Gael wishes to raise something of great importance, I am sure Senator Fitzgerald will facilitate Members in raising it in Fine Gael's Private Members' time. Where that is not possible, I will endeavour to facilitate the leader of the Fine Gael group, even if that entails sitting a few hours later in the evenings or for an extra day. I have no difficulty with that.
I was Leader of the House from 1997 to 2002 and in that time debate was never stifled. The House even sat until five o'clock one morning, and Senator Norris was the final speaker on one of those occasions. I take seriously the calls of Members for debates and statements but I expect in return, as happened yesterday, that Senators are properly and well prepared to make meaningful contributions when time is allocated for debates. In regard to the amendment proposed by Senators Bacik, Coffey and Norris to the Order of Business, the Minister of State at the Department of Finance is waiting to come into the House.
Senator Keaveney called for legislation to be made more friendly. I will consider her proposal with a view to seeing what can be done.
Senators Coffey and Ormonde called on the NRA to arrange for services to be provided on the routes which are transforming Ireland under the national development plan. As Senator Buttimer noted, the face of Ireland is changing because of the major infrastructure investments being made. While services are essential on longer routes, new challenges are arising from the opening of motorways, particular in the midlands, in that villages such as Tyrellspass, Kilbeggan and Miltownpass are losing their passing trade. Senators on the Joint Committee on Transport might make it their priority to help the people who elected them by investigating ways of linking some of these villages to service areas so that existing restaurants and filling stations can be extended.
Senator Boyle called for a debate on waste management, for which I can allow time. Senator Donohoe sought a debate which the Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs with responsibility for integration policy. I have no difficulty in arranging that.
Senators Norris and Harris were in agreement for the second time, which is a wonderful achievement. They want the profile of this House to reach its full potential. I will raise the matter with the Committee on Procedure and Privileges to ascertain what progress can be made on it. I have no difficulty in meeting this challenge because if Dáil proceedings can be broadcast on TG4 for one hour every Thursday morning, why can we not have 40 minutes——
Senators
Hear, hear.
——provided Senators keep their contributions to one and a quarter minutes? This is one of the two Houses of the Oireachtas and we are all proud to be Members of it. The level of our debate is worthy of being broadcast on television.
Senator Doherty spoke about student fees. I will see what I can do in that regard. As the Senator will be aware, we have a big advantage in the South of Ireland compared to the North, where Sinn Féin and the DUP——
My question was not about student fees. For the second day in a row, I asked a direct question about the student support Bill. When will the legislation be brought before the House?
Allow the Leader to reply.
Students in the Twenty-Six Counties have a considerable advantage but those in County Donegal who used to attend colleges in the North of Ireland may be at a relative disadvantage. We have to be consistent in these matters. I can allow time to debate the matter.
I am not seeking a debate. I asked when the legislation would be brought.
I can accede to the request to invite the Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Conor Lenihan, to discuss immigration, and for the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Hoctor, to attend to discuss ageism. I will also attempt to meet Senator Norris's request for a debate on Cuba.
Senator Ó Domhnaill wants the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to come to the House for a debate. That is a timely request. This House has always had full and thorough discussions with the Minister's Department.
Senator Buttimer called for a debate on the national development plan. The Government side would welcome such a debate with open arms because it would be an opportunity to let our constituents know about the transformation which has taken place over the past ten years. We could also find out where we will be going in the next five years. Some €43 billion, or 5.5% of GDP, will be invested during that period in major infrastructure including roads, sewerage and water services and broadband.
The metro.
Ireland does not end one mile outside Dublin.
Well said.
I understood that Senator Buttimer was referring in particular to rural Ireland. I am pleased to inform the House that a debate will be arranged as a matter of urgency. The Senator also called for debates on aviation policy and incineration.
Senator Bacik has proposed an amendment to the Order of Business, "That No. 10 be taken today." Is the amendment being pressed?
Yes. I am grateful to Senator Boyle for providing some sort of answer but the procedure has not been addressed sufficiently.
Tá
- Bacik, Ivana.
- Burke, Paddy.
- Buttimer, Jerry.
- Coffey, Paudie.
- Coghlan, Paul.
- Cummins, Maurice.
- Doherty, Pearse.
- Donohoe, Paschal.
- Fitzgerald, Frances.
- Hannigan, Dominic.
- Kelly, Alan.
- McFadden, Nicky.
- Mullen, Rónán.
- Norris, David.
- O’Reilly, Joe.
- Prendergast, Phil.
- Quinn, Feargal.
- Ross, Shane.
- Twomey, Liam.
Níl
- Boyle, Dan.
- Brady, Martin.
- Butler, Larry.
- Callanan, Peter.
- Callely, Ivor.
- Cannon, Ciaran.
- Carty, John.
- Cassidy, Donie.
- Corrigan, Maria.
- Daly, Mark.
- de Búrca, Déirdre.
- Ellis, John.
- Glynn, Camillus.
- Hanafin, John.
- Harris, Eoghan.
- Keaveney, Cecilia.
- Kett, Tony.
- Leyden, Terry.
- MacSharry, Marc.
- McDonald, Lisa.
- Ó Domhnaill, Brian.
- Ó Murchú, Labhrás.
- O’Donovan, Denis.
- O’Malley, Fiona.
- O’Sullivan, Ned.
- Ormonde, Ann.
- Phelan, Kieran.
- Walsh, Jim.
- Wilson, Diarmuid.
I remind members of the Committee of Selection that a meeting will take place immediately after the Order of Business.