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Seanad Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 16 May 2012

Vol. 215 No. 8

Order of Business

The Order of Business is No. 1, Statute Law Revision Bill 2012 — Order for Second Stage and Second Stage, to be taken at the conclusion of the Order of Business and conclude not later than 3.30 p.m., with the contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes and the Minister to be called on to reply not later than 3.20 p.m.; No. 2, statements on symphysiotomy, to be taken at 3.30 p.m. and conclude not later than 5 p.m., with the contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes and the Minister to be called on to reply not later than 4.50 p.m.; and No. 3, Education (Amendment) Bill 2012 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] — Report Stage, to be taken at the conclusion of No. 2 and the time allocated shall not exceed one hour. For the information of the House, following yesterday's requests on the Order of Business, there will be an addition to the schedule of business tomorrow to allow statements on the 44th plenary session of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly to be taken for an hour between the items already listed on the schedule.

I would like to ask a question about the proposed change to tomorrow's business. Can the Deputy Leader confirm whether the Taoiseach will come to the House for the one-hour debate on the recent meeting of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly? As I said yesterday, the Taoiseach rightly saw fit to come to the Seanad Chamber to address members of other parliaments from other jurisdictions, but he has not seen fit to step into this Chamber to speak to and interact with the elected Members of this House at any stage during his 14 months in office.

Perhaps tomorrow's debate might give him an opportunity to do so. Last evening's debate on the mortgage crisis and the mortgage arrears situation, during which we made statements and asked questions of the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, was long overdue but very useful. Some excellent contributions were made by Senators on all sides of the House. It was clear to me that the Government is being led by the nose by the banks, in effect, on the mortgage issue. The Government has been frightened into paralysis, rather than dealing with the mortgage arrears crisis. Figures on distressed mortgages for the first quarter of 2012 will be published next week. The figures for the last quarter of 2011 showed there had been an increase of five percentage points in a single year, from 7.4% to over 12%, in the number of mortgages in arrears of 90 days or more.

I ask Senators of all parties and none to consider a motion I will circulate next week. This House can play an important role, in a non-partisan fashion, by agreeing to call on the Government to set out a clear timeline for the introduction of a strategy, comprising plans and actions, to help the thousands of Irish citizens who are in terrible positions with regard to their mortgages. Many people fear they will not have a house over their head next year. Members of this House have played a role in trying to solve this problem by introducing legislation, which was defeated by three votes last summer, unfortunately. Our role is to hold the Government to account. We can do that by agreeing a cross-party motion calling on the Government to set out a timeframe that it will meet. It is interesting that we were told yesterday that something will be produced in August and that the Central Bank will do something by the end of May. We were also told that the Government is producing the personal insolvency Bill, which is a complex piece of legislation. I was concerned yesterday when the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, said "the personal insolvency legislation will be the ultimate game-changer". I honestly cannot see how that will be the case. I will circulate the motion I have mentioned among the party and group leaders next week.

I will conclude by asking the Deputy Leader whether the Government can confirm its position on Greece's continuing membership of the euro. Frankly, I was astounded to hear the comments that the Minister, Deputy Noonan, made about Greece on Bloomberg. He is reported to have said that "apart from holidaying in the Greek islands, I think most Irish people don't have a lot" of connections with Greece. He continued by asking "if you go into the shops here, apart from feta cheese, how many Greek items do you put in your basket?". Comments like that are extremely insensitive to fellow EU citizens who are struggling. People in Athens are rummaging in bins to feed themselves. This is a serious situation. The Minister's comments show how out of step he is. Having spoken to Irish people, I know they have grave concerns about the people of Greece and feel for the situation they are in through no fault of their own. The Minister went on to say that "for big, knock-on effects you need to have strong economic connections" and "we don't have any economic connections, really" with Greece. Is Ireland moving away from Greece?

Yesterday, people on the Government side rightly criticised Austria, in particular, for talking about a Greek exit from the euro. We are either in the euro or we are not.

I ask the Senator to conclude.

I am concluding now. This is really important. I would like the Deputy Leader to comment on the statement the Minister for Finance made on Bloomberg. The Minister, Deputy Noonan, seems to make statements to international news media that he is not prepared to make to the media here. Is the Government committed to Greece staying in the euro? Will the Minister withdraw the insensitive and flippant remarks he made about a country that has youth unemployment of over 50% and a male unemployment rate of over 25%?

It ill behoves the leader of the main Opposition group in this House to criticise the Taoiseach. As I said yesterday, he is the most amiable and approachable Taoiseach who ever stood in shoe leather in these Houses.

It is nothing personal at all.

He is not God.

At least Senator Coghlan voted for him——

I believe he has informed the Leader of the House that he will come to the Seanad.

——unlike some of his colleagues.

I gather from the Leader, who is absent today, that he intends to come to this House before the summer recess.

We will hear more about that. The Senators opposite will recall that a Fianna Fáil Taoiseach came to this House twice or three times over a ten-year period.

At least he did not try to get rid of us.

I do not want to be critical of any former Taoiseach.

Does the Senator have a question for the Deputy Leader?

I want to deal with another matter.

The Taoiseach has to accountable for what he has said about the Seanad.

I think the Senator is way off beam.

He would not be Taoiseach today if he did not get the support of Senator Coghlan and his friends in this House.

Senator Coghlan, without interruption.

Senator Leyden has missed a more senior person.

He would never have survived without certain Members of this House, including the Cathaoirleach.

More seriously——

The Senator is inviting trouble.

I am not. I do not intend to. Senator Darragh O'Brien has misquoted the Minister, Deputy Noonan. The Minister for Finance said that the Government, on behalf of this country, intends to do everything within the Union to assist our colleagues in Greece.

What does the Senator make of his comments about Greece?

The Minister said that Ireland will do all it can at EU level to hold Greece within the euro, if possible. He made it clear that he is putting no obstacles in the way of Greece's future in the Union and in the euro. That conference is something else. With respect, the Senator is misquoting the Minister.

No. I am talking about what he said on Bloomberg.

I am telling the Senator that he is misquoting the Minister.

Does Senator Coghlan have a question for the Deputy Leader?

I look forward to hearing what the Deputy Leader has to say on these matters. Perhaps she will be more categoric that I can be.

My colleague, Senator Quinn, raised the matter of the missing children's hotline, 116000, on the Order of Business yesterday. The theme of this year's international missing children's day, which is 25 May, is child abduction safety. Senators will be aware that 25 May will also mark the first anniversary of this Seanad. It would be fitting if the hotline could be in place and operational by that date. On 12 October last, the Seanad agreed an all-party, all-group motion calling for the missing children's hotline to be brought fully into operation. Since then, ComReg has allocated the number in question to the service. I welcome the changed message that now directs anybody who rings 116000 to the Garda or to the ISPCC Childline. I note that the number cannot be telephoned from an Oireachtas handset. Hopefully, we will not have to report it. I will follow that issue up with the Oireachtas authorities. The number has been allocated but the service is not yet in operation. Similar hotlines in other EU member states take calls from and offer support to anyone concerned about a missing child, including parents and children. They take calls regarding different types of child disappearance, including runaways, parental abductions, missing unaccompanied migrant minors, criminal abductions and children who are lost, injured or otherwise missing.

The EU has been asking Ireland for five years to put this hotline in place. It is not too much to ask for the Government to ensure it is fully operational by 25 May next. Will the Deputy Leader ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to come before this House at the earliest opportunity to confirm that the hotline will be operational by 25 May? If the hotline will not be up and running by that date, will the Deputy Leader ask the Minister the reason for such a delay? I suggest that the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, should outline the plans of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to publicise and promote the missing children's hotline so that Ireland is not a missing link in child abduction cases. We need to ensure that every child in Ireland, including those who might be going away over the summer, knows this number. They should be made aware that if they are in another EU member state, they can ring the number and talk to someone who can help them.

On this happy day, 24 hours after President Obama in the White House publicly announced to the world that he was honouring Robbie Keane for being the Republic of Ireland's leading scorer, I would like to ask the Deputy Leader to bring to the attention of the relevant Minister during this, the year of science, that there are two other Irish people who, I believe, deserve recognition.

One of them is Professor Ernest Walton, RIP, who still has the unique distinction of being the only Irish recipient of any Nobel prize in science, a man who made a wonderful contribution to science when he was a very young researcher working with Cockcroft in the 1920s in Cambridge. The Cockcroft and Walton experiment led to the first splitting of the atom. Walton then returned to Ireland where he had a very serious and giving career in Trinity College, Dublin, as an academic and, following his retirement, in other advisory capacities. He also acted as an adviser to the Irish Government on science issues in an unofficial capacity and is felt to have been one of the original inspirers of the modernisation revolution which Lemass and others attempted to introduce into Ireland in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

It has been suggested on some of the online sites today that the new bridge being built across the Liffey at Marlborough Street close to Trinity College should be named the Ernest Walton bridge. This would be a very fine accolade. He has a number of structures named after him in academic——

The naming of a bridge is a matter for the local authority.

The second item I would like the Deputy Leader to bring to the attention of the Minister for Health and the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, and to any of my Seanad colleagues who may be from Cavan, is that there is another wholly unsung heroine of Irish science, Dr. Mary Patricia Cole, born in Cavan and educated in Carrickfergus, Portrush, Coleraine High School, Methodist College and Queen's University, Belfast. Following her bachelor of science and after a period of teaching, she went back to do a medical degree and then moved to the Christie hospital in Manchester as one of the first clinical oncology cancer treating doctors in the United Kingdom or, indeed, anywhere in the world, and there did the first trial with a drug called tamoxifen, which has probably saved or extended the lives of many millions of women around the world. Dr. Cole, following her retirement, became heavily involved in the hospice movement and, when she was at a great age, finally retired back to her beloved Northern Ireland — her beloved Ireland — dying in Newcastle some seven or eight years ago.

It strikes me that this lady, born in Cavan, who went on to make such a major contribution internationally in medical research should in some sense be memorialised, perhaps in Cavan and perhaps in Cavan hospital. We memorialise people for all kinds of reasons in Ireland but these are two very fine researchers who blazed a great trail and whose efforts in many ways have not been exceeded by anybody else.

I support Senator van Turnhout in her call for a hotline to be set up. On another issue, until March of this year dentists working with the HSE were able to carry out minor orthodontic procedures, including taking impressions and some orthodontic interventions, at a cost of approximately €250 to €300 per child. Given orthodontic treatment is generally €4,500, this was a huge saving to the HSE. Since March, without any discussion or warning, dentists have been advised they can no longer carry out these procedures and that the funding has been withdrawn. This has come as a huge shock to many, and I know of a number of dental clinics in Kerry that have closed down, necessitating parents to travel many miles to visit the school dentist.

I ask the Deputy Leader to ask the Minister for Health to come to the House to debate the issue. This should not have been done without debate and discussion and he should explain the reasoning behind this. I call for the reintroduction of this scheme.

I ask the Deputy Leader to arrange a discussion with the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in regard to RTE in general but in particular the case settled on 8 May that awarded over €100,000 in costs and expenses——

That matter was dealt with yesterday.

It was not dealt with.

It was raised by Senator Leyden himself.

"Oireachtas Report" boycotted any coverage last night, as I predicted. In fact, there was a blackout of news——

That matter was dealt with. This is the Order of Business.

We are the licence holders and we expect fair play. Anything referring to this issue is now being blacked out.

Two very brave journalists, Mr. Philip Ryan of the Irish Mail on Sunday and Mr. Jim Cusack of the Sunday Independent will not let go of this issue because there is a serious question——

We cannot discuss this on the Order of Business.

It is a very important issue.

We are on the Order of Business, as you well know. Have you a question for the Deputy Leader?

I want the Minister to come to the House so I can——

——--the newspaper that supported Hitler and Oswald Mosley.

Senator Norris, please. Senator Leyden should continue without interruption.

——so I can put questions to the Minister in regard to the allegations he made about Mr. Bailey on radio on a Sunday in 2006.

You are looking for the Minister to come in.

Yes. The Government is getting a very easy ride from RTE.

The Senator can put those points to the Minister when he comes in.

RTE is now very much under the control of Pat Rabbitte because he threatened——

Senator, please. You have to give the Minister his proper title.

The Minister, Pat Rabbitte. He threatened to remove the board and the chairman but when the case was settled, everything was happy in the garden again. There is a cover-up here and I intend to expose it.

Name and shame.

Precisely. Name and shame.

I wish to raise the matter of young people who have dropped out of school. On Monday I had the pleasure of launching a website for the Cork Life Centre whereby 30 young people are being provided with education and skills training, bringing them back into the education system. In fairness, it is a religious order which has been providing the funding for this project in recent years. There are approximately 20 people working on a voluntary basis, many of them qualified teachers who cannot get employment. This year, six of the young people who dropped out of school will be sitting the leaving certificate as a result of the efforts of these volunteers.

The problem for the centre is that it is falling between a number of different Departments, including the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. It is a matter that needs to be dealt with as those providing the funding cannot provide it indefinitely. I ask that the Deputy Leader would arrange for a debate to deal with these issues. The problem arises at a number of other centres which are being set up throughout the country given young people are dropping out of the education system. I ask that a Department would take hold of this issue and make sure the proper support mechanisms are provided.

First, I ask why there is no Private Members' business today.

Senators

There is.

There is Statements on Symphysiotomy, as proposed by the Labour Party.

I beg the pardon of the House. I see it is listed as statements rather than Private Members' business. Nonetheless, I congratulate the Labour Party on that.

I do not congratulate anybody on the fact a strange lack of courtesy is creeping into this House. For the first time, the Leader and Deputy Leader are refusing to answer questions if Members are not in the House. This is a gross impertinence. Members often have to leave to attend committees and to take urgent messages. I have always tried to apologise if I had to leave to attend a committee and the answer should be on the record. It is a sign of the growing arrogance of this Government.

Where did this document I am holding come from, can anybody tell me? It is clearly a Government publication, although it is anonymous. It is in defence of the so-called stability treaty and some 60 copies were given to every Member of this House. Who is paying for it? How dare they do this? As an ordinary Member, I am not allowed to circulate material in this manner. This is the kind of arrogant Government we are getting now. I prefer this kind of focused concentration rather than the kind of scatter-gun approach of Senator Leyden but, in essence, he is right — it is arrogant.

I would like to know whether we can have access to the minutes of the meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges where it was decided, in defiance of tradition, that on Second Stage we could not share time. Who proposed that? Whose idea was it?

I am sure the leader of your group will get the——

We do not have a leader, but I am entitled democratically, to a response. I want a response from the Cathaoirleach because he is Chairman of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. I would like a copy of the minutes of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges to know who proposed it and how it was discussed. As a Member, I believe I am entitled to that. Otherwise, I will make a freedom of information request for it. That committee should be run by the Members and chaired by the Cathaoirleach. With regard to outside influence——

Has the Senator a question for the Deputy Leader?

Yes. Can we have a debate on political standards and fairness? Can we also have a debate on the way in which the treaty is being handled? The Referendum Commission was not established within the proper timeframe and now its members seem to be acting as Supreme Court judges. They are not just giving information on the treaty, but are telling us what the Supreme Court would say if certain issues were raised. That is beyond its remit and commission members should know that.

We are entitled to respect for this House. I see a situation growing in which some Members and some groups in this House are, apparently, co-operating with the Taoiseach's desire to close this House down. Every time we restrict speaking and every time we refuse to be democratic, we are denying our own heritage — the thing for which we were created and for which we have a distinguished record — namely, the proper scrutiny and analysis of legislation. We are being deliberately frustrated in this. This House, as a talking shop, is being effectively shut down. I would like to see a little more respect for it.

I do not see any problem with getting 60 copies of the treaty in my pigeonhole, because I will distribute them around Donegal. Many households may have got them and thrown them in the bin.

Of course the Senator does not, but they are at taxpayers' expense. Who sent them?

Senator Harte, without interruption.

I have no problem with getting them and if Senator Norris gives me his, I will use them.

Has Senator Harte a question for the Leader?

I will autograph them for the Senator.

Thank you. I have a question related to the environment. Many people go out walking, jogging and cycling and in the summer time in particular they notice how many cans and bottles are on the sides of the roads, country roads in particular. We are trying to attract tourists here. In countries like Germany and other European countries the practice is — like we did years ago — to charge a refundable deposit on bottles and cans. The Minister should consider reintroducing this. In Germany, the deposit is 30 cent and this is returned when the can or bottle is returned, which cuts out throwing them away. Years ago here, people collected cans and bottles and returned them to shops for a refund. The Germans, Swiss and French are environmentally correct and charge people a deposit. Will the Minister, if he is in this House in the near future, consider putting a refundable levy on cans and bottles so that they are not chucked over hedges or into parks because it is too much bother to recycle them? This waste is a cost for local authorities. The issue is dealt with efficiently in Europe and we should look at doing the same.

There is a need here and in Europe for a proper jobs plan to get people back to work. We need immediate, realistic and deliverable plans that will create jobs for all of those who are currently out of work. It is interesting that there is a shift in the European debate away from austerity, cuts and the kind of approach that has been adopted up to now towards a focus on the need for investment and growth. There is an opportunity for this House to play an important role in that debate. I do not see why we cannot have a full day's debate in the House on the need for a growth strategy and agenda. We should even invite in parliamentarians from outside this jurisdiction and from across Europe and trade unionists and business people. We need to know what exactly Europe means when it speaks of a growth agenda and we need to see tangible plans from the Government with regard to what that will mean.

There is a responsibility on every party and grouping to put forward proposals. We launched our proposals yesterday and they are not that dissimilar to those called for by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and SIPTU. I am sure there are many other ideas from other political parties also. Irrespective of the referendum campaign which will take its course over the next number of weeks, given what is happening and the need for growth across the eurozone, there is an opportunity for this House to play a reading role in developing proposals. I urge the deputy Leader to take this on board. It would be very useful for this House to invite in parliamentarians from across Europe who have ideas on how we can create jobs, investment, growth and real stability in Europe. We should also invite in trade unionists and business leaders and anybody else who has ideas to contribute to what would be a worthwhile exercise and debate in this House.

I wish to raise the issue of youth mental health. A survey carried out by Headstrong under the auspices of Dr. Barbara Dooley from UCD has found that one in three young people has experienced mental health problems. This is serious. This significant survey of over 14,000 teenagers and young adults found that many young people who had engaged in harmful drinking behaviour or been classed as alcohol dependent sustained a significantly higher element of mental stress. Some 7% of young adults reported a suicide attempt. This is alarming. Dr. Dooley has said that we must see youth mental health as a national priority. It is a priority. I read a report from Pieta House some time ago and it has seen a 93% increase in referrals to it this year of young people for self harm. This is and should be a priority.

I am calling for the Minister for Health to come to the House to discuss this. Perhaps the debate could be linked with the issue raised by Senator Colm Burke. The Department of Health, the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government should come together and we could have some joined up thinking on this. The report found that if everybody had one supportive adult, it would not cost the earth to put something in place that would ensure young people had someone to talk to. I call on the Minister for Health to produce a policy for youth mental health. It is a national issue and emergency and we need to do something about it. I call for the Minister come to the House to make a statement on the issue.

I wish to second Senator Crown's proposal that Mary Patricia Cole be honoured in some way in her native county of Cavan. As one of the two Cavan Senators present in the Chamber, I will pursue that.

Will the Senator be generous and include Professor Walton also?

He was not a native of Cavan, unfortunately, but I would be glad to assist Senator Norris with whatever proposal he has in that regard.

While addressing the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly in this Chamber on Monday last, the Taoiseach, in response to a question posed, stated that the dissident republican and loyalist paramilitaries continued to pose a real threat not only to Northern Ireland, but to this State. This is the same Taoiseach who presided over a Government decision to close Dún Uí Néill Army barracks in Cavan town just over a month and a half ago. I wish to propose an amendment to the Order of Business that the Minister for Defence, Deputy Alan Shatter, come into the House today to outline the reason Dún Uí Néill barracks, the most economical barracks under the jurisdiction of the forces here and the most economical barracks in Europe, costing a little over €250,000 a year to run, was closed. Why did the Government take the decision to close this barracks while it knows that a significant threat remains? This threat has even been outlined by the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland. Why did the Government take a decision to close a modern Army barracks located just eight miles from the Cavan-Fermanagh Border?

Fianna Fáil closed ten.

It is all right for Senator Coghlan shrouded in his——

Senator Coghlan, please.

We missed Senator Wilson in McKee Barracks this morning.

This is about the security of the Border area and the State.

Even though the Taoiseach knew there was a real threat of dissident paramilitaries in Northern Ireland——

Senator Wilson can make those points during the debate.

——he allowed the Minister for Defence to close a modern barracks located just eight miles from the Cavan-Fermanagh Border. If there was a security alert along that part of the Border, security personnel would take six hours to arrive there from the nearest barracks in Athlone. What chaos would arise in the meantime? I demand that the Minister for Defence come into the House today to answer that question.

I do not want to trivialise what Senator Wilson has said because I too have concerns about the barracks closure in Clonmel. It is fair to say, however, that soldiers have stopped riding horseback a long time ago. They will not require six hours to travel from Athlone to Cavan in any circumstance.

How long would it take to bring heavy artillery and personnel from Athlone to Cavan?

Do not be so silly, Senator Landy.

Senator Landy without interruption. Has the Senator a question for the Leader?

Several months ago my group in the Seanad raised the issue of assistance for small businesses. One of the matters discussed was procurement and public tendering. The Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Perry, was forthcoming in regard to the need to assist small businesses by keeping public tenders in this country to the greatest extent possible. My colleague, Senator Kelly, pointed out that tenders for major roadwork projects were being awarded to companies from Spain, Greece, Turkey and other places. The Minister of State advised us that public procurement meetings were being held across the country. I ask that he intercede with the management of the national procurement service to arrange an information session for Deputies and Senators in the AV room so that we can advise the people from small businesses——

And public libraries.

——who are telling us it is no easier to win tenders. We need to close this circle through an information day so that we can have full disclosure of all the information we require to advise the public.

A number of us attended the commemoration at Arbour Hill of those who died for Ireland in 1916. I mention this because of the pride I have in our Army. The professionalism on display when the President laid the wreath this morning leaves me with little doubt that the Army deserves huge respect.

Over the weekend the Irish Pharmacy Union issued a statement about fatalities from cardiovascular disease and the fact that we can do something about it. The union called for a heart disease screening programme to be implemented. A considerable number of people die from heart attacks and strokes but making defibrillators available would save a large proportion of these people from death. It would not necessarily cost the State anything if every organisation employing 100 people or more made at least one defibrillator available. This is an initiative that has been pursued in a number of countries in Europe and it is something we could introduce here in order to save lives.

Yesterday NAMA came in for considerable criticism in this House. I have seen some of the good work the agency is doing behind the scenes, for example, in making developments safe. It is providing money through the financial institutions but it cannot say this publicly because of data protection laws covering its debtors.

There is exciting news with the Volvo race returning to Galway this summer. It will be in Galway between 30 June and 9 July. I can promise sun, magic and amazing times. We expect 750,000 people to visit Galway and it has been confirmed this morning that one third of the world media in attendance will come from China. The Taoiseach recently paid an exciting and beneficial visit to China and the Minister of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Coveney, made announcements regarding exports.

I ask the Deputy Leader to arrange for the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to come to the House to speak about the measures that are being implemented by his Department and how we can address the issue of youth unemployment. Perhaps there is also a Chinese dimension in the solution to youth unemployment. It is a cause for concern that 30% of our young people are unemployed. Youth unemployment is running wild across Europe, with rates of 50% in Spain and Italy. This House must be concerned about the issue given the effect that it had on world history in the last century.

You cleared Eyre Square this morning.

The Joint Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture is at present meeting representatives from the BAI and RTE regarding the report on the Fr. Reynolds case. I offer my apologies to the Deputy Leader because I will be going to that meeting as soon as I have finished speaking. I call for a debate on the report. On Monday the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly discussed RTE in this Chamber. It would be appropriate for the Seanad to have a similar discussion. RTE faces numerous challenges, not least of which is in the financial area. Question also arise in regard to impartiality in politics——

You can say that again.

——social issues and religion. The BAI report reminded us that section 39(1) of the Broadcasting Act 2009 requires broadcaster to ensure:

the broadcast treatment of current affairs, including matters which are either of public controversy or the subject of current public debate, is fair to all interests concerned and that the broadcast matter is presented in an objective and impartial manner and without any expression of his or her own views

The Act also requires that the privacy of individuals is not unreasonably encroached on. Clearly I did not study the legislation as thoroughly as I ought to have done while it was before this House. It does not reflect the RTE that exists today. The Act's requirements are honoured in the breach more than in the observance. We have seen many pro-abortion people being promoted on RTE but last week a group of women who regretted their abortions had to take a full page advertisement in the newspapers because they cannot get the same visibility. My own party raised the issue of RTE's bias against us. Members will be familiar with the case involving a "Morning Ireland" presenter who had to be removed because of her lack of impartiality. This occurred following revelations published in a newspaper.

Is the Senator looking for a debate?

I am asking for a specific debate on our national broadcaster, which has specific responsibilities and which is funded by the hard-pressed taxpayers of this country. We should expect better and we should get better.

We should have a full debate on the media.

I am glad Senator Keane drew our attention to the Headstrong survey. This is an issue which I have raised regularly and I will not stop doing so until we make an impact. Headstrong surveyed 14,000 young people in this country and found that one in three had mental health problems. One fifth had considered self-harm and six out of ten were stressed about their financial situation. The economic situation of the country is affecting our young people. The alcohol consumption of almost 60% of 17 to 25-year-olds fell outside the normal parameters set down by the World Health Organization. There is a clear connection between alcohol consumption and mental health. It is well known in adults and it cannot be denied in respect of our youths. I join Senator Cáit Keane in calling for a debate on youth mental health. The clear link with alcohol is undeniable. We must have an urgent, joined-up approach. Monkey sees as monkey does and there is a clear problem with drink in this country and in our culture. Unless we tackle it in a serious way in the short term, the health and mental health implications will be insurmountable. I call for an urgent debate with various Ministers, as Senator Keane suggested. We need it next week. I have been talking about this since the day I was elected but something must be done. The Seanad should be the House where we really tackle this issue.

Aontaím leis an méid atá ráite ag na Seanadóirí Noone agus Keane maidir le sláinte mheabhrach na ndaoine óga. Tá sé fíor-thábachtach go mbeadh díospóireacht againn. Lest we be dismayed about the power of the Seanad and its Senators, a number of Senators wield great power. Yesterday, Senators Healy Eames and Mullins called for the Occupy Galway encampment to be removed. Lo and behold, at four o'clock this morning it was removed. That is power.

It raises issues and questions. This morning I sought clarification from Galway City Council because we need a debate on peaceful protest. I was at a joint policing committee meeting in Galway city a few months ago when the chief superintendent categorically said that the encampment was not breaking the law. No one at the meeting, politicians or city council representative, was able to say which law was being broken. The chief superintendent has since been promoted and I congratulate him on it. We have a new chief superintendent and apparently the Occupy Galway group is now in violation of the law. I have sought clarification on the law under which they were removed and I am led to believe the legislation is the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act. I would welcome the attendance of the Minister for Justice and Equality because it is important to have a debate on the right to protest and on what is peaceful protest.

The Lord Mayor of Galway was very keen on silencing people. I noticed that myself.

We see plenty of protest and my fear is that we will see much more. I welcome the Volvo Ocean Race coming to Galway, which is very important. However, the right of people to protest should not be overrun and it would appear we are learning much from the Chinese through the delegations sent over and back.

The Labour Party used to be very good at protesting.

Hopefully the Chinese notion of clearing away protesters before the media come into town is not being taken up by this Government.

I would not claim to have the amount of influence that Senator Ó Clochartaigh is attributing to me——

Senator Mullins should be honest.

——but I welcome the fact that the illegal occupation of Eyre Square was ended peacefully this morning. I compliment the Garda Síochána on the manner in which it was handled. It is a much used amenity site in the centre of Galway city and it was being illegally occupied. It was in the interests of everyone that it is ended.

I support my colleague, Senator Catherine Noone, on her call for an urgent debate on the impact of alcohol on young people and their mental health. I support her call that it is held as a matter of urgency. Many people are exercised about this issue and it would be timely to have a debate.

I welcome the announcement by the Rehab Group to create 750 additional jobs over the next three years, of which 400 will be based in Ireland. Some of the jobs displaced by Rehab in Galway in recent times, which was highlighted by Senator Fidelma Healy Eames, will be replaced as a result of the positive announcement. I compliment the Rehab Group on providing health, social care, education and training services to 56,000 people in Ireland. It is fantastic to see the group expanding its range of services and creating much-needed employment. I hope some of the employment will be created in Galway, where there was great disappointment when jobs in the Rehab Group were lost recently.

I second the amendment to the Order of Business by Senator Diarmuid Wilson. I ask the Deputy Leader if she can ascertain from the Minister for Justice and Equality what has happened to the much talked about appointment of a military judge. In a debate last July, I was told I was delaying the process and that if it was not sorted out within a number of weeks, the entire military system of justice would come crashing down. The former Minister for Defence, Tony Killeen, was condemned for not acting swiftly before he left office almost 18 months ago. Senator Wilson talked about the closure of the Cavan and Clonmel barracks and during those heated debates I questioned whether there was a necessity for a military judge. A military judge must be at least Circuit Court status and I see the cost per year at €500,000. We have an army that is diminishing year by year and perhaps an ordinary Circuit Court judge could be seconded for two or three weeks to do the necessary work. My understanding is that a couple of weeks work covers it. In a similar vein, the admiralty division of the High Court is dealt with by an ordinary High Court judge. Admiralty issues are rare and military court-martial and complaints are as scarce as teeth in a duck. The Government should reflect on the cost, leaving out the political appointment. It will cost the State €500,000 a year to do work that a Circuit Court judge could do if seconded for one week each quarter. Has the appointment been proceeded with, what are the costs and is it really necessary, having regard to the fact that the €500,000 could be spent on the retention of the Cavan barracks in these dire economic times?

Senator Darragh O'Brien raised the issue of the presence of the Taoiseach in the Chamber. I am delighted to inform the House that the Leader has been in discussion with the Taoiseach, who has given us an undertaking that he will be in the House in June to take questions on Northern Ireland and other issues.

He can listen to us.

As Senator Coghlan said, that was always the intention. Senator Darragh O'Brien also raised the question of mortgage arrears. Yesterday, we had a good debate with the Minister of State, Deputy Hayes, who referred to the personal insolvency Bill. The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality of which I am a member, has held hearings on the Bill and produced a report. Critical issues will be addressed in that Bill which we all eagerly await as part of the solution to deal with the very serious issue of mortgage arrears. Senator Darragh O'Brien spoke about circulating a motion to group leaders and he is entitled to do so. Senator O'Brien also raised the Greek situation and he sought clarification on the Government's position on Greece. I will respond on behalf of the Government which recognises the political situation in Greece is very serious and it is a stark reminder to us all of the importance of political stability. Many of those who are now opposing the stability treaty argued at one point that this State should follow the example of Greece and we must now recognise that such a course of action would be disastrous for Ireland and disastrous for any recovery. The Irish Government is supporting the strong statement overnight by Jean-Claude Juncker, the chair of the eurogroup, who spoke of the unshakeable desire to keep Greece within the eurozone. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, participated in the meeting yesterday of the eurogroup which spoke of looking forward to the swift formation of a new Greek Government to take ownership of the bailout programme and which would have a sufficient parliamentary majority to fully implement the policy.

It is a bit of a reminder of the lack of democracy.

The situation in Greece serves to remind us of the dangers of political instability and it is perhaps a reminder also of the——

(Interruptions).

——difficulties faced by countries where there is no clear programme for recovery. In Ireland we are trying to ensure——

——we stick to a clear programme of recovery——

Senator Bacik without interruption, please.

——and economic growth. That is the Government position on Greece. The Government is committed to maintaining Ireland's presence in a strong and stable eurozone.

Senator Coghlan dealt with some of the points raised by Senator O'Brien. In response to issues raised by Senator Coghlan and others yesterday, we are having the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly debate tomorrow, as I announced on the Order of Business and this will be taken for one hour in between the items previously listed on the schedule.

Senator van Turnhout raised the issue of the missing children hotline which was also raised by Senator Quinn yesterday. I responded yesterday to say that we had a debate in the House previously and the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, promised——

It was the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Fitzgerald.

I stand corrected. She assured us in October that funding had been allocated. We had all hoped very much that the hotline would be operational by now. I am not sure of the reason for the delay. The Senator will be aware that the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality held recent hearings on the issue of missing persons and it issued a report on missing persons. Part of that report sought a missing children day and also that we would recognise a missing persons day. A number of initiatives are possible, as well as the hotline. I agree that we should ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Fitzgerald, to come to the House. One of the issues she might address with us would be that issue.

Senator Crown spoke about Professor Ernest Walton and Mary Patricia Cole and this can be followed up with the relevant councils. Senator Moloney asked about the missing children's hotline and the re-introduction of the orthodontic treatment scheme. This is an important issue which might be worth raising as a matter on the Adjournment in the first instance but we can also raise it with the Minister for Health within a more far-reaching debate.

Senator Leyden raised the issue of communications. I think what he said may be misleading the House on the question of who controls RTE. The RTE board members are today attending a meeting of the Joint Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, along with the BAI. Senator Leyden's colleague has pointed this fact out and I was aware that they have been quite a number of hours before the committee. They will answer to that committee and it is nonsense to suggest that RTE is under the control of the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, or any other Minister for that matter. However, I have previously answered Senator Leyden and other colleagues that the House will be looking for a wide-ranging debate on the media with the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, before the end of the summer term. A number of Members have sought such a debate. We held that debate on 22 February but I know the Minister would be happy to come here again but I suggest we leave until a little later towards the end of the summer recess.

Senator Burke raised the issue of centres for young people and the support they provide for return to education. He suggested the responsibility for this area falls between Departments. We might seek to have the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs come to the House for a wide-ranging debate on issues pertaining to children and young people. She is the best Minister to deal with that issue.

Senator Norris raised the issue of Private Members' time. It may not have been clear from the schedule but statements on symphysiotomy are being taken in the Labour Party Private Members' time at our initiative.

I thank Senator Bacik for that clarification but I really must point out that it is not in the time that is usually allocated for Private Members' time. There is nothing on the official schedule to tell me that it is not Private Members' time and it was therefore perfectly legitimate for me to reflect this.

Please resume your seat, Senator Norris.

I would like some honest information from time to time.

For the information of the House the times today were somewhat different. An Arbour Hill commemoration ceremony took place this morning, as the Senator will be aware——

That does not affect the afternoon.

We have had a number of different issues to do with the timing today.

Senator Norris also raised the issue of 60 copies of the treaty circulated to Members. Like Senator Harte I will certainly be distributing those——

It was not the treaty; it was a pro-treaty propaganda leaflet.

Please, Senator Norris, allow the Deputy Leader to continue without interruption.

An information guide on the treaty which has been circulated——

By whom? I asked by whom.

Senator Norris, no interruptions. Please allow the Deputy Leader to continue uninterrupted.

——which will be of great use and assistance to Members in distributing to constituents who are looking for neutral information on the treaty.

Finally I will deal with the issue raised by Deputy Norris on some matters of procedure in the House. He asked in particular about the Leader's practice of not responding on the Order of Business to colleagues who have left the Chamber without doing him the courtesy of informing him they would be absent. I am just following that practice. I raised this yesterday at the start of my response to the Order of Business and I seemed to get universal approval. It is a matter of courtesy to individual Members of the House and it is a matter of courtesy in particular to those Members who have sat in here throughout the Order of Business and have remained to hear the Leader reply. I am simply following the Leader's practice. This can be raised at the——

(Interruptions).

——Committee on Procedure and Privileges.

The Senator is wrong.

In addition, the CPP——

You were not here so you would not know.

Senator Norris, please allow the Deputy Leader to continue without interruption. Please, silence in the House.

This is like a circus.

There is a distinct lack of respect for individual Senators where other Senators insist on interrupting them and that includes Senator Norris. I ask that we try to have a little respect and courtesy for each other in this House because this will enhance respect for the House generally. I refer to the new policy adopted by the CPP of spokespersons not sharing time and I, for one, would be very happy to review that decision. Senator Mullins is the representative of the Independent Senators' group on the CPP and he or anyone else may raise the matter. I can raise it myself at the next CPP meeting.

Senator Harte asked about the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and a deposit on glass bottles and cans. This is a good idea and perhaps a cross-party motion could be agreed. Senator Cullinane asked for a debate on a jobs plan after the referendum. We can debate some of those points tomorrow during the debate on the stability treaty. The Government has a significant and substantive action plan on jobs which has been developed and I am sure we can have a Minister in the House to debate it with us at a later date. The Senator's suggestion of inviting parliamentarians from other countries is an interesting one and which could be explored at the CPP. We have a policy of inviting distinguished speakers so we might include the suggestion under that policy.

Senator Keane asked about youth mental health and the Headstrong survey. This could be included in a debate with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when she comes to the House since it concerns young people. I am pleased to hear Senator Wilson seconding the proposal to honour Mary Patricia Cole in Cavan. He also proposed an amendment to the Order of Business to have the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Deputy Shatter, come to the House today to speak about the closure of Cavan Barracks. I cannot agree to that proposal. It would be more appropriate as a matter on the Adjournment. In addition, I happen to know that the Minister is attending today at the justice committee dealing with a number of issues relevant to his defence portfolio, in particular, a review of the Reserve Defence Force and the report by Frank Callinan into the deaths of three Irish soldiers in Lebanon. The Minister will be attending the committee for a significant time today.

Senator Landy dealt with the issue of public procurement and its relevance for small business. He had previously raised the issue of the lending policies to small business of the banks. I wrote to the Minister of State, Deputy Perry, as a consequence, in order to arrange a briefing for colleagues in the audiovisual room. It is a good idea to organise a similar meeting about the issue of public procurement.

Senator Quinn spoke about the importance of defibrillators being available in workplaces. I think there is one in Leinster House although I stand to be corrected but we should raise awareness about this matter.

Senator Noone referred to the Headstrong survey and the drinking culture and she has raised this issue a number of times in the past. There was a debate during Private Members' time——

Yes, we had a debate on low-cost selling of alcohol.

The Minister of State, Deputy Shortall, took that debate and dealt with her very specific recommendations for reform. It could form part of the debate with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Fitzgerald. Senator Ó Clochartaigh spoke about the power of the Seanad. It would be worthwhile having a debate on public order and policing, and we can try to arrange for that. There is quite a lot of public order legislation currently so it might be worth having a good debate on this aspect.

Senator Mullins also welcomed the news about Galway.

He supported Senator Noone and welcomed the Rehab jobs announcement, which we would all share.

Senator O'Donovan raised the issue of the military judge, which could also be raised at today's meeting of the Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality. The Minister will be dealing with defence matters there today. It might also be worth raising it as an Adjournment matter.

Well done, Senator. That was a good, comprehensive response.

Senator Wilson has moved an amendment to the Order of Business, "That a debate on the closure of Dún Uí Neill barracks in County Cavan be taken today." Is the amendment being pressed?

While I appreciate what the Deputy Leader has said, I understand the Government wants to hide the Ministers, Deputy Shatter and Deputy Hogan, until after the referendum. However, I want them to attend the House because this matter concerns the security of the State.

Is the amendment being pressed?

Amendment put.
The Seanad divided: Tá, 16; Níl, 32.

  • Cullinane, David.
  • Daly, Mark.
  • Leyden, Terry.
  • MacSharry, Marc.
  • Mooney, Paschal.
  • Norris, David.
  • Ó Clochartaigh, Trevor.
  • Ó Domhnaill, Brian.
  • O’Brien, Darragh.
  • O’Donovan, Denis.
  • O’Sullivan, Ned.
  • Quinn, Feargal.
  • Reilly, Kathryn.
  • Walsh, Jim.
  • White, Mary M.
  • Wilson, Diarmuid.

Níl

  • Bacik, Ivana.
  • Bradford, Paul.
  • Brennan, Terry.
  • Burke, Colm.
  • Clune, Deirdre.
  • Coghlan, Eamonn.
  • Coghlan, Paul.
  • Comiskey, Michael.
  • Conway, Martin.
  • D’Arcy, Michael.
  • Gilroy, John.
  • Harte, Jimmy.
  • Hayden, Aideen.
  • Healy Eames, Fidelma.
  • Heffernan, James.
  • Henry, Imelda.
  • Higgins, Lorraine.
  • Keane, Cáit.
  • Kelly, John.
  • Landy, Denis.
  • Mac Conghail, Fiach.
  • Moloney, Marie.
  • Moran, Mary.
  • Mulcahy, Tony.
  • Mullins, Michael.
  • Noone, Catherine.
  • O’Brien, Mary Ann.
  • O’Keeffe, Susan.
  • O’Neill, Pat.
  • Sheahan, Tom.
  • van Turnhout, Jillian.
  • Whelan, John.
Tellers: Tá, Senators Ned O’Sullivan and Diarmuid Wilson; Níl, Senators Paul Coghlan and Susan O’Keeffe.
Amendment declared lost.
Question put: "That the Order of Business be agreed to."
The Seanad divided: Tá, 34; Níl, 14.

  • Bacik, Ivana.
  • Bradford, Paul.
  • Brennan, Terry.
  • Burke, Colm.
  • Clune, Deirdre.
  • Coghlan, Eamonn.
  • Coghlan, Paul.
  • Comiskey, Michael.
  • Conway, Martin.
  • D’Arcy, Jim.
  • D’Arcy, Michael.
  • Gilroy, John.
  • Harte, Jimmy.
  • Hayden, Aideen.
  • Healy Eames, Fidelma.
  • Heffernan, James.
  • Henry, Imelda.
  • Higgins, Lorraine.
  • Keane, Cáit.
  • Kelly, John.
  • Landy, Denis.
  • Mac Conghail, Fiach.
  • Moloney, Marie.
  • Moran, Mary.
  • Mulcahy, Tony.
  • Mullins, Michael.
  • Noone, Catherine.
  • O’Brien, Mary Ann.
  • O’Keeffe, Susan.
  • O’Neill, Pat.
  • Quinn, Feargal.
  • Sheahan, Tom.
  • van Turnhout, Jillian.
  • Whelan, John.

Níl

  • Cullinane, David.
  • Daly, Mark.
  • Leyden, Terry.
  • MacSharry, Marc.
  • Mooney, Paschal.
  • Ó Clochartaigh, Trevor.
  • Ó Domhnaill, Brian.
  • O’Brien, Darragh.
  • O’Donovan, Denis.
  • O’Sullivan, Ned.
  • Reilly, Kathryn.
  • Walsh, Jim.
  • White, Mary M.
  • Wilson, Diarmuid.
Tellers: Tá, Senators Paul Coghlan and Susan O’Keeffe; Níl, Senators Ned O’Sullivan and Diarmuid Wilson..
Question declared carried.
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