The Order of Business is No. 1, the Gaeltacht Bill 2012 — Committee Stage (Resumed), to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business and to conclude not later than 4 p.m., if not previously concluded, and business to be interrupted between 1.45 p.m. and 2.15 p.m. Members should note that since last Thursday, eight hours in total have been provided for Committee Stage of this Bill. Yesterday, we spent three quarters of an hour debating whether "shall" or "may" should be included in the Bill. I ask Members to focus on it to allow us conclude at 4 p.m.
Order of Business
Yesterday, a number of Members of this House attended the 4 July celebrations in the Phoenix Park. My colleague, Senator Leyden, paid tribute to our American cousins and wished them well on their Independence Day celebrations.
Following on that, the US ambassador, Ambassador Rooney, who is a great friend of Ireland, is quoted in today's newspapers as saying that US investors continue to have confidence in Ireland and in the Irish economy. He went on to say that he had travelled throughout Ireland and had visited every county in Ireland. I wish the same could be said of IDA Ireland. Two weeks ago, our finance spokesperson in the other House tabled a parliamentary question on the policies of IDA Ireland. The question concerned the manner in which it goes about its business and whether it attempts to disburse much needed jobs across the Irish economy rather than focusing, as the statistics have indicated, on Dublin, Cork and, to a lesser extent, Galway while ignoring key areas of the country, including my own area of the north west. The north west has haemorrhaged young people, many whom are now contemplating their future after college in an economy that is failing to provide jobs.
I raised the issue at the time but I wish to return to it today because I believe we have reached a crisis point. It is important that the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation comes to the House to outline the reality of industrial policy as distinct from the perception of it. The perception is that the IDA and the Government are doing a wonderful job in attracting high technology companies into Ireland but when one examines the figures one discovers that large parts of the country are not even receiving visits. My own county has not been visited despite the fact that clusters of industrial units were established by successive administrations over the past 30 or 40 years in practically every county. Many of these units are now lying idle, with whins and thistles growing outside. There has been one IDA visit to County Roscommon, where Senator Leyden lives. In his response to my previous inquiry on the matter, the Leader bemoaned the fact that Waterford has received few visits despite suffering severely from the economic downturn.
The main plank of this Government's policy platform was jobs creation and solving youth unemployment. If the driving engine of that policy is to be the IDA, it is vital that we know its policies and whether they are initiated internally or are being driven by the Government. I focus on this specific issue because we will begin summer recess in a couple of weeks. Young people are now contemplating their future. I would like to think that the hope and confidence conveyed by the US ambassador could also be conveyed by the Government. We have to build hope and confidence in the young people of this country if we are not to lose yet another generation to England, Australia, Canada and America. The consequences of repeating the mistake of previous generations, when the country lost real talent, do not bear thinking about.
Like Senator Mooney, I wish the US ambassador well and note that yesterday was US Independence Day. We have had a positive interaction with the US ambassador this week. We appreciated his presence in the Chamber on Tuesday during the discussions with the representative of the Orange Order. The British ambassador was also present. It was good to see representatives from various embassies in the Chamber, along with a number of representatives from the press.
Senator Mooney is being somewhat unfair to the IDA and Enterprise Ireland, particularly in light of the thousands of new jobs that have been created in recent months through the foreign direct investment they have supported. The success of the IDA and Enterprise Ireland in attracting investment has been noted in the House on numerous occasions, most recently by the Minister for Finance in Tuesday's debate on finance. It is important to receive positive indications of continued support from the US ambassador and other countries where investments are being made. One positive development in recent months was the trade mission to France by Irish food producers. It is not often appreciated that Irish food producers have a huge market in France and other European countries.
I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on the Middle East when we return in October. The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade has been in the House on several occasions to discuss foreign policy generally and we have often focused on the Middle East but in light of this morning's report from Amnesty International indicating worrying abuses of human rights in Libya under the new regime, we should be concerned to keep the situation under review by holding a debate on Libya and the changes that have occurred across the Middle East following the Arab spring. I would welcome a debate of that nature and I am sure other Senators would agree.
We could discuss the American use of drones.
We could also discuss the ongoing situation in Palestine.
Last week I spoke about the appalling advertising campaign by Youth Defence and my efforts to persuade the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland to deal with it in the same way that it deals with other commercial advertising campaigns. Various sanctions are available to it, such as requiring advertisers to amend or withdraw their campaigns. The authority has since informed me that the advertisements are outside its remit because the campaign is not commercial and I have now raised the issue directly with the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. This is not a matter of censorship. Anyone who uses commercial advertising spaces should be subject to the same monitoring regime and citizens should be able to submit complaints if they so wish. That is a fair position to take and I understand that hundreds of complaints have been made to the authority on the matter. It is unfortunate that it regards the campaign as lying outside its remit but, if that is the case, its remit must be changed.
Senators may be aware the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government reconvened the forum on philanthropy in June 2011 and set it the task of increasing the level of philanthropic and charitable giving, along with developing fund raising capacity and best practice across the sector. The forum's findings and recommendations are contained in a report which was launched yesterday in the National Library by the Taoiseach and the Minister. The report makes four main recommendations which will be implemented over the next four years. The recommendations are as follows: a national giving campaign aimed at the public, high net worth individuals and corporations in Ireland; improving the fiscal environment and incentivising greater giving; developing better fund raising capacity, education and training among not-for-profit organisations; and creating a national social innovation fund supported by the Government and the philanthropic sector.
The publication of the report and the objectives set out in it must be welcomed and I encourage the Government to implement its recommendations at the earliest opportunity. As the Minister noted yesterday, while there is a strong awareness of the value that not-for-profit organisations bring to our quality life, the economic impact of the sector is often overlooked. The not-for-profit sector in Ireland employs more than 100,000 people and has an annual turnover of €5.7 billion, which means it is bigger than the IT and pharmaceutical sectors. The not-for-profit and charity sector generates €3.7 billion in wages and salaries and €290 million in employers' PRSI per annum. Moreover, funding channelled into the sector goes straight to work in every city, town and parish across country, thereby boosting local employment.
However, I fear the Government is putting the cart before the horse. Noticeable by its absence from the report is a plan to make the not-for-profit and charity sector more transparent. When pressed, the report's authors acknowledged the absence of a regulator for the charity sector. Until a regulator is established along the lines provided for by the Charities Act 2009 the sector's potential will be hampered because the public and the corporate sector will not have full confidence that the moneys given are spent properly. Once again, Ireland is behind the fence in this area because England, Scotland and Northern Ireland have already established fully functioning regulators.
With each passing week, services are being cut and we have no idea where the waste is being produced. Even though the budget for St. Michael's House was cut by €6 million it still has to pay €300,000 in increments this year. Organisations like St. Michael's House have to find savings somewhere but they cannot cut pay or make anyone redundant because of the public sector Croke Park agreement. The Brothers of Charity in Limerick stopped paying increments but the Labour Court ruled that withholding them represented a pay cut and ordered that they be reinstated retrospectively at a cost of €2 million to the charity.
Many charities have evolved into big businesses over the past few years but a statutory body has not yet been established to regulate them. In 2008 and 2009 the Houses of the Oireachtas went to huge efforts to introduce the Charities Act in order to provide the transparency and accountability which are badly needed to enhance public trust and confidence. I call on the Leader to ask the Minister when we are going to revisit that legislation and when will it be enacted.
I share some of Senator Mooney's sentiments in regard to the IDA. There is much concern in the mid-west in regard to the future role of the IDA in terms of the recent announcement that Shannon Development's remit in respect of foreign direct investment is to be transferred to it. That said, in terms of what has been happening during the past couple of years it will, I suppose, be considered an improvement. There is merit in our having a debate on the IDA's regional policy. While I acknowledge that there has been significant job creation and announcements in recent months, a number of them have been in the cities, in particular in Dublin. We are not getting the same level of job announcements on a regional basis in places such as Leitrim, Clare and so on from where thousands of people are emigrating to Australia because they cannot get work and do not want to spend a lifetime on the dole. There is merit in our having a debate on the role of the IDA, how it does its business, its action plan and its decision making process in terms of visits. I acknowledge that Ambassador Rooney, who has Clare connections, spends a great deal of time there, where he is always welcome.
I agree also with many of the sentiments expressed by Senator Mary Ann O'Brien today. I believe a charities regulator is essential to the proper management and corporate governance of charities. It is appalling that people who have jobs continue to receive increments while service users are suffering. I call on the Leader to ask the Minister of State with responsibility for disability issues, Deputy Lynch, to publish the value for money audit which has been sitting on her desk now for almost six weeks.
On the Leader's point about the debate yesterday on "shall" versus "may", for Senators who were not present, it was an important debate. The amendment, which I did not table but supported, sought to amend the Bill by substituting the Minister "may" do something to promote the Irish language, as provided for in the Bill, with the Minister "shall" do something about the Irish language. We wanted the Minister to be held accountable in this regard. It was not a semantic debate. A serious point was being made in regard to the responsibility of Ministers to the courts and the Houses of the Oireachtas.
The Gaeltacht Bill is the worst prepared and worst intentioned Bill to come before this House in a long time. We have identified numerous faults in it and there has been no regulatory impact assessment of it. We are trying to promote the Irish language and the Minister is trying to abolish the democratic election of people to Údarás na Gaeltachta because the Department does not want to be accountable. It is obvious, given the number of notes passed to the Minister by a tribe of civil servants, that that is what is going on. The democratic people in this House should protest against it. We are not deliberating delaying the legislation. There are serious issues to be addressed. I fear for the language if the Department of the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht becomes as unaccountable as it wishes to be in terms of the legislation providing that the Minister "may" do things and its getting rid of democratically elected people.
I note the publication of more evidence in regard to our problems with mathematics. I am sure Members will agree that what we do not need in this regard is another committee. While I accept the bona fides of the Minister, Deputy Quinn, and Minister of State, Deputy Sherlock, what we need is action, in particular in respect of teacher training because having unqualified people teaching mathematics does not serve us well.
I support the comments made by the Minister, Deputy Howlin, and Senator O'Brien, in regard to allowances and expenses. We need to get this under control. According to the Book of Estimates 2012 travel and subsistence allowances in respect of the Departments of the Taoiseach, Finance and the Environment, Community and Local Government, and the appeals commissioners have increased by 18%, 34%, 53% and 21%, respectively. I am sure the Leader will agree that is unacceptable at a time when we are all facing constrained budgets. I support the call by the Minister, Deputy Howlin, for a full evaluation in this regard and call on him to ensure that the base year for 2013 is the year when the recession commenced, otherwise we could have a situation whereby next year's allowances will be cut by 10% despite having been increased over the years by 23%. It appears the travel and subsistence budget has built up a war chest at the expense of an economy that is in serious recession and wherein money is being cut back in all types of areas. I call on the Leader to ask the Minister, Deputy Howlin, to make a presentation to us on the reason the travel and subsistence budget in some Departments is growing by multiples of the rate of inflation and how this might be restrained in 2013.
However, they are going after Deputy Joe Higgins.
I share some of the sentiments expressed by Senator Mooney in regard to employment and the IDA and, as mentioned by others, its regional policy. However, I suggest to the Senator that there is, perhaps, a bit of rewriting of history going on in that while this Government did come into office with a pledge for jobs, that pledge is subject to the mess left behind when it took office. One cannot create anything until an attempt has been made to clear up that mess.
The National Treasury Management Agency is today putting its toe back into the water, which conjures up an interesting picture. It is taking a long time to repair the damage which undoubtedly was created by the previous Government. Before throwing brick bats at the IDA and its capacity to create jobs, Members should perhaps take a reality check in terms of the difficult environment in which we are operating and the difficulties facing the Government and the European Union in creating jobs.
I would like if I may to celebrate Peter Higgs's great hypothesis of 50 years ago, which now turns out to be correct, that there is a glue which holds the world together, which is rather comforting to know. What great timing in terms of world focus on science and its value in communities in the world and the commencement of the science festival here today which celebrates all cultural institutions, including theatre, art and science in which people are encouraged to take part. Perhaps in the midst of that celebration and in acknowledging the great work going on in Geneva and Mr. Peter Higgs's hypothesis of 50 years ago, we could invite the Minister to the House to discuss the National Competitive Council's findings in relation to, as raised by Senator Barrett, our struggle in this country in terms of mathematics, in particular teacher training in this regard. We are falling behind. While we are celebrating science and there are many bright and wonderful people working in that area, our school children need more attention if we are to create the jobs which we undoubtedly need.
Ba mhaith liom tacú leis an méid atá ráite ag an Seanadóir Barrett maidir le Bille na Gaeltachta. Tugaim faoi deara go bhfuil sceideal na seachtaine seo chugainn curtha amach agus gur luadh ansin go mbeimid ag plé Chéim na Tuarascála agus Céim dheireanach den Bhille Dé Céadaoin. An dtabharfaidh an Ceannaire soiléiriú an gciallaíonn sin go bhfuil críoch á chur le Céim an Choiste inniu?
It could be misconstrued from the Leader's statement that we were, in terms of our discussion around "may" and "shall" in relation to the Gaeltacht Bill, debating semantics. However, as will be evident from the transcripts there was a wide ranging debate, in which the Minister also engaged, on the fundamental issues of this Bill, for which we have been waiting 56 years. This legislation will have a fundamental effect on life in the Gaeltacht and on the Irish language and institutions and is connected to the Government's 20 year strategy for the Irish language, which was agreed across all parties. It introduces fundamental changes in all of these areas.
I note from the schedule issued this morning that we will debate Report and Final Stages of the Bill next Wednesday. Perhaps the Leader will clarify if this means the Committee Stage debate today is to be guillotined, which would be a retrograde step. We often complain about the lack of coverage of Seanad debates on Bills.
I wish to make it known to the House that the Gaeltacht Bill and our debates have been receiving extensive coverage on all Irish language media in recent weeks. Every morning, the debates have been covered with panels discussing what has been debated and considering whether the issues are relevant. I am not saying they agree with either side but they are certainly giving it coverage and the Irish language community and Gaeltacht people are very engaged with the debate. In comparison to other Bills eight hours might seem a long time, but we have been waiting for the Bill for 56 years. The Minister has stated he wants to get it right and we need to get it right. Although it might seem an inordinate amount of time it is not in the context of what we are debating.
I note we are not sitting tomorrow but that we will sit next Friday and the following Friday. I would have no issue with us coming in tomorrow, if necessary, to debate Committee Stage if required to get this right. Serious issues are being raised and not only by Senators. They are also being raised by people outside of the House. I implore the Leader to clarify this and ensure we have full time to debate all of the issues and amendments that need to be debated fully and completely before the Bill moves to the next Stage.
Yesterday I read in the newspaper about a lady returning to a house in Donegal to discover it had been ransacked and items had been robbed. She rang the local Garda station to discover the Garda could not come to investigate the crime; she had to collect him in her car and bring him to her home to see what had happened.
It was privatised.
It is laughable.
This is the Order of Business and not a venture of storytelling.
I understand, but I call for an urgent debate in the House with the chief superintendent, the Minister or both. It is a necessity. It does not matter what day of the week it is, break-ins and robberies occur. I am aware of six such incidents in my neighbourhood which have a common denominator. I am convinced there must be local input if a house is robbed between 10.15 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. on Sunday. These incidents have happened within a one-mile radius and affected elderly people, a woman who lost her husband and two business people who were robbed at 3 p.m. This type of crime is escalating in parishes throughout the country. I was out for a spin with my wife on a Sunday afternoon and three people on foot, whom I had passed two hours earlier five miles from my home, arrived at my home at 3 p.m. Luckily enough my youngest son was there. I was not there. They did not ring the bell because my car was not there. My son, who was watching a football match, discovered they had robbed everything I had in my garage including a lawnmower. An urgent debate is required. We cannot let this escalate any further in every parish in every town in the country. I am convinced there is local input. If local people are not doing it themselves they are advising those from afar on which houses are vacant and at what time.
I join Senator Mooney in calling for a debate on the IDA. Senator Mooney made a very eloquent contribution and made his point very well and very clearly. In her contribution, Senator O'Keeffe alluded to the fact my colleague may have been criticising the IDA. Far from it. He did not deny the fact it does excellent work in getting jobs for the country. What he disputes is where they are located. It is quite obvious the jobs being created in recent years are going to major urban areas. There is a reason for this, namely, if the IDA does not bring foreign investors to areas other than the big urban areas they will not locate there. This is the point my colleague made.
I propose an amendment to the Order of Business that the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Bruton, comes to the House today to discuss not only the IDA but the more urgent situation continuing since 15 December last year when 27 former employees of Lagan Brick were told the factory would close with immediate effect and they were dumped on the side of the street. Since then they have been protesting 24 hours a day outside the factory in Kingscourt, County Cavan, for their entitlements from the very profitable company which has continued to receive State contracts throughout the country.
Shame.
It is deplorable this company obtains State contracts at a time when it is denying 27 of its former employees and their families their entitlements. I call on the Minister to come to the House today to outline what progress has been made to date by him and the Department on this matter.
It has been brought to my attention that a particularly unfair anomaly exists with regard to the early child care year concerning certain crèches which provide the service. Parents pay less if the crèches have staff with FETAC level 8 qualifications. This is an anomaly and is unfair and means fees are less in some crèches than in others. This is an unintended consequence of a decision made. I ask the Leader to raise the matter with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.
Approximately 61% or 62% of increments paid to public sector workers are to very low paid people who earn between €30,000 and €35,000. When their salaries are taxed at the appropriate rates they do not have an awful lot left. The big problem we have in Irish society at present is the gap between those earning and those not earning is not wide enough. When we speak about increments we should differentiate between those in lower paid work and higher paid work rather than bundling them together. This is important to note when we discuss increments in the public sector.
Will the Leader request the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Bruton, and his colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Gilmore, to examine the situation whereby 34 young people applied to take a course with the Pilot Training College in Waterford and paid up to €80,000, €90,000 for €100,000? As a mandatory part of the exercise they had to take a course at the Florida Institute of Technology. A dispute has broken out between these two bodies, as a result of which these young people have been left stranded. They are in danger of losing their entire investment and not getting the qualification. This situation concerns both job and visa because while these people are waiting, their visa may run out. Can any way be found by the two Departments to assist them?
Will the Leader ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Deenihan, if at the very last moment he can find a philanthropic sponsor to buy at least some of the contents of Mount Congreve? This house was very generously left to the State and has magnificent world-class gardens designed by the late Ambrose Congreve. For some reason, however, Mr. Congreve did not leave any of the furniture to the State. The house would be bereft without its furniture. I know times are difficult and I do not ask the Government to act on this but perhaps the Minister might take a look around, in order that the furniture which belongs in the house not be lost.
I partly agree with my distinguished colleague, Senator Barrett, in that it is astonishing that civil servants and bureaucrats should increase their travelling allowances at such an exponential rate. However, I deplore the attacks on Deputy Joe Higgins by a particular section of the media, in both broadcast and newspapers, all controlled by the same interest. It seems extraordinary that pressure should be put on politicians to become more local, more parochial, more tied to their constituents and servile to these interests, and that they should not be allowed to travel outside their own little parish, as Deputy Higgins did, on a bus or a train, staying in bed and breakfast accommodation. This is not luxury. The same people would confine Daniel O'Connell to Kerry if he was still alive and campaigning for Catholic emancipation. Here it is becoming increasingly like working in some kind of downgraded factory, with constant supervision by a hostile and permanently installed time and motion study team that does not know one end of its anatomy from another.
I support the comments of Senator Wilson in respect of IDA Ireland. When I was a county councillor there was an IDA office in Waterford and at the time the south east got its fair share. That office was closed although we vehemently opposed the closure. We predicted we would see job announcements going to the areas of high population such as Cork and Dublin. That office in Waterford has been closed for a number of years. Since it closed, there have been no significant announcements for south Tipperary, which proves the point. It is worthwhile having a debate on this matter.
I refer to the independent broadcasting sector in Ireland. Yesterday we had a presentation in Buswell's Hotel by the IBI, which made a very strong case. I ask that the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources come to the House in the coming weeks, or perhaps after the recess, to discuss this issue. Independent broadcasting in Ireland is public service broadcasting, the same as that of RTE. It serves local and regional areas. Every day seven out of ten people take as their first choice of listening local or regional radio, but 40% of revenue has been lost during the economic downturn.
The current programme for Government has committed to a review of public sector broadcasting, encompassing the dominant broadcaster, RTE, and commercial entities. The IBI calls for four specific actions and I suggest the debate should be based around these. First, to recognise the public service contribution of commercial radio; second, to set up a fund to support public service broadcasting in the commercial radio sector; third, to amend the 2009 Broadcasting Act to define and limit the commercial role and mandate of RTE; and, fourth, that the funding of the BAI come from the new household broadcasting charge. These are four clearly defined requests or aims on the part of the IBI.
Will the Leader ask the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, to come to the House? Most of us who are not high-profile politicians, who came up through local government and became Members of this House, have relied on and worked with local and regional radio in our own areas for, at this point, probably 20 years. It is only fair that the pitch should be levelled and that this service which has been given to Ireland, to which seven out of ten people listen every day of their lives for sport, local news and issues, even for death notices——
The Senator can speak on this in the debate.
I am sure the Leas-Chathaoirleach listens to the death notices——
The Senator can make those points in the debate.
——on Kerry Radio or 96FM. I ask for fair play and for the Leader to arrange a debate.
I remind Senators that all 12 speakers who contributed today exceeded their limit. In one case, a Senator spoke for four minutes and 30 seconds. I am trying to be fair but some people take advantage of my situation in the Chair. It upsets the business of the day. I ask people, in so far as possible, to obey the Chair. Sometimes when I give an inch they take a mile. It is unfair. The last speaker spoke for three minutes, although entitled to one. That is unfair on the Chair. I call Senator Mark Daly.
I second the amendment to the Order of Business proposed by my colleague, Senator Diarmuid Wilson. Will the Leader organise a debate on the US-Ireland Alliance? One issue I would like discussed is the reason the president of the alliance, Ms Trina Vargo, has not attended the Oireachtas joint foreign affairs committee in spite of being requested to do so. She indicated to the committee Chairman she would either come or give an answer——
The Senator is not entitled to name people. It is a breach of the protocol of the House. I ask him to be careful.
We were told we would receive an answer to our request for the lady to come before the committee by the end of June but that deadline has passed and we have not received any response as to whether she will attend. She has questions to answer. The US State Department has cut funding to the Mitchell Scholars programme which is run by the US-Ireland Alliance. Many, probably all Senators, will have received an e-mail from the alliance on 20 June, stating that funding had been cut by $500,000. That decision was made by the Secretary of State on 13 February 2012 but the US-Ireland Alliance seems to have become aware of it only in June. It costs €1 million annually to run the Mitchell Scholars programme and 12 students come here each year. Senators might find it extraordinary to learn that €1 million is spent on 12 students but $500,000 was contributed by the State Department.
As of the end of 2010 there was €3.7 million sitting in the programme account. The reason I would like a debate is, first, we do not seem to be able get the president of the US-Ireland Alliance to attend the foreign affairs committee and, second, some of that €3.7 million is Irish taxpayers' money. What will be done with it? Will the programme be discontinued? Should it be transferred to another organisation? I ask the Leader to organise a debate on the US-Ireland Alliance. If the president of the alliance attends the committee before such a debate, well and good, we will not need the debate in the House but can ask questions of that person in committee. She should either attend the committee or resign because Irish taxpayers' money is sitting in that account and we cannot get answers. We cannot even put questions to the alliance as to what will be done with the money or ask why a cut of $500,000 has been made by the US State Department to the Mitchell Scholars programme.
I will keep within the minute. I strongly support the call made by Senator Landy for a debate on the funding of broadcasting in Ireland. We all want to see a fairly funded broadcasting sector that serves the entire country and every community. I agree that local radio stations provide a vital service in the areas of news, current affairs and sport but they are at a major disadvantage. The 1960 Broadcasting Act gave the entire television licence fee to RTE. We all want to see a strong, vibrant and innovative national broadcaster but it is unfair that the entire fee should go to the national broadcaster. There must be a much fairer and more level playing field. My local radio station in Galway pays approximately €10,000 a week in fees and levies simply to operate before taking wages or running costs into consideration. We all want to ensure that the vibrancy local radio stations provide continues. I ask the Leader to request the Minister to come to the House in the autumn in order that we can thrash out the funding of broadcasting in Ireland to ensure we have a much more level playing field into the future.
I support what Senator O'Keeffe said about this week providing a great opportunity to enhance interest in science. Dublin is at the centre of the science world this week. We had a good debate on science here recently and I thank the Leader for that opportunity. I hope what is happening will support the same steps in science, as those about which Senator Barrett spoke with regard to interest in mathematics, and we should make sure there is interest in science.
On another point related to science, one of the threats to agriculture is the discussions taking place about obesity. I cannot believe a claim is being made that there should be a ban on the advertising of cheese. That does not make sense. I believe science has answers to this issue and we can do something about that and we should ensure we do so in the future. The opportunities to solve many of the challenges in agriculture will be helped a great deal by science. We have great food and produce in Ireland and we should ensure that continues to be the case.
(Interruptions).
Like Senator Norris, I raised the issue of the financial loss suffered by trainee pilots yesterday. We should have a debate on that matter. It turns out that only very rich people can afford to be pilots and families are having to take out a loan of €80,000 to €100,000 for their child's training. We have to do something about that.
I want to put a positive note on the record. The market has just closed and €500 million of Irish treasury bills are being auctioned. It is the first time since 2010 that has happened. This is a very positive sign. It is not the bond market but the auction of €500 million of treasury bills. It has been recognised internationally as Ireland doing its work and going in the right direction. I wanted to put that on the record because we regularly get negative news. This is a positive day for Ireland.
The Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government published a report on unfinished estates yesterday. There are many vested interests in those estates ranging from financial institutions, NAMA, housing agencies, builders and banks to residents who live in them and many local authority residents who may come to live in them. On foot of that report, the Seanad should have an input into what will happen with regard to them. These estates are being categorised and worked through to determine what action will be taken. The resolution would be for them to be made into viable living spaces. As a Seanad, we should discuss that report and I ask the Leader to request the Minister to come to the House for such a debate.
Senator Bacik adverted today to her sense that there is a difference between censorship and what she might see as regulation of billboard advertising. I wonder whether she is the best person to be putting this case. I would like if we could have a debate, whether it be about lobbyists and registering them, and about how these things can tip over into a censorship mentality that would allow the suppression of free speech.
I was contacted by a former student of Trinity College yesterday who told me about the time when a certain students' union leader instigated a referendum on abortion information. Unfortunately, the pro-life group in the college was silly enough to boycott it so there was no debate except for some UCD students standing outside the campus. Under a by-law that was feverishly advocated by the then student leader, they were not allowed on campus to express their point of view. However, they found a loophole by way of a Trinity student who brought them in and they were able to express their point of view. That Trinity student wrote to me yesterday and that student leader was the Deputy Leader of the Seanad. We need to be careful about limping over into——
I think Senator Mullen is referring to an issue between Trinity and UCD students.
With affection for my colleague——
It is amazing.
——I would say that we need to be careful that we sometimes have a censorship mentality——
No censorship.
——but we might not be ready to admit it.
I am not sure that is relevant business.
On a further point——-
No, Senator Bacik. Senator Mullen, tá an t-am críochnaithe.
Trinity students have very long memories and they sometimes write to Senators.
We should not all dredge up issues from the murky past of our student politics.
I want to raise an issue concerning representations I received in my office from a lady regarding her social welfare payments. She qualifies for and is receiving lone parent's allowance and she has two children but is only receiving payment for one of those children. She applied for the second child's payment on 7 October 2010 but her deciding officer did not examine the case for over a year. Then her social welfare inspector moved from the Tralee office in November to Cork and since last November the social welfare inspector position for her area and the surrounding areas has been left vacant and nobody is deciding on any social welfare cases in that area. There is no deciding officer and no social welfare inspector to deal with all such cases due for review since last November.
A source within the social welfare office in Tralee informed me that the new inspector is due to start in the coming weeks. This is in response to our investigations. For the past eight months a large portion of Kerry has not had a social welfare inspector dealing with cases. The same source within the social welfare office told me that they did not have anyone to fill the vacancy due to the number of people who retired from the office last February. This begs the question as to what good the Croke Park agreement is when we cannot address situations such as this. Are we not supposed to be able to transfer staff between Departments, functions and areas? I call on the Leader to request the Ministers, Deputy Howlin and Deputy Burton, to come to the House to debate this as a matter of urgency.
I would like to raise the issue of the severe cutbacks in the service provided by St. John of God services in Drumcar, County Louth, and the effects they are having on the users of the service. St. John of God north-east services provides for the care of people with an intellectual disability. This year the cutbacks in the service have amounted to €1.5 million. Since 2005 it has had cutbacks of more than €4.366 million. It has continually implemented increased efficiencies to avoid curtailing the service offered to the clients and the staff have taken on additional responsibilities. However, they are at the point where they can no longer continue to deliver the previous level of services within the current financial allocation.
St. John of God north-east services would be well known not only in the north-east region but throughout the country for the excellent service it provides in terms of residential services but, unfortunately, it reports that it will be unable to accept any more admissions unless specific funding is provided for such places. At present, several people are on the waiting list and seven are in urgent need of accommodation. From 12 June there will be only one respite house in operation and the service will be provided on a four-week cycle. These vulnerable users of the service and their families are the ones who will suffer. In the children's unit alone, they will now only have ten days every month to avail of respite. Up to now St. John of God services was able to accommodate a child if there was a major family problem or an urgent need for such care arose but now if a family emergency occurs outside the ten allocated days in the month, nothing will be able to be done for that child. It is frightening that again it is the most vulnerable who are affected. At present there are no places for school leavers to go on to day services.
The Senator is calling for a debate.
I call on the Leader to have a debate on services provided for people with an intellectual disability.
I remind Senators that they can call for a debate but they should not have that debate on the Order of Business. The time allocated is now up. I note three Members are offering and if they are quick off the mark I will allow them in.
I received a letter from a constituent of the Leas-Cathaoirleach's yesterday. He raised the issue of trying to get visas for people who are very highly qualified and that we cannot get people with that qualification to come to work here. He pointed out that there are more than 20,000 jobs vacant here because we do not have the people with the required qualifications. It is time we examined this issue. Are there that many vacancies that cannot be filled because we do not have the people with the qualifications? If so, we need to fast track the procedure for filling those jobs and then adjust the educational system immediately to ensure that Irish people will have those qualifications in the not too distant future. The Minister should give this matter his immediate attention.
Earlier speakers criticised IDA Ireland but the IDA has to provide jobs and it does so in areas where people have the necessary qualifications. We are not dealing with the issue and it is being put on the back burner. There is a trickle down effect from the creation of 20,000 jobs. We need to respond immediately to the market demands. I ask the Leader to bring this matter to the attention of the Minister and I ask for a debate on this issue. I understand there are currently more than 1,600 job vacancies in the financial services centre which cannot be filled. If this is the case, then it is time we started to respond to the market demands. I ask for a debate at an early date.
I support Senator Landy's call, which is also supported by Senator Mullins, that the Leader arrange a debate in due course on the future of broadcasting in Ireland. Everyone in this House and in the other House is aware of the public service contribution of the local radio stations. We all know the value of the local radio stations which reach out to every parish and every community in their respective counties. I know a little bit about this as I am a small shareholder in one of these small local radio stations——
All local in its politics.
How many stations? Is it two or three?
All politics is local. I do not have a conflict of interest as my interests are always declared fully in this House as Senators know, particularly from contributions I have made on the matter in the previous Seanad. We are all agreed that it is a matter of levelling the playing pitch. I strongly support that call from Senator Landy. I was very sorry yesterday that I missed these good people when they were here lobbying Members. I somehow missed the event.
I refer to the point about Members of the other House claiming travel expenses to travel the country for campaign purposes. It has brought attention on themselves. These were law makers who were travelling the country——
The business of the other House should not be discussed here.
I will finish my point if the Leas-Chathaoirleach will indulge me. They were travelling the country as law makers and encouraging the citizens of the State to break the law. This should not be encouraged and these expenses will be difficult to justify. I do not disagree with Senator Norris's general point on the media but the salient point is that law makers should not be encouraging citizens to break the law.
On the funding of broadcasting, I support other Senators in their call for a debate. It is easy to understand how this came about because RTE was the first broadcaster and local radio stations were established subsequently. It may be necessary to review the sector with a view to making it more equitable for all concerned.
The Acting Leader of the Opposition, Senator Mooney, raised the matter of the policies of the IDA. He was supported in his comments by Senators Conway and O'Keeffe and others. I agree there has been a concentration of investment in Dublin, Cork and Galway to the detriment of other areas. However, the companies decide on their preferred locations. I agree that all areas should be given an equal opportunity and fair play should be practised. We must acknowledge the successes of the IDA with regard to foreign direct investment. Unemployment and job creation still remain the most important priorities for this Government and I will arrange a debate with the Minister, Deputy Bruton, after the summer recess. I agree with a number of the sentiments expressed by Senator Mooney.
Senator Bacik asked for a debate on the Middle East. I have already requested such a debate with the Tánaiste and I hope he will respond positively in the near future.
Senator Mary Ann O'Brien spoke about the importance of the not for profit and charity sector and the lack of regulation in that sector. She suggested the Charities Act should be revisited. I commend her very good comments in that regard. If she wished, the Senator could introduce a Private Members' Bill in order to address some of the points she raised. I will inquire whether the Government intends to revisit that legislation.
Senator Barrett referred to unqualified people teaching mathematics. I agree with the Senator's point. It is acknowledged there are significant problems in the teaching of mathematics as outlined by the National Competitiveness Council. Unqualified teachers are also teaching other subjects and this must be addressed. I will endeavour to have the Minister for Education an Skills come to the House to debate the report of the National Competitiveness Council with specific reference to the teaching of maths.
Senator O'Keeffe addressed the difficulties facing the IDA and she also spoke about the city of science. As Senator Quinn said, we had a very constructive debate with the Minister of State, Deputy Sherlock, on that matter and it needs to be kept on the agenda.
In reply to Senator Ó Clochartaigh the Committee Stage of the Gaeltacht Bill will conclude at 4 p.m. today. It has taken 56 years for such a Bill and considering the progress on Committee Stage I think it will take another 56 years to complete it, in the way it has been dealt with——
That is an insult to muintir na Gaeltachta.
The House will have completed eight hours on Committee Stage of the Gaeltacht Bill. It is envisaged that Committee Stage will be concluded today and Report Stage next week.
Senator Brennan raised the problems associated with the Garda transport fleet and Senator Reilly made a similar point yesterday. The issues of law and order and robberies are debated at length in the joint policing committees which are working very well. I will arrange with the Minister for Justice and Equality to have a debate on crime statistics.
Senator Wilson proposed an amendment to the Order of Business to have the Minister, Deputy Bruton, come to the House to discuss the situation at Lagan Brick. The Minister was in the House less than one month ago when he addressed that matter at length which had been raised by Senator Wilson. I do not propose to agree to the amendment to the Order of Business as proposed and seconded.
Senator D'Arcy asked about the anomaly in the pay rates for child care staff. I suggest he raise the matter on the Adjournment. I note the majority of increments are paid to people on low pay and I agree with him that the higher paid should be targeted. Senator Norris and also Senator Keane raised the matter of the pilot training college. The Irish Aviation Authority regulates, approves and oversees flight training organisations. Its primary functions in this regard are that oversight, safety, quality and standard of training be delivered, and the conduct of examination and flight tests. It also has the capacity to seek evidence that organisations have sufficient resources in place to conduct training and approve standards. The pilot training college in Waterford is such a flight training organisation and also has a pilot training college in Melbourne and Florida to take advantage of the better weather and visual flight operations. Students undergoing training in Florida normally return to Ireland to complete the multi-engine, multi-crew instrument rating to European standards.
The Pilot Training College in Waterford has a contract in place with the Florida Institute of Technology to deliver the flight training in Florida. On 26 June, the Irish Aviation Authority was informed that the Florida Institute of Technology was ceasing all training activities in Florida due to a commercial dispute concerning payments. The Irish Aviation Authority immediately sent a senior inspector to establish the training situation and he has met the students in question. There are approximately 180 students in the Florida facility and 37 in Waterford at various stages of training. The students comprise sponsored students from international airlines and those with individual commercial contracts. Students have paid the Pilot Training College in Waterford for training and the college has a personal relationship with the Florida Institute of Technology to provide flight and ground training. Contracts between the self-sponsored or the airline sponsor students in their training organisations are a matter outside the remit of the Irish Aviation Authority. The matter is being addressed and I hope the students will be accommodated. Certainly assurances should be given that sufficient funding is available to continue the operations at Waterford given that the operations at the Florida Institute of Technology have ceased. Given the training the students have received they should be accredited for the work they have done and steps are being taken to ensure that happens.
Senator Denis Landy raised the issue of the restructuring of IDA Ireland, on which I will seek to arrange a debate.
With Senators Paul Coghlan, Michael Mullins and Catherine Noone, the Senator also raised the funding of the independent broadcasting sector in Ireland. I will endeavour to have the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Pat Rabbitte, come to the House to debate the matter.
Senator Mark Daly asked the reason the president of the US-Ireland Alliance did not appear before the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade. As that is a matter for the committee I do not propose to comment further.
Senator Feargal Quinn noted that Dublin is at the centre of the science world this week. He also mentioned a ban on the advertising of cheese. It is ridiculous that somebody would suggest we should not advertise cheese.
Senator Cáit Keane said that the fact that the National Treasury Management Agency was going to the markets was a positive sign. We would all agree that this morning's successful auction of three-month treasury bills by the National Treasury Management Agency was an important milestone on Ireland's continuing path to recovery. The yield on the bonds at 1.8% was very competitive against its peer group and market commentators were agreed that any level under 2% would be considered a good result. Demand was strong among investors.
This is the first time the NTMA has raised money in the markets since September 2010 and highlights the significant progress the Government has made in restoring Ireland's reputation. The markets have reacted positively to our strong programme implementation to date, to the decisive "Yes" vote in the recent referendum on the stability treaty and the decision taken at last week's summit to break the negative links between the sovereign and the banks. This has been seen by the yields in the long term Government bonds which have been halved in the past 12 months, making Irish bonds the best performing sovereign bond in the eurozone in the past year. The Government is certainly focused on emerging from the programme and returning to the markets next year. Today's return to the treasury bill market is a small but important first step in this regard. The Government will continue to take the necessary measures to fully implement the programme and reduce the deficit in line with our commitments. That was a positive development this morning in respect of the NTMA.
In response to Senator Rónán Mullen's query, I am not going to get involved in a debate on student politics.
I understand that.
I will leave that issue to the university Senators to discuss among themselves.
They will take it outside.
Senator Tom Sheahan raised an issue concerning social welfare payments which has arisen in Kerry and the lack of personnel to deal with personal problems. That is unacceptable. I will raise the matter with the Minister. I suggest the Senator also raise the matter on the Adjournment.
Senator Mary Moran raised the issue of cutbacks in the service provided by St. John of God services. Perhaps she too would submit a motion for an Adjournment debate in order to get more specific details on the matter than I can provide.
Senator Colm Burke raised the important question of visas for people with high level qualifications that are necessary for industry in Ireland. The most important part is responding to market demands for the Department to ensure we can provide the necessary people to fill the posts into the future. That matter can be debated with the Minister when he comes to the House to discuss youth unemployment, job creation and a number of other issues on which Members have called for a debate.
I agree with Senator Catherine Noone's comments that lawmakers should not encourage people to break the law.
On a point of order——
Perhaps the Senator will wait for a moment.