The Order of Business is No. 1, Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2012 - Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken at the conclusion of the Order of Business.
Order of Business
Just before the summer recess, and just after it, I asked that the Leader arrange a debate on perinatal care. A number of Senators from across the House attended a good briefing on the matter this summer. I wonder whether in the next couple of weeks the Leader could find time to schedule that because it would be an important debate. I will leave that with him but I ask him to try to find time for it.
I have raised on four occasions the vacancy in the area of paediatric cystic fibrosis at Temple Street Children's Hospital, where 94 children attend on a regular basis for cystic fibrosis physiotherapy. I raised it directly with the Minister, Deputy Reilly, when he was here. My colleague, Deputy Kelleher, has tabled parliamentary questions on the matter. As I stated, I have raised it here on two separate occasions with the Minister and also with the Leader. I am glad the Minister responded by saying that the vacancy would be filled, but he provided no timeframe. The post has been vacant since the start of September. The Minister also said, to this House and to me - this is where I want clarification - that children who require cystic fibrosis physiotherapy will be seen. A number of parents have been in touch with me about this, and that is not true at all. One of the parents with whom I was involved had an appointment on 10 October, and that appointment was cancelled. Other parents have also had their appointments for necessary physiotherapy treatment for their children cancelled. As anyone who is familiar with cystic fibrosis will be aware, early intervention can extend the lifespan of an affected child substantially. The only circumstance in which treatment is available to children at Temple Street hospital for cystic fibrosis physiotherapy is when the child presents him- or herself to the accident and emergency unit following an attack or if his or her ailment is deteriorating significantly. There is still no service available in the hospital for the 94 children who require this treatment. I have written to the Minister again today because in his Dáil reply and in the reply he gave here he stated that those children would be seen, but they are not being seen and their appointments are being cancelled. I ask the Leader, through his good office, to raise this as a matter of urgency. We all recognise the importance of looking after our children, particularly those with such a debilitating illness as cystic fibrosis. We need urgency injected immediately into this matter. I will seek further clarification from the Minister but if I am not getting responses, I intend to raise it continually.
On the so-called reforms of local government announced today by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, it is advisable that people get an opportunity to look at the report.
It was only announced today, between 1 p.m. and 1.30 p.m. I ask the Leader, well in advance of the legislation being published, to arrange for this House to debate in detail with the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the findings and recommendations of the report. I also ask that the debate be arranged for this week, given that our schedule is light. There would be ample time on Thursday to debate these matters. The abolition of town councils and town commissioners is not reform. Reform of local government is needed. This would be the right Chamber in which to debate the report well in advance of the legislation being published. It appears that the report has been written as a sop to the Labour Party because it proposes an increase in the numbers of councillors in urban areas to offset potential losses the party might suffer in the 2014 local elections. Leaving all that aside, an early debate on this issue is appropriate and I suggest it be held on Thursday. We do not need to wait weeks to have the debate. There will be statements on social welfare on Thursday, following which at 2.15 p.m. the House is due to rise. The Fianna Fáil group would be more than happy to sit late on Thursday to debate the issue of local government reform with the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government.
Like Senator Darragh O'Brien, I would like to have a debate on the Minister's plans for local government reform. However, I refute entirely the Senator's suggestion that the report is a sop to the Labour Party. This was agreed between the two coalition partners as part of the programme for Government. Proper local government reform is long overdue to ensure the system will be more efficient and have greater powers of subsidiarity and decision-making at local level and that will be greater representation at local level. I agree with the Senator that it is important that we debate the issue in the House. While I am not sure it needs to be debated on Thursday, I would like to see such a debate taking place in the coming weeks. We have a very important pre-budget debate on social welfare with the Minister for Social Protection arranged for Thursday. The report requires very careful reading and it is important that we have an informed debate on it in the House.
There is more to the report than simply reducing the number of councils or merging town councils in municipal districts. There are also some very important and radical measures proposed, for example, making arrangements to conduct business in a manner which would encourage greater participation by women in local politics. I am delighted to see that proposal because I have raised in the House the need to ensure parliaments are run in a gender sensitive way. This is part of an international movement. It is also true that local authorities must be run in a gender sensitive way. Another proposal envisages local authorities being funded through a new local property tax which would ensure local responsibility for decision-making and proper powers at local level. As I said, reform is long overdue. Some of the reforms have been mandated or are required in the light of the findings of the Mahon tribunal to ensure greater scrutiny and transparency in the planning process. The report, therefore, deserves a detailed and thorough debate. I agree that we should invite the Minister to come to the House in the coming weeks to engage with us before the legislation is produced.
I welcome the report commissioned by the Department of Social Protection on food poverty, although I do not welcome its findings, as I do not think anyone in the House does. However, it is very important that we are aware of the data covering the years 2009 and 2010 produced by safefood for the Department of Social Protection. The report makes for very worrying reading because it highlights a 3% increase in the number of people living in food poverty in these years. It finds that 10% of people were living in food poverty in 2010. We have to try to ensure targeted interventions by the Department of Social Protection and others to tackle this issue and ensure the groups most at risk are provided for. It is very useful that, at last, we have a proper, scientific measure of food poverty and the risk factors involved.
There was some good news today about the young Pakistani schoolgirl, Malala Yousafzai, who is an icon in terms of the education of young girls and who was shot, tragically, by the Taliban last week. She is making a good recovery in a hospital in England. We celebrated International Day of the Girl last week, but the plight of Malala and her colleagues who are just trying to receive an education in their own country and encountering huge resistance from very conservative elements reminds us of the need to fight for gender equality in education across the world.
I support the call by Senator Darragh O'Brien for a debate on perinatal hospices. We were all impressed by the families who addressed us prior to the summer break, but the core question is how to create a society that welcomes families with children who have been diagnosed with disabilities or foetal abnormalities which may be fatal in the short term, and provides the necessary legal and social support for parents and their babies. It is important to revisit some of the themes that were opened up on the last occasion in order that we can learn the Government's plans, even in these straitened times, to ensure families in this situation receive the proper support.
The proposal last week to open a Marie Stopes clinic in Belfast caused concern for a significant number of people. These events are, of course, taking place in a neighbouring jurisdiction but what happens there matters a great deal in terms of how these issues evolve in this jurisdiction. We should welcome the warning from the Northern Ireland Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Edwin Poots, MLA, that the clinic must be careful to remain within the law. I would go further to argue that Marie Stopes is an organisation that cannot be relied on to respect the law of the land. It has no respect for human life, for mothers or for children.
That is not true.
I am surprised to hear Senator Bacik defend Marie Stopes, of all organisations. Last year an Irish woman nearly died after a botched abortion by one of its doctors. This doctor did not even have indemnity insurance. He had been responsible for a death ten years earlier while he was working for the British pregnancy advisory service. The Sunday Business Post revealed how Marie Stopes appears to be abusing the law by its link with the organisation in Britain. These are not the people to put in charge of caring for women's health. What we see in the Northern situation is how an apparently narrow ground for abortion, namely, an alleged threat to life or health, gets used by people with an agenda. In the Republic we have successfully guaranteed necessary medical treatment to women at all times without recourse to abortion by always guaranteeing a woman's life and health, even when it is not possible to save her child. That approach of caring for two patients is the model we must follow and I hope it informs the Government's decisions and our debates in the coming weeks.
There is something inevitable about the proposal to cut the money going to fee-paying schools. The Minister for Education and Skills has to find €77 million out of €9 billion. It is understandable that fee-paying schools would be recognised as a legitimate target. However, the Department of Education and Skills has asked for details on how the schools are spending their fee income and it may emerge that some of the schools are not in a position to sustain cuts because of the good commitments they have made. I hope diversity will not be attacked, that Protestant schools in areas where they may be vulnerable will be exempted from any cuts and that serious consideration will be given to schools that cannot afford to sustain cuts. In the end, these parents and families cost the State less when it comes to educating their children because they are putting in more. That deserves credit rather than derision, and I hope the approach taken to the issue is not overly ideological.
As today is Michael Collins's birthday, we should remember one of the founding fathers of the State as a man who risked his life on numerous occasions before eventually giving his life for his country. If he were still alive he would be 122 years old today.
I am sure the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government would welcome a debate on local government reform. I congratulate the Minister on his initiative. It has taken 114 years to introduce proper local government reform. He displayed courage in the way he brought his proposals to the Cabinet. He has received agreement on legislation and will be bringing it before both Houses of the Oireachtas. We should welcome a debate on this issue because all politics is local and local government is the closest level to our constituents.
Senator Darragh O'Brien seems to know a lot more than many of us about some of the issues he mentioned.
It is good to know the Minister is back doing some work.
On another point, I ask the Leader-----
Is the Senator getting to the point?
Yes. We have all been receiving e-mails on the fluoridation of water. At some stage will the Leader bring in departmental officials for a debate on the issue? As we are hearing scare stories from both sides of the argument, I would welcome a debate on it. The same is being done in many countries in which English is spoken. It would be helpful if the Minister came to the House to state what is official policy in this regard.
I agree with the Leader of the Opposition, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, about inviting the Minister for an early debate on the issue. Senator Pat O'Neill's comments are welcome, given that I know he is his master's voice in Seanad Éireann. When the Senator speaks, he is generally speaking on behalf of the Minister.
Authoritatively.
I am delighted the Minister will come to the House. There is no doubt that the reform of local government will be detrimental to rural areas which will not have the same level of representation as heretofore. For example, Roscommon County Council is to be reduced in size from 26 seats to 18, which is a blow to the area, and there are to be similar reductions in counties Leitrim, Cavan and Monaghan.
That is a point which should be raised in the debate.
Local representation is being wiped out. It will also have an effect on representation in Seanad Éireann. If the Seanad survives, there will be a reduction in the number of Senators from the western region as a result of the so-called reform of local government. That will be detrimental to local government and the level of regional representation.
That is pure speculation at this stage.
It may not affect Senators today, but it may do so some day. This issue should also be raised.
On another point, the Labour Party was able to tell its members last Friday evening exactly what the situation was. They were fully briefed. As I see Senator Jimmy Harte nodding, I presume he was briefed.
We are taking questions to the Leader.
I am making a point. They gave the Minister an imprimatur to ensure their seats would be held in urban areas.
Rubbish.
For example, Dublin City Council will see an increase in the number of seats from 52 to 60, while in Fingal County Council the number will increase from 24 to 30. In all of the eastern region there will be extra representation, whereas in the western region there will be less.
Is the Senator calling for a debate on the matter?
Let there be no doubt that the Labour Party is the little tail wagging the big Fine Gael dog.
On a point of information, it is called demographics.
It is called the Labour Party's uncertainty about the future and its control of local government.
That is not relevant to the Order of Business. Is the Senator calling for a debate on the issue?
I am sorry, but Senator Ivana Bacik interrupted me.
Yes. The Senator is over time.
I would never do that.
She put me off.
The Senator is inviting it.
We should have a debate on the issue.
On a point of order, I remind the Senator that his party was in government for 80 years and could have brought forward legislation.
That is not a point of order. The Senator should resume his seat. I ask Senator Terry Leyden to conclude.
I second the proposal made by Senator Darragh O'Brien for a debate on Thursday with the Minister. Senator Pat O'Neill has said he will come, for which I thank him.
I did not say the Minister would be here on Thursday.
It is great to see my colleagues in such fine form on a Tuesday afternoon. It is a great start to the week.
Nothing concentrates the mind more than seats in Seanad Éireann.
(Interruptions).
There should be no more interruptions.
Last Friday the Seanad Chamber hosted the inaugural meeting of the North-South Inter-Parliamentary Association, which was a great indication of the progress made on the island. The establishment of this association stems from the Good Friday and St. Andrew's Agreements. It was an historic moment and I look forward to working closely with the association for years to come.
I give a warm welcome to the decision made yesterday by An Bord Pleanála to give the go-ahead to the construction of a new bridge at Narrow Water on the River Newry, linking County Louth and County Down for the first time. This is something for which I have been hoping and on which I have been working for a long time. Following the granting of planning permission by the Northern Ireland Environment Minister last week, I am delighted the project can go ahead. Provided funding under the INTERREG 4 scheme comes through, I hope the bridge will open in 2015.
It is a great symbol, not only because Narrow Water was the site of where so many British soldiers were killed in one of the worst atrocities in the Troubles in the North, but because this project can be a step forward and the way towards unity of North and South.
I agree with what Senator Moran said about last Friday. The meeting of the North-South Interparliamentary Association in this Chamber, chaired jointly by the Speaker, William Hay, and the Ceann Comhairle was a remarkable event. There were superb presentations by Geoffrey Shannon and Ian Elliott on the cross-Border dimension of child protection. For lighter relief in the afternoon Brian Cassells and John Martin spoke about the restoration of the Ulster Canal as a tourism facility. Great credit is due to everyone who ensured that part of the Good Friday Agreement was finally implemented. Thanks are due to the Speaker, the Cathaoirleach and the secretariat. It was a most important day. One of the remarkable parts was that virtually everyone on the Unionist side claimed to be originally from places such as Monaghan or Donegal. The nine-county Ulster project was definitely revived last Friday. It was a great occasion and credit is due to everyone who organised it so well. History was made here last Friday.
We had a very good news story in Sligo yesterday evening. A U-turn was made on the decision to close Stiefel Laboratories next year. It is a great example of what can be done with the commitment of staff and the site manager, Pat McLoughlin, IDA Ireland and the Minister, Deputy Bruton. GlaxoSmithKline has now decided to diversify slightly in the product it manufactures and to invest a further €10 million in the plant. If one is committed to surviving in this difficult time it is great when one has the co-operation of agencies, staff and a there is a good person at the helm. I hope more such stories will be heard in the future.
I take the opportunity to congratulate Sligo Rovers on winning the League of Ireland final. We had fantastic representation from this House at the event with Senators Mooney, MacSharry and Reilly. It is a fantastic time for Sligo.
That is not relevant to today's Order of Business.
It is a well known fact that we in Ireland are the most unrepresented country in the whole of the EU in terms of local government. On average, it takes approximately 2,500 people to elect one councillor in this country compared with 1,000 people to elect a councillor in Denmark and much fewer than that in most other countries, in particular France. The UK, which is second to us, is a good bit behind us. There was some levity in the Chamber this morning following the announcement by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, but I am not laughing and neither are the people of the towns of this country laughing. I am concerned and have a genuine worry about democracy in this country at the hands of the current coalition Government.
That is nonsense.
I will outline some facts. A total of 114 authorities will be reduced to 31. Approximately 1,600 elected councillors will be reduced to 950. Eight regional authorities-assemblies will be reduced to three. We have already had changes to the representation of Údarás na Gaeltachta.
The Senator may make those points during the debate.
I am making an important point. I will not let you down, a Chathaoirligh. The Government is also threatening to abolish the Seanad. What does the Government have against the people that it wants to take away their voice? I served in local government at county and town level for 22 years. Unless one has been a town councillor one does not know the importance of such a role and function, the great pride the people of those towns have in their town councils, and the great pride we have in being townies.
Is the Senator calling for a debate?
I put a question to the Leader.
Is the Senator calling for a debate?
I want more than that. The hearts and souls of most of the Senators around me who came through local government are with me on the issue. Is the Leader not concerned that what is there, namely, representational democracy, will be exchanged for rule by, in many cases, the unelected authorities and quangos which continue? Considerable amounts of both European and State money are invested in groups which, in effect, are answerable to nobody.
We are not having that debate today.
Obviously we cannot have it today but there must be such a debate. I ask Members on the Government side to look into their hearts and not to allow the Government to go any further in diluting democracy in this country.
Today the Irish Banking Federation is having a conference entitled Restoring Confidence and Building Trust which it says will be a wideranging debate between, among others, academics, policy makers and so forth, and including key stakeholders. Ironically, however, there is no speaker listed who will represent distressed mortgage holders. I heard the comments of Fiona Muldoon, director of credit institutions and insurance provision in the Central Bank, who was, to put it mildly, very critical of the role of the banks and their actions in dealing with distressed mortgages. She described them - I paraphrase - as behaving like teenagers in their relationship with the Central Bank and the regulator. She did not put too fine a tooth in it.
I realise this debate has been called for on a number of occasions but it is really high time we had the Minister for Finance in the Chamber to explain to us exactly what progress has been made in dealing with the situation of distressed mortgage holders. The Central Bank gave some preliminary figures today which show that, particularly in the wider area of buy-to-let mortgages which has not really come into the public domain, the situation is deteriorating rapidly. The bottom line is that the banking sector in this country, as Ms Muldoon, again, pointed out, has been kicking the can, waiting for some magic solution such as house prices beginning to rise once more, the level of employment rising dramatically by 20%, or whatever it may be. All the while, every day of the week, there are distressed mortgage holders in this country who are in deeply disastrous situations.
I ask the Leader to move the calling of that debate up the agenda.
I do not know how many Members were watching the RTE programme which followed the news last night. It was about the issue of assisting people, some of whom were quite ill, to take their own lives. There was an effort at balance by the inclusion of a person who was opposed to that concept. However, like most RTE programmes on such social issues, there was an editorial agenda. Certainly, judging from the presentation it was obvious where the programme makers stood in supporting that issue. It troubled me, not only because of the actual issue but by the manner in which it was presented. I kept asking myself about young people. We have a tremendous problem in this country at present given the level of suicide. One can think back on the number of times we have had debates in this House about people being killed in traffic accidents. It was a significant issue and was often highlighted in this Chamber and in the Lower House. As a consequence, efforts were made and the numbers of deaths have been reduced to about half the original number. The number of suicides, however, is twice that of those killed annually on the roads. This is a matter of great concern and has been raised here by other Members.
I have concerns about the manner in which these programmes are presented. I am not an expert, not being a psychologist or psychiatrist. However, I ask Members who are on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children to raise this issue and perhaps get some professional psychiatric advice in order to see what effect this type of programme that, so to speak, makes suicide look like a very reasonable decision for people to take, has on the minds of people who are troubled and who might find themselves taking that course because it has been presented as a reasonable option.
Will the Leader ask for a timely debate on the issue of suicide? There are many people involved, including Deputy Dan Neville on the Government side who has done great work in this area. I would like to acknowledge that, as I am sure would others.
We should highlight the issue and ask the Minister to focus on it as many families have been devastated by the consequences of suicide. I would not like to think that the liberal elements in RTE, which seem to be in control, would in some way shape society with their notions that would cause angst in many families.
I agree with Senator Hayden's reflections on the banking conference that is taking place.
I note that the Personal Insolvency Bill, when enacted, will require that a person with a distressed mortgage must first engage in a mortgage arrears resolution process. A code of conduct on same is being established by the banking federations. A problem with the code is that a statement of financial assessment consisting of 110 questions must be filled out. One borrower with broadly similar circumstances to another could fill out the form but the result would be different. One may be given the facility of interest-only or a break in his or her mortgage, whereas another could be forced to engage in a voluntary sale scenario. Effectively, the banking sector is completely delinquent when it comes to dealing with these situations. In my office I have met people with broadly similar financial circumstances who have been given completely different scenarios after undergoing stress tests and assessments that were conducted by a bank.
If we want to get the banking sector right we need to wake up to its antics. We need to drag the banks in here kicking and screaming. It is quite clear that the banking sector is incapable. No matter what conference is taking place it is incapable of producing a uniform code of conduct and action. I want to see the representatives of the banking industry here. Let them sit in the ministerial chair and explain what they are doing to help people. Instead of the banks helping people to get out of their difficulties they are driving people over the edge.
I wish to make a point of order.
I shall allow the Senator to make a point of order.
I remind the House that two weeks ago the House voted down a proposal to invite the Minister for Finance here to discuss the same matter raised by Senators Conway and Hayden.
Senator Byrne thought it was a waste of time having the Minister in. Senator Darragh O'Brien cannot have it both ways. The last time the Minister was here was in July and Senator Byrne said then that he was wasting his time.
The Government parties voted down a proposal to invite the Minister for Finance here.
The Senator cannot have it both ways.
I ask the Senator to resume his seat, please. It is not a point of order.
Senator Noone and others voted against the proposal.
At five minutes notice.
They voted against the proposal. There is no point in Senators coming in here and crying over it. The Senators had an opportunity to do something about it but they voted against it.
I will continue to raise the concerns of ordinary people.
I ask the Senator to put his words into action and use his vote.
I will not engage in political point scoring.
The Senator had an opportunity to vote on it but he voted against it.
I ask Senator Conway to respect the Chair.
There is no point in Senator Conway talking about the matter.
Senator O'Brien, please. I ask Senators to respect the Chair, particularly when they are totally out of order. I ask them to show respect for the House. I call Senator Cullinane.
I welcome the fact that the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, has published his proposals for local government reform and call for a debate on the matter. I hope that we will have a constructive and informed debate. I accept that in order to do that we will need time to study his proposals.
The Leader will be aware that there is a lot of concern in Waterford about the merger of Waterford city and county councils. Why is Waterford being singled out for such treatment? There is a perception in Waterford - I do not know whether it is just a perception or a reality - that its councils are being singled out. The city must compete on an uneven playing field. For example, the city does not have a university and there is high unemployment that is way above the national average. It will be difficult if Waterford city ends up without its autonomy and local authority. Galway, Cork or Dublin have not been treated in the same manner.
There is real concern this will have a negative impact and stunt the growth of Waterford city. I will study the detail of what has been published. Both Waterford city council and county council are very much opposed at political level to a forced amalgamation. The city has different needs from the county that require different responses to issues which are unique to different parts of the city. Aside from history and heritage, which is important, the economic reality is that Waterford city needs to be the key engine and the economic driver of the south-east region. Without being autonomous and having its own local authority, it could make the job all the more difficult.
I welcome the publication of proposals by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan. I have concerns about the proposed merger. I hope the Leader will provide time in this House in the course of the next few weeks to have a more informed and constructive debate on all of the proposals published by the Minister.
I welcome the debate on local government reform. Senator Terry Leyden has left the Chamber but I thank him for sending eight councillors from County Roscommon to County Donegal. The number of councillors in County Donegal has increased by eight while Roscommon has lost eight. That reflects the distribution of population, with County Donegal experiencing growth and County Roscommon suffering a decline.
Reform of local government is well overdue. I served on Letterkenny Town Council and Donegal County Council for many years. I appreciate the hard work that town councils carry out but this will not diminished by new district councils. I hope an area such as Letterkenny will benefit from increased representation but, more important, that councils will have more powers and autonomy. I hope the local authority will collect and decide on the spending of the household charge or property tax. We have one of the most centralised systems of administration in the western world. The new proposals can bring only more devolved powers to local authorities. I fully agree that reform is necessary. The town councils have been targeted for abolition but their work will not be diminished. Local councillors do a fantastic job but in the long term it is necessary to give power to the people. That is the intent of the proposals.
I thank Senator Leyden, who is not present, to say that we knew everything ahead of everybody else
Senator Harte should not refer to Senators who have left House, and should know that at this stage.
He is attending a committee meeting.
A Chathaoirligh- - - - -
The Senator is over his time.
We should have an early debate on the proposals for reform of local government. This serious task should be conducted in a non-partisan way. We need to tease out what the reform of local government entails - is it about economics, democracy or politics? We do not sit on local authorities, but we must consider how these proposals affect the people on the ground. There is a public perception of a creeping centralisation when it comes to the local democratic process and as a result accountability and responsibility suffers. We know from personal experience that the power of local pride is unique. We can see this at a time of achievement. We can see it at a time of challenge and also in the time of need. If we want to know how town councils are respected, we need only look at the turnout at election time, which is always exceptionally high. One of the main reasons is the accountability at local level.
I sat on Cashel town council for 18 years. I can remember the annual Estimates meeting. People were waiting outside to ask councillors to account for the striking of the rate. That is immediate accountability. The greater the level of centralisation, the more one dilutes the local input.
Another aspect is its historical significance. We have a charter in Cashel dating back several hundred years. History tells us that the charter for the town council was given on the bridge of Golden by King William. Whether we like King William is not the issue. It is vital that the ceremonial nature of the councils and the heritage that goes with it are kept intact. They will not be kept intact if this comes down to enlarging a county council and the removal of the local focus. We should give great thought to the impact of this reform in the context of tourism. We have seen time and again dignitaries coming to a town, meeting the mayor and the local council and getting a sense of stability and often an industry has been won for an area. The same applies to tourism which I have no doubt is one of our most important industries. The local council has been a vehicle for presenting it in the best fashion. I, therefore, repeat my question: is this about economics? Is it about democracy, or is it about politics?
I join my colleague, Senator Imelda Henry, in welcoming the good news we received in Sligo yesterday. The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, was present there yesterday morning when an announcement was made that 120 jobs would be saved in the company in question. There is even the possibility of a further 50 jobs being created in the future. We had a very good weekend in Sligo. The Taoiseach and two Ministers were there yesterday, while the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan, was in County Leitrim on Sunday to examine a number of very good projects, which is all very good news. I call on the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Leo Varadkar, to meet public representatives in the Sligo-north Leitrim area regarding the provision of funding for the stretch of the N4 at Castlebaldwin. While some work is being done, 29 people have lost their lives on it in recent years. We must focus on this issue and make sure the road is realigned. It is the last bad stretch between Sligo and Dublin and I call for funding to be made available for it. It would also encourage the creation of more jobs in the region. It is believed the condition of this stretch of road in terms of the difficulty presented in travelling into and out of the area is preventing people from approaching IDA Ireland and creating jobs.
As my colleagues opposite congratulated Sligo Rovers, I had better strike a balance by congratulating Kenmare GAA Club on its victory in the county junior championship final. Uniquely, the club is in both the all-Ireland hurling final and the club championship final. Very few clubs have managed to achieve this.
That is not relevant to the Order of Business.
It is relevant in terms of voluntarism, an issue on which I ask the Leader to arrange a debate, as it is at the core of what Ireland is about. All of the people who contribute ensure we have teams such as Sligo Rovers and Kenmare on the field. It is a very important aspect of Irish society.
We are not going to get involved in a sports round-up on the Order of Business. Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?
Like my colleagues, I call for a debate on a report published only two hours ago. This is quickly becoming one of the most undemocratic countries in Europe. As my colleagues have pointed out, we have the lowest level of public representation per head of population at local level among the EU 15 member states. Up until yesterday in Ireland there was one public representative per 2,600 people; in France there is one public representative for every 118 persons. Our level of public representation will now be worse than that in our near neighbour, the United Kingdom, by some 2,000 people per public representative. Added to the fact that this House and the Dáil are responsible for debating only 2% of all the legislation and laws made in this country every year, a matter on which I have spoken previously, this shows how large the democratic deficit is getting. I suggest the report, Putting People First, published by the Minister today will put people last because there will be fewer public representatives scrutinising the policies and proposals brought forward.
Unelected officials will control policies at local level. They already control them at national level as the Oireachtas debates only 2% of all laws made. People are not best served by our democracy because their wishes are not being fulfilled and those they elect are not able to represent them effectively.
Does the Senator have a question for the Leader? Is he indicating support for a debate?
Fundamental change is needed. I ask the Leader to organise an immediate debate on the report, which will increase the democratic deficit by pushing Ireland to the bottom of the European league table in respect of public representation.
It is a very foolish person who raises his or her voice to discuss an issue without having first studied the subject matter.
The Senator should sit down.
I have read some parts of the report, which extends to more than 200 pages, since its launch at 11 a.m. Several speakers who admitted they have not read or examined the document made contributions that are foolish in the extreme. The purpose of the proposed reforms is to clean up the economic mess created by the Fianna Fáil Party. Today marks the beginning of a new era for local government.
Is the Senator supporting calls for a debate?
I will first complete my contribution.
Senator Leyden indicated that the number of county councillors would be reduced. He has clearly not read the document as it proposes to increase the number of county councillors from 830 to 950.
I am sure the Leader will respond to the various points raised by Senators.
The proposals mirror the recommendations of a document produced in 2010 by the former Fianna Fáil Minister, Noel Dempsey, in which he sought the abolition of town councils.
We will not have a debate on the issue. Is the Senator supporting calls for a debate?
I wish to make a number of points, after which I will ask a question of the Leader.
The Senator should put his question.
The document proposes to devolve new powers to local government in eight areas, namely, micro-enterprise, transport, roads, tourism, sport, heritage sites, flood relief and food safety. While I would like a debate on local government, it is not reasonable to expect it to be arranged for Thursday. Perhaps it will be held in the next couple of weeks. Will the provision of financial autonomy be enshrined in new legislation for the proposed municipal and district councils?
I join colleagues in calling on the Leader to arrange a debate on the proposals launched this afternoon by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan. I have not had an opportunity to read the entire report, which runs to more than 200 pages, because my party did not receive copies until about an hour ago, unlike some of our colleagues opposite who received a copy on Friday last. Senator Landy stated that my colleagues did not read the document properly and pointed out that the number of county councillors will increase rather than decrease. Provision will be made for additional county councillors in the large urban centres.
Is the Senator supporting the call for a debate?
Yes. Given that Senator Landy comes from a major urban area, he will not be badly affected by the proposals. The title of the document, Putting People First, is an insult to citizens, especially in Cavan-Monaghan, where they will be given an opportunity to vote for 79 fewer public representatives at the next local elections.
The Senator may make points during the debate.
I will value Senator Wilson's informed contribution to the debate.
I suggest Senator Landy and his colleagues go back to the drawing board. They should call in the Minister and get this right. While I welcome reforms, one of the major reforms in the report - I read about it in the executive summary - is to change the county manager title to one of "chief executive". That is some achievement.
I also support calls for a debate on the reform of local government. I am afraid my colleagues opposite are still out of touch as they are not listening to the voice of the people. Members of the public want reform of the political structure, greater value for money and cost savings. I will not dwell on the issue as the House will have a spirited debate on the matter at the appropriate time.
I welcome the announcement made yesterday by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter, of the allocation of an additional €3 million to purchase 170 new vehicles for the Garda fleet. I had intended to call for moneys to be spent following a series of incidents in my part of the world over the weekend when violent criminals from the Kildare region and other parts of Leinster carried out a spate of robberies in County Offaly but also in the east Galway village of Eyrecourt and my home town of Ballinasloe. They caused significant damage to property in the theft of goods. Apparently, the suspects are well known to the Garda. They are using high speed vehicles and very difficult to apprehend because of our new road structure; therefore, Garda transport must be of a particularly high standard to ensure gardaí are capable of pursuing these criminals. I am aware that in the incident which occurred in east Galway a Garda vehicle packed it in during the course of the gardaí's work. It is welcome that 170 new vehicles will be made available. The number of Garda stations is not as important as ensuring the Garda has the technology and transport required to pursue dangerous criminals who are causing devastation and instilling great fear in business people and ordinary people living in their homes. I very much welcome the investment of €3 million and hope that following the budget there will be further investment to ensure the Garda is properly resourced to do the job expected of it by the people.
With my colleague, Senator Mary Moran, I welcome the decision made yesterday by An Bord Pleanála to grant planning permission for construction of the Narrow Water bridge in north County Louth which will connect Omeath and County Louth with Warrenpoint, County Down. The Minister, Alex Attwood, MLA, announced last Friday that planning permission had been granted on the Northern side. It is a significant partnership project between Louth County Council and Newry and Mourne District Council. Those involved in the eastern Border region have also played a significant part. It is a project I have been promoting for almost 30 years with many of my councillor colleagues, including Councillor Peter Savage, Councillor Jim McCart in the North, among others, some of whom have gone to their eternal reward. Louth County Council, with its key partners in Newry and Mourne District Council, is anxious to build this bridge. It will be a major tourism project for Newry and its hinterland, Cooley, Carlingford and the north Louth region, in particular, all of which will gain significantly from it. It is within yards of where the British Army sustained its greatest loss of life in a single incident during the Troubles in Northern Ireland when 18 soldiers were killed, with one civilian on the Southern side. The bridge, when complete, will be a true symbol of lasting peace between all communities. The project will be welcomed by all communities on both sides of the Border.
I welcome the announcement made yesterday by the Minister for Health that the cost of drugs will be reduced in the next three years. The total cost savings will be in the order of €400 million. In 2000 the cost of medication and drugs was €573 million. By 2010 this figure had increased to €1.894 billion, an increase of over 230%.
I raise an issue of concern. I submitted a freedom of information request to the Health Service Executive concerning the procedures used in the purchasing of drugs and was surprised to read in the letter received in response that there was no centralised system for the purchase of pharmaceuticals for hospitals. It further stated the national maximum prices of medicines had been governed by a series of sequential framework agreements dating back to the 1970s. It is obvious they have not worked. When we next debate health issues, we should question the way the system in place in the HSE is working.
Members also should address the position whereby each individual hospital appears to be working on its own and is not bound by rules as regards what it pays for drugs. This issue must be considered because the costs still are too high. They are far higher than what is being paid in hospitals in the United Kingdom for pharmaceuticals, drugs and medicines and they must be reduced further. I accept that what the Minister has done constitutes a huge improvement and is a welcome development but much work remains to be done in this regard and this area must be monitored carefully in the next few years.
The proposed Narrow Water bridge project is tremendous, should be welcomed universally and will provide a huge boost for tourism in the region. I note some wonderful statistics have been trotted out here today within one or two hours of the publication of the report on local government by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan. I too look forward to the debate in early course, whenever the Leader can manage it. Members should not and I am sure will not lose sight of the point that because of all the huge planning errors made throughout the country, it is greatly to be welcomed that the Minister has incorporated all of the recommendations of the Mahon tribunal.
No, he has not.
Has he not included all of them?
No, he has not.
I would look forward to the detail in this regard.
This is the reason a debate is required.
Senator Paul Coghlan to continue, without interruption. Is the Senator supporting the calls for a debate?
The Senator must have read the Fine Gael report, not the Labour Party one.
It is correct. I look forward to discussing this matter with my esteemed colleague, Senator Darragh O'Brien, and listening to his contribution because I understood the proposals encompassed all of the aforementioned recommendations.
Is the Senator speaking in support of a debate?
No, but I would welcome such a debate and look forward to contributing to it whenever the Leader will hold it.
The Senator is safe.
I join other Members in calling for a debate on local government reform. Change is very difficult, particularly when it means certain individuals essentially are out of a position and I refer in particular to the town councils. I also agree with Senator Landy's point that there is much to be digested in the report and, I am sure, many positives that must be highlighted and consequently, I would welcome a debate on it. I also join Senators Hayden and Conway with regard to their comments on the banking sector. It is unreasonable to expect the Minister for Finance to come into this House 15 minutes after the conclusion of the Order of Business on a given day to discuss this issue and it would be unhelpful. Members must come up with real solutions for those individuals who are enduring problems with their mortgages and who are highly distressed in many ways. Before having the Minister for Finance come into the House, the first step would be for representatives of the pillar banks in particular to appear in this Chamber in order that Members can scrutinise precisely what they are up to and how they are conducting their business. To date, it appears to be very much a case of them learning as they go along. While I understand this area is evolving, Members certainly should make use of this House in this regard. In advance of any appearance here by the Minister for Finance, Members should call on leaders of Bank of Ireland and AIB in particular to come in here and present truthful data as to what precisely is occurring on a daily basis in banks and how they are trying to assist ordinary individuals in difficult financial situations.
I note that quite a lot of Members who made points on the Order of Business are not present to listen to a response. I have no intention of responding to individuals who raise points on a daily basis in this House and then run out of the Chamber after making them. It is most discourteous to the House.
Senator Darragh O'Brien raised the issue of perinatal care. I certainly will try to have a debate on that subject in early course. The three health Ministers have been in the House in the past two weeks and another health Minister will be here tomorrow. I certainly will do my best to arrange for statements on this issue and, if not, perhaps the subject could be tabled in the context of a Private Members' motion to enable Members to deal with the issue. In dealing with Temple Street Hospital, Senator Darragh O'Brien certainly raised those points with the Minister. I note the Senator has written to him again and I certainly will raise the matter with the Minister myself as well.
The vast majority of Members raised the question of local government. I am afraid I am not as well informed as other Members and I have not had the opportunity of reading the proposals that the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, announced today. As Members have noted, it would be proper if we held an informed debate on the subject. Many Members have raised individual items which could be raised in the context of that debate. I have been assured by the Minister that he will come well in advance of any legislation to discuss the reforms but I cannot accede to the request that he come here today to discuss them.
It was Thursday that was mentioned.
Or Thursday. The Minister has given an indication that he is quite willing to come and discuss the proposals well in advance of legislation.
Senator Bacik raised the question of food poverty. It is a matter we can raise with the Minister for Social Protection when she is in the House on Thursday. We join the Senator in wishing that young Pakistani girl a speedy and complete recovery and condemn the people responsible for that deplorable act.
Senator O'Neill called for a debate on fluoride in water. Certainly we will try to arrange that debate, which has been requested previously. The Senator also noted the birthday of Michael Collins. It is good to see that he is being commemorated properly but this was not always the case.
Senators Moran, Brennan, Paul Coghlan and Barrett commented on the North-South Interparliamentary Association and its meeting here in this House on Friday last. The Senators have welcomed the fact that An Bord Pleanála has given the go-ahead for the bridge linking counties Louth and Down at Narrow Water. I imagine that project will be welcomed on all sides.
Senators Henry and Comiskey have commented on Stiefel Laboratories and the fact that the associated jobs will now be retained. This is to be welcomed and I note the comments of both Senators in this regard.
Senator Comiskey commented on the N4. Perhaps the matter could be tabled by the Senator as an Adjournment matter and he could get an up-to-date report.
Senator Hayden and others, including Senators Noone and Conway, commented on the conference of the Irish Banking Federation and I note their points in this regard. The issue of distressed mortgage holders is a serious matter and I imagine we will have many hours of debate on it when we deal with the Personal Insolvency Bill in the House. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, and the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Hayes, have dealt with the issue of mortgage arrears. I agree with Senator Hayden that we should continue to receive updates on the matter as regularly as possible and I will try to arrange that.
Most of the other Senators dealt with the area of local government. Senator Mullins remarked on the 170 new vehicles for the Garda Síochána. I imagine this will be welcomed by all. It is of paramount importance to the force which has made strong representations to have the number of vehicles increased because of the poor quality of some in use. The provision of the new vehicles will be welcomed by all and they will provide the Garda with the necessary resources to combat crime.
Senator Colm Burke referred to the €440 million in savings with regard to drugs announced yesterday. The new deal over the next three years will mean a significant reduction in the cost of drugs for patients, a reduction in the drugs bill for the State, greater access to new cutting edge drugs for certain conditions and an easing of financial pressure on the health service in future. All of these will be welcomed by all Members and the public.
Order of Business agreed to.