The Order of Business is No. 1, Water Services Bill 2013 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] - Report and Final Stages, to be taken at 1 p.m.; and No. 2, Private Members' business, Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013 - Order for Second Stage and Second Stage, to be taken at 5.30 p.m. and conclude not later than 7.30 p.m.
Order of Business
We will not be opposing the Order of Business today. I welcome the Bill to be debated this evening in Private Members' time, but it is a shame that we could not have accepted the Bill proposed by Senator Averil Power which dealt with the same area. It is regrettable that when a very good Bill is put forward by the Opposition, the set piece tends to be that the Government declares it has a Bill of its own and will bring it forward because it does not want the Opposition scoring any goals on its watch. No doubt Senator Ivana Bacik will acknowledge this evening the efforts of Fianna Fáil and Senator Averil Power, in particular. in bringing forward that Bill almost a year ago because I am sure it helped to inform the Bill from the Labour Party Senators.
Today we will have an announcement from the Government, to which we are all looking forward in the hope it will give some respite to the many struggling families throughout the country.
However, we have serious concerns about the banks controlling the process. As is envisaged under the Personal Insolvency Act, they have absolute control with a veto and are still in the driver's seat. Media reports have been building up in the past three days - I am sure it has something to do with the Meath East by-election where issues of mortgage arrears and negative equity will not be lost on many of those voting in a few weeks' time. However, I very much hope the Government will inject some kind of control into this scenario because the banks have not stood up to their end of the bargain so far. They have got the capital to assist them with their losses and have had all the assistance of the taxpayer. However, we have not had real measures to assist people on the ground. We very much hope that will happen today. In the 18 months since the publication of the Keane report which promoted split mortgages as the panacea to many of the ills brought on by the mortgage crisis, only 50 have been implemented, which is scandalous. In 2011 we published a Bill proposing a debt-management office where the people would be represented through an independent arbitrator. We believe something like that will be required to force the banks to do what is necessary to look after the people who have looked after them so well.
I seek a debate on the dividend payable to the Government by State agencies. In the past week ESB announced results with €200 million in profits and €78 million of a dividend is payable to the State. That €78 million should be ring-fenced and distributed through some kind of coupon method to the struggling families who cannot afford to buy home-heating oil or pay their gas or electricity bills at this most difficult time. Middle-class families - not those one would automatically assume to be in the poverty trap - are struggling and avoiding putting on the heat in their homes because they cannot afford to do so. Surely there is some way to redistribute that €78 million dividend to ease the pain of struggling families.
I welcome the initiative on mortgage arrears being announced today and which has been discussed in the media in recent days. It is undoubtedly a very pressing issue. The Taoiseach and the Tánaiste have expressed concern in the past two years over the delays and lack of impetus in the banks in dealing with this. It is really welcome that the focus will be on owners of investment properties and ensuring that banks will have targets to reach resettlement of mortgages and will not be simply be allowed to let things drag on further. The priority must be to ensure that people are able to remain in their family homes. It is welcome to see steps finally being taken to address this and an agreement being reached with the Central Bank on it.
I again raise the issue of the Guthrie cards from the newborn heel-prick tests that I raised yesterday. I commend the Irish Heart Foundation on raising this issue yesterday. It also raised a similar concern to that which I expressed yesterday, namely, that many parents of children born up to 2002 are not aware that they only have until 31 March to ensure those records are retained and that they must take the initiative in order to ensure the records are retained. I agree with Senator David Norris that it is most unfortunate that a data protection ruling has prevailed, resulting in these absolutely invaluable records on the health of children and future adults being destroyed. I am glad that the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, has agreed to take up with the HSE the issue of whether parents have been sufficiently informed. I hope we will see an extension of the 31 March deadline to ensure that people have adequate time to contact the relevant hospitals and to get the records of their children retained.
During our Private Members' time this evening, the Labour Party group will introduce the Employment Equality (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2013 and I would welcome support from all sides of the House for it. Senator Marc MacSharry mentioned Senator Averil Power's Bill and I commend her on her initiative last year. It was unfortunate that at the time she did not withdraw the Bill because both Ministers, Deputies Ruairí Quinn and Alan Shatter, who were present during the debate had suggested to her if that had been done it could be reintroduced as a Government Bill, which is what had happened previously with my FGM Bill. It is a good way to approach Private Members' legislation. We are hopeful that tonight the Government will accept our Bill, which goes somewhat further than Senator Averil Power's Bill in that it covers all nine grounds of discrimination and changes the current opt-out from the anti-discrimination laws of religious-run institutions in respect of all nine. Earlier Bills, including Senator Averil Power's, did not cover all nine grounds. However, we are not claiming that this is a perfect Bill and I would welcome input from colleagues from both sides of the House as to how it could be improved and how protection for employees and prospective employees in religious-run schools and hospitals could be made more robust. I believe the Bill can be strengthened and improved upon and look forward to this evening's debate.
I wish all our Ministers bon voyage and best wishes as they travel all over the world for St. Patrick's Day celebrations this week. It is important that our Ministers support the State agencies in their work to promote Ireland's strengths from culture to tourism, encouraging inward investment thereby creating jobs. I applaud our diplomatic service, Culture Ireland, Tourism Ireland, IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland which are working extremely hard for citizens. Our Ministers' visits to all these regions will be an important part of that strategic development.
I am proud to be a Senator and take my responsibilities seriously. I hope to use whatever influence I have correctly and judiciously. I rarely speak on the Order of Business and only on issues about which I know little or issues about which I would like to know considerably more. That is the role I see myself having and that is my privilege. I accept that my colleagues in Seanad Éireann also have that position. This morning I ask for a debate on the Government's intention to sell off the harvesting rights of our forests. Much has changed in recent months following the successful strategy of the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, and the Government with the promissory notes. Circumstances have changed since the original IMF-EU discussions in 2011. I understand that the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine, Deputy Simon Coveney, is extraordinarily busy during the EU Presidency, as the Leader explained last week on the Order of Business. However, this issue of selling off our harvesting rights to reap private profits that ultimately will have no direct benefit to citizens is a concern.
In a report commissioned by the Coillte branch of IMPACT, the economist, Mr. Peter Bacon, concluded the State would be liable for costs of €1.3 billion following a sale of these rights. To cover these costs, Coillte would need to sell at €78 per sq. m. While I am not an expert, the maths do not add up. The recent price Coillte gets from sawmills has been just over €43 per sq. m. according to that report. The British Government recently abandoned a similar sell-off plan. There are important environmental, cultural and heritage reasons for us not to sell our woodlands. During this terrible recession we need to keep some of our national dignity intact. Forestry and wood processing industries support thousands of jobs directly and many more indirectly. There are worthwhile restoration programmes undertaken by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Coillte and others, and, as Mr. Paddy Woodward mentioned in today's edition of The Irish Times, by NGOs such as Woodlands of Ireland. The recreational value of public forests is confirmed by 18 million annual visits nationwide. I understand Woodlands of Ireland will publish a report shortly and crucially the Government is due to consider a report compiled by the stockbroking firm, Goodbody, on the issue. I call for a debate in the Seanad on this important national issue. I will be publicly opposing the sale of our forests or our harvesting rights into private ownership. We own the banks; we need to keep the forests.
At yesterday's meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation we had a very interesting debate on town centres. It was initiated by RGDATA, the body representing smaller independent shops. While the town centres of Ireland are being devastated in many cases, I do not believe it is up to the State to solve this - it is the sort of thing that needs to be solved by each individual town. There are some great examples of towns that are doing a lot and being successful. We could do with a debate here because the debate initiated yesterday was very worthy. The State can do certain things to help the independent shops. The State needs to address black market operations, fuel laundering, illegal cigarettes and others. The other aspects are things we need to do ourselves.
I fear there is not enough attention focused on enterprise. Throughout the country wonderful steps are being taken with regard to enterprise, particularly youth enterprise. If we can manage to encourage people to feel they can do it themselves rather than have somebody else do it for them, we can change the culture of enterprise in this country. It is worthy of a debate in the House and I urge the Leader to allocate time for that debate soon.
I support my colleague, Senator Fiach Mac Conghail, in his call for a debate on the sale of forest harvesting rights. It would be good to have that debate because it would enlighten all of us in considering what is the best way forward. I believe no decision has yet been made. Our forests provide many amenities, with walking and other activities taking place in them. We must consider that before making a decision.
I wish to raise the Central Applications Office, CAO, points for students entering agricultural colleges or doing third level courses. The points have increased by 5.5% this year and since 2007 there has been an increase of 40% in the number of points required. It is very important that we give our students every opportunity to go to third level agricultural colleges. There has been a 10% increase in the number of jobs in the farming and fish sectors in the past couple of years. There is a great future in those sectors, especially now that we are reaching the endgame with Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, reform, which will generate certainty for agribusiness. It is therefore important that as many students as possible take up agricultural courses.
I am reluctant to raise this again, but it is not helpful to the future viability of this House that, yet again, on the main day for debate in this House, Wednesday, it appears from what the Leader said that the sitting will suspend after the Order of Business until 1 p.m., it will suspend again following the Water Services Bill until 5 p.m. and that the Water Services Bill will be the only business today.
I have had informal discussions with the Leader on this issue. As a long-serving Member of the House, I understand and appreciate the difficulties for a Leader in encouraging Ministers to come to the House. However, I have put forward the view that we could be very usefully engaged in debates on various issues. For example, the House has had little debate on European and foreign affairs for some time. There is as much happening outside this country as is happening inside it that could be usefully debated here. It would be helpful to the collective wisdom on all sides of the House. It would not necessarily require the line Minister to be present. A Minister of State could attend. It would at least provide an opportunity to highlight issues that are relevant to this country, particularly its role and standing in the world. The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade is now President of the Council of Ministers for Foreign Affairs and appears daily in the media with regard to worldwide issues. That is only one example. There are also many domestic issues that could be debated in the House that do not necessarily require legislation to generate such debates. The debates could feed into policy. Again, I appreciate that it is difficult to get a Minister to the House, but it does not reflect well on this House, its future and its impact with the general public that the sitting will be suspended for long periods on this day of the week.
I did not intend to speak for so long on that issue as I wish to raise another matter. Will the Leader convey to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, the great concern being expressed by people employed in county development companies throughout the country as a result of the Government's policy on alignment, as it is called? There has been very little clarity since the decision was made as to how the new structures will be formed. I ask the Minister to clarify the future of the jobs of those involved. Over 2,000 people are employed in county development companies throughout Ireland. In my county there are 19 to 20 people employed. I attended a lobby meeting with them last Monday afternoon and they are genuinely concerned about their future. Their contracts end on 31 December and they have no idea what will happen after that. Will the Leader convey to the Minister the importance and urgency of clarifying the future of the jobs of those very fine people in the context of the alignment of the county development boards?
I was a journalist for 30 years before becoming directly involved in politics. There is mounting concern and anxiety throughout media and journalistic circles about the consolidation and virtual monopoly that is developing in the Irish media. Almost every leading title and radio station in the country is now in the ownership of one company and is effectively under the control of one man. This would set alarm bells ringing anywhere and certainly in the corridors of power. We must have free speech, fair comment in the public interest and robust debate to protect the interests of the public and democracy. It is equally alarming that the person who owns these newspaper titles has recently issued a charter to journalists to which they must conform. It effectively amounts to censorship. If one does not have one's copy vetted by the managing director, it cannot be published. I have always said that it is not what is printed that concerns me, but what is not getting into print.
The Government has been in office for two years. It committed itself to introducing robust legislation to ensure diversity and choice in the media, but this has not happened to date. The legislation falls within the remit of the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, and the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Pat Rabbitte. Will the Leader establish what is happening with that legislation and why there is a delay? The words "Pravda" and "propaganda" spring to mind. It is thought by many journalists that perhaps some people in the Government are of the view that this is okay because it is our man in Havana or our man in Haiti who is in control. However, I do not share that view, nor does anybody who is interested in democratic access to choice, freedom of expression and fair debate. If we do not soon pass this legislation, it will be pointless. It will not be a case of closing the stable door after the horse has bolted, because the horse will have been to Cheltenham and back and will be out to pasture. The legislation will have no purpose. We must ensure that there is fair choice, freedom of speech and freedom of comment in the public interest. There must be multiple ownership in the media. What is happening in the Irish media is a de facto monopoly which is dangerous for politics and democracy, and bad for journalism.
Like my colleagues, yesterday I received a bundle of information about the property tax, including a specimen form. All my doubts have been crystalised in this. It gives advice and guidance on how to value our property. The two principal means are two websites run by the authorities. They are confusing, highly inaccurate and utterly useless. One cannot make one's way around them. I speak from my own parochial concern. The area in the north inner city in which I live is bounded by Dorset Street, Gardiner Street, Cathal Brugha Street, Frederick Street, Rutland Place and O'Connell Street. It is in band 5, one of the more expensive bands. O'Connell Street is in band 3, Dame Street is in band 4 and St. Stephen's Green west is in band 4. In other words, they are less expensive. Part of Merrion Square is also less expensive. These are enormous houses on the south side. I could continue listing the areas.
The guidance is absolutely riddled with the most grotesque anomalies. It says one can honestly arrive at a valuation. I had a meeting with some of my neighbours last night and we decided we would do our best to honestly value the properties, but the only way we can do it is by reference to sales and the Government's guidelines, which are totally inaccurate. How could anybody say that a property on a street in the north inner city that still has some dereliction in it has more value than one of those enormous palatial houses on the south side? It is absolutely daft. We will do our best but, my goodness, sparks will fly about this.
I am very sorry that a Member of the Lower House is in the current difficulty with penalty points. He is a decent man. It is quite extraordinary-----
The Senator is not to comment on Members of the other House.
-----that another of these people has been affected by leaks from the Garda. It is a little worrying also.
I do not like the practice but I worry about the fact that, apparently, if one takes on some of the Establishment, one gets a nice solid whack through leaking. It is not good practice.
The Senator is way over his time.
If I can be helpful to Senator David Norris, there will be a briefing by the Revenue Commissioners in the audiovisual room at 11.45 a.m. today.
I would be sorry to share the same air. I have some standards as I come here, but there is a limit.
Senator Mullins to continue, without interruption.
I share the call by Senator Feargal Quinn for a debate in the House on the challenges facing town centre businesses. As the Senator correctly noted, these are facing major challenges, and the Government will not be able to resolve all those problems. The Senator has contributed very significantly to helping towns around the country and we could all benefit from his wisdom in the House. I would like very much to see the debate he has called for.
I welcome this morning's instruction by the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, to the banks to reduce salaries by between 6% and 10%. It is important that all sectors financed from the public purse make a contribution to national recovery. I hope the semi-State bodies, such as RTE, etc., will receive similar instructions. I ask the Leader to at some stage organise a full, open and frank discussion with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, on how further savings can be made within the public service. As we cannot impose any further taxes to reduce the budget deficit of €12 billion, savings must be achieved through cuts in public expenditure. I would like to see us exploring the possibility which works very well in industry where we incentivise people to formulate good ideas and suggestions. Many people within the public service have great ideas on how to make further savings and we should explore the issues with the Minister, Deputy Brendan Howlin, at some stage.
Inné, d'ardaigh mé ceist maidir le cúrsaí bochtanachta in Éirinn, ach bhí an oiread díograis ar an gCeannaire a bheith ag tabhairt amach faoi pholasaí Shinn Fein sa Tuaisceart nár fhreagair sé an cheist. Yesterday I asked for a debate on poverty and I do not believe there was clarification from the Leader in that respect. In his zeal to have a go at Sinn Féin's policy in the North, he disregarded the question; therefore, I am raising the matter again. Some 2,479 domestic customers have had their gas supply cut, 4,181 households had electricity disconnected and gas and electricity prices have risen by an average of 30%. We heard this morning that the ESB saw revenue rise to €3.26 billion in 2012, up from €2.91 billion the previous year, and the company made €190 million in profit.
It is encouraging to see a semi-State body making a profit, as we have always argued that this can happen and we should not be selling them. Nevertheless, we must ask the question of on whose back the profit is being made. The company indicated in its annual report that it would pay a dividend of €78 million to the State, although energy prices remain stubbornly high. I call for a debate with the relevant Minister on the way the €78 million in cash windfall to the State will be spent. These profits should be used to ensure that disconnections are minimised and the profits should not be used to pay the large salaries of people in the ESB. That echoes the comments of Senator Michael Mullins. We should have a debate on the profits made by semi-State bodies and the ESB, in particular, as well as how the €78 million to be handed back to the Exchequer could be used to alleviate pressure on households which are finding it very difficult in the days in which letters about property tax are being received. They are finding it very hard to pay electricity and gas bills and we should debate how this money could be used to help alleviate their position.
I support my colleague's call for a debate on the future of forestry. We have had some discussion on the matter in the House already. I have read the Peter Bacon report in detail and I am convinced it would be foolish to sell these interests. We should have a debate and get the responsible Minister in here.
With regard to planning, I would say to Senator Feargal Quinn to Mind Your Own Business, which was the name of his book. It is an excellent read and anybody trying to survive in a small retail business in Ireland now should read it. I have done so and there is much common sense in it. Even if the Senator minds his own business, the big issue with retailing in this country is planning law, which must be an integral part of tackling this issue.
I will raise the matter of credit unions, with 13 across this country at the butt of the promissory note issue. Some credit unions invested in what was then Anglo Irish Bank, with a 100% guaranteed investment scheme in 2005 that was to mature in 2013. I understand in the order of €70 million is involved in this across the country. This investment was wiped out the day after the promissory note agreement and the passing of the related legislation. I am sure other people in this room are members of credit unions like me, and they have seen the value of their credit union shares drop. This was an unforeseen circumstance of the deal on the promissory notes and the issue should be addressed. I have raised the matter on different occasions in different forums but nothing has been done. There is an opportunity to resolve the matter and I ask the Leader to bring it to the attention of the Minister for Finance again. The ordinary shareholders and members of credit unions have been affected and this would put their minds at ease if the issue could be resolved in a fair way that would see them not losing this money.
I support Senator John Whelan and I would like to have a debate on the media. We all accept that one of the strongest strands in any democratic system is a free and independent media, even in times when we may be irked by some transgressions. Deep down we know that without that independent and free expression by the media, we would be in an exceptionally serious position. That said, none of us is perfect and when the media makes snide remarks at this House, one could look at the Press Gallery and wonder where the reporters are. They arrive when there is a sensationalist issue to be discussed but what about the nitty-gritty of legislation? A third of all Bills have been initiated in this House but I do not recall seeing any member of the media present when that happened.
Monopolies in any area are not good, whether that is in business in general or the media. I was initially pleased when local radio was set up, with most of these being examples of community radio. I felt this was an opportunity to avoid the conglomerates dictating to us at a local community level. Now we can see encroachment by various people into that area, with monopolies developing there as well. The same thing has happened with local newspapers. We always felt fairly sure there was an ethical content in local newspapers, which very often reflected the actions and aspirations of the local community. However, local newspapers are being taken over by conglomerates.
We must start on the basis that we, as legislators, have faults but the media also has faults. If we could start a debate in here without having a cheap shot at anybody, it would be good for democracy. If we do not act in such a fashion, we will not be helping the issue. We should consider what happened in Britain, with the abuses evident in the media there. They were outrageous, as innocent and decent people, many in a traumatic position, were targeted. I am not suggesting anything like that happens here, although the leak of information from An Garda is only one step from it. That is not good for An Garda Síochána, the democracy or the media.
It would be helpful to have such a debate in isolation rather than when an issue arises. Will the Leader consider an open debate on the media? If members of the media could be present in the Press Gallery when the debate happens, we would be engaging in a partnership to bring about the best for democracy in the country.
Following on from what Senator Marc MacSharry said about the banks, it is important that a structure be put in place for dealing with the issues faced by many borrowers. I am concerned at the lack of joined-up thinking by all banks in regard to how they approach those who are in serious difficulty. I understand that different rules operate if the borrower employs a solicitor to speak to the banks as opposed to a retired bank official acting as the go-between between the borrower and the bank. There is a need for the banks, the Department, the legal profession and the accountancy profession to set up a proper structure. Legal officers are getting letters from the banks inviting the bank's client to fill in a form after which they will deal with the issues but they are not prepared to enter into discussions with members of the legal profession or the accountancy profession. That is wrong. It is not long ago since banks relied, and still do, on legal undertakings given by solicitors. Now they do not want to deal with the professions but rather their former employees who are acting as consultants. The issue needs to be dealt with at an early date. There is no point in each of the banks adopting a different attitude to borrowers in various parts of the country. As there is no overall procedure in place the issue needs to be dealt with immediately.
I welcome the clarification by the chief executive of PayPal of comments referred to here yesterday about the unsuitability of many young Irish people for employment. The issue was a matter of concern to us. The comments have been clarified. The person concerned employs 1,800 people, 60% of whom are non-graduates which is good because that is where most of the unemployment lies. The complaints are in respect of timekeeping, dress code, feet on the table, bad spelling in CVs and using references. When the employer contacts the referee, the referee has not been informed. As these are issues we would wish to address, the clarification is welcome.
I support Senator Michael Mullins in regard to the attempts by the Minister for Finance to seek pay cuts of 6% to 10% in the banks. It is astonishing that since 2008, pay in the IBRC has increased by 16% to an average of €71,300. The total remuneration package is €92,000. The comparators would presumably be other private sector companies but the other private sector companies are not bankrupt or banks in other countries which presumably are not bankrupt. It must be remembered that these banks destroyed their shareholders and bankrupted the country. The Minister is quite right to seek a reduction to reflect the reality of people who failed in the private sector and must conform to the pay reductions that everybody in the public sector has had to take, largely because of the errors and incompetence of the people whom he targeted yesterday. The House should welcome that, otherwise there is no penalty imposed on people who display such gross incompetence and do so much damage to this country as Irish banks have done.
I have some advice for Senator David Norris on his property. I would advise him to telephone an estate agent. Many estate agents in Donegal have said to me that people should contact them and there would be no fee. Most local estate agents would be amenable to give a fairly accurate valuation of one's property for free. One should do that if one considered the valuation was too high or too low.
Senator Marc MacSharry raised the issue of repossessions. There is much emotion when people talk about repossessions. There are many properties in the buy-to-let market that are ready for repossession. An argument against that is that an already depressed market would be flooded with properties. In many areas where buy-to-let properties would be repossessed, they would go back into the market. It would not make a difference to that market but where they are repossessed in cities or large urban areas where there is a demand, it would work. People have to separate the buy-to-let repossessions from the family home repossessions. In the 1980s and 1990s more repossessions of family homes took place than now which was very stressful. A repossession will take place only as a last resort. There has not been a tradition of repossession because people regard the family home as their castle, rightly so. I hope the Government will make that distinction between buy-to-let properties and the family home. I have been told that certain buy-to-let landlords have not made payments for three years but are still collecting the rent. That is not good for anyone.
Sligo Institute of Technology is having its innovation and enterprise week. I am pleased that tomorrow evening I will host an event for parents, one could call it career guidance for parents, specifically concentrating on the STEM subjects - science, technology, engineering and mathematics. This is an area of huge growth. The US council on science has recommended to President Obama that it needs at least 1 million graduates in the next decade to fill the jobs that are becoming available. In Ireland we will need top grade graduates in these areas. It is welcome that Dublin City University recently reported a large increase in the number of applicants for these areas this year and last year as there had been a fall-off in previous years.
I am trying to give parents more information about the jobs that are becoming available in order that they can encourage their children to take up STEM subjects. In this regard I ask the Leader to invite the Minister of State, Deputy Sean Sherlock, who endorses the event I am hosting, to the House for a discussion on how we can support the advancement of STEM subjects. Science Foundation Ireland is doing a good job through its smart futures project. It can take some credit for the increased number of applications in third level institutions this year. The Minister of State has been in the House on a previous occasion but I would like him to give an update on this area and how we can find new ways to relate to second level students, their teachers and career guidance teachers and find other ways to encourage and support children who may have an interest in this area but are not sure where the jobs are. Perhaps the Minister of State would share some of his ideas with us and how we might reach out to the United States, which has some innovative programmes. Intel runs a programme specifically for young women and young girls to encourage them and, perhaps, we could have an interesting debate on that area.
I welcome moves by the Minister for Finance to deal with bankers' pay. Bank officials are essentially public sector workers and it is only right that their pay should be reduced. It is not the big headline pay we should be thinking of but there are numerous bankers on €100,000 plus who can easily take a hit in their wages. No loss making business could possibly justify such huge remuneration for staff. Sometimes the part played by banks in the crash is forgotten. Although it is way too late to talk about it, it is a real pity that reckless lending is not a criminal offence because many of these bankers should be in jail. We could consider making reckless lending a criminal offence in legislation.
Or remuneration of bankers.
Unfortunately, they are not lending.
I congratulate Senator Feargal Quinn on publishing his book, Mind Your Own Business, and support his call for a debate on retailers in small towns who have been so badly let down by the planning authorities in recent years.
We have a responsibility because of that careless planning that allowed multinationals in on the outskirts of towns which, essentially, wipes out all business in small towns. The effect has been catastrophic to small towns. It is a debate that we need to have in this House. As a Government, we need to have a strategy in this area because our planning was so much at fault in this regard.
In the private sector a company that makes money in the open market is quite entitled to set its wage limits and rates as it sees fit. We may think it is obscene but that is the free market. With banks in this country, it is totally different. I support the Minister for Finance with his instruction and, I hope, ultimatum to the banks that have been bailed out by the hard-pressed taxpayer in this country to reduce their salaries. They had better act on it fast. Perhaps the Leader could get an update for us on the criminal investigations that are taking place and when we will see delinquent bankers who brought this country to its knees face the rigours of the law and enter into court. I would like to see that happen quickly, as the vast majority of Irish people would.
It was remiss of me a couple of weeks ago not to pay tribute to Senator Feargal Quinn. I was at the launch next door of his book, Mind Your Own Business. He is a man who can be described as a creator in this country. He has created much such as reality television, his chain of supermarkets and his enlightened contributions to this House.
Is the Senator looking for a debate on this book?
Or royalties.
Mind your own business, a Chathaoirligh.
Senator Feargal Quinn has certainly initiated many a very worthwhile debate in this House. His latest contribution in terms of planning is apt because my county, no more than the Cathaoirleach's, has been destroyed. A county on the coast of this country with panoramic landscape has been destroyed by very badly developed and planned properties, particularly in the seaside areas. All we can do is learn from this and try to ensure that in future we do right and protect the fabric of society which is the town centres. In the past tax incentive schemes have not worked but there is merit in some sort of a tax incentive scheme for town centres to create a level playing pitch because, unfortunately, facilities such as free car parking that exist on the outskirts of towns do not seem to prevail within town centres. In order to create a level playing pitch, there needs to be some sort of a tax incentive scheme for town centres, particularly in small towns with a population of less than 10,000.
Yesterday Senator Michael Mullins drew to our attention the fact that Ms Louise Phelan, vice president of global operations of PayPal, stated that some of graduates need to up their game. Senator Susan O'Keeffe spoke of the importance of our graduates also. Ms Phelan stated all our work will be in vain if our graduates get a reputation of not knowing how to carry themselves in the workplace and some thought this was harsh. Ms Phelan, as well as being vice president of global operations for PayPal, has a deep commitment to public service. Her brother was a Senator here at one time. We need to take her words seriously. I call on the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, to look at setting up something in transition year to incorporate work ethics and a preparation for working into the school system. Even at a graduate level, we need something like that. We need to listen to Ms Phelan. We cannot blame the messenger for the message.
If the Cathaoirleach will indulge me, it has just been announced that the Garda in Dundalk is launching a major investigation into a suspected criminal operation in diesel laundering involving CAB. This is a first. Previously, it was simply a Revenue matter. Matters are moving on. We have discussed diesel laundering in this House on many occasions with the Minister. In addition, and separately, the Garda is bringing its first case of diesel laundering to court. Could the Leader invite the Minister in to give us an update on how matters are progressing? There is enough green diesel coming in here to fuel all the tractors in Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. We need to keep working on this issue.
I support the Senators who called for a debate on the future of small and medium-sized towns. I also want to highlight the work on this matter over many years of our colleague, Senator Paul Coghlan, particularly in highlighting the planning laws which allow very large retailers to locate outside of town. We all will be aware of the soulless business parks. It would not matter whether one was in Clonakilty or Clonmel, they impact on the hearts of our towns. Recently I had reason to drive through a number of towns and in Arklow, for instance, I was particularly struck at the impact of driving down a street where shop after shop was closed and all that were open were discount stores such as €2 stores and €1 stores. I ask that this House have a debate on the issue of the future of our towns. I would go so far as to say we need a national action plan to deal with this scourge. It must be very disheartening for those who live in these towns, including my own of Dún Laoghaire, looking at this level of deprivation and defeat. It is something that we need to address.
On another matter, I urge caution on the matter of buy-to-let mortgages. As I stated in this House yesterday, one in five is now living in rented properties. There are statistics that show most Irish landlords only own one or two properties, which most bought in good faith to support their pensions. They did it with the full blessing and 100% mortgages given to them by the lending institutions. There are receivers being appointed by banks over buy-to-let mortgages and in many instances, the receivers are coming in, receiving the rent from tenants and not doing essential maintenance for them. When we go down the road of repossessing buy-to-let homes, we must bear in mind that a rented property is somebody else's family home. I would go so far as to say that there is a need for legislation to protect tenants in situations where homes are repossessed by banks.
In response to Senator Marc MacSharry on the issue of mortgage arrears, I can assure him that the Government is taking a hard line with the banks to ensure it is dealt with as soon as possible and without further delay. The Government has set targets with the banks, to which they must adhere and it will ensure they adhere to them.
Senator Ivana Bacik called for an extension of the deadline on Guthrie cards. She mentioned that the Minister had alluded to these cards. I will ask that he extend the deadline from 31 March.
We will have a discussion on the Private Members' Bill from 5.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.
Senator Fiach Mac Conghail raised the matter of the St. Patrick's Day celebrations. Quite a number of Ministers and officials are going to many countries throughout the world for St. Patrick's Day to sell the country in the best possible way. It is an opportunity which no other country has. We can sell the country, particularly in the United States, and try to bring badly needed jobs here. This is probably the reason we have not had such a busy schedule this week. A number of Ministers are away. In addition to St. Patrick's Day, we also have the Presidency of the European Union. As a consequence, not as many Ministers are in the country as normal. I ask Members, including Senator Paschal Mooney, to take this into consideration.
Senator Fiach Mac Conghail and other Senators raised the issue of harvesting rights in the forests. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, came to the House to discuss a number of areas regarding the sale of State assets. The programme for Government includes the NewERA plans for the investment of proceeds from the sale of State assets in new, vital economic infrastructure which will come with additional job opportunities and make the economy more competitive. The Government has decided to issue a new licence for the national lottery and sell the non-network part of Bord Gáis Energy, some ESB power generation assets and the harvesting rights of some forestry assets. Following agreement with the troika, the Government will reinvest half of the proceeds back into the economy, with vital new infrastructure, with the remainder to be used to pay down the sizeable national debt. We can have a further debate if the House wishes and if the Minister of State, Deputy Fergus O'Dowd, can come to discuss it.
Senator Feargal Quinn and several other Senators spoke about the life being drained away from many town centres throughout the country, which he blames on planning. Certainly planning has had much to do with it in recent years. We have seen a build-up of shopping centres on the outskirts of cities and towns to the detriment of core city and town centre areas. While a committee debated the issue yesterday, we should probably broaden the debate and bring the relevant Minister to the House to discuss it. From listening to Members, quite a number of them would like to have a say in this debate. I will try to arrange it as soon as I possibly can.
Senator Michael Comiskey also raised the issue of harvesting rights and referred to the importance of access to third level education for all young people, particularly those involved in agriculture. We all agree with this.
I have addressed Senator Paschal Mooney's point. He also asked that the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, who came before the House yesterday, clarify the position on local development companies. I will certainly ask the Minister to do this and I am sure he will do so in early course.
Senator John Whelan raised the issue of media ownership, which would probably come within the remit of media mergers which are covered in the new consumer and competition Bill which is being drafted. It is large, complex and very comprehensive legislation and I am not clear when it will be published. I will try to get an update for the Senator. Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú also raised this matter.
Senator David Norris spoke about the property tax. The Revenue Commissioners have sent out leaflets. It is self-assessment and while there will be difficulties with some thinking their property has a higher value than in the Revenue band in which it has been placed and others thinking their property is of a lower value, it is up to people to provide an estimate which they believe is correct based on property values in the area.
Senator Michael Mullins spoke about the salaries of bank employees, an issue also raised by other Senators. He called on the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, to come to the House to address the issue of where further savings could be made in public expenditure. The Minister and the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, have come to the House several times in recent months to discuss this issue and I am sure they would be quite willing to come here again.
Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh raised the issue of semi-State bodies, in particular the ESB, which are deemed to be making excessive profits. It is certainly a matter which the energy regulator should take on board because he gave the go-ahead for increases in these charges. He should certainly examine his own conscience when allocating increases to energy suppliers. I take on board what the Senator said.
On Senator Denis Landy's point, I will not tell people to mind their own business, but we compliment Senator Feargal Quinn on his book. With regard to credit union investment with the former Anglo Irish Bank, I have already raised the matter with the Minister for Finance, but I will take it up with him again.
Senator Colm Burke called for more joined-up thinking where banks are in negotiations with members of the legal profession and accountancy firms. He also said there should be one policy in this regard.
Senators Sean D. Barrett and Jim D'Arcy spoke about the remarks of Louise Phelan of PayPal. She clarified her remarks and her clarification is to be welcomed. She was speaking about how people carried themselves in the workplace and the work ethic of young people. Our young graduates should take on board what she stated because she is the chief executive of a large company and it is very important that chief executives have a good impression of our graduates. It is important that, as Senator Jim D'Arcy stated, this type of education is included in secondary schools in order that young people know how to conduct themselves when they enter employment. I remember 20 or 30 years ago in Waterford a famous Sister of Mercy, Sr. Eucharia, who had commercial classes. She was well ahead of her time in educating people on how to behave themselves in the workplace. We need more people like her to educate young people who may be the best intellectually but still have much to learn on how to behave in the workplace.
I note Senator Jimmy Harte's comments on the repossession of buy-to-let properties in particular. It is a different view from that of Senator Aideen Hayden on the matter. The Minister for Finance will impress on the banks that they must do more about mortgage arrears and will set targets to which they will have to adhere.
Senator Susan O'Keeffe asked that the Minister of State, Deputy Sean Sherlock, come to the House to advance STEM subjects and the links with jobs and future employment. I will certainly invite him to come to the House to discuss the matter.
Senator Catherine Noone spoke about towns and planning. The reckless trading of bankers is certainly an offence which I am sure the Garda is examining.
Senator Martin Conway raised the issue of criminal investigations. That is a matter for the Garda, but I shall try to get an update on the subject. As always, the Senator praised the beautiful county of Clare and urged the protection of its villages.
Senator Jim D'Arcy referred to diesel laundering. We all wish the Garda well in curbing the illegal trade, as it plays havoc with the economy. It also plays havoc with the environment of many counties in Border areas because the sludge is dumped by people involved in this illegal activity.
Senator Aideen Hayden, as she did yesterday, warned about buy-to-let properties. She has advised that the people who live in them, including tenants, should be protected.
Order of Business agreed to.
Sitting suspended at 11.40 a.m. and resumed at 1 p.m.