Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 23 Jun 2004

Vol. 587 No. 6

Leaders’ Questions.

Mr. Kenny

In the past few days we have had various comments from Ministers on both sides of the Government about solidarity in Government and the need for collective responsibility. Yesterday, the Minister for Defence informed the House that he had come from a very businesslike Cabinet meeting and that social inclusion was fundamental to this Government's philosophy. Yesterday evening, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform stated that nobody has a monopoly on compassion or conscience. Will the Tánaiste explain how that philosophy of social inclusion and having both a conscience and compassion fits in with a situation where the Carmichael House centre in North Brunswick Street is to close on 9 July? As she will be aware, this centre provides a central headquarters for 44 voluntary organisations and reaches out to 400,000 people nationally. They need a grant of €150,000 from the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs but it is not being given to them.

The Tánaiste will be aware that this centre was opened by the Taoiseach on 17 May and at the opening he said that with such support in place, voluntary groups can concentrate their energies on what they do best — serving people. This centre has served people for many years. It is a central headquarters for organisations like the Irish Polio Association, the Motor Neurone Disease Association and many others and they now have to issue redundancy notice to staff. Will the Tánaiste confirm that she will personally examine this case in view of the Government's stated position of care, compassion and conscience and confirm to the House that this centre will not close on 9 July, rendering many charitable and voluntary organisations redundant from the valuable work they do?

The Tánaiste

I share Deputy Kenny's concern in regard to Carmichael House and I can confirm that the centre will not close. As Deputy Kenny is aware, the centre currently gets approximately €600,000, mainly from Government sources, and the Department of Health and Children recently announced that an additional €150,000 would be provided for the centre. The Minister for Health and Children and the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs are currently in discussions and they intend to meet with representatives of Carmichael House with a view to ensuring the facility will not be closed. I share the view expressed by Deputy Kenny of the extraordinarily valuable work the centre does for vulnerable and marginalised citizens in our society.

Mr. Kenny

I thank the Tánaiste for confirmation that the centre will not close and that discussions are ongoing between Carmichael House staff and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. I am not sure whether the Tánaiste has ever had contact with a person who died as a consequence of motor neurone disease. I had such contact recently and in respect of the service these people provide from these voluntary organisations, I urge the Tánaiste to ensure that those discussions conclude positively and that moneys are made available to this centre to continue its enormously valuable voluntary and charitable work. The amount required is only one tenth of what was allocated to the equestrian centre in Punchestown. In thanking the Tánaiste for this confirmation, I urge her to ensure that a positive conclusion is brought about, that these staff do not leave on 9 July and that they can continue the valuable work in which they are involved.

The Tánaiste

I am aware of a family where somebody died from motor neurone disease and I know of the horrific impact it has, not just on the sufferer but on the entire family. I will use my best endeavours, as will the Government, to ensure this facility does not close and that it continues to operate to its full potential for those who need it most.

Mr. Rabbitte

Since last July I have been asking the Government and the Minister for Transport to publish a business plan that would justify the break-up of Aer Rianta. I have said my party would look at it in the light of the business plan. Will the Tánaiste explain the reason legislation has been published in respect of which I see, almost without precedent, our schedule is being interrupted this week to bring in the Bill tomorrow, although it was published yesterday, stating that the break-up will take place from date of enactment?

Mr. F. McGrath

And we are still awaiting the disability Bill.

Mr. Rabbitte

The unions were not told this. They believed the break-up would take place after the conclusion and approval of the business plans. Will the Tánaiste indicate if there is any precedent for breaking up a company into its constituent parts and, after the break-up has taken place, then requiring business plans to be produced? Who is driving this agenda?

A Deputy

Michael O'Leary.

Mr. Rabbitte

We know of the advertising campaign in the newspapers but over seven years additional terminal capacity could have been provided at Dublin Airport if the Government had been minded to do so. Who is driving the campaign?

I draw the Tánaiste's attention to the remarks of the Leader of the other House yesterday when, in respect of this point about the advertising campaign, she stated:

How can this person do this to get his own way? We must ask about his party alignment.....

I have received information which renders me quite speechless — which is very difficult to achieve — about a particular matter concerning that gentleman ..... The matter should be carefully examined because it involves substantial donations.

Has the attention of the Tánaiste been drawn to these remarks by the Leader of the other House? Will the Tánaiste throw any light on what information might be in possession of the Leader of the Seanad and if she has taken any steps to ask her to furnish it?

Mr. Gormley

How much is the Tánaiste getting?

The Tánaiste

The Government's approach to the aviation industry is driven by the needs of the economy, tourism and the regions. I do not know what Senator O'Rourke is talking about. However, Mr. O'Leary has announced in many fora that he voted for her running mate in the last election in the Mullingar area.

A few years ago, the chairman of Aer Rianta, when encouraging me to agree to the disposal of 40% of the company to the private sector, informed me that it had the unanimous agreement of the board, including the worker directors. At the time I did not agree because it would have converted a State monopoly into a private one. The Government is simply seeking to put in place the best regime to drive competition and business at all airports. I do not know how any misunderstanding could have arisen on the part of the trade unions. The social partnership talks dealt with this matter for some considerable time. I was party to those talks until 5 a.m. on Friday morning and no one could have been in any doubt as to the Government's legislative plans.

Mr. Rabbitte

The unions have been misled, which could put normal operations at Dublin Airport unnecessarily at risk. The unions did not know that the break-up of the company would happen from date of enactment of the legislation. I note the extraordinary and indecent haste in bringing the Bill before the House, changing the schedule of business agreed last week. Why is this being done?

The Tánaiste's comments on the interests of the region are very much an opinion. Over the past seven years the Government could have provided additional terminal capacity at Dublin Airport if it so wished. Will the Tánaiste address the issue raised by the Leader of the Upper House? Does the Tánaiste know anything about her reference to being in possession of information concerning donations that has rendered her speechless? Will the Tánaiste give a commitment to the House that if she does not know anything about it, she will find out about it and make clear to the House her position? It is not a laughing matter.

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy Rabbitte, your time has concluded.

Mr. Rabbitte

I do not wish to get into conflict with the Chair but I hope the Tánaiste will address the questions I have raised.

An Ceann Comhairle

It is not necessary to get into conflict with the Chair for implementing Standing Orders.

The Tánaiste

Any donations given by any individual or corporation are subject to public disclosure. It is a well-known fact that Ryanair gave a donation to the Progressive Democrats which was published along with donations to other political parties of which the limit is €5,000. I do not know whether this is the issue raised by Deputy Rabbitte.

The terminal did not proceed in the past because the then line Minister did not agree with competition at Dublin Airport. I hope it will now proceed on the basis of the Government's policy programme. At issue are the interests of tourism, the regions and the three airports. Under one umbrella, it is not possible for Shannon Airport, in particular, and Cork Airport to a lesser extent, to reach their full potential. Local autonomy where local boards can enter into agreements with airlines to bring more services and passengers to the airports is needed. For every 1 million passengers brought in, 1,000 more jobs will be created.

Mr. S. Ryan

What about the business plan?

An Ceann Comhairle

Allow the Tánaiste to conclude. The Tánaiste's minute has concluded.

The Tánaiste

No one brought me a business plan when they tried to convince me to sell 40% of Aer Rianta to the private sector or, more recently, to sell a large chunk of a bank.

Ms Shortall

That is beside the point.

Mr. S. Ryan

The Tánaiste should give all the facts. Why were all the consultants' reports against it? She is very selective in her information.

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy Ryan, in fairness to your leader, he is the only one entitled to participate in Leaders' Questions. I call Deputy Joe Higgins.

The Tánaiste

Deputy Ryan should be aware——

An Ceann Comhairle

Tánaiste, it is not appropriate to answer questions from Deputy Seán Ryan as it is Deputy Rabbitte's question on Leaders' Questions. I must ask you to conclude as you have gone over the time allowed and I have called Deputy Joe Higgins.

The Tánaiste

Deputy Rabbitte will be aware that there are serious financial problems facing Aer Rianta.

Mr. Stagg

They are of the Government's making.

The Tánaiste

It was of the Labour Party's making.

Mr. J. Higgins

For weeks the people in the Shannon region have been subjected to an experience approaching that of a police state in order to make possible President Bush's visit. Will the Tánaiste confirm that buildings in Shannon Industrial Estate are being commandeered to set up a makeshift prison for protestors — our very own mini gulag, complete with courtroom?

Mr. Gormley

Our own Abu Ghraib.

Mr. J. Higgins

Will she confirm that places are being cleared in Limerick Prison? How can she justify ordering this repression to welcome a man that the majority of the Irish people hold responsible for the criminal slaughter of thousands of innocents in Iraq and do not want here? This repression is orchestrated by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform who has us believe that he scaled the heights to save us from one-party totalitarian rule.

Mr. F. McGrath

He did.

Mr. J. Higgins

At least he climbed a few lampposts. Citizens in many communities can now not get hold of a garda when they need one. How can the Government justify taking thousands of gardaí from already overstretched duties to put a ring of steel around a man who the Government will not dare parade in public, even at a hurling match as the US ambassador suggested this morning? Of course, George Bush might declare the hurley a weapon of mass destruction and bring in the US air force. Does the Tánaiste intend meeting Mr. Bush personally to welcome him to Ireland?

We are discussing setting up a public inquiry into the savage bombings 30 years ago that murdered innocents in Monaghan and Dublin. There is a tribunal of inquiry into the killing by State forces of a single citizen. How can this be squared with rolling out the red carpet for a leader who launched a criminal and illegal invasion in which thousands of children, women and men died or were maimed? How can the Tánaiste square the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform's pillorying of a political party which he claims is backed up by baseball bat wielders with his spending of millions of euro in order to protect a man who has wreaked havoc on the innocent people of a nation?

The Tánaiste

We will welcome the President of the United States on behalf of the European Union. Summits between the EU and Russia, Japan, the Arab states and Latin America have already been held. The Taoiseach, on behalf of the EU, also attended the G8 summit. The next summit is the EU-US summit, generally held every second year but which was postponed last year. The person who will be welcomed is the President of the United States of America. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has informed me that a temporary Garda station has been established. The security responses will be proportionate to needs at the weekend. We want to ensure, not just the safety of the US President and his delegation, but also that of the people in the Shannon region and the travelling public.

Mr. J. Higgins

Is the Tánaiste meeting him?

The Tánaiste

I am. If the Deputy wants me to pass on his regards, I will be delighted to do so.

Mr. F. McGrath

The Tánaiste can pass on the message.

Mr. J. Higgins

Over the last week Fianna Fáil backbenchers have accused the Tánaiste of leading the Taoiseach around with an ideological halter around his neck while making a prison camp of the Government. We hope President Bush does not think she is his Irish version of Private Lynndie England and pat her on the head.

The Tánaiste will not be welcoming George Bush on behalf of the Irish people, which she declined to say in her answer. Will she affirm the right of the people, young and old, to turn out in mass peaceful protest without having their capital city turned into a provocative police fortress as happened on May Day when it proved unnecessary? Young people charged with the most trivial public order offences on May Day are forced to sign on at a Garda station three times per week up to September. These are young people who express political dissent. The Government meanwhile has not ordered a garda into a single investigation of massive tax fraud by wealthy bankers. Will the Tánaiste agree that the Government is replete with hypocrisy, which is very clear in the welcome being given to a man whom the Irish people do not want to see on this island?

The Tánaiste

On behalf of the European Union and Ireland we will be welcoming the President of the United States of America, a country that has been extraordinarily good to us politically in terms of the Northern Ireland peace process and economically in terms of inward investment. Just yesterday we announced a major expansion of an American company in Clonmel. We have very significant economic and political interests in good friendly relations with the United States. Clearly we do not agree with the US approach on many foreign policy issues and that will be made clear to the US President.

Mr. J. Higgins

And we cover up the crimes.