The Order of Business is that Items Nos. 1, 2 and 3 be taken and that we take the Marine Institute Bill commencing at 4.30 p.m. Private Members' business is as arranged last week from 6.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m.
Order of Business.
On the Order of Business for today, I would like to ask the Leader of the House if he would consider having some time today — not more than half an hour — to allow statements on the situation of the boat people in Hong Kong. I would like to say a quick word on this. Over the next few weeks there is going to be enormous pressure on Britain and on the US to change their policy in this regard. I believe that in some small way the views of this House and this Parliament should be heard on the matter and added to the growing international pressure. If it is possible at the end of today's sitting, I think it is something that would be well worth doing.
I would like to ask the Leader of the House if he would agree to an emergency debate on the absence of vaccine to deal with the flu epidemic that is about to rage in the country. All of the evidence would suggest that the Department have been caught totally unprepared for this. In the Irish Independent today in an article by Don Lavery there are some frightening statistics. I am asking for a special debate on this very serious matter and also on the degree to which hospitals are ready to cope with the problem.
I would like to see if it is possible to raise the issue of smog, which is related to the problem of flu we are experiencing at present.
Have you a question on the Order of Business?
Secondly, I would like to ask the Leader of the House when we are going to deal with the debate that was promised in relation to Northern Ireland. In relation to comments made by the Leader of the House last week about the question of Private Members' Bills and motions, and his statement that there was no sense in putting down either new Bills or motions because they would not be taken, I would like him to make a statement in relation to the constitutional powers of this House and, in the context of the reform we will be discussing on Item No. 3 on the Order Paper, would he not like to institute a degree of reform immediately, not to stonewall on the issue but to allow motions and private Bills to be brought before the House and to be debated.
May I ask the Leader of the House if it is proposed to take Item No. 7, the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Bill——
This is beginning to be monotonous but if it has to be——
Why not sit down, then?
I stand up in this House, Senator Cassidy, a good deal more frequently than you do because I have a lot more to say than you do.
(Interruptions.)
I did not address this House today either from my seat or standing.
I am sorry if I misaddressed Senator Cassidy. I am simply coping with interruptions. I would like yet again to ask the Leader of the House to clarify for me, for the Independent group and for all the Members of this House, whether he proposes to permit Private Members' legislation to be introduced in this House. I seem to have difficulty in getting through to the Leader of the House what I am talking about. I am not talking about passing legislation, I am not talking about debating legislation. That is a matter for us in our own time. I want to know does he propose to allow Private Members' legislation to be introduced in a way which can enable it to be debated in the time that is allocated to the Members on this side of the House. Is it a simple answer, yes or no?
With reference to the Bills on the Order Paper to which Senator Ryan refers, I would like to support what he has just said. It is important to establish the principle, even at the risk of being repetitive, that it is the business of legislators to legislate. With reference to the motion we will be talking about later on — the proposed reform of the Oireachtas — surely a central part of any contemplated reform is to make that acknowledgement, that it is parliament's right to legislate and that the Government have the right to propose legislation. In order to clarify that point I am going to continue to support Senator Ryan.
I would like to support what Senator Manning said about the possibility being provided perhaps for a recording of statements about the situation regarding the Vietnamese boat people. I hope a provision may be made although it is not actually on the Order of Business as currently scheduled.
I would like to ask either yourself, a Chathaoirligh, or, through you, the Leader of the House whether he can help me to find a motion I put on the Order Paper, which I have searched for but cannot find. Since I did not receive an Order Paper this morning perhaps this is not entirely surprising. I put down a motion several days ago, "That Seanad Éireann notes its approval and warmly welcomes the fact that Members of both Houses of the Oireachtas come from all four provinces of the island". I have been quite unable to find it on the Order Paper so I cannot call the number but I would like to——
How could you find it if you did not get the Order Paper?
I did not receive the Order Paper. I acquired it by direct executive action.
Senator, you have asked the Leader of the House your question.
Thank you very much. There are three other matters I would like to mention. They are all on the Order of Business specifically. I would like to support what has been said by other Senators about the provision of time for a debate on Northern Ireland. I understand we were promised this and I hope there may be a date set to it. It is unlikely, I suppose, that it will take place before Christmas. I would like to draw your attention, a Chathaoirligh, to what I find a rather disturbing though perhaps unintentional situation that materialised this morning. I have been appointed to represent the Independent group on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Women's Rights and I came this morning at 11 o'clock——
That is not a matter for the Order of Business.
Could I point out to you the fact that the House was treated with considerable contempt by the Whips of the parties——
I am ruling that it is not a matter for the Order of Business.
I would like to refer to the motion in the name of the Independent Senators, which I think will be taken today, so perhaps it comes up under that. It refers to the need for the "establishment of a commitee of the Dáil and Seanad to recommend changes in the role, structure and function...". I do not wish to be difficult, a Chathaoirligh, so I will raise this matter during that discussion.
Matters relating to committees are not on the Order of Business today.
In that case it is my intention to make a strong statement during the debate about the contempt with which this House was treated.
My final request is that the Leader of the House would consider allowing Item No. 41 to be taken. It refers to the Dalai Lama. The reason I specifically would like it taken today, even for a short period, is to allow statements to be made. I moved this last week, which was one of two days closer to the awarding of the Nobel Prize to the Dalai Lama. This is the second of the two days closest to it. I will not be putting it to a vote because I do not want to waste the time of the House, but I would welcome the opportunity for some short statements of approval for the courage of this man who has led his nation in a situation where his people are being exterminated.
I will reply only to the points that are relevant to the Order of Business. On the question of the debate on Northern Ireland, I am loath to say there is agreement with the Whips that it should be postponed until after Christmas and that the debate will take place after Christmas. I am loath to say that, but I did understand that was the agreement that was reached.
On the first question that was raised by Senator Manning, I feel the Whips could meet regarding that matter and I see no objection to having short statements made on that item, perhaps at the conclusion of business tonight. However, as we will be sitting reasonably late tonight, it may be more appropriate to discuss that item tomorrow. I do not think it makes that much difference whether it takes place this evening, tomorrow morning or tomorrow afternoon.
The matters raised by Senator O'Reilly have absolutely nothing to do with me. If he wishes to have an emergency debate, there is a method in Standing Orders whereby he can raise that matter but it is a matter for the Chair to decide. The same applies to Senator Costello on the smog issue.
On the question of Private Members' Bills raised by various Senators, let the matter arise on the Order of Business and we will deal with it as the matters arise on the Order of Business. The query has been raised here before. In the past 14 years there have been 14 Private Members' Bills disposed of whether it be not allowed to appear, allowed to appear and not discussed. One appeared and was discussed. That is from the records of the House.
On a point of order, is it in order for the Leader of the House to give the House incorrect information? I introduced and had discussed three Bills in the last eight years.
I do not govern the replies of the Leader of the House.
Item No. 7 will not be discussed before Christmas.
Order of Business agreed to.