It is proposed to take item No. 99 on the Order Paper, with the intention that it will conclude not later than 2 p.m.
Order of Business.
Can the Leader of the House tell me when it is proposed to take item No. 1 on today's Order Paper? Secondly, in view of the increasing importance of the question of sanctions against South Africa and of the return of our two fact finding colleagues, perhaps we could arrange for a debate on that subject in the near future.
May I associate myself with the request of Senator Manning for a debate on sanctions? I raised the issue yesterday. I think there is a particular topicality given the visit we are to be honoured with in a couple of weeks. Given some recent comments, may I, as one who sees myself as a participant in the liberation struggle rather than an academic observer of it, ask that we be given some time to reassert what I believe to be the overwhelming view of the Members of both Houses of the Oireachtas which is that we will support the raising of sanctions when those who have suffered most in South Africa ask us to raise sanctions. In the meantime we should strengthen our Government's hand by reasserting the overwhelming view of the majority of the Members of the Oireachtas.
I would like to be associated with Senator Manning in asking the Leader of the House at the earliest possible opportunity, to let us have some time to restate our views on this issue.
May I join with Senator Manning and Senator Brendan Ryan in asking the Leader of the House whether he has given any further consideration to the request for a debate on sanctions against South Africa. I am prompted to do that in view of the fact that the two would-be saviours of the world have returned from South Africa.
May I ask if that is in order? It seems to be quite disgraceful. That would not be tolerated if it came from our side.
(Interruptions.)
There was a programme one time where the fickle finger of fate award was given to people who did the most damage in particular areas. I would suggest that that particular award should be given to——
Senator, you have made your point.
I raised on the Order of Business a few weeks ago the practice that has been enforced here in my time in the Seanad of not meeting on holy days of obligation until 11 o'clock. The Leader of the House gave an undertaking that he would inquire into the matter and let me know. I wonder if he has any information on that?
With regard to the question of South Africa, I would be far more inclined to take the pious platitudes of the Government side seriously if the Government withdrew the honorary consul in Johannesburg. Not many people in this House know a lot about South Africa.
Has the Senator a question on the Order of Business?
I do, but it is a simple, uncontroversial question. I would like to ask the Leader of the House if he could arrange that the monitor in the Members' Bar could be made to work? It is a great facility. It is a private place where one can discuss matters with one's colleagues over a cup of tea. For several weeks now it has not been functioning. There is discrimination between the Dáil and the Seanad. The Dáil television monitor always works but all the Seanad monitors are very fickle, to use the word which Senator McKenna applied inappropriately to a Member of the House who was not present, and for which he should have been rebuked.
Could I ask the Leader of the House if he would consider making time available for a discussion on the report of the Ombudsman which was issued recently?
The question of a debate on sanctions has rightly been raised by the Leader of the Opposition. However, on the subject of sanctions and much closer to home, there are three small countries in Europe — Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. These three independent countries were invaded and forcibly annexed to the Soviet Union in 1940. We, in this House, have great admiration for all that President Gorbachev has done. We hope a peaceful solution will be found there. May I urge the Leader of the House, on the Order of Business, to arrange business so that we have an early debate on the situation facing these three small European countries? The sanctions that are being imposed on them are now causing increasingly severe hardship to the populace of those countries.
In view of the serious implications of the ongoing marauding of our fishing fleet on the hake fishing grounds off the south and west coasts by the pirate operations of Spanish vessels flying under French flags of convenience and the ongoing risk to life as well as serious damage to the vessels themselves, I urge the Leader of the House to consider as soon as possible a debate on the implications of this most important matter.
A number of Senators have asked over a period of time for a debate on Northern Ireland. I realise that there are limitations to the contributions that can be made, but Members of this House nearly every week sympathise with victims of violence or condemn some incident there. I ask the Leader of the House to consider responding positively to the request for a debate on Northern Ireland. The piecemeal comments and contributions contribute nothing at all. If the House would agree to allow time for a debate on Northern Ireland, I would strongly support that.
The item raised by Senator Manning — item No. 1 — will be taken as soon as possible. I understand it must be taken in the presence of the Leas-Cathaoirleach who is, unfortunately, away this week. It will probably be taken next week or the week after. On the question of sanctions raised by Senators Manning, Ryan, McKenna and Conroy, I have been actively pursuing an opportunity to have a debate on that matter. It is obviously something in which there is interest on all sides of the House. I am hopeful that perhaps next week we can do something about it. I will leave it at that for the moment, but that is my intention, if at all possible.
Senator McMahon asked a question about hours of sittings on holy days. I have made inquiries — perhaps not exhaustive inquiries — but my information is that that practice has been done away with for at least ten years. I am not sure if we should continue it; there are evening Masses——
We should not.
——and plenty of opportunities for people to get Mass on church holidays in the morning and evening, and the evening before.
Senator Norris referred to the question of the monitor. I will certainly make some inquiries on that. The report of the Ombudsman to which Senator Mullooly referred is something I will consider and report back on. Senator Conroy referred to sanctions and also to the problems in other European countries. I have no plans for a debate on that subject but it is something we will consider in time. Senator Doyle referred to fishing problems. I have no plans for a debate on that at this time. Neither is there a plan for a debate on Northern Ireland at this time.
Order of Business agreed to.