The Order of Business for today is as follows: Item No. 3, Worker Protection (Regular Part-Time) Employees Bill, 1990. It will be taken from now until 6 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. we will have a sos. From 6.30 p.m. to 8 p.m. we will take Item No. 12, Motion 75, which is a Labour Party motion. At 8 p.m. we will continue discussion on Item No. 3 and, by agreement with the Whips this Bill will be brought to a conclusion not later than 10 p.m.
Order of Business.
May I ask the Leader of the House, now there is at last some real signs of progress in Northern Ireland, that as a priority for the next session he would give time for a fairly full debate on Northern Ireland? Secondly, will he indicate to the House what the programme of legislation is expected to be at the beginning of the next session?
I ask the Leader of the House the position on the Environmental Protection Agency Bill. I understand it is now being put back until after Easter, but I would like to have on record when you expect it to be taken and when we can expect to have a copy of the Government amendments to the Bill? I am saying for the third time I think it is important that we have sight of these amendments in time to make a reasonable and reasoned contribution — it would always be reasonable — to the Government amendments.
The other issue on which the Leader gave an undertaking on at least three occasions was to have during the course of this session a debate on the prison service. This has been asked for on a number of occasions by Members on the Labour and on the Independent benches. The Leader gave an absolute commitment here that it would take place.
Finally, the other commitment, which was given earlier in the year, was that there would in each session be a debate on aspects of education. I am not carping about it. It has been a busy session and if there is not time, there is not time. However, I would like to have a real commitment to have a discussion on a particular date. We are entitled to that.
I echo the sentiments expressed by Senator O'Toole in relation to the Leader's commitment that we would have a debate on the prison service. May I again remind the Leader of the commitment and ask when is it likely the debate will take place?
First, I would like to support Senator Manning and ask the Leader of the House to arrange at his convenience a debate on the evolving situation in the North. May I also ask the Leader if he would consider it important and prudent to make a statement welcoming the removal of the 48-hour restrictions because at present there is widespread acceptance that that was a necessary step and it is no longer——
That has no relevance to the Order of Business.
I just want to say it is no longer detrimental to the traders in the South, thanks to the measures that were introduced in the first place. Perhaps the Leader would make a statement and that would satisfy me.
I would like to ask the Leader of the House if the local government reform Bill will be introduced early next session and if it will be introduced in this House? Secondly, can the Leader outline what plans he has for taking Committee Stage of the Environmental Protection Agency Bill?
I would like to ask the Leader of the House two questions. First, is it intended to meet on Friday of this week and, if so, will there be any arrangements made to honour the visit of the Dalai Lama to this country who, I think, should be welcomed to this House?
Where were you last Friday?
I was with you, Senator Honan, so it must have been in very good company——
I am not interested in your relationship with Senator Honan, or in the Dalai Lama either.
My relationships are quite above board, alas. Taking up the Cathaoirleach's genial note, may I ask the Leader of the House if he will be making a statement on the insult offered to numbers of the marchers on Fifth Avenue? I understand there was attendance from this House by——
Out of order. I was there, and there was no real difficulty.
Perhaps you found it difficult to ascertain the back from the front of those gentlemen.
On the occasion I missed you.
May I ask the Leader of the House to convey to the Minister for the Environment our anxiety on two scores? First, the very bad publicity the region I represent, County Cavan, is getting in the national media, particularly on the Gay Byrne Show, and on a number of radio programmes in relation to the terrible potholed conditions of the roads?
Potholes are not relevant to the Order of Business.
It is very important to the people who live there.
Naturally. I think you should contact some other programme.
I have a follow-up question for the Leader. May I ask the Leader of the House, at a time when tourism, industry and all aspects of life and services are being crippled in County Cavan by the potholed conditions of the roads, to request from the Minister for the Environment an explanation why the grant has only been increased in real terms by £45,000?
You have asked the question and that should suffice.
I am prompted to say, a Chathaoirligh, that you are hoarse but obviously in great form.
(Interruptions.)
The questions raised by Senator Manning for a debate on Northern Ireland in the next session is something I will certainly consider. Senator McGowan has also raised that question and both have been consistent in asking about that. It is a matter I will examine in greater detail. The next session will consist of 12 weeks; therefore, we will have plenty of time to deal with many of the issues that have been raised.
Senator Manning also asked for details of the programme of legislation for the session after Easter. At this point the Environmental Protection Agency Bill, with 200 plus amendments, will be taken very early in the session. It pleased me greatly that the Environmental Protection Agency Bill received a very good debate in this House on Second Stage. The amendments are pouring in. As I say, there are 200 plus, and there will be more. We will also have the Child Care Bill; it has completed Second Stage and we will go on to Committee and other Stages of that Bill. We will also have the Finance Bill, which will take a fairly long period of time. I understand that the Family Planning Bill will be available fairly early after Easter. The Sea Pollution Bill is at Committee Stage in the Dáil and will obviously be with us in the next session, as will the Fisheries (Amendment) Bill which is at Committee Stage also. The Criminal Damage Bill is also at Committee Stage. I believe the Radiological Protection Bill is finishing tomorrow in the Dáil and will be with us after Easter.
Senator Naughten referred to the Bill dealing with local government reform. That will certainly be discussed in the next session. I am not sure if it will be initiated in this House; it will not be my fault if it is not. I will endeavour to get it initiated here, if possible.
Senator O'Toole asked about details of the Environmental Protection Agency Bill and I have given a fairly comprehensive reply already to Senator Manning on that. He made the further point that he would like to see the amendments, and that is very reasonable. I will certainly make the point to the Minister that all Senators would like to have a full list of amendments in good time so that they may study them and be prepared when debating Committee Stage.
Senator O'Toole also raised the question of the prison service. I have spoken both with the Minister, Deputy Burke, and the Minister of State, Deputy Treacy, who has recently moved to the Department of Justice and has responsibility for the prison area. It is one of my regrets I did not have a debate on the prison service. It was my intention to do so. Both Ministers are very enthusiastic for a debate on the prison service and I can assure the House we will have such a debate as early as possible after the Easter recess.
Senator O'Toole asked about education. I have no hesitation in saying that the Minister, Deputy O'Rourke, will welcome a debate on education in the knowledge that she is doing a fine job——
That was not quite what I had in mind.
I know that the Minister will definitely come to us as quickly as possible after Easter.
Senator McGowan asked about the Northern Ireland situation and I have already outlined my position on that to Senator Manning. Senator Upton asked about the prison service and I replied in detail to Senator O'Toole on that particular matter.
Senator Norris asked if we would be sitting next Friday. We will not be sitting on Friday. We had hoped to sit on Friday, but the Social Welfare Bill will not be concluded in the other House until Friday and, therefore, we will have the Social Welfare Bill in this House next Tuesday.
The Cathaoirleach has replied to the question on the Fifth Avenue matter. Senator O'Reilly asked me to convey his wishes regarding the road situation in County Cavan to the Minister, which I will indicate to him.
As I said earlier, the next session will be a 12 or a 14 week session and I hope in regard to various issues we did not get time to debate in the last session we will make time available to debate them in the session ahead. I will pursue them and, if at all possible, have debates on them.
Order of Business agreed to.