Today's business is item No. 1. It is intended to take Second Stage and Committee Stage of Part I of the Bill. There will be a sos between 1.30 p.m. and 2.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. There will be 40 minutes for spokespersons and 30 minutes thereafter. Finally, subject to the new rules, the Adjournment will take place after today's business.
Order of Business:
I wish to give notice that my party will move a motion under Standing Order 29 this morning in view of the failure of the courts system to operate in the case of a very serious alleged crime in Cork which, by all accounts, is due to the failure of the Minister for Justice to act in time. We will move a motion under Standing Order 29 this morning to have that matter debated.
When can we expect to see a Bill introduced to regularise the position arising from the implications of the Norris case? Is it likely to happen before the turn of the century or will it be beyond that given the noises that came from the Fianna Fáil meeting yesterday?
Ask Senator Lydon.
May I ask the Leader of the House as we are debating the Finance Bill today does the Leader feel it is reasonable that we have only been issued with copies of the Finance Bill as passed by Dáil Éireann particularly in view of the fact that there is a completely new Chapter, Chapter 4. I ask the Chair and Leader of the House to ensure that this House is not treated in this way, particularly on an issue as important as the Finance Bill. Perhaps it is an indication of the way the State manages public finances but I do not find it acceptable that we have to go looking for a copy of the Bill we are supposed to debate today. We are starting Committee Stage today and with the amendments taken on board in the Dáil and with the new Chapter it was imperative we had the Bill for at least 24 hours so we could submit amendments.
Will the Leader speak to the Minister for Justice and see if he will come into the House and make a statement in relation to the surreptitious removal of The Guardian newspaper at Dublin Airport last night or early this morning?
In fairness, that is not a matter appropriate to the Order of Business. We have organised the Order of Business and we have our rules for the Order of Business. That is not appropriate.
It is a matter of very considerable concern.
It has nothing to do with the Order of Business.
It is a matter of grievance on this side of the House. I ask the Leader to ask the Minister for Justice to make a statement in relation to the criminal legal dispute that is going on at present.
That is not appropriate to the Order of Business and the Senator knows that.
The third point is directly in relation to the Order of Business and concerns my motion on prison reform. I again ask if the Minister for Justice will clarify his position in the context of the letter that was handed to me yesterday from him arising out of the remarks I made about getting this matter on to the Ordr of Business so that it can be introduced and debated, in relation to introducing legislation for prison reform in this House. His intention in regard to that matter is unclear.
Baineann sé seo leis an mBille atá muid ag dul a phlé anseo inniu, an Bille Airgeadais. Bhí mé ag éisteacht leis an Seanadóir Doyle nóiméad ó shin agus í a rá gur uafásach an feall é nach raibh an Bille acu le ceithre huaire fichead roimh ré chun a phlé i gceart.
Tá iarratais déanta agamsa sa Teach seo le mí anuas go gcuirfí ar fáil i nCaeilge dom é, ach tá teipthe orm é a fháil mar diúltaíodh é seo. Mura bhfuil seans ag an Seanadóir Doyle an Bille a phlé go cumasach os rud é nach raibh sé aici in am, cén chaoi a bhféadfainnse é a phlé nuair nach bhfuil leagan Gaeilge le fáil agam tar éis dom é a iarraidh. Is í an chuma atá ar an scéal go gcaithfidh mé dul lasmuigh den Teach seo chun an ceart sin a fháil.
Will the Leader give time for a debate on the Common Agricultural Policy next week in view of the urgency and importance of the present negotiations for this country?
Taking into account the existence of item No. 42 — a motion in my name and that of Senators Ryan and Murphy — about the repercussions of the European Court case I would like to ask the Leader if he would make provision for a debate on this issue in the House; it need not necessarily be under those terms. I ask this because it is an important matter that the Seanad should make a contribution on and in the light of the ill-considered remarks by a Member of this House at a Fianna Fáil party meeting which were widely canvassed in the newspapers this morning. I am not particular about the exact terms but I would like the opportunity to make the arguments in this House.
The only comment I will make on the Order of Business is that I will pass on the many issues that relate to the Department of Justice to the Minister and get the up to date views of the Department on the issues raised. In one or two cases, I have communicated the latest written word from the Department to some of the Senators. I will approach them again concerning the new issues raised.
In regard to the Common Agricultural Policy, like everyone else, I welcome the news from Brussels that we heard over the airwaves this morning. I have no doubt that within the next two weeks we will be able to have a debate on the announcements from Brussels on the Common Agricultural Policy.
Order of Business agreed to.