Today's Order of Business is Item 1. I suggest 30 minutes for each spokesperson and 20 minutes thereafter. There will be a sos between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. and the Minister will be called to reply not later than 3.50 p.m. The Adjournment Matters will be taken at the conclusion of business.
Order of Business.
On yesterday's Order of Business my colleague. Senator McDonagh, referred to the report on the problems and future of the west of Ireland being published today in Castlebar. It will be a significant document and it would be worthwhile and a gesture of support to the people who put so much effort into the document if even one or two hours could be made available next week so that Senators from the west and other Members who have an interest in that area could address that document. I ask the Leader of the House to give my proposal positive consideration.
Will the Leader of the House allocate time in the next few weeks to discuss the alarming increase in the level of crime in the capital? There has been an 8 per cent increase in crime, and that is unacceptable. I wish to congratulate the Garda Síochána on the increased level of crime detection last year. However, we should have time to discuss the increasing crime rate.
Mr. Moloney
Would the Leader of the House ask the Minister for Enterprise and Employment to visit the Seanad to hear statements from Members on ICTU's centenary which is being celebrated this year? It is an excellent organisation with a tremendous history.
I support Senator Manning's call for a discussion on the document —"Developing the West Together"— being launched today. I hope the discussion will be given more time than one or two hours. The document deserves at least a half day's debate. All Members of the House would be interested in what the document says and in how we can develop the west together. We are not trying to neglect any other part of the country but the west is being denuded at present.
I support Senator Manning's proposal. Could the Leader of the House ask the Minister for the Environment to explain the reason for his recent blazing attack on the local authorities for their inadequacy in repairing county roads? The majority of the Members of this House are members of local authorities and it is in our interest to have such a discussion. We know local authorities are functioning under severe hardship with less finance and fewer employees to carry out the work required. It is not helpful to Senators who are members of local authorities or to other members of local authorities that the Minister should attack the structure which is attempting to carry out such work.
In view of a further report in relation to Sellafield, I would ask the Leader of the House to make time available at the earliest opportunity to discuss this matter, particularly in the light of the proposed plant in that area.
I support Senator Manning's request.
I also wish to have a debate longer than just a few hours on the important topic of developing the west which is the subject of the report being launched today in Castlebar. I come from one of the most remote areas in southwest Clare where rural resettlement has been going some way to redress the imbalance in the population which is causing widespread anxiety in the west at present. We should have a long debate on that report and on other initiatives which will be needed to deal with the deepening crisis in the west.
I support the request for a discussion on the west but I would also like to have included in that discussion areas such as west Cork where similar conditions prevail. West Cork and Kerry would come into this category as well.
I would like to assure the House, Senator Manning, Senator Fitzgerald and all Senators who raised the issue of the document that is being launched today, that the Whip intends within the next two weeks, to ensure that a full day will be given to its discussion. Senators who have an interest in the welfare of the west will get an opportunity to discuss the issue in this House.
With regard to the issue of crime, the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill, 1993, will be dealt with next week and I am sure there will be other occasions to discuss the matter. Senator Maloney may have other ways of raising the issue of the centenary of the ICTU. Senator Cosgrave raised the issue of Sellafield and THORP which we must always keep to the forefront of our minds. In the coming weeks the Whips may get the opportunity to bring the matter back on the Order Paper.
I will have to read the Leader's lips in connection with the local authorities.
The Leader has replied.
Order of Business agreed to.