Today's Order of Business is Item 1, the report on the National Education Convention. It is suggested that spokespersons will have 20 minutes and speakers will have 15 minutes thereafter. There will be a sos from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and not later than 3.30 p.m. the Minister will take questions from Senators, to conclude at 4 p.m. I thank the Minister for agreeing to the formula for today. Those who were here for the debate on the Green Paper will recognise that it worked well and I hope it will do so today.
Order of Business.
I join with the Leader of the House in thanking the Minister for Education for agreeing to this useful format. The ruling on the question of roads is deeply disturbing. I think Members on all sides will find it unsatisfactory. I realise this is not the forum for discussing it, so I am giving notice that I will be raising it at another forum.
Perhaps at the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.
I think that would be the appropriate forum.
I would welcome a discussion on that.
Senator Dardis raised the question of section 31. Could the Leader of the House confirm that it is the Government's intention to reintroduce section 31 to prevent Mr. Gay Byrne and others talking about the residential property tax on their radio and television programmes?
Yesterday on the Order of Business we raised the need to have a discussion on Bosnia following a motion in the name of Senator Norris and others. The motion recommended working through the United Nations, not NATO, in which we have no involvement whatsoever. We need an urgent debate if our Government is moving in that direction. It is something that we need to look at very clearly. I wish to support Senator Manning in that it is a very positive and progressive move for the Minister for Education to take questions in the House. Other Ministers should follow suit.
I wish to ask the Leader of the House to arrange at an early date a full debate in this House on the structures of the county enterprise boards, how they are constituted, how successful they are and whether they will fill the purpose for which they were set up. A hard look should be taken at the structures of the county enterprise boards because it is vital that they deliver exactly what they were intended to deliver. I have high hopes and aspirations for these boards and I ask that we have a full debate on the future of those bodies which are so important in regard to jobs. I ask the Leader of the House to arrange this debate as soon as possible.
I would like to support what my colleague Senator O'Toole said. I framed that motion in consultation with him and he made the point very clearly to me about the question of operating through the United Nations. Second, I wish to make a personal explanation and clarify something which occurred here yesterday, if I may. Inaccurate reports appeared in the newspapers——
In fairness, you can correct the reports in some other forum. It is a matter for the paper concerned. It is not appropriate on the Order of Business.
It is very unfortunate that damaging reports appear in the newspapers.
I am sorry. I suggest you talk to the newspapers. It is not appropriate for discussion on the Order of Business. I am certain that many Members of the House could have raised similar issues over the years. I regret having to rule accordingly.
The matter I want to raise refers to the Department of Agriculture. Could the Minister for Agriculture discuss with us the modus operandi in his Department in relation to the payments of the 10 month and 22 month beef premia? The system has been computerised but there are terrible difficulties with regard to payments. I suggest that the Minister should immediately go back to farm inspection so that the system can be loosened out and payments can be made at a far earlier date.
I wish to ask the Leader to have a debate immediately on democracy in this House. I am deeply concerned about the manner in which our national newspapers, and in particular the Sunday Independent, flout democracy Sunday after Sunday. It is very wrong for a professional politician to be a journalist, not to mention a political commentator.
This is not appropriate on the Order of Business.
(Interruptions.)
I am asking the Leader of the House a question. In a democracy a journalist should never be a member of a political party, not alone a Member of this House.
(Interruptions.)
Senator Kiely, please resume your seat.
I am speaking to the Leader here.
A Senator
What about the de Valera group?
I am speaking about an article in last Sunday's Sunday Independent which refers to——
I ruled that out of order.
——people who know nothing about Ireland and states that a meddling US ambassador has much to answer for.
You are out of order, Senator.
I think the man who wrote the article knows nothing about Ireland.
You are out of order. A question to the Leader, please.
It is an insult to the US ambassador——
I call Senator Burke.
(Interruptions.)
——and to the Irish people. It is an insult to the Americans.
Senator Kiely, please resume your seat.
(Interruptions.)
I think it is disgraceful and I would like to know what the NUJ are doing about this.
Senator Kiely, please resume your seat. Thank you. Senator Burke, please.
I am disappointed with the ruling that we cannot raise national primary or national secondary roads in this forum. It is another example of how we are handing away our powers. Will the Leader of the House ask the Taoiseach when he intends to hold the Mayo West and Dublin South Central by-elections?
That is not a matter for the Order of Business.
It is on the agenda. We are badly underrepresented in Mayo West.
It is not appropriate now.
In regard to Senator Burke's point, a debate is needed on the way both Houses of the Oireachtas are continually surrendering powers to quangos, to non-appointed bodies. There is a fault on all sides of the House in this regard and it is an erosion of democracy. The control of the overall State machine might perhaps be the subject of a one day debate. Will the Leader of the House allow time to discuss the issue of THORP in the next week or so? It is an issue which concerns Members on all sides. Decisions have obviously been made by another State without any regard to the interests of the people of this island and it is time that we had a further debate on the issue. I am sure the Leader will agree to allow time for that.
On a point of Order, charges were made against the professional integrity of a Member of this House. The Member was not named but I presume Senator Ross is the person referred to. This is a matter for the Committee on Procedure and Privileges and I give notice that I intend to refer the propriety of the charges made to that Committee.
We will take note of that.
I have three points, a Chathaoirligh. We have asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to attend a debate on Bosnia. I hope the Whip will have some news about that. Senator McGowan requested a debate on the county enterprise boards. This would be valuable. Many Senators and colleagues are members of those boards and it would be worthwhile. Perhaps the Whips could agree on that. We will pursue the THORP issue.
Order of Business agreed to.