Seanad Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Mar 1994

Vol. 139 No. 12

Order of Business.

Mr. Wright

Arising from yesterday's Order of Business, it is intended to deal with the Social Welfare Bill before Easter. The Extradition (Amendment) Bill and the Landlord and Tenant (Amendment) Bill will also be dealt with before Easter. With the agreement of the Whips, we will deal with Items 1 and 10 instead of Item 4 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday. These are issues on which Members requested a debate on yesterday's Order of Business. Item 1 relates to the Liaison Committee and Item 10 relates to the Library services. Item 4 will be dealt with before Easter.

Today's Order of Business is Item 2 from now until 12.30 p.m. Item 3 will be taken from 12.30 p.m. to 6 p.m. with a sos between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Item 37 will be taken from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Mr. Neville

Can the Leader of the House clarify the arrangements for next week and the week after?

Last week we requested a debate on East Timor and the Leader indicated that he would permit such a debate. It is not on the agenda for this week. Perhaps he would arrange an early date for that debate. It is important that the Oireachtas voice its protest at the genocide in East Timor where one-third of the population has been wiped out. We should not be influenced by the ambivalence of some of our friends abroad to the genocide perpetrated in that area. We should strongly protest and voice our abhorrence at what is happening in East Timor. The Seanad is the appropriate place to voice such protest.

Will the Leader of the House allocate time for a debate on the prison system? I have requested such a debate previously. The situation in the prison system is serious. Criminals who have committed serious crimes are allowed to go free while old women who may not have paid fines are imprisoned. An old woman in her sixties who broke a pane of glass was sentenced to 12 months and is at present in Mountjoy Prison. A young girl who failed to pay her bus fare was sentenced to 15 days in prison. There should be a full debate on developments in the prison system as soon as possible.

Mr. Quinn

I ask the Leader of the House to provide time for a discussion on the report from the task force on small businesses. I know it was only issued last night and I was fortunate enough to get a copy. I am reminded of its importance when I recall the motion Senator Henry and I tabled some months ago about the opportunities for jobs in the future being based on the service industry created by small businesses. The task force issued its report yesterday. I know it is an up to date issue, but I would like the House to find time to discuss it.

I also support Senator Neville's comments about the prison system. We had the opportunity to touch on this matter in two recent motions on the Public Order and Criminal Justice Acts. Some of the ideas mooted in those discussions need further thought. A great deal could be done if attention was drawn to that matter as well.

Mr. Lanigan

I join with Senator Neville in calling for a debate on East Timor. However, it should be broadened into a major foreign affairs debate. At present, a number of our people are working abroad. Now would be an appropriate time for the House to debate South Africa. Since a number of observers have already left Ireland to serve as UN monitors in South Africa under the APSO scheme and another 100 people, including Members of both Houses will be going there, it is appropriate to debate this matter. Last week, the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs was given a resume of events there by Archbishop Napier of Durban. Some of the matters to which he referred would be relevant to this House and our attitude to what would happen in South Africa before and after the elections.

Senator Maloney has come back from visiting our troops in South Lebanon. This week, our troops have come under extreme pressure from the South Lebanese Army who are run and armed by Israel. It is time a protest was made from this House to the Israeli Government on the conduct of the SLA in South Lebanon. Somalia, eastern Europe——

An Cathaoirleach

We are not having a debate on foreign affairs at this time. You have asked the Leader for a debate on foreign affairs. You seem to be travelling the world, Senator Lanigan.

Mr. Lanigan

I beg your indulgence, a Chathaoirligh, because we have not had a debate on foreign affairs for some time——

An Cathaoirleach

I am sure the Leader will take it on board.

Mr. Lanigan

——and there should be a debate on it.

Mr. Norris

I welcome Senator Neville's support for the proposed debate on East Timor. It is timely and it should take place as soon as possible. I know the Government side have made valiant efforts to secure the presence of either the Tánaiste or the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Tom Kitt. I am grateful to them for doing that, but the situation is so urgent that it does not matter to me which Minister is present. People are being murdered there every day. While we wait, death is taking place. People have been moved by the film "Schlinder's List". However, the same practice is taking place in East Timor with the connivance of the Australian and British Governments. This must be stopped by protests from small independent nations like our own. The Seanad is an appropriate forum to launch such an appeal to the international conscience. I have copies of the television programme shown recently and I would be happy to make it available as briefing material to Members who wish to advise themselves on this matter.

I support Senator Lanigan's call for a debate on foreign affairs. However, this topic should be treated separately because we will blur the focus of an extremely important debate if APSO, South Africa and Somalia are discussed together. These are all vitally important issues. Senator Lanigan is a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and he plays a full and significant role there. I am also a member of that committee. I attend frequently and important discussions there would be of relevance to the House if we had a regular debate on foreign affairs. I support Senator Lanigan's call for regular debates on foreign affairs. Only five of the 30 Members of that Committee are from this House. That is disgraceful. These five Members could brief other Members of this House on what happens there.

Are there any details yet available about a debate on the drug problem in the inner city? Many would welcome such a debate. I was surprised and pleased that a reference made in this House on this matter was widely taken up by the media. There is a genuine interest in the issue.

Mr. Farrelly

I support the call for a debate on the drug problem and the prison system. I heard a discussion about the latter on a radio programme this morning. We should have some input into changing and improving our prisons.

Could the Leader arrange for a debate on agriculture? In the last 36 hours, the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry decided to close one of the ports from which we export live cattle. This will have a devastating effect on the prices farmers receive for animals they sell over the next two weeks. It is only proper that the Minister should tell the House if his Department took this action under pressure from the slaughtering plants.

Mr. Maloney

I call on the Leader of the House to initiate a debate on foreign affairs, and especially the role of the Defence Forces in Somalia and the Lebanon. With Deputy Barrett, I had the pleasure of visiting both regions over the last number of days to see how our forces are working in these areas. United States personnel are moving out of Somalia at the end of this month. The changing role caused by this move should be seriously looked at, especially the role of our forces after that date. Our forces are held in great esteem by the local populations in Somalia and the Lebanon. They are doing a tremendous job.

Mr. Enright

I understood a debate on East Timor was to take place this week. I appreciate this will not take place because the Tánaiste and the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy T. Kitt, are not in the country. I understand the Tánaiste will be back next week. This House should sit one day next week to discuss East Timor. Most Members would agree to a one day sitting——

Mr. Lydon

When?

An Cathaoirleach

After 3.30 p.m. next Wednesday.

Mr. Magner

Had Senator Enright thought about doing it in the Dáil next week?

Mr. Enright

That is why I thought the debate was not taking place this week.

An Cathaoirleach

He will be at the Gold Cup.

Mr. Enright

However, the case has been forcibly put and should be considered.

Mr. Wright

A debate on East Timor will take place as soon as possible before Easter. We would also welcome a debate on the prison system as soon as possible. There is a lot of legislation to be dealt with. Senator Quinn's call for a debate on the report on small businesses will also be dealt with. A debate on this report would be one of the most important to take place in this House.

We will also try to fit in a debate on foreign affairs. It has always been a priority of this House to discuss foreign affairs and agriculture. Item 1, which will be discussed next Thursday, will give the House a chance to expand on some of the matters mentioned this morning. Hopefully the Seanad will have a better opportunity to become involved in committees after the revision of the committee system.

The House will not be sitting next week. However, we will sit on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the following week.

On today's Order of Business, the time allowed is 20 minutes per spokesperson and 15 minutes for other speakers.

Order of Business agreed to.