Today's Order of Business is item 1, the Europol Bill, 1997, the remaining Stages of which are to be taken today.
Order of Business.
The Order of Business is agreed as far as we are concerned.
I understand from the Leader of the House that there is quite a volume of legislation to take between now and Christmas. I ask him to give us a schedule outlining the legislation involved and an indication of when he wants to take it.
I support the call made yesterday by Senator Liam Fitzgerald for an urgent debate on house prices. This is one of the major social issues facing many people at present and a debate on the matter would be worthwhile.
In the absence of my friends from the teaching profession——
They noticed the Senator was not there yesterday.
I know there are a number of teachers in this House but I should like to wait for Senator O'Toole to return before I respond.
Any response of that nature would be out of order.
A Chathaoirligh, I would be loath to say that you had any vested interests in this matter.
As far as my friends here are concerned, the Order of Business is acceptable. I endorse Senator Manning's call for a debate on house prices as they are a serious problem for young people today. It is a devastating result of the Celtic Tiger which is not acceptable.
I ask the Leader for an early debate on Northern Ireland. There is a long tradition in this House of calm debates on Northern Ireland in a sober, non-combative, constructive atmosphere and that is probably appropriate now.
I am sure my colleagues will wish Senator O'Meara and me well in our deliberations this morning in the context of choosing a party leader. I am sure we will have the prayers and good wishes of the House in that respect——
I hope there is no split over it.
——and that there will be as many tributes to the new leader as were paid to the outgoing leader, Deputy Spring.
I draw the attention of the House to item 4, motion 7 on the Order Paper and call for an early debate on an assessment of the effect on people's health of microwave transmissions due to the number of masts being installed at present. Concern has been expressed throughout the country and there were a number of protests outside the House from various parts of the country where local people are concerned about the effects on people's health and we are seeking an independent examination of the matter. I want the Minister to come back to us on that matter.
I support the remarks about house prices. I see in today's newspaper that the price of an ordinary residential home in Rathgar, Dublin, has risen to over £600,000. That is ludicrous.
I also support the call for a debate on Northern Ireland because there have been many developments in the past few weeks. There is some concern in the context of the peace process about the support mechanisms, such as the promised early release and repatriation of prisoners which was mentioned yesterday. Perhaps we could have an early debate on that subject.
I find myself in the curious position of agreeing with Senator Ross that a debate on Northern Ireland would be appropriate. The Forum for Peace and Reconciliation will reconvene in early December in Dublin Castle and there will also be a plenary session of the Northern Ireland Forum shortly. It would be appropriate to have a debate either immediately before or immediately after those meetings.
We all share the concern about house prices. The Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government with responsibility for social housing, Deputy Molloy, has initiated a study on this matter and it would be interesting to know what progress has been made. The subject should be debated in the House.
Rather than let it appear that there is an urban/rural divide in this House, whatever about other fora in the vicinity, I ask the Leader to consider having a debate on the recent Labour Force survey figures which show a dramatic and disturbing drop in the numbers engaged in agriculture, and the implications of that drop for rural communities. The issue of house prices is also important and I add my support to the call for a debate. That problem affects not only Dublin — although it is a matter of great consequence here — but other parts of the country also, especially cities.
I ask the Leader to consider arranging a debate on coarse fishing and inland fisheries in general. The report of the Comptroller and Auditor General has confirmed what many angling and inland waterway conservation groups have said for many years: there is widespread and increasing pollution, a vital resource is being marketed inefficiently, and poaching is common on our inland fisheries. This is an extremely serious matter because it impacts on local economies represented by many Members on all sides of the House. The Comptroller and Auditor General's report, which stridently criticises regional fisheries board for inefficient marketing, is worthy of debate.
The Leader is inclined to take the bait.
Could the Leader indicate when further committees will be set up and will he ensure that Senators will be on all the committees to be established? What changes will take place? Without canvassing on behalf of anyone, will the Leader ensure that Senators might chair some of these committees?
I contributed to last night's Adjournment on railway safety but the Minister for Public Enterprise did not come here with an even temper. There are 1,500 miles of railway in Ireland of which about half are deficient, substandard or in need of upgrading. There was a serious derailment in County Roscommon last week as a result of track failure, which is why we should discuss the matter. This is a serious problem and the public should be reassured. Will the Leader accommodate a debate on this subject at an early stage?
I endorse Senator Connor's remarks as I was going to raise this issue also; it was raised in the other House yesterday. I support the Senator's call for statements on the subject. Arising from the recent fatalities on building sites, will the Leader make urgent contact with the Minister responsible for the construction industry to establish that the Health and Safety Authority is doing everything possible, in terms of the deployment of personnel and resources, to ensure in the first instance that all Government construction sites comply with the standards it lays down?
Senator Manning requested a list of the legislation which is proposed to come before us in the coming weeks. I can confirm that the next four Bills will be the Air Navigation Bill, the Irish Film Board Bill, the Employment Equality Bill and the Turf Development Bill and I hope the Employment Equality Bill will be initiated here within the next two weeks. Much legislation is due to come before the House prior to Christmas. As I said yesterday, I expect the House will sit three days a week in December and it may sit four days on the final week because the Appropriation Bill will come before us, as it does every year.
Senators Manning, Ross, Dardis and Costello requested a debate on house prices. As I said yesterday when Senator Finneran raised the matter on the Order of Business, I have no difficulty with that and will facilitate the House in the next two weeks. Senator Costello mentioned item 4, motion 7; his party has been allocated Private Members' time next week and I will be delighted to facilitate him if he wishes to take the motion then. Senator O'Meara requested a debate on the falling numbers in agriculture; I have given a commitment to Senator Hayes that I will have a debate on agriculture in the near future. Senator Mooney called for a debate on the serious state of our inland fisheries. This is a crucial matter for those counties depending on tourism and I will facilitate the Senator. Senator Cosgrave asked about the setting up of new committees. Two were formed last week and I understand more will be formed this week and next week. I will make inquiries with the Chief Whip in the Dáil and will come back to the Senator this afternoon.
Senator Connor and Senator Fitzgerald raised railway safety, which is also the subject of a Private Members' motion. I am considering having these issues discussed before Christmas. Many debates are being sought and there are at least ten Bills to come before the House by the end of the year, so Senators will appreciate my difficulty in promising to take them is that there will not be enough time. I ask the leaders of the various groupings in the House to have their Members' suggestions taken in Private Members' time, as that will be the only way we can facilitate them. Railway safety is a serious issue. The accident occurred close to where Senator Connor, Senator Mooney and I live, and for some time we have called for funding for this track. I am anxious to facilitate the Senators' request.
Senator Fitzgerald also called for statements on health and safety in the construction industry. Anyone who listened to the radio this morning would have heard with some alarm about the on the spot decisions taken by construction industry representatives about certain sites. I will be only too pleased to afford time to this debate at an early stage.
Order of Business agreed to.
I move that business be suspended until 11.10 a.m. as the Minister is currently speaking in the Dáil.
Is that agreed? Agreed.
Sitting suspended at 10.50 a.m. and resumed at 11.10 a.m.