The Order of Business for today is items 1, 2, 3 and item 16, motion 19. All Stages of item 1 to be taken today, with a debate on items 2 and 3 to be taken in conjunction with the Second Stage of item 1. The contributions of spokespersons on item 1 not to exceed 30 minutes, all other Senators 15 minutes, and Senators may share time. Item 16, motion 19, to be taken from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and business to be interrupted from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Order of Business.
The Order of Business is agreed. Item 5, which will be debated tomorrow, includes statements on the importance of the Santer proposals for Irish agriculture, etc., could not come at a more opportune time because these proposals were discussed by the Council of Ministers yesterday. The Minister for Agriculture, Deputy Walsh, informed the Council of the Irish position on those proposals. Will the Leader ask the Minister for Agriculture to be present in this House for the debate tomorrow? Since last September we have had a lot debate on the agriculture and food industry here. Unfortunately, we have only had a paucity of the Minister for Agriculture's and Food's time in terms of his attendance during these debates. I would like if the Minister could attend when this debate starts tomorrow and, hopefully, be here when the debate finishes.
The Independent group also agrees with the Order of Business. I am glad there is a tentative provision of 30 minutes for the first speaker. I would prefer an open ended debate on the Amsterdam Treaty because it is such a significant item. At the same time the time allocation is as much as can be expected in the circumstances. I am sure people would not have abused an open ended debate if it had been granted.
Will the Leader facilitate a debate on the North? I know this is a sensitive time but in the absence of such a debate will the Leader communicate, what I am sure is the sense of this House, the grave unease felt as a result of the UN report on police harassment of lawyers in the North. It would be useful if a message was sent to Government that this House is deeply concerned about the issue. I am also extremely worried by the implication that a distinguished lawyer, Mr. Pat Finucane, was set up and murdered with the assistance of some degree of official connivance. This is extremely worrying.
I draw the attention of the House to a notice in today's newspapers by the National Irish Bank that they have set up a freephone helpline for their customers. I wonder, in the light of what has been happening in the last few weeks, if this is an April Fool's joke.
On item No. 7 on the Order Paper is a motion for an independent assessment of the health affects of microwave transmitters. This matter has also been raised by members on the Government side. There are daily reports in the newspapers of groups protesting about the siting of particular masts. We seem to have apposite information in relation to new developments and their effects on health. Perhaps the Leader of the House would permit us to have a debate on this — either by taking this motion or introducing one of his own — in an effort to quell people's fears.
I welcome the statement made yesterday by Minister of State O'Dea that extra funding is to be provided for literacy provision. This is a vital provision which comes at a time when the problem of literacy has surfaced. I ask the Leader to impress upon the Minister for Education and Science in the context of the Education Bill — and in an effort to make the Government's commitment more meaningful — the necessity to make funding available to all vocational education committees to employ a full-time literacy organiser.
I join with the Leader of the Opposition in congratulating the Minister for Agriculture and Food on his very firm stand at the Council of Ministers meeting in Brussels regarding the proposed reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. I was pleased that the IFA and the Minister are at one. At least 12 months was wasted the last time with protestation and conflict between then Commissioner MacSharry and the IFA. That was a terrible waste of time.
The Senator's comments would be more appropriate to the issue being discussed tomorrow afternoon. They are not relevant to today's the Order of Business.
It now seems that the National Irish Bank is not the only bank that has questions to answer to its customers. The revelations made over the last couple of days would indicate that all other banks have a case to answer. Will the Leader inquire as to whether the Director of Consumer Affairs could place an advertisement in the newspapers inviting submissions from the public on this matter. This could be agreed with the relevant Minister. We could then tease out what exactly has taken place, what overcharges have been made over a number of years.
In view of the Leader's concern and the geographical affect of radon on his constituency is it intended that we will have a debate on the issue?
Will the Leader arrange for a debate on various funding schemes? Farmers are concerned about their future. A vast area of Border counties and the west have different funding allocations and these have been taken up by people who are not entitled to them. That concern is highlighted by the fact that there is to be a review committee. I do not wish to criticise the review committee but there is not one publicly elected representative from Europe on it; it is made up of civil servants. I have no disrespect for or quibble with the efficiency of civil servants. This is a matter of concern to the public, who should be involved and represented. I hope the Leader can arrange for an examination of the structures of the review committee to include an input from the public. I hope the Leader can arrange for the Tánaiste to come to this House to discuss this matter and try to allay our fears in this regard.
The Leader responded to a question raised by me yesterday in relation to the financial institutions saying we would have a debate on the matter after the Easter recess. In the light of further revelations last night about the attitude of the major banks such as NIB to the regulatory or non-regulatory role of the Central Bank, I think it is imperative that we have this debate prior to the Easter recess. I ask the Leader to communicate our views to the Minister for Finance and seek his attendance in the House to discuss this very important matter which affects the entire credibility of the whole banking system.
Has the Leader decided when we will have a debate — or more properly a question and answer type discussion like we had last week which worked extremely well in relation to the NIB situation — on the multimillion pound Year 2000 computer compliance problem and the implications for the public and Civil Service? This is a very serious issue. I realise an interdepartmental committee has been set up but we need to be reassured that we are on top of this problem, that we know the full extent of it and the plan the Government has to resolve it. I ask the Leader — I know he has agreed to this in principle — if he could give an indication of when we will have a worthwhile discussion to tease out this issue.
Will the Leader consider holding a debate on road traffic in view of the fact that so many accidents are occurring? Very tough laws have been introduced in this area and 90 per cent of motorists who are decent people are being unfairly persecuted and prosecuted. I worry that more of these tough laws will be introduced unless we speak up about them. Discussion is ongoing in relation to learner drivers. How many learner drivers are involved in accidents? Very often they are more careful than people who have passed their tests. This matter needs to be teased out and we must look into how important driving tests are. How many eight or ten year old cars are involved in accidents?
The Senator cannot debate the matter now.
There seems to be a move afoot to introduce more laws to completely cripple motorists. We should have a debate on what we think are the causes of accidents.
Senator Norris made the point that this House should be very concerned about abuses of civil rights not just in the North of Ireland but elsewhere. He is quite right. He also made an important point in relation to the sensitivity of the negotiations at present. For that reason I do not think it appropriate for us to have a debate now. All we can do in the context of what is happening in the talks is to wish the Taoiseach well in his discussions this evening with the British Minister and hope they will be fruitful. We hope the proposals being put forward by the Chairman, Senator Mitchell, will find wide approval within the various groups represented and that that, in turn, will lead to a settlement. We must be encouraged by the fact that an opinion poll undertaken by one of the newspapers in Belfast has indicated a large level of support for an agreed settlement. Even where there might not be universal support among the parties for that settlement, there was still an indication that there is a majority level of support for one. We should be encouraged by that and the parties to the talks should bear that in mind in their discussions over the coming days. We wish them well.
I will keep my contribution until tomorrow as Senator Cassidy is on his feet and I know he will reward me for my patience.
Senators Connor and Finneran raised item 5 on the Order Paper for tomorrow, it was at the request from the Minister for Agriculture and Food that we will have this debate. I agree with Senator Connor that it is timely. I hope he will be able to attend as I had previously arranged the debate for yesterday but because he had to be elsewhere, I postponed it until tomorrow.
I join Senators Norris and Dardis in wishing the Taoiseach well in the talks tonight and tomorrow and hope and pray there will be a settlement on the island once and for all. I hope the Taoiseach will come into the House at the earliest opportunity for a debate on Northern Ireland.
In relation to Senator Costello's call for a debate on the crisis in banking, I gave an assurance yesterday to Senators Manning and Doyle that there would be a discussion on the year 2000 bug and its consequences on the first sitting day after the Easter recess and, if possible, the question and answer session Senator Doyle has requested. In response to Senator Costello's further call for a debate on telephone masts, I gave an assurance yesterday that this request would be facilitated at the earliest opportunity.
Senator McDonagh made a strong call for VEC funding for literacy programmes and I will pass on that request to the Minister for Education and Science.
Senators Gallagher and Finneran made their views clear regarding the banking crisis and Mr. Fagan's position in relation to consumer affairs. I will pass those views on to the Minister to see if progress can be made.
Senator Coogan called for a debate on radon. I will make time available for such a debate. As the Senator knows, it cannot be debated before the Easter recess, but as next Wednesday is the Fine Gael Party Private Members' time, perhaps he could arrange something with his party leader. If that is agreed we will debate it before the Easter recess.
Senator McGowan called for the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to the House to debate the various review committees which are being set up, particularly those without public representatives. I will see what I can do to have time left aside for this.
After Easter we will have the debate on road traffic which Senator Farrell requested.
Order of Business agreed to.