The Order of Business is items 1 and 15, motion 35. On item 1, Order for Second Stage and Second Stage, contributions of spokespersons on Second Stage will not exceed 15 minutes and contributions of other Senators will not exceed ten minutes. Item 15, motion 35, will be taken from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Item 1 will resume thereafter if not previously concluded.
Order of Business.
The Order of Business is agreed. The Leader might indicate to us today or tomorrow the business he proposes to take this session.
I wish to state briefly that what happened in Adare was murder, not manslaughter.
Hear, hear.
There is a revulsion sweeping this country. It is hoped that the fullest possible explanation will be given of this decision so there can be no doubts about secret agendas or anything else behind it. Let us have the full truth on this matter. I believe I speak for all sides of this House.
I wish to ask the Cathaoirleach's guidance on how to raise another matter. It concerns a man who last Thursday was asked to go to Harcourt Street Garda Station. There he was questioned, arrested and subsequently released without charges being made against him. However, while he was in custody and being questioned, the police phoned every newspaper office in Dublin and RTÉ to inform them that this person was being held there. His name went around the town very quickly and one newspaper named him. This man has not been charged with anything. A person has a constitutional right to his or her good name and character. This is not the first time this has happened.
A Chathaoirligh, I would like guidance on how I may raise this because I want to ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to come to the House. The same happened in the case of the Hanahoe firm when the State was obliged to pay out a justifiable sum of money.
I will raise this matter with Senator Manning in my office.
Thank you. I would like to register my great disquiet at what is happening. When the Garda start taking shortcuts we are all in trouble. I would like the Leader of the House to raise this matter with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform – who must have the same feeling of disquiet as I about this – and see if he will speak to us in the House.
I would like to draw the attention of the House to a change in the configuration of this side of the House since the last session with a great sense of loss. There used to be a little line on the old mortuary cards "He has left us but he has not gone too far away".
Has he moved to the left or the right?
After the Order of Business the Independent benches will go into conclave to reshuffle, reform and reallocate ourselves seats. We hope the new Labour Party will be pushed into a more independent line with Senator Brendan Ryan's arrival. I am sure I speak for all my colleagues on the Independent benches when I say whatever about his decision to go in a particular direction, we trust his judgment and wish him well. We have a long tradition on these benches of people moving out and back, and we retain the seats.
A long dissertation on this matter is not appropriate on the Order of Business.
The question of taxis and hackneys in Dublin and outside has been raised on many occasions. I would like a serious debate on the matter in this House. There should be a proposal to double the number of taxis and hackneys in this city and in other areas where they are needed. Consumers have been treated abominably on this issue. We should all support the matter being dealt with firmly. There should be a proper debate on the regulation, deregulation, change of rules and use of bus lanes for taxis and hackneys in this city and throughout the country in the interest of safety and security.
It gives me great pleasure to introduce our new Member, another addition to the Labour ranks. Listening to Senator O'Toole's remarks, I hope it will not be long before other like-minded Independent Senators decide to join us. Senator Ryan has always been a very independent Senator. I always believed he was independent in mind, but a Labour man at heart. I am sure other Members will join me in welcoming a new member to the Labour Party.
As Fianna Fáil always say, "if he jumped once, he will jump again."
One of Senator Ryan's strong points was the degree to which he lacerated Fianna Fáil and the Government benches. I am sure he will be free to maintain an independent mind in that regard in the months ahead.
Will the Leader indicate the corpus of legislation planned for the coming session? He has said on a number of occasions that approximately 40 per cent of new legislation is dealt with in this House. It is important that we are given sufficient warning of proposed legislation and I ask the Leader for some indication of this as soon as possible.
Item No. 3, in the names of Labour Senators, expresses deep concern at the doubling of the local authority housing list and at the 50 per cent increase in the cost of private housing since the Government was established. There is a need for an early debate on the housing crisis. The Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government, Deputy Molloy, stated recently that in his opinion there is no housing crisis. I am afraid he is the only person in the country who holds that opinion. He should come to this House at an early stage and back up that position. There is a major housing crisis and he should come to this House so that we can debate the matter and make our views and recommendations known to him.
Will the Leader arrange for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to come to this House and demonstrate to us that it is his intention to introduce a charities Bill? He should do so sooner rather than later. If the agenda in the other House is full, we should tell the Minister that this House is capable of taking the Second Stage of that Bill. It is not acceptable that a sector which manages hundreds of millions of pounds every year should remain unregulated. There is an urgent need for proper legislation and regulation to maintain the integrity of that sector.
I agree with the statement made by Senator Manning on the news that is emerging about the Adare murder. Murder is murder and there must never be a set of circumstances where that fact is open to negotiation or compromise.
I remind Senator Quill that these are matters for the courts.
This country has been through a very rough period in the past 30 years. We managed to maintain the basic institutions of this State intact and we must do that in the future.
In the last term the Leader promised we would have a serious and meaningful debate on homelessness. In Dublin city centre there has been an increase of 37 per cent in the number of people sleeping rough and we are fast becoming a cardboard city. Can the Leader impress upon the Minister the need for emergency accommodation? This is vital. It is ludicrous that people continue to live in doorways. This is something for which we can make provision. I am very disappointed that we have not had the promised debate and I look forward to a positive response from Senator Cassidy.
I support Senator Quill's call for legislation on charities. It is very important that public confidence is restored in the system and that we protect the integrity of those who are doing very good work. I agree it is time we brought forward the necessary legislation. I hope the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform gives a positive response.
Can the Leader arrange a debate on bank charges and interest? I have had many representations on this matter. I read with alarm that we have bank charges at the European level of 3 per cent, we have mortgages at 5 per cent, yet an individual with an overdraft is charged 12 per cent and someone with a credit card is charged 24 per cent. These are unacceptable interest rates. It is time we had a public debate on this matter and this House is an ideal forum to tease out where the profits are going and how ordinary customers are being fleeced.
As this is the first debate of the new year will the Leader consider an early debate on child care? As we speak the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy O'Donoghue, is receiving the report of the expert working group on child care. The report covers a major, significant and comprehensive examination of the whole area and includes a number of recommendations to deal with the crisis in the provision of child care right across the board. I ask the Leader to urgently place this issue on his list of priorities for debate in the coming session.
In view of newspaper reports over the past few days about the situation in the Army and the possibility of downsizing it, I call for an early debate on it. At present this issue is being debated throughout the country. The Army as a body has been downgraded in the public domain and it is not what it was over the past number of years. It does not deserve the publicity it is receiving. In general 99 per cent of Army personnel do an excellent job for Ireland and in the international sphere. It is time we discussed their role in internal and international affairs. The Army is a very important body of people and it is not getting the type of publicity it deserves. Without the Army there would have been major problems. We are coming out of an era of violence along our northern borders. Without the influence of the Army and its assistance to the civil authorities – the Garda – there is no doubt we would have had major problems.
Will the Leader ensure we have a debate on the International Olympic Council and the organisation of the Olympic Games which has been taken over by people who are involved for monetary gain only? Such people have disgraced themselves and athletics. I am not referring to athletics at track and field level, but athletics in general.
Eight years ago in this Chamber, I said that Mr. Samaranch was the biggest crook in the world, a remark I backed up with evidence. I also said the second biggest crook was Nabiola, the chief executive of the International Athletic Federation. At that time I suggested that the chief executive of the—
Senator Lanigan, it is not appropriate to use such terms in the House.
I use them advisedly. I raised this matter eight years ago and there has been no change since. The Olympic Games, as currently administered, are a disgrace.
The Senator has made the case for a debate on these matters. We cannot anticipate or have such a debate now.
I ask the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation not to give further cash to the International Olympic Council or the Irish Olympic Council without such bodies undertaking a full and thorough reorganisation of its administration.
I express horror at the Gerry McCabe murder issue, as raised by Senator Manning. It is appalling that the family should be subjected to the trauma of today's news. It will also affect morale among gardaí in the Limerick area and it is shocking news for his colleague, Ben O'Sullivan.
I would like a debate on the issue of child abduction, which has not taken place since it was first raised before Christmas.
Will the Leader arrange for an early debate on radon gas? I raise this matter in the context of the national radon survey published while the House was in recess. The fourth phase of that survey covers the Tipperary, Limerick and Clare areas and contains alarming figures. In each of the three counties concerned areas have been identified as having unacceptable levels of radon gas. Radon gas is associated with cancer. This House, in discussion with the appropriate Minister, could help to provide assurances for the people concerned.
Does the admission last night on Prime Time by the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Martin, in relation to the Apple computer plant in Cork mean the Government was aware of what was happening before the staff or Oireachtas representatives in that region were informed? That is a sad reflection on the Government. A commitment was given by the company, no more than six months ago, to the continuation of operations at the plant in Cork and that is not now forthcoming. Is it possible that, as the relevant Minister is abroad, somebody can explain the company's commitment to the Cork plant to the House? It appears the Government was aware of the situation at that plant long before the 500 people who have been laid off. Information on this issue must be made available to the workforce.
Will the Leader arrange for a debate next week on the Government proposal to establish two regional authorities and the dissemination of funds? There will be major changes in these structures in terms of disseminating European funds and the Houses should be able to debate the issue and have the Government's intentions explained to them. Can we have such a debate next week as there is a sense of urgency because the Government's views on this issue are moving fairly quickly?
The Leader has received many requests today, but at some stage during the next few weeks will he arrange for the House to be updated on the Y2K bug preparedness, nationally, internationally and in European terms? This issue will impact on all of us. I would like the Minister to have another opportunity to come into the House and explain the current position and to answer questions and concerns from all sides of the House on this matter.
I note the fodder cheques which the Minister for Agriculture and Food has disseminated to farmers. I thank him for the £300 we received and I thank God that we have enough fodder. There are others who could do well with such fodder. There are logistical difficulties and the amount involved is small. Thousands of farmers are suicidal as they watch their stock starve without any means of selling or disposing of cattle. I plead with the Leader to ask the Minister to immediately issue funds to the animal welfare societies in every constituency so that these organisations can provide emergency fodder in crises.
We cannot have a detailed debate on this matter. I have allowed the Senator to raise the issue.
On an animal welfare basis, I support what the Minister has done. He has done very little, but I ask him to look after the animal welfare organisations. They can stop the suffering immediately and we can sort out the bigger problem afterwards.
It is important that the House debates the housing situation. There is a great need, but it is important that in our contributions we try to be as innovative and proactive as possible. Housing departments in local authorities are under enormous pressure. It is important that we recognise the pressure on staff and that extra training, office accommodation and all necessary resources are put at their disposal. I look forward to that debate.
I support the call for a debate on child care at the earliest opportunity. This is not solely a women's issue, but a society and family issue. It is vitally important that the House discusses the child care report as soon as it is published so that the Minister can take on board the appropriate comments and ideas of Members.
Will the Leader ascertain from the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when he expects to introduce the long promised legislation to revise the planning code? Over 12 months ago the Government defeated a Bill in this House which would have allowed for some control on rogue builders. The problem is getting worse. The Minister promised legislation last autumn, but we have not seen that legislation.
Will the Leader confirm that the Government will not introduce legislation to reform local government promised extensively by the Minister outside the Houses? The Minister has not been slow to articulate his views on how local government should be reformed, but he has been slow to put those views into legislative proposals. It is important that those who are putting themselves forward for election this year know what structures will exist.
The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is examining certain aspects of the licensing laws following the publication of the Joint Oireachtas Committee report chaired by Deputy Flanagan. There have been leaks that the Minister is not taking on board the committee's recommendations. Publicans are unanimous that an extra hour's opening time should be given. I ask the Leader to inquire of the Minister when he will introduce legislation and if he will take on board all the recommendations of the Oireachtas joint committee in the draft legislation.
I support Senator Finneran's call for a debate on bank charges, a subject I raised a number of times in the last session. Would it be possible for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to come to the House to have an early debate on Northern Ireland? Many of us are concerned about the slow progress of the British-Irish Agreement, particularly as sectarian attacks appear to be beginning again. However, on a light note, a number of the monstrosities placed along the Border, the security checkpoints, have been removed in the past few months. This has enabled us to go on with our lives normally once again. Unfortunately, there is one area in south Fermanagh where they have not been removed, and this is probably the area which least needs them. I plead with the Minister to get the British authorities to remove them from south Fermanagh.
Faoi dheireadh, ba mhaith liom tréaslú leis na bailte, go háirithe Baile Ghib i gContae na Mí agus Baile Mhurchú i mBéil Feirste, a bhuaigh duaiseanna i gcomórtas Ghlór na nGael agus na bailte i dTuaisceart na hÉireann atá ag cur an Gaeilge chun cinn go maith.
Before Christmas I mentioned that the 1997 report of the inspector of mental hospitals had been published in good time and I asked the Leader if we could debate it in Government time. I would be glad if we could have the debate soon as the Minister for Health and Children said he would try to bring these reports forward as a matter of urgency. As this report has been brought forward in good time, perhaps the Minister could come to the House and we could debate it for one or two hours.
I join with Senator Doyle in welcoming the fodder aid package announced by the Minister last night. I welcome the bringing forward of the REPS payments etc., also announced by the Minister. However, I am extremely concerned that the right people are not being targeted for this package – those badly in need will still not get enough. This is a major problem. I ask the Leader to tell the Minister for Agriculture and Food immediately the way to get this money to the people who badly need it is through the district veterinary offices, in co-operation with the local vets. That avenue has not been explored by the Minister. This scheme will be a disaster and will go to waste if he does not target it at the right people and this debate will go on and on.
I welcome the fodder package announced by the Government. This was done in consultation with the main farming organisations. There is no simple way to deal with this problem, but this is the best solution available to service the needs of those suffering.
In light of the recent allegations by Senator O'Dowd on the consultants' report on the state of Irish Rail, it is fair and right that the Minister should be invited to the House to respond—
She might have to resign.
—to these unfounded allegations about interference with the presentation of the report on the safety of Irish Rail. I am sure the Minister would welcome the opportunity to speak to the House to deal with that unfounded allegation.
I call Senator Norris – he may have indicated earlier and if I did not see him, I apologise.
I was just saying to Senator Henry that I will have to take an assertiveness course. I wish my former colleague and, I hope, continuing friend, Senator Ryan, well in his developing career. I also extend my good wishes to my friends in the Labour Party. However, I do not approve of the practice of people standing for election as Independents and then joining a political party. I have always held this opinion, including when it applied to old friends such as Mary Robinson, and I do not intend to deviate from it. It is not right. I wish the Senator well but I disapprove strongly of what he did.
Would it be possible to have a brief discussion of item 36 on the Order Paper which relates to East Timor? There are interesting developments there at present but some of us are worried about the comments of Mr. Ali Alatas, the Foreign Minister, which appear to be setting up a situation for the Indonesian authorities to provoke a civil war using the paramilitaries they have armed. In deference to the Cathaoirleach I will not go into further detail but it is a serious issue and this is a time when Ireland could play a significant role.
I support Senator Manning's comments about Garda leaks. They are intolerable and I hope our sentiments will be passed on. There have been a number of such leaks over the years and most decent gardaí deplore them.
I join Senator Quill and others who called for legislation on charities. I have raised this subject on a number of occasions. It is impossible to go through Hibernian Way without encountering professional, paid collectors. Previously, a charity was given one flag day per year. Now, charities pay collectors to do this job aggressively. That is wrong and the system must be regulated. I understood from newspaper reports that Senator O'Meara had prepared a Bill on this subject.
I strongly support Senator Lanigan's comments about the Olympic Games. It is obvious they were corrupt from top to bottom. God be with the days when they were run by decent people such as Lord Killanin. I have to laugh at Mr. Samaranch. He took the gay games to court and refused to let them use the word "olympic" in the title because he claimed it would bring the Olympic Games into disrepute. The Olympic Games started in Olympus in classical Greece and there was always a strong erotic element in them.
Who does Mr. Samaranch think he is fooling? It is he and his crooked cronies who have brought the Olympic Games into disrepute. The gay games held in Amsterdam last year were an enormous success. They, unlike the corrupt Olympic Games over which Samaranch presides, upheld the ideals of the amateur in sport and of fun. Let the Olympic Games learn from the gay games.
The Senator has made his case for the debate.
I bow to Senator Norris's superior knowledge of the sexuality of the Olympic Games.
I endorse the sentiments expressed by Senator Manning and others with regard to the acceptance of a plea of guilty to manslaughter for the murder in Adare. We do not wish to intrude on the independence of the Director of Public Prosecutions but I hope the sentence will reflect the gravity of the crime.
Senator Bonner asked for a debate on Northern Ireland and I agree with his request. It is contrary to not just the spirit but also the letter of the British-Irish Agreement that punishment beatings and other such exercises should continue. There was an explicit renunciation of violence and the threat of violence in the Agreement and that renunciation must be honoured if there is to be progress. Eighty minutes in Lansdowne Road last Saturday sent out a more positive signal of attitudes on this island. It also demonstrated – this is relevant to the Olympic movement – that pride in one's place and one's jersey overcomes the deficiencies which money brings to sport.
Will the Leader arrange a debate, at the earliest opportunity, on the insurance industry? I make these remarks as a result of two articles I read over Christmas. The first concerned motor insurance for which people are being asked to pay anything between £500 and £2,000. I respectfully suggest that if one company can offer a policy for £500 and another asks for £2,000, someone is being ripped off. Furthermore, with the huge increases in property prices, it is important that we advise the public to increase their premiums. People who insured their homes for £40,000 two or three years ago should now cover them for £60,000. If anything went wrong, they would be very disappointed with the pay out. I ask the Leader, therefore, to arrange a debate on the insurance industry as soon as possible.
I support Senator O'Toole's call for a debate on taxis and hackneys. While I appreciate the position is bad in Dublin, it is equally as bad in every town throughout the country. A debate in the House would help to resolve this. The Department of the Environment and Local Government has handed a badly thought out policy to local authorities.
I support Senators Doyle and Hayes in welcoming the £20 million for the fodder aid scheme. The Minister for Agriculture and Food should consider his position in light of Senator Doyle's remarks, that people in Wexford are being paid fodder aid while receiving exorbitant prices for fodder from people in the west who are not receiving any aid and who are also paying exorbitant prices for feed. This is a scandal.
Does the Senator support the request for a debate on the matter?
I support the request for a debate so that this can be resolved in such a way that the people in need of the aid receive it.
It strikes me from the tone of the debate so far that some Senators are saying the Minister is incorrect to give money to the hard-pressed farmers while others are saying he is not giving enough. It indicates the level of knowledge about this problem. A sum of £41 million is being paid to farmers because of the fodder crisis. The farm assistance scheme should also mean an extra £45 million. Incorrect information is being given out. I would prefer if there was genuine concern about the issue. The feed compounders should be asked why they increased prices and the banks should be asked why they are not giving credit. I ask the Leader to convey that sentiment to the Minister for Agriculture and Food.
Reference was made to expensive feed in Wexford. I attended an auction near Midleton in Cork on Saturday at which first crop silage was offered at the meagre price of £13 per bale, but there were no takers.
I would like to be associated with the remarks of Senators Manning and Dardis concerning what happened in Adare today. I speak with a degree of ignorance, but my initial reaction is one of great shock. I worry about the signals that sends out. I hope outside pressure did not have an effect on the outcome. We know a garda was murdered and we find it difficult to understand how a plea of manslaughter could be accepted. I do not understand it and I think we are due an explanation for this.
I bid farewell to my comrade, Senator Brendan Ryan. It is a very lonely place out there. Senator Robinson left and joined the same party but did not like it. I left and, while I loved what I saw and still regard those I was with as colleagues, I did not last very long.
It was the Senator's choice.
We would love to have him back.
I have the great privilege of sharing a room with Senator Ryan, and I hope that continues. I reassure him that even if he does not find fertile ground for his left wing ideology in the Labour Party, he will find it in the room in Kildare Street.
Mr. Ryan
As party spokesman on Justice I am profoundly concerned at the possibility of bringing the public perception of the law into disrepute as a result of what has been discussed earlier, though I know those matters are sub judice. I do not want to speak about the specific issue, but the public is entitled to feel that matters are treated according to their gravity and not according to their political convenience. There are youngsters in jail for life for murders that were committed in far less understandable circumstances, such as fights in the street. They are quite correctly in jail for murder, but it is profoundly disturbing to believe there might be some other agenda involved here.
There are many who would have had a frisson of eroticism at the verbal flagellation I just got from Senator Norris, but I would have thought it in the nature of independence to be allowed to make up one's mind and change one's perception of life as life proceeded. I did not realise that there was an invisible Whip on Independents. I thank all Members for what I think are genuine good wishes. It is my ambition not to be here for much longer, if the Labour Party and the electorate in Munster make their choice. This may be an ave atque vale.
A by-election.
Mr. Ryan
I have a wonderful candidate in mind for a by-election, if that happens. That will keep Senator O'Toole focused on the job in hand.
Senator Ryan's substitute.
Mr. Ryan
Will the Leader inquire if the Government is satisfied that the plant in south Wales, to which 450 jobs in Cork have transmigrated, is not in breach of EU regulations in the way it is supported, working or in which it was set up? That is something this country is regularly accused of, and I am profoundly sceptical that it is possible to have a plant in south Wales that is so competitive within the law that jobs can be taken out of Cork. It is a matter the Government must pursue vigorously to ensure we are not victims of unfair competition.
I do not wish to cross Senator Chambers, but regarding Senator O'Dowd's challenge to the accuracy of the rail safety report, the Minister has requested that this be taken at the first meeting of the Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business. I request the Leader to promote that route before the matter is dealt with here.
I join with other Members in wishing Senator Ryan well in his new political party. I mean that genuinely; he is a responsible Senator and a good contributor. His presence enhances the Seanad, and I look forward to his contributions. He will probably find it a little more difficult being under a party Whip, but that is the privilege of party membership. I wish him well.
Senators Manning, Quill, Costello, Jackman, Norris, Dardis, Ross and Ryan expressed the same views on the Adare murder. I want to be associated with those views. I was surprised at this announcement. I will pass on the concerns of Senators to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform immediately after the Order of Business.
Senators Burke and O'Toole called for a debate on taxis and hackneys; I will set time aside for this. Senators Costello and Cox sought a debate on housing, and I have no difficulty with that. Senators Quill, Finneran and Norris sought a debate on charities in light of recent events, and I will certainly set time aside for that. Like Senator Manning, I too am concerned about the leaks to the media when someone was under arrest. I will pass on these concerns of the Leader of the Opposition to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
Senator Finneran and Senator Bonner called for a debate on bank charges; I have agreed to this and it will take place within the next few weeks. Senator O'Meara asked for a debate on child care and I have no difficulty with that. Senator Lanigan asked for a debate on the Defence Forces. He and Senator Norris called for an early debate on the Olympic Games, specifically the funding for the Olympic Council of Ireland. I will pass on Senator Caffrey's views on the licensing laws.
Senator Bonner and Senator Dardis called for a debate on Northern Ireland. The Taoiseach came into the House on the penultimate sitting day of the last session to discuss the matter and I can put time aside for another debate. Senator Henry asked for a debate on the report on mental health, I will leave time aside for that.
Senators Tom Hayes, Chambers, Burke, Callanan and Avril Doyle expressed concern about the unfortunate position in which Irish farmers find themselves. Members of all parties empathise with them in their plight, which is mainly due to the weather and falling agricultural prices. All reasonable people would agree that everything possible is being done under the circumstances and the matter is being reviewed weekly. Senators will agree that the Government's measures announced yesterday are to be welcomed. One can never provide enough in a crisis but I wholeheartedly welcome the moves.
It is too little.
Senator Cregan called for a debate on the motor insurance industry; I can put time aside for that. Senator Norris asked for a debate on motion 36 relating to East Timor; I will leave time aside for any request made on this issue.
Senator Liam Fitzgerald and Senator Chambers raised the problem with Irish Rail and Senator Fitzgerald outlined the up-to-date position. The Minister has no difficulty coming into the House to explain that. I know the House will welcome the start of the Tallaght to city centre Luas line during the recess, and we look forward to that being built over the next few years.
I will forward Senator Callanan's views on agriculture. Senator Jackman and Senator Cox called for a debate on child abduction and I will put aside time for that. Senator Ó Murchú urgently called for a debate on the radon gas survey report. He outlined the position in his own county, Tipperary, and neighbouring counties; the survey also showed that north Westmeath, where I reside, has an extremely high level of radon gas. I will have the matter debated in the next two weeks.
Senator Denis Cregan and Senator Ryan expressed their views about the Apple computer factory in Cork. I agree with them and will pass their views to the Minister's office immediately after the Order of Business. Senator Avril Doyle called for a debate on year 2000 matters; I can leave time aside for that. Senator Gallagher expressed opinions about planning. He will be aware that the Local Government (Planning and Development) Bill, 1998, is being initiated in the House tomorrow.
That Bill deals with a different area.
I know he welcomes and appreciates that Bill, as I do. I will forward his views on the other Bill to the Minister.
Senator Manning asked what forthcoming legislation would be discussed in the House. As Members know two Bills are being initiated here today and tomorrow – the Criminal Justice (United Nations Convention Against Torture) Bill, 1998, and the Local Government (Planning and Development) Bill, 1998. Also to come before the House is the Architectural Heritage (National Inventory) and Historic Monuments (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, 1998, Second Stage.
In addition to the legislation before the House for discussion this week, a total of 16 Bills will be published and debated during this session. Among these are the Broadcasting Bill, the Údarás na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill, the School Attendance and Educational Welfare Bill, the Education and Training (Qualifications) Bill, the Companies (Amendment) Bill, the Local Elections (Disclosures of Donations and Election Expenses) Bill, the Finance Bill, the Health (Amendment) Bill, the Immigration Bill, the Equal Status Bill, the Illegal Immigrants Bill, the Minerals Development Bill and the Social Welfare Bill. Legislation arising from the British-Irish Agreement, which is relevant to the Departments of the Taoiseach and Justice, Equality and Law Reform, will also be introduced. The Department of the Taoiseach is responsible for the Good Friday Agreement (North-South Co-operation) Bill while the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform is responsible for the Human Rights Commission Bill and the Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. These Bills will be published as soon as is practicable. Other Bills to which I have already referred could be slightly delayed because of the priority attaching to these three Bills under the terms of the British-Irish Agreement.
I did not receive a reply to my request.
The Chair has no control over the Leader's reply.
I am sure the Leader forgot to deal with my request.
I have no difficulty arranging another debate on homelessness.
Order of Business agreed to.