The Order of Business is items 8 and 1; item 8 will be taken without debate. All Stages of item 1 will be taken, with the contributions of spokespersons not to exceed 20 minutes and those of other Senators not to exceed 15 minutes; Senators may share time. Business will be interrupted from 1.30 p.m. to 2.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Order of Business.
Could the Minister for Finance come into the House to debate the privatisation of Telecom Éireann? The sale of this State asset is a very important event, which will take place in June or July 1999. In particular, we should ask the Minister to explain the amazing generosity of the State to Telecom Éireann workers where 15 per cent of this asset will be given away. Is this a benchmark for all privatisations? Will Aer Lingus and Aer Rianta workers – and other workers – get free shares? It is the most generous package offered to anybody in Europe in such a situation and it should be debated in this House.
It is important that the achievement of the Minister for Agriculture and Food and his officials in securing a satisfactory deal on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy is marked.
The Senator should not count his chickens.
They did a good job for the country in difficult circumstances. Production rights have been protected well into the next century, which was a singular achievement. I hope that the proper research, advisory and marketing back-up will be put in place so that Ireland can adjust to the changes that will eventually take place in the industry. People who have been quick to criticise the Minister in the past should now at least have the good grace to acknowledge what he did in Brussels.
Given the level of interest in the vacant Pretty Polly factory in Killarney, and the fact that it was referred to yesterday by Senator Finneran, the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment has graciously accepted my invitation to visit Killarney and attend a meeting in the town hall on 22 March. I look forward to rolling out the red carpet for her; hopefully she, in return, will roll out some good news for us.
Like other Senators, I was very pleased when increased funding was allocated to the Department of Health and Children last November. Half of the additional money was to go towards setting up a mental health commission; the national food safety authority was the other body which was to be set up. We are half way through this session and there is still no sign of the mental health Bill. Will the Leader arrange a debate on the report of the Inspector of Mental Hospitals, as requested earlier this year, as soon as possible? That would at least allow us to discuss what may happen to this money which will obviously not now be spent on a mental health commission. I would be loath to see the money spent anywhere else than in the service of mental health.
Members have sought a debate on the insurance industry for many months now. Those who read John Maddock's column in today's Irish Independent will see the reason for such a request. It is a matter of urgency that this issue be addressed.
I support Senator Ross's comments on the extraordinary generosity of the Telecom award, particularly in view of the fact that Ireland is in the lowest 25 per cent in Europe in terms of productivity. If Ireland PLC is eventually liquidated, will we receive a similar reward as its proprietors and employees?
Does the Senator want to privatise the Seanad?
That would be a very good idea. I congratulate the Minister for Agriculture and Food and his team on the short-term gains which have been made for our farmers. We should use this breathing space to examine the farming industry and attempt to square its greater efficiency with a degree of respect for the fabric of life in the countryside, which is precious to many people. These conditions cannot continue to exist and we cannot continue to negotiate our way out of the inevitability of the situation because many inefficient farmers from eastern Europe will be coming into the EU. We must face reality. However, I congratulate the Minister for creating this breathing space; it is not the end game and we must use it wisely.
I want to raise an issue I raised last year in regard to the superintendent of the registry office in Joyce House in Lombard Street East. Huge delays are currently being experienced by people wishing to register a birth or a death. When this issue was raised last year, we were informed that action was being taken on it. I checked with the office this morning; the waiting period at this time of the day is an hour and a half but at other times, the delays can be much longer. There is an express service which takes only seven to ten days for people wishing to obtain birth or death certificates.
Nothing has been done to introduce technology into this area; the certificates are still handwritten and all the work is carried out manually. Some people are being paid to sit in a queue for up to two hours to obtain these certificates. It seems that nothing has happened in this regard. The poor quality of the service reflects badly on Ireland as a nation for treating its citizens in this manner.
I did not intend to speak on the Order of Business but I want to put on record the fact that the union involved in negotiating with Telecom spent £100,000 of its own money some years ago to help the State with this issue. It is the only telecommunication workers' union in Europe which has succeeded in getting workers to agree to the privatisation process. That was acceptable while the company was only worth a certain amount of money but now that it has suddenly become more valuable, greed and envy are rearing their heads. This money was hard earned and people are entitled to whatever they get. It is in the country's best interest.
We spoke on the Kurdish situation in this House recently and the Turkish Ambassador took copious notes in the Visitors Gallery. The teachers' union executive in Turkey is due to go on trial on Monday for publishing a simple document on educational reform. I intend to raise this issue at length at some future stage. I want to put on record my thanks to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, who has been very supportive in this area, for informing me that the Irish Embassy in Turkey will attempt to send an observer to the trial in Ankara next week. Members of a teachers' union face imprisonment for introducing proposals to teach the native languages of Kurdish people and to introduce other normal education reforms. This is unacceptable from a country which is applying for membership of the EU.
I also join in complimenting the Minister for Agriculture and Food and his team on their efforts in Brussels in recent weeks. A number of debates have been held in recent months at the Opposition's request. Unfortunately, some of them did not have the good grace to compliment the Minister this morning.
Compliments are neither in order nor relevant to the Order of Business.
By agreement with the Leader, I did not intervene on the Order of Business to allow the debate on the British-Irish Agreement Bill to take place as soon as possible. The Senator should consult her Leader.
I thank the Minister for his efforts, particularly on behalf of small farmers.
I thank the Leader of the main Opposition party for his co-operation this morning to facilitate the Minister coming into the House as soon as possible. I wish to join with Senators Dardis, Norris, O'Toole and Leonard in congratulating the Minister for Agriculture and Food on his hard work and efforts to bring the negotiations in Brussels to a successful conclusion. It was the best possible deal he could have achieved.
Senators Ross, Norris and O'Toole called for a debate on the sale of Telecom. I will arrange that. I welcome Senator Coghlan's comments on the Pretty Polly factory and the Tánaiste's visit to Killarney. Senator Henry called for a debate on the report of the Inspector of Mental Hospitals. I will ensure that the debate will occur at the earliest opportunity. It is very difficult at the moment with all the legislation being initiated in the House to hold the number of debates requested. I was very pleased with the contributions made on the debate on the Irish language. It was a wonderful and heartening debate and I congratulate all those who participated.
In reply to Senator Lanigan, I will arrange a debate on the insurance industry. I will make inquiries on the issue raised by Senator Quinn; I understand the matter was referred to in the House yesterday evening and I believe progress is being made. I am very familiar with the location of the office as I work nearby in another capacity. It is ridiculous to see queues forming in the rain for up to two hours.
Order of Business agreed to.