The Order of Business is No. 1, Committee Stage of the Planning and Development Bill, 1999 (resumed).
Order of Business.
The Order of Business is agreeable to this side of the House. However, I would like to complain about what happened in the past week with regard to this Bill. We have accepted nearly 100 amendments from the Government, some of which we read in the newspapers prior to being brought into this House. We have not had an opportunity to table any written amendments and it is as if this Bill is emergency legislation. It might be an emergency for people who are awaiting housing but the truth is that this Bill will not go into the Dáil until at least next February. I am sure the Minister for the Environment and Local Government is aware of that. We have been brought here on a Friday when people have had arrangements made over the past week. That is not the way to conduct the business of the House.
This Bill has been bullied through the House in the interest of the Minister without justification. It is the third largest piece of legislation to come before the House since the founding of the State and it is being rushed through in an extraordinary manner. Amendments have been coming in with no opportunity given to respond to them. I am also aware that it is intended to take Report Stage next week. During the debate on Second and Committee Stages the Minister indicated—
We are not discussing next week's business.
In order for the business to be transacted properly we must have an opportunity to respond and to take on board the changes that will be made on Report Stage by the Minister. We need an opportunity to review those changes in case we want to table amendments.
I said yesterday most of what Senator Coogan said. We have communicated our views to each other. I hope today's business is conducted in a fashion which allows it to be done. We should assess our progress during the course of the day. That is most important at this stage. We tried to resolve difficulties during the week and it is now a matter of ensuring that this legislation gets due consideration today and next week.
We have discussed credit unions on a number of occasions. There are some indications that the credit unions have European support for the Government's inclination to give them special tax treatment. In other words, they would be exempt from corporation tax. This is welcome news for anyone involved with credit unions. Can the Leader confirm this? Perhaps he could also arrange for the Department of Finance to come in here to explain to us what is happening in that area.
With regard to the Bill we are discussing, many people will have to avail of co-operative housing and the services of credit unions in the future. The fact that they can now be exempt from corporation tax is an important issue that we should look at.
I know the Leader has been under pressure on the current issue but now that has been dealt with. We need to know what is happening with No. 4 of the Order Paper, the Telecommunications (Infrastructure) Bill, 1999, which deals with masts. I raised this issue with him time and again and I am becoming deeply suspicious because I have not received an answer from him. Is there something happening on the Government end of things on this issue?
I agree with the previous speakers. I am extremely disappointed with today's Order of Business. No prior notice was given that we would have a Friday sitting. The problem is that the Minister for the Environment and Local Government is ordering our business rather than the House itself. That is where the precedent is being established.
The business is ordered by the Leader of the House.
The Leader did not order today's business. When he was put under pressure by the Minister it was then he ordered the business as it stands. I am not happy with this development.
There are seven or eight Seanad Bills before the other House which have not been dealt with. There is plenty of work for the other House to deal with that has already been processed here. I have always commended the Leader on the good work he has done in getting fresh legislation into this House. It is initiated and dealt with here. However, there is not much sense in bringing legislation of this magnitude before this House if we cannot dispose of it properly. That is our problem. We have until 16 December and we have no problem facilitating the Leader of the House in getting the Bill through by then. However, it will not be dealt with in the other House until well into the new year and, I have no doubt, until after Easter. I am not happy and I am opposed to the Order of Business as it stands.
I wish to reiterate what I said yesterday about Northern Ireland. Tomorrow is D-Day and over the weekend we will know whether there will be peace in Northern Ireland before Christmas.
I was not here when the Leader announced the Order of Business. What time does the House intend to rise this evening?
I have participated in the discussion on the Bill for six days. It has been a fine example of parliamentary democracy. The Members present for the Committee Stage would have to acknowledge it has been constructive. Worthwhile amendments were tabled by the Opposition and Government sides. However, I reject allegations of bullying.
Does the Senator have a question for the Leader of the House? He will reply to questions on the Order of Business.
I do not have a question but I reject some of the comments made. I hope the spirit in which we have conducted the debate to date will continue today. We lost an hour and a half on Wednesday evening—
The Leader will reply to the points raised on the Order of Business.
Will the Leader ask the Minister for Defence to come to the House to discuss the problems in the Irish Red Cross, which, sadly, have been ongoing for the past ten years? Our reputation is being damaged in the international fundraising arena. As the staff have spoken openly about the problems, now is the time for us to discuss it. I was a member of the executive of the Red Cross and I raised this matter in the House.
I apologise for being late – I was stuck in traffic.
Has the Senator a question on the Order of Business?
A Chathaoirligh, I am always conscious of your courtesy towards every Member.
The Order of Business is not about such pleasantries.
A pleasant element is always welcome and the Cathaoirleach invariably provides it. Will the Leader convey to the Minister for Public Enterprise the idiocy of having a director of traffic for Dublin Corporation whose remit does not extend beyond the city boundaries? Everybody, including Senator Doyle—
That is a matter which could be raised more appropriately as a Private Members' motion or on the Adjournment. It is not appropriate to the Order of Business.
A Chathaoirligh, as you know, I have raised many matters on the Adjournment and usually in reply I get a speech written before I speak which never provides an answer. The people in Dublin are going to go mad in the next month.
Going to go mad?
It is presumed that when one gets to the city boundaries, one can move freely yet all the urban villages are completely choked. The director of traffic can only deal with areas within the city boundaries. It is ridiculous.
I wish to—
Senator Coogan has already spoken on the Order of Business.
—get some clarification. Is it intended to have a sos or should we review progress at a certain stage?
Yes, it is intended to review progress at 1 p.m. I wish to enlighten Members as regards this Bill. We sat for two days on Second Stage of this Bill and this is the sixth day on Committee Stage, on which we have spent over 30 hours. Members are not being fair in their remarks. The Minister has been present for all of that time, which is his duty. However, he considers it a pleasure to be here. I was pleased this Bill was initiated in the House. Senators had better get used to sitting long hours on legislation. This is the business of the House and the future of Seanad Éireann. We are sitting three or four days a week and if Senators wish to finish early, they will have to sit at 9 a.m.—
Why not 8 a.m.?
—as is the case in other European parliaments. It is a matter of retraining the mind and breaking old habits – they are in the past.
(Interruptions).
The Leader should talk to his colleagues about that before he talks to us.
What about overtime on Saturday?
On Wednesday evening, I suggested the House could sit for as long as it wanted and I was rejected on several occasions. The debate is not being stifled nor the Bill guillotined. A Bill has never been guillotined under my leadership. Very few previous Leaders can say that.
Swallow that.
(Interruptions).
The Leader of the House without interruption.
Senator O'Toole referred to the European trade union movement. As the Senator knows, I cannot divulge any budget measures. I do not intend to be sacked or replaced for telling the House its contents. The Senator asked about No. 4, the Telecommunications (Infrastructure) Bill. It will not be introduced before Christmas. The House will be given two weeks' prior notice of its introduction. I understand the Government is examining the Bill again.
Senator Henry called for a debate on the Red Cross, for which I will allocate time. It is a timely request but, unfortunately, I will be unable to accommodate the Senator before Christmas because of the legislation coming before the House.
I accept Senator Ridge's point. However, I understand the director of traffic's remit covers the neighbouring counties of Kildare, Meath and Wicklow.
Not at all.
The Dublin Transport Initiative does.
The freeflow system will be in place from 1 December.
The free-for-all system.
Senators should allow themselves an extra hour in the mornings, particularly when it is damp, to get to the House on time.
If the House sits at 9 a.m. it will take us two hours.
Is the Order of Business agreed?
No.
Question put: "That the Order of Business be agreed to."
Tá
|
Cassidy, Donie.Cregan, John.Dardis, John.Finneran, Michael.Fitzgerald, Liam.Fitzgerald, Tom.Glynn, Camillus.Kiely, Rory. |
Lanigan, Mick.Leonard, Ann.Mooney, Paschal.Moylan, Pat.O'Brien, Francis.Ó Murchú, Labhrás.Ormonde, Ann.Walsh, Jim. |
Níl
|
Coogan, Fintan.Costello, Joe.Doyle, Joe.Henry, Mary. |
O'Dowd, Fergus.O'Toole, Joe.Ross, Shane. |
Tellers: Tá, Senators Dardis and T. Fitzgerald; Níl, Senators Costello and O'Toole.
Question declared carried.