The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on immigration, with contributions not to exceed 15 minutes, and No. 2, statements on adult literacy, which will be taken at 5 p.m. with contributions of Senators not to exceed 15 minutes.
Order of Business.
The Order of Business is agreeable. All Senators will note with great satisfaction and relief the march of events in Northern Ireland. Over 600 days since the Good Friday Agreement was signed, this week almost every part of the Agreement will be in place. I know the Leader will make time available for formal statements on Northern Ireland during the week. For the first time in the history of Northern Ireland, all the different groups are now working within a parliamentary structure and all have guarantees within that structure. There are now parliamentary and political means of resolving the disputes in Northern Ireland. This marks the beginning of a new phase in politics there and is the first real sign of political maturity we have seen. It has taken 3,000 deaths to get us to this stage. There have always been setbacks when we least expected them but we have now passed the point of no return and are at the beginning of a new dawn for politics and the people of Northern Ireland. I commend Senator Mitchell and all those involved in the events of the past week.
The Order of Business is agreeable to us too. Like Senator Manning, I express our pleasure at the marvellous changes yesterday in the elections to office in Northern Ireland. This House has had useful debates on Northern Ireland and I hope we can have another with a particular focus on the North-South bodies in existence in which there has been co-operation for many years. For example, we have discussed health issues previously. The Institute of Public Health was established last week in the presence of both Ministers for Health in the College of Physicians. This was a source of great pleasure. I second Senator Manning's desire that we have a debate on this matter in the near future.
I too express our deep appreciation of the events of recent days. For the first time there is a mechanism for power sharing in Northern Ireland. This is an historic development. Those who have been totally opposed to a united Ireland and those who have been in favour of unity are now sitting down together and sharing power in government. This has significant implications for us in terms of the cross-Border institutions and the British-Irish Council to be established, not to mention Articles 2 and 3 with which we will deal shortly. There is a need therefore, as Senator Henry said, for a substantial debate on the issue. I congratulate all the major players, in particular John Hume who had the vision to initiate the process which has led to a successful conclusion, the President of the United States, the Prime Minister of Great Britain, the Taoiseach and all those who participated along the way. It is a wonderful week and we look forward to a wonderful future.
I join Senator Manning and others in requesting the Leader of the House to make time available to discuss the happy developments in Northern Ireland. Perhaps it would be best to let all the events take place and then reflect on them. It is appropriate to congratulate all those nominated as Ministers in the new Executive and wish them well in their onerous responsibilities. Four or five years ago even the most optimistic Member could hardly have contemplated a situation where Nationalists and Unionists, republicans and loyalists would sit down together in one Executive. Perhaps even the late Gordon Wilson is applauding. I congratulate Mr. Trimble on his marvellous victory last Saturday and recognise the courage he has shown. I also thank the Taoiseach, the British Prime Minister and George Mitchell without whom we would not be as far down the road as we are. It is a happy week and I hope the coming weeks will be even better.
I add my voice to those who have offered congratulations. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform promised in August that the censorship laws would be reviewed as a matter of urgency. Will the Leader of the House ask him to include a report on interactive computer games currently on sale? Virtual death is achieved with blood spattering on the screens and the player feeling the thud of the bullet. Everybody says that technology is great, but are we to sit back and allow a generation of isolated young people, whose only companion is the computer, to develop an unhealthy attitude to violence? That is a real threat. As adults we should ensure that enormous problems are not created for the good mental health of our children.
I agree with Senator Manning and other speakers who congratulated those involved in the Northern Ireland peace process. It is a great credit to the three leaders involved, our Government and the UK Government. I congratulate the Cabinet on the pragmatic step it took in bringing into effect the result of the referendum and, as it were, jumping with everybody else. It is being even more pragmatic by making it impossible to jump back. As a gesture of good will, I ask the Leader of the House to put on the agenda of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges the possibility of inviting David Trimble to address this House.
I join with the comments in regard to this historic week. I support the call for a debate but perhaps the Leader would consider delaying such a debate for about a week. I listened to John Taylor on television this morning and I realised that this is a delicate time, a time for caution in terms of the words we use. I remember when Seán Lemass went to see Terence O'Neill in the mid-1960s and I also remember Sunningdale. We should be careful that the words we use do not inflame the situation. It is important to have a debate but it should be delayed for a few days, at least until the seats have been taken and the Executive begins to work.
I ask the Leader to draw to the attention of the Minister for the Environment and Local Government a serious problem which I raised six months ago. There are now 370,000 provisional licences in existence and 94,000 people are waiting for driving tests, although I understand something has been done about the long delays in the registration office since I last spoke about this problem. This is a management problem which somebody must address. We have nobody to blame but ourselves when road deaths occur involving people who have not yet passed their driving test. I urge the Leader to impress on the Minister the need for action in this area, not just good will.
I join in the comments of other speakers on the historic events which took place in Northern Ireland yesterday. Not only has a foundation been laid for a cohesive relationship between both communities on which we can build but there is also a strong all-Ireland dimension to this development. This is a day which many people hoped for but few expected to see happen so soon. There remains a need for courage and goodwill and we should acknowledge the work done by the Taoiseach and his predecessors while also acknowledging David Trimble, Gerry Adams, John Hume and all the others who participated in this historic event.
I want to join in the comments on the great progress that has been made in the North, as someone who comes from a Border county, Louth, which has suffered greatly over the past 30 years as a result of all the trouble. This is a golden opportunity for the counties on both sides of the Border to benefit economically and socially and to co-operate in matters of health, education and regional development. I hope that areas on both sides of the Border will be transformed by this new start.
The Government will sign the instrument regarding Partnership for Peace tomorrow. I think this is rather a pity and hope I do not have to say, "I told you so" in a year's time.
Can we have a debate on Luas? There is a motion on the Order Paper regarding it and the Leader indicated on a previous occasion that he might ask the Minister, Deputy O'Rourke, to come to the House. It is important that the east-west access is examined. Today's newspapers suggest that the Peacock Theatre will have to be demolished if it does not go underground. The House succeeded in getting the north-south access put underground because of the flexibility and intelligence of the Minister. We might manage to get a proper job done if we have a full debate in the House.
Senators Manning, Henry, Costello, Dardis, Ridge, Haughey, Quinn, Ó Murchú and O'Dowd expressed satisfaction and delight at developments in Northern Ireland and wished the endeavours well. They also acknowledged the role of the party leaders, Senator George Mitchell, the President of the USA, Bill Clinton, the Taoiseach, Tony Blair, John Hume, Gerry Adams and all previous Taoisigh and Ministers who helped make this happen. After 30 years and 3,000 deaths we have been looking forward to this week and I am only too pleased to say the House will debate and discuss developments. In this regard I will have a meeting with the leaders after the Order of Business. Senator Quinn made a point about timing. The House has always shown the greatest delicacy, understanding and sensitivity towards the situation in the North of Ireland and nobody in the North of Ireland need have any doubt about the goodwill which exists. The prosperity and building up of that part of Ireland, which we have looked forward to for many years, is now about to happen.
I congratulate David Trimble and Seamus Mallon, who was re-appointed to his position, and all the new Ministers – Reg Empey, Mark Durkan, Peter Robinson, Martin McGuinness, Séan Farren, Sam Foster, Nigel Dodds, Michael McGimpsey, Bairbre de Brún and Bríd Rodgers. Seamus Mallon and Bríd Rodgers are former Senators and I wholeheartedly congratulate them on their appointments.
Hear, hear.
I look forward to Senators making contributions in a debate which will be organised in consultation with the leaders.
Senator Haughey suggested a matter to be brought before the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. The Committee on Procedure and Privileges can discuss it and I know that, as with all previous decisions to invite people to address the House, the matter will be dealt with in the capable hands of the Cathaoirleach.
Senator Ridge called on the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to review the censorship laws. I understand Senator Mooney raised this issue on many occasions in the House. I will pass on the Senator's views to the Minister. The Senator can also contact the Censorship of Publications Board regarding the specific video as a matter of—
It is a computer game, not a video. It has nothing to do with the Censorship of Publications Board.
It has.
The Senator might ask the board to review the computer game.
Senator Quinn called for a debate with the Minister for the Environment and Local Government on the waiting list of 94,000 applicants for the driving test. I will pass on the Senator's views. A debate cannot take place before Christmas because of the pressure of legislation, but I will certainly afford time for it after the Christmas recess.
Senator Norris again called for a debate on Luas and I will also allow time for that.
Order of Business agreed to.