The Order of Business is No. 1, Social Welfare Bill, 2000 – Second Stage. The contributions of spokespersons will be 30 minutes while other Senators will have 20 minutes. I will not order a sos at 1 o'clock but I suggest that we review progress at that time and if a sos is required, we can decide at that stage.
Order of Business.
In response to the Deputy Leader, I would be happy to review progress at 1 o'clock. I trust that progress will have been made at that stage, but we will wait and see.
I want to raise a matter with the Deputy Leader and I am sure I will get his consent in this regard. We have had the disturbing news that Ireland has the highest percentage of teenagers who use E. This is a problem that is escalating out of control, not just in urban areas but even in the smallest villages. It is necessary that we congratulate the Garda on their recent successes with drug busts, as they are called, and ensure that the Minister provides extra funding to tackle this problem. The island of saints and scholars now has the highest number of teenagers using this drug, and that matter will have to be addressed. I would welcome a debate on this issue as soon as possible.
I discovered today, to my amazement, that the price of one of our national newspapers has increased by 10p. We wonder why people are opting to buy what are called the pulp newspapers, but most people in my constituency would not be able to afford to buy a daily newspaper, which would require them to spend £7 per week on newsprint. Has any justification been given for this increase when all newspapers are claiming increased sales? I do not know what is happening in this regard. If we could have some information on it, I would be grateful. That newspaper is not value for money at the price.
As the permanent leader of the Independent group—
It becomes the Senator.
—I am agreeable to the Order of Business. I want to raise two issues with the Deputy Leader of the House which it might be useful to debate very soon. The first is that the nation is threatened with a bus strike, and I congratulate the Government for standing up to these people who are seeking a 20% increase when we have just had an agreement on 5.5%. It would be timely if we had a debate in this House and sent a message to people that these sorts of increases are simply not on in the current economy, especially in a company like CIE.
The second matter I would like to raise – this is a serious issue for the economy – was raised today in The Irish Times and on RTÉ's “Morning Ireland”. It concerns what appears to be a small item, which got a larger hearing earlier in the week, that a very good restaurant up the road in Baggot Street is closing. I am not making any special plea but I am making a point. This restaurant is closing because it cannot get staff. That is symptomatic of what is happening in the economy. We now have a job crisis in reverse. Businesses cannot get staff and the economy is beginning to bubble over and explode. One only has to look at a report published earlier this week, which said there are 70,000 unfilled jobs in the economy, to see that the overheating is becoming critical. While we are basking in the glory of economic prosperity, a crisis is looming around the corner. Many other businesses will close down, not because they are not making profits, which is the traditional reason, but because they cannot get workers. I would like the Government to address that serious problem in a debate in the House. Otherwise, the economy will overheat and bubble over and businesses will go bankrupt.
I have been asking for weeks for a debate on litter. I am now broadening that request to ask for a day long debate on litter pollution and also waste management and waste disposal. The EPA report published yesterday is quite frightening in regard to the amount of waste the country is generating. One half of the country will not accept landfill sites while the other half will not accept incineration and the entire country is producing increasing amounts of waste. Very little, if any, reduction or recycling is taking place. We have a real crisis. Senator Ross referred to the labour crisis, but this crisis is even more serious. I ask the Deputy Leader to arrange a day long debate on both these issues, with a view to coming up with some solutions. We are going down a cul-de-sac very quickly in this regard. I predict this will have adverse consequences for our tourism, food and agriculture trade unless it is tackled very quickly.
I join in the call for a full day debate on waste management and litter. The EPA report, which indicated that recycling is reducing rather than increasing, is shocking. I know this involves the issue of newspaper sales, that the market has fallen out of newspaper recycling and that there are economies of scale involved. However, where economies of scale mean it is not possible to recycle for profit, we should be able to step in and ensure there is a market for recycling. I ask for a debate on this.
That debate should be extended to include issues such as incineration and gasification. Every local authority has been asked to examine the possibility of installing not a gasification system because we do not know enough about it, but an incineration system. People around the country are worried about dioxides and the hazards of waste ashes. We should not put these matters to bed but should have an open debate. We should have our own expert knowledge on whether these pose a threat to health.
This morning an interviewer on "Morning Ireland" made a very bland statement to which I take great exception. He said that some politicians steal, too. I take great exception to that scandalous statement. I rang RTÉ to register my protest, which I repeat here. I call on that interviewer to either substantiate his statement or withdraw it and apologise. It is scandalous for any interviewer to make such a bland statement condemning politicians, who are respectable people doing a good job. It is scandalous for the airwaves to be used in such a manner.
I want to raise another issue in this morning's news, which is the rationalisation within Bord na Móna in the midlands, with the proposed closure of several of the peat burning stations there. That would have serious social and economic consequences for that area. I ask the Minister with responsibility for energy to come to the House to discuss this matter, which is very serious for midland counties such as Longford, Roscommon and Offaly. According to the recent Central Statistics Office publication on household and individual income, those counties have the lowest per capita income in the country.
Naturally, Bord na Móna will say there will be deployment and so on. However, it is not quite that simple. It appears the whole Bord na Móna operation in the midlands will be centralised to two power stations, possibly in County Offaly. That would mean the end of places such as Lanesboro and Bellacorick in County Mayo. That has very serious implications for the distribution of employment and the social and economic problems to which that would give rise. Experience has shown that replacements are not found when State supported industries of that kind disappear.
I request the Deputy Leader to ask the Minister to come to the House to discuss this matter. Bord na Móna is still a semi-State body and we have responsibility for it. We should have an input into proposed major changes in its policy and operations.
I am delighted there is continuing support for a debate on waste management, which I have been raising for a number of weeks in the House. I hope the Leader will take on board that this is an ongoing problem and that we have been requesting a debate for weeks. As Senator Quill said, we must be proactive and identify solutions. For example, the Government should introduce a policy of using recycled paper for all departmental and political business. That would go a long way towards increasing the market for recycled paper.
I also support the call by Senator Ross for a debate on the labour crisis. We must look at how we can, with the national training agency, work on a strategy to bring the long-term unemployed into the labour market by giving them the skills they need and, in the interim, identifying short-term solutions to help alleviate the labour shortage over the next six to 18 months.
I endorse the points made by Senator Quill and others on the need for a discussion on waste management and recycling. The problem, which Senator Ross touched on, is the lack of workers. Will we have the staff to implement any policy we introduce? That fear has been expressed in my council and many other local authorities. That is a very serious problem, irrespective of what policy or management philosophy we introduce. The all day debate should include the issue of staffing. Staff, such as wardens, will be required to implement the programme and impose penalties. That is the big problem. This issue is much broader than just the introduction of a policy.
Will the Deputy Leader arrange a debate with the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment on community employment schemes? I understand that the huge changes taking place are causing great problems for community groups. In order to set up a community employment scheme in one's area, one must have a limited company and audited accounts. Huge impediments are being placed in the way of community groups. There have been major difficulties in my county of Galway recently where groups in communities and parishes have been trying to set up community employment schemes. These schemes have been very successful in the past but they now require a company, extra insurance, audited accounts and so on. These groups do not have the resources or finance to do that. This major issue should be cleared up. I would like the Minister to outline to the House the current changes in the community employment scheme.
I support the call for a debate on litter. I supported it when it was raised last week. It is important for local authorities to employ litter wardens because recycling is a very worthy option. While it might not be an economic option, can we afford not to have it? It is important that local authorities employ litter wardens and hit people where it hurts – in the pocket.
I echo the words of my colleague, Senator Willie Farrell, asking for a press council. Appropriate legislation should be brought in to set up this press council. It is important that when any organ of the media, especially the printed media, gives an incorrect report about any individual that the response and the correct version should have the same pride of place and the same amount of space as the incorrect one.
A Senator
Hear, hear.
Very often, it is quite the reverse. One would need a pair of binoculars and a microscope to find it. It is time there was a press council, as has been called for in this House for many years.
I lend my support to the point made by Senator Glynn and Senator Farrell. Such unbalanced comments do nothing to serve the democratic process. Politicians should certainly be open to criticism but there is an onus on those who have the privilege of reporting and informing the public to do so in a balanced and responsible way. That is not happening in certain sectors of the media.
I join in the call for a debate on waste management. We asked for this debate two weeks ago. A central part of it should deal with incineration. The use of incineration runs contrary to many of the comments made by Members concerning recycling and minimisation. It was proposed that the south-east should have incineration. The full volume of waste generated in the south-east would only just support an incinerator in terms of viability. Therefore, it would be contrary to a policy of minimisation and recycling.
I raise with the Leader an issue involving certain undesirable practices by elements within the legal profession. I am not referring to the exorbi tant fees charged by barristers at tribunals and elsewhere, but the practice which was recently commented upon by the Irish Public Bodies Mutual Insurances Limited. It has come across solicitors' practices who have been circulating in council housing estates, inducing people to make claims against the local authority. I ask for a debate on this. I understand a Bill has to be enacted to prevent this type of advertising. If one looks up the Yellow Pages one will see similar advertisements in the same vein which do nothing to serve responsible citizenship and responsible, legal professional bodies.
I lend my support to the proposal for a discussion on waste management. It is worthy from a national and educational point of view to discuss the aspects of this topic because there is huge resistance to change. There are strategic plans drawn up countrywide and there is a huge volume of opposition to any positive way of dealing with the problem. It would be worthwhile and welcome to have a debate here with the Minister concerned.
I also support my colleague, Senator Ross, on his call for a discussion on the use of human resources within the State and meeting the needs and challenges of the developing economy. I ask that we invite the Tánaiste. I understand that FÁS has set out a new development plan and proposes to take on extra people and train them for industry. We should examine the existing human resources within the State in trying to strengthen the economy and not create difficulties in the near future.
There will be nobody in for the debate.
I refer to another piece of rubbish not concerning waste management but computer games. The House will be aware that I raised this issue on numerous occasions in the past and I am pleased to note reports in this morning's media that the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children with special responsibility for children, Deputy Hanafin, has brought this important issue into the mainstream. At this point all I ask the Leader is to consider having a debate in the context of the damage that such games do to children. Perhaps it might be instructive to have the Minister of State to the House to respond to the debate.
I emphasise that 97% of computer games are inoffensive and entertaining and I have no wish to restrict their sale in any way but there is a hardcore 3% of games. The industry regulates itself and there is no other means of ensuring that parents are aware whether a game their child is getting over the counter promotes destructive values. I will not dwell on the point and I am grateful to the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to speak on it. I re-emphasise the danger this presents to young minds. It is free and unrestric ted and parents generally have little knowledge of the content of these games. I have been one of those parents which is how I know about it. I ask again if in the context of the Minister of State's comments and the wider issues it might be instructive to have a debate on it in the House.
The Cathaoirleach and I look forward to the participation in debates of all the Senators who asked for them when they come before the House.
(Interruptions).
We will all be here for the debate on litter.
The Senator should speak for herself.
The Deputy Leader to speak without interruptions, please.
Again he was inviting interruptions.
I am sure I will be able to give all the reassurances required to the Members who have sought debates.
A one-day debate.
Just like the Leader—
Senator Ridge raised the important issue of drug abuse among young people and particularly the figure concerning the use of ecstasy. I join in her congratulations to the Garda who have made some very significant seizures. I condemn what took place in Cork the other day where there was violence on the street and where people were injured as a result of drug trafficking. The chief superintendent of the area in which I live has confirmed that this issue affects small towns and villages countrywide, not just the major cities. It is an important issue and we should try to have a debate on it as soon as possible.
Regarding requests for debates, the Social Welfare Bill is before us today and the Minimum Wage Bill will be before us next week if it passes through the Dáil. There is a constitutional imperative to have those two items of legislation concluded before 1 April and they take precedence over everything else. However, there are pressing issues which should be debated at an early stage.
Unfortunately, I have no control over the cost of newspapers but I wonder why, in such a buoyant economy where advertising revenue is so high, it is required to raise the cover price of newspapers in addition to the obviously significant amounts of money flowing into them through advertising revenue. The other matter arising from this is whether the Internet will take over as the source of information rather than the daily newspaper but that is something which we could also consider during a debate.
The matter of the bus strike was raised by Senator Ross. I congratulate him on his second successive day as leader of the Independent group.
And to the Deputy Leader – it is nice to see him.
And unanimously supported as well.
I also congratulate Senator Ross on staying on to hear the answer.
(Interruptions).
On a point of order, is the Deputy Leader of the House out of order on that remark? Perhaps the Cathaoirleach would give a ruling on that.
It is quite in order to refer to the presence of a Senator in the House. It is not in order to refer to the absence of a Senator from the House.
That is clear. I thank the Cathaoirleach.
The Deputy Leader to continue his reply.
Naturally if the Cathaoirleach ruled this matter out of order I would immediately apologise to the Senator. The bus strike is an important issue and if it goes ahead it will have a serious effect. I heard this morning that there was a potential loss of £14 million to the traders in Dublin as a result of a two-day bus strike which is of serious concern. The Government believes that any solution will have to be based on genuine productivity and restructuring measures and that additional Exchequer subvention will not be made available to finance any cost increasing pay claim.
In the context of the Partnership for Prosperity and Fairness I congratulate Senator O'Toole on having the INTO vote carried. We have to abide by the procedures which are well tried and established. It is important to maintain the consensus on social partnership that has helped to create the prosperity we now enjoy. In that way we will continue to enjoy the fruits that stem from it.
As regards the restaurant, it seems that listening to "Morning Ireland" pays off because pretty well everything that comes up on the Order of Business has featured on that radio programme. I heard the proprietor of the restaurant explaining why it was necessary to close down. The Tánaiste has made the point that we will require 100,000 people to fulfil the labour shortage.
The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform hardly agrees.
I had no understanding that the 100,000 people who were going to come in would be illegal in any respect.
He might try to make it so.
I thought they were going to be legal but the Senator may have information to the contrary.
The Senator's wires are mixed up.
In terms of delivering on the national development plan, there is obvious concern that the main constraint on our economic development is a labour shortage. However, the Minimum Wage Bill will hopefully be before the House next week and these issues can be discussed appropriately on Second Stage.
Senators Quill, Coogan, Cox, Ormonde, Walsh and Chambers mentioned litter and the wider aspect of waste disposal, including incineration. I have said previously that we should discuss these issues. It should be a one day debate taking into account the wide-ranging aspects that have been raised today. I will endeavour to ensure this matter is discussed in the House at the earliest opportunity.
Senator Farrell made a point about "Morning Ireland" and I also found the remarks referred to distasteful. However, the level to which we can control what is said on "Morning Ireland" is questionable, although Senator Glynn is correct in saying that we can discuss a press council, which we have done in the past. There has to be a balance in the capacity of the press to gather facts and disseminate information. The press has done a valuable job in that regard. It is a question of balance and ensuring the right of individuals to protect their good names.
Senator Connor raised the issue of Bord na Móna and the potential loss of jobs due to the closure of power stations in the midlands. I share his concerns about that. The bogs have been an important source of employment in the midlands and have sustained the local economy there for a very long time. On 17 February a tripartite agreement was entered into between the Department of Public Enterprise, ESB management and the ESB group of unions on these matters. As I understand it, the outcome was that there would be an orderly closure of these plants and that two new peat-powered generating stations would be constructed in the midlands. Obviously, a large number of jobs would flow from their construc tion. As far as I am aware the bogs do not move so the jobs would go to the bogs in question.
As I understand it, the refurbishment of the stations has been overtaken by the discussions which took place and which were circulated to Deputies, although I do not think they were circulated to Senators. I do not think that it right because if they are circulated to Deputies they should also be circulated to Senators. As far as I know, that decision was circulated to Deputies at the end of February. Perhaps we will be able to look at all these issues when the Shannon River Council Bill comes before the House.
I saw the statement made by the Minister in the Lower House and that is why I asked the Deputy Leader to arrange to have such a statement made here.
I shall certainly do that.
It is a rather serious matter and it should be discussed here.
I shall certainly endeavour to do that for the Senator and I do not diminish the gravity of the matter he has raised.
Senator McDonagh mentioned the community employment scheme which, in a sense, is related to the Minimum Wage Bill. The Tánaiste will be in the House to take that Bill. Matters have changed radically with regard to the employment opportunities that are now available. In that context, I do not find it surprising that the community employment scheme might change. One very irritated person told me recently that they had trained someone very diligently under the community employment scheme, after which they got a job. I thought, however, that was what the scheme was for – to find jobs for people – but this particular person did not see it in that context. The Senator can raise these issues when the House debates the Second Stage of the Minimum Wage Bill.
Senator Walsh spoke about the legal profession and the Irish Public Bodies Mutual Assurance Bill. I am not sure when that Bill is due before the House but there are proposals to deal with members of the legal profession trawling for business. It would be totally improper to go around local authority or private housing estates touting for business in this way. It raises the question of the compensation culture.
Senator Mooney mentioned the damage that video games do to children and that issue would merit consideration. However, we have two Bills which must go through the House before 1 April and they will take priority.
Order of Business agreed to.