Today's Order of Business is No. 3, No. 2 and No. 22, motion No. 23. No. 3, the Aviation Regulation Bill, 2000 – Report and Final Stages, will be taken today; No. 2, Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill, 2000 – Committee and Remaining Stages, will be taken today; No. 22, motion No. 23, will be taken from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and business will resume thereafter if not previously concluded.
Order of Business.
The Order of Business is agreeable to us. I raise with the Leader an issue of urgent public importance, that of yet another attack on two elderly people living in a remote area and the obvious inadequacy of policing in such areas. We are all aware that the level of policing throughout the countryside is inadequate due to changes in Garda deployment patterns in recent years.
A few months ago there was the horrendous case involving a person, whom some of us knew, in Ballygar in County Galway and in recent days there was another attack on two elderly brothers in County Meath. Will the Leader agree to a debate on rural policing, including the deployment of Garda resources in rural areas, and the security of elderly people living alone in remote areas who are vulnerable? I would like the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to come into this House to explain what action he and the Garda Commissioner are taking to address this problem. The horrendous outrages that have occurred in recent years do not appear to have elicited a response in terms of Garda activity or the deployment of gardaí in a manner that would assist in increasing the security of elderly people living alone.
The Order of Business is also agreeable to us. We share the concerns expressed by Senator Connor. Perhaps the Leader will contact the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and arrange a debate on that matter.
I bring to the attention of the Leader the concern expressed in the print media in particular about a doctor who was struck off the British Medical Register who can come here and practise as a pharmacist.
Changes to the medical practitioners Act, the pharmacy Act and, indeed, new Acts have been promised for some time. Will the Leader ask the Minister for Health and Children how far work on these Acts has progressed, given that they have been under consideration for at least a decade?
I join with the remarks of Senator Connor in respect of attacks on the elderly. I also request that the Minister be invited to the House at the earliest possible date. The recent brutal attack which led to the death of an elderly man is only one of many which have taken place. The victim support group has given a figure of 1,400 attacks on the elderly in 1999. The number of murders has increased from ten in 1997 to 21 last year, an increase of over 100%. The increase in violent crime is at its—
We cannot pre-empt the debate which has been sought.
I am merely explaining why I want the Leader to invite the Minister to this House. The increase in violent crime is at its highest level in the history of the State. There is a crisis and the Minister has not said a word about it. He has spoken about other types of crime but has not said a word about violent crime in rural or urban areas. We should have an urgent debate on that matter.
The second point I wish to raise concerns an item discussed last week which is still on the Order Paper, the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill, 2000. A strike is taking place in the Taoiseach's constituency where a multinational firm, Aldi, has refused trade union recognition and has sacked five workers because they joined or stated their intention of joining a union. If this legislation were expedited this multinational company, which is German based and gives trade union rights to its employees in Germany, would have to negotiate. The earliest this matter can be expedited the better. Will the Leader indicate when the Committee and Remaining Stages will be taken and if it will get through the Houses before the summer recess?
I lend my support to colleagues on the other side regarding the horrific attack over the weekend on the elderly. Coupled with that is the attempt to close down rural post offices and banks. It is time to have a rethink in that area. I heard the Minister say this morning that the elderly are storing their money at home rather than depositing it in the local village or whatever.
I am concerned about the outflow of white collar workers from the Civil Service into business orientated types of work. If I put on my other hat as a career guidance person, we need people who have a natural aptitude for the Civil Service. I am concerned that those leaving school will be lured by the financial rewards rather than opting to exercise their ability and aptitude for the type of administration which the Civil Service offers. Given that the leaving certificate examination has commenced, this is an appropriate time to debate this matter.
I wish to congratulate the two Senators who were elected.
The leaders of the groups did that on behalf of the parties.
I wish to raise an issue which I think the House should debate. We should look at the system of electing people in by-elections to this House. It is quite extraordinary that this has become a self-perpetuating body. I am not sure the general public realise that, in the case of by-elections, Members are elected simply by Senators and Deputies casting their votes and electing people who are acceptable to us. Neither the general public nor the nominating bodies have any say. While this is no reflection on the candidates, it means that, in effect, the results are predestined. It means that the Government always gets its people elected. We know who will be elected and there is no contest.
By-elections to the Seanad are governed by legislation. If a vacancy occurs on the nominating body sub-panel the nominating bodies have a say in who the candidates are.
I am not talking about nominating. I am saying that the election is predestined because of the people who have votes. I know about the nominating bodies.
We ought to examine this particular system. It requires legislation of course and legislation is what this House is concerned with. There was no chance that any other candidates were going to win these elections because they were predestined. There was no chance that any Independent—
We cannot have a debate on this matter now.
There was no chance of an Independent or a Fine Gael candidate being elected. We ought to have a serious by-election where we consult far more widely—
Than the NUI and TCD?
—rather than elect people who, once they are nominated by their parties, are predestined to be elected to this House.
On the Order of Business—
That is fine because I have now finished.
By-elections to the Seanad are governed by legislation.
Legislation is something with which this House concerns itself from time to time. I have now finished and I know that you, a Chathaoirligh, will not allow any further debate on the matter.
I welcome the recent statement by the British Prime Minister apologising to the Guildford Four. It is welcome certainly, albeit late. It is a small recognition of the great injustice done to those four people. It is true to say that it is never too late to do the right thing.
I support strongly the call for a debate on rural policing. I happened to know Paddy Logan who worked in my local parish many years ago when I was a young lad. He was an absolute gentleman.
In recent weeks my attention has been drawn to the practice of stealing small pedigree dogs and reselling them at car boot sales. The only way to discontinue this practice is for nobody to buy dogs in such locations. One could well be buying back one's own pet. Perhaps we can raise the matter when the Minister attends the House.
I join with Senator Connor in seeking an early debate on the recent spate of crimes in rural areas. Last week I attended a Women's Aid conference and learned that 54 women have died as a result of domestic violence since 1996. It is a shocking statistic and the Minister should attend the House so that we can work collectively on ways of reducing levels of crime.
I draw the attention of the Leader to the figures published today by the Central Statistics Office, which show that over the last 12 months practically 100,000 new jobs were created. I congratulate the Government and everyone involved in that regard. May I also remind the Government, however, that there are 40,000 long- term unemployed people who have not been touched by the success story of the Celtic tiger economy? The massive cost of supporting unemployment in the past has been reduced. Can we, however, find a way to divert the even larger amounts required to help those who have been excluded from our economic success and who have not been able to succeed? Instead of congratulating ourselves and boasting about the employment figures we should do something about the long-term unemployed who have been left behind.
I ask the Leader, for the third time, if he will ascertain for me and for adult education providers if and when the White Paper on adult education will be published. Will it be available before the summer recess? Programmes are now being formulated by adult education providers. There is a vacuum and people would like to know where they stand. It would be appreciated if the Leader found out from the relevant Minister if the White Paper on adult education will be published before the summer recess.
I would also welcome a debate on security for the elderly but I would like to widen it to include the closure of post offices and banks in rural areas. I pay tribute to the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, for the funding he has allocated to security and alarm systems for the elderly. This is a marvellous achievement which is being operated through local communities. However, I urge that when cases come to court judges deal with them and apply the full rigours of the law. It is time that the do-gooder system of psychiatric tests is abolished and that these people are made pay for the crimes they commit. It is scandalous that they are getting away with them and are out in a week or a fortnight.
Those points can be made in the debate which has been sought.
They should be imprisoned and made to pay for their crimes. The laws are there but the judges and our do-gooder society seem to be going soft. It is time the kid gloves came off.
Senator Quinn spoke about people whom the Celtic tiger economy has left behind. I wish to speak about those who have never seen it and to whom it remains an exotic and unknown species, the homeless. When I raised this matter last week, I did not realise it was the tip of the iceberg. The Leader has promised a debate but I ask him to expedite it because the problem is escalating. The closure of two hostels is nothing compared to what I have discovered since. This is a huge problem. As I said before, we are becoming like Calcutta without the heat. It is time the matter was addressed in a serious manner.
In view of the increasing incidence of suicide, particularly among young males, will the Minister for Health and Children come to the House to speak about the services being developed, particularly the assistance being given to voluntary bodies who are counselling in this field?
We have had two Bacon reports which, sadly, were not a panacea and the housing crisis worsens by the day. We have now been promised a third Bacon report. Will the Leader inform us when this report will be available, its contents, or at least its highlights and if, when announced, it will be adopted as Government policy? It is unfair that Members should have to rely on leaks which may or may not be accurate.
Will the Leader convey to the Minister for Health and Children the need for an urgent review of rehabilitation services nationally? Young victims of traffic accidents in my area and throughout the country are unable to get beds in the rehabilitation centre in Dún Laoghaire because it does not have the staff or facilities to provide the services needed. This is a national disgrace which needs to be tackled immediately.
I would like a debate on the startling heart disease statistics, particularly given the launch this month of a healthy eating campaign. It is unacceptable that we have the highest rate of cardiac arrest and heart failure in the EU. This is a serious issue which the House should debate with a view to preventing this increasing problem.
I welcome today's statement by the Garda Síochána that citizens legally holding firearms in their homes should store them in steel safes. If this measure requires legislation, will the Leader ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to provide that legislation?
Senators Connor, Henry, Costello, Ormonde, Glynn and Jackman called for a debate on the vicious attack that took place on two elderly men in Castlejordan over the weekend. As Senator Glynn said, they are neighbours of ours and it is regrettable this happened. The beating up of people in their senior years is despicable. I will allow time for a debate on rural policing. That would be very worthwhile and all Members could contribute to it.
What about urban policing?
I have very strong views on the changing society that is emerging with the Celtic tiger. It is mind-boggling at times to try to understand why these things are happening.
I join the call by Senators for banks and post offices to be kept available to people in rural areas. The Government should look at that and we will debate it in the House in the presence of the Minister. I will pass Senator Henry's strong views on the doctor who was struck off the medical register to the Minister for Health and Children.
Senator Costello inquired when the Industrial Relations Bill, 2000, will return to the House. I am pleased to inform the House this will occur next Tuesday, 13 June.
Senator Ormonde called for a debate on white collar workers leaving the Civil Service for the private sector. I will try to facilitate that debate. Last Thursday we had a debate on the economy. We might have a debate on that issue before the end of the session if possible.
Senator Ross wants us to look at the selection of candidates in Seanad by-elections and general elections. I know this issue is being examined at present, including the Independent benches. I will return to the House when I have further progress to report.
Senators Quinn and Ridge welcomed the news of the 100,000 new jobs, which is due to the success of the Government's policies over the past 12 months. I understand that the biggest fall is in long-term unemployment. We can debate that in the House and I would value the contributions of the very many Senators who are creating employment. That would be a very worthwhile debate, due to the success of the economy, and I will allow time for it.
I will pass Senator McDonagh's views to the Minister and make inquiries regarding the White Paper on education. In reply to Senator Ridge, I have given an undertaking that we will have a debate on homelessness. I am discussing it with her party leader and it will definitely take place in this session.
I will pass Senator Hayes's views to the Minister and see how we can meet his request. Senator Coghlan wants a debate on the third Bacon report. It has not been published yet—
No, I want information.
As the Senator knows, the Government's policy for the next ten years is to have 50,000 houses built per year. That is one for every eight members of the population. That is a wonderful achievement by the Government.
(Interruptions.)
A 25% increase is needed.
The Leader must be allowed reply without interruption.
We will allow time for a debate when the third Bacon report is published. I look forward, as usual, to a lengthy contribution from Senator Coghlan.
Senator O'Dowd asked for a debate on rehabilitation services. I will allow time for that. Senator O'Donovan called for a debate on heart disease, for which I will also allow time.
Senator Joe Doyle welcomed the announcement this morning by the Garda Síochána. I too welcome that announcement. If the Senator wants a debate I will allow time for that.
Order of Business agreed to.