The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on the Government's policies on employment, taxation and social inclusion, with contributions of spokespersons not to exceed 20 minutes and of all other Senators not to exceed 15 minutes, to conclude not later than 4 p.m. Business is to be interrupted from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Order of Business.
Is there a need to impose time limits today? This is a major state of the nation debate and while most will not go on, we are confining Senators to 15 minutes when they might have very important things to say. I wonder, as an operational matter, if time limits are needed.
Will the Leader be able to give us some indication today of the programme of legislation for this session? Will he also undertake to revive a practice which pertained when I was Leader, and when Deputy Wright was Leader, that as far as possible Opposition parties are given a three or a four week rolling timetable in advance, so that they know what legislation is likely to come up over the next three or four week and that Senators can plan and so forth? I know no Government can stick rigidly to this proposal but perhaps we could have even a rough outline of the proposed timetable.
I would like to raise the question of Northern Ireland. A great deal has happened since we last discussed Northern Ireland, some of which has not been particularly positive. The important thing is that the structures are still there, that the Assembly is still meeting, that intergovernmental structures are working and that most of the institutions are working as intended. Nonetheless, some very serious and disturbing issues are coming up. I think it would be very helpful if we could hear Government thinking on these matters and have an opportunity to put forward our views. I ask the Leader, as a matter of some urgency, to organise a debate on Northern Ireland.
I return to an item on the Order Paper, a non-governmental motion, the Shannon River Council Bill. The Leader probably remembers the great concern expressed on all sides of the House on this and the rejection of the previous Fianna Fáil Bill by Fianna Fáil. We were told that a great deal would happen towards the establishment of a Shannon River authority. Perhaps the Leader would ask the Minister to come in to report on what progress has been made on that matter since we last discussed it.
We did not get a chance to discuss Yugoslavia yesterday but I think there must be great concern on all sides that the democratic will of the people of that country may well be flouted by the refusal of army and other authorities to support the new regime. While I know our Government will, I hope the Governments of Europe and of other democratic countries will do everything in their power to try to sustain the new regime in Yugoslavia.
On a somewhat lighter note, I ask the Leader to perhaps arrange an interpretative session for us to explain some of the sculpture in the new building. I will not refer to the two larger pieces of sculpture at the front, which have already been named, but to the statute which guards the link entrance from the new building to Leinster House. As I understand it, it is a large angel with two great wings and a trumpet. I presume it is the archangel Gabriel. My understand is that Gabriel guards some other place and I am not so sure what he is doing down here. Perhaps the Office of Public Works will explain to us exactly what the archangel Gabriel is doing at the link entrance.
I know the Archbishop of Dublin has done a very famous thesis on angels and perhaps we could circulate that in order to develop our understanding.
I support the points made by Senator Manning on today's business. Whether or not the debate should be open-ended, the 20 minutes should be extended at least to half an hour. Senators should get the opportunity to take whatever time they need. The time limit should be extended or removed. I think perhaps half an hour per speaker might be an appropriate way to approach this.
On the Shannon River Council Bill, it saddens me that we are back again a year later looking at the same issues of which the Government is afraid. I do not know what the difficulty is that the Government will not deal with this issue. It has referred it to a committee and we do not know what is happening at the committee or to where this issue is going. It seems the Leader, with a particular interest I would have thought in at least one county along the banks of the Shannon, would have shown a little more consideration of the needs of the community and that river and would have reintroduced the Bill. Since he made it clear to us when the original Bill was being discussed that the Government was not happy with aspects of it, it should bring forward a modified or a new Bill or a proper and positive response. It is absolutely appalling.
I heard on the radio this morning that the flooding has already started in the west. We will have the same problems on the Shannon this year and we will blame everybody and ask why they did not drain the Shannon. I do not understand this. It must be that when Fianna Fáil is in Government it simply wants to keep the Shannon as an issue for aggravation at all times.
I welcome the joint statement by the party leaders in the other House yesterday on the matter that took up most of our time here yesterday, that is, the snubbing by a Member of the Oireachtas of a tribunal.
I gave some latitude to Members yesterday. However, this matter does not really concern this House as the Member in question is not a Member of this House. The matter is with the courts and the tribunal and I would prefer if the Senator did not pursue it any further.
I do not intend to pursue it, but it concerns us to the extent that we sought a debate on it yesterday. My point, however, is that in light of the very full statement by the leaders in the other House that the person in question, or any other Member of the Oireachtas, is morally obliged to attend a tribunal set up unanimously by both Houses of the Oireachtas and to obey the law in that respect, a debate is not required in those circumstances.
I agree with what Senator Manning said about the need for a legislative package which would give us some warning of what will arise in this session. While the entire legislative package cannot be determined at this stage, we should be presented with the Government's proposals for legislation before Christmas. That would be very helpful to all Members in terms of their preparations.
Will the Leader of the House arrange a debate on the medical and health services? According to the Mater Hospital's annual report, 2,000 operations had to be cancelled – not postponed – in that hospital this year. The only consultant neurologist in the Mater Hospital has had to refuse patients. He has a two year waiting list and the beds he was using were taken up by accident and emergency cases. Clearly, a totally inadequate service is being provided there, but I am calling for a debate on the wider medical services in the country.
I agree with Senator Manning in regard to Northern Ireland. We should have a debate with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Cowen, present. A very delicate situation has arisen there and major matters are being debated. The question of policing is in the crucible at this point. We also need a debate in regard to cross-Border institutions and the various co-operation measures that can take place on both sides of the Border.
Will the Leader give some indication of what is going to happen to this Chamber? Seven windows are blocked off and yesterday the Chamber was totally airless, which is unhealthy for staff and Members. I would like a clear indication of when those circumstances will improve.
Will the Leader arrange a debate at an early date on the challenges facing many of our community amenities, particularly in the areas of heritage and sport? As most Members know, many centres throughout the country rely very much on a FÁS input, but given the current high rates of employment it is difficult to get such personnel. Many of these centres, which are very important to local communities and to tourism, will suffer. For example, the Bolton Library in the Church of Ireland in Cashel has one of the greatest collections of books in this country and is a national treasure.
It is very important for us to have an opportunity to help such centres. If we could have a debate with the appropriate Minister, we might be able to impress on him or her the need for a radical approach in this regard.
Item 16, motion 19, has two parts, the first of which refers to the Human Rights Commission and the second of which calls on the Minister for Foreign Affairs to raise with the Chinese authorities the cases of various people, including a Trinity College Dublin student. This was passed unanimously by the human rights sub-committee of the foreign affairs committee. A brief report in yesterday's newspaper indicated that a group of British peers raised this issue with the Chinese authorities.
I accept it might be unrealistic to expect an immediate debate on this subject. However, since this motion is on the Order Paper and another Parliament is taking an interest in the welfare of a student at a Dublin institution, will the Leader be kind enough to draw this matter to the attention of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, with the rider that it has been passed unanimously by the human rights sub-committee?
Will the Leader arrange in this session for the debate on planning we asked for in the last session? On that occasion, I produced documentation that proved a senior planning officer from An Bord Pleanála recommended planning which the board then refused. I cut a report from a newspaper during the recess that said a senior planning officer recommended—
The Senator should reserve that for the debate when it takes place.
I am making a point about why we need such a debate. A senior planning officer recommended refusal of planning permission but An Bord Pleanála gave the permission. What is happening in An Bord Pleanála? It was reorganised recently but it should be abolished. We should have an open and transparent system, with a public planning court in every county where objectors and applicants can make their cases before an arbitrator and the decisions are made in public. This behind doors—
Those points can all be made during the debate the Senator is seeking.
I am making these points to prove the importance of having a debate. When one sees the advice of senior planning inspectors being disregarded, one wonders who An Bord Pleanála are, who is making the decisions and on what recommendations. I have written verification of those contradictory cases.
The raising of the Shannon River Council Bill reminded me that when we debated the matter in House I warned the Leader that if the issue was given to a committee it would be lost, which is clearly what has happened. As other speakers pointed out, no Government action has been taken months later. The issue has been talked about and the committee has gone to see the River Shannon, on which I congratulate it.
Will the Leader ask the Minister for the Environment and Local Government to explain to the House his strategy in regard to the failure by so many local authorities to adopt waste management strategies? What does he plan to do about that? There is clearly a crisis in regard to the management of waste by local authorities, but the Minister seems oblivious to it.
Most of the renovations to the House are extremely welcome and of a very high standard. However, will the portrait of Countess Markievicz, the only portrait of a woman parliamentarian, be restored to the wall outside the Chamber at the earliest possible opportunity?
There has been much comment this morning about the state of the building. I appreciate the Office of Public Works has been strenuously trying to achieve its deadline. However, will you, a Chathaoirligh, use your good offices to establish when the Oireachtas Library personnel and their services will be fully restored to the Members of this House? They are currently in limbo in the basement of Kildare House, which is totally unacceptable at this point in the development of the new block and the refurbished buildings.
All Members of both Houses will testify to the energy, commitment and outstanding resources and facilities of the Oireachtas Library, which we all use. However, an extremely limited or non-existent service is being provided at present. Yesterday, they had no telephones or fax machines. They are in Kildare House basement and they seem to have been forgotten about in the overall development of this building. There has been no proposal to expand the library service to bring it into line with the 21st century. I ask you and the Leader to establish with the relevant authorities when the personnel will be moved back and normal service will be resumed and also what proposals they have for the further expansion of the library facilities.
Senator Costello has called for a debate on the health services. This is urgent. The figures published recently are startling, particularly those for the Eastern Regional Health Authority area where there is a shortage of 1,200 beds. This is the worst level of beds compared to the rest of the country. The State has the lowest number of hospital beds per head of population in the European Union. These are statistics but they hide the terror and the tragedy of individual sad cases of people arriving in hospitals and being unable to get a bed in urgent cases. Given the urgency of this matter it should not be put on the long finger and the Minister for Health and Children should come in and tell us what he will do about it in the immediate future. Although this matter can be raised in other areas, it is urgent because it applies to this area of the country as well.
Reference has been made to the River Shannon and the sub-committee dealing with the matter. As the only Member of this House on the sub-committee, I am obliged to defend the workers. We have been meeting all the various interest groups for a number of weeks and expect to have an interim report dealing with the flooding issue by Christmas and a full report early in 2001 dealing with the overall issue.
Given that the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Woods, has settled into his new portfolio, I ask for a debate on education. This is a time when, happily, many young people are starting third level education. We must remember and focus on those disadvantaged young people whose education has not progressed that far and who have dropped out. There is no point in congratulating ourselves on an excellent economy and trying to upskill people when there are young people who can barely read and write.
Of course I support the calls of Senators Costello and Quinn for a debate on the health services. The House may remember I asked for a debate all last year and we never got it.
That is not true, we had a debate.
We eventually got one on the bed position and staffing on the last day of the session in June when measures were introduced which were totally inadequate to deal with the situation. The situation is chaotic and dangerous. I was on radio about it and was asked why I did not say more. I did not say more because doctors are not encouraged to be shroud wavers. The situation is truly awful. I suggest a debate should be held next week.
Senator Manning pointed out that when then Senator Wright, now Deputy Wright, and he held the position of Leader of the House they were able to give three to four weeks business in advance, but they had the unique cushion of a clear majority in Government at that time. Unfortunately I do not enjoy that.
There was a minority.
We are in a minority Government—
Are the Progressive Democrats being unco-operative?
Is it Jackie Healy-Rae?
Order, please.
Taking the two occasions those Senators were in the position of Leader, we have initiated more legislation collectively in this term than in their two terms put together.
All we are asking for is advance notice. We are not attacking the Senator. We love him.
The Leader must be allowed to reply without interruption.
At the end of the Order of Business I will list 15 Bills to be published between now and Christmas, the first of which was initiated here on Second Stage yesterday. Senators Manning, O'Toole and Costello called for a debate on Northern Ireland. I have no difficulty in allowing time for such a debate. Those same Senators as well as Senators O'Meara and John Cregan inquired about the progress on the River Shannon Council. This is listed on the Order Paper and the debate will resume. I understand the committee met two State bodies yesterday. I understand also that during the summer recess the committee visited each county, including Tipperary, and discussed the matter with the various authorities. The committee is working hard to find a suitable recommendation so that the Government can fund the long-term plan which is urgently needed. All Senators will agree it is the single important issue, the great resource of the River Shannon, and it has to be addressed. It is a Fianna Fáil motion and will be honoured by the Government as soon as the recommendations from the committee are put in place. Moneys will be spent in a proper and orderly fashion to alleviate the problem.
On Senator Manning's query, I will have inquiries made regarding the sculpture in the new building. I do not recall this matter coming before the committee, of which Senator Manning is a member, for consideration and approval. As one who works closely with sculptures, it seems to be an appropriate piece of sculpture. It possibly took about two years for that work to be concluded.
Senators Costello, Quinn and Henry called for a debate on the health services. Certainly I can allow this debate. The Minister will be forthcoming in making time available for such a debate but we should not lose sight of the fact that this Department has got an increase of 43% in the past two years. Everything that is humanly possible is being done.
What is happening?
Senator Ó Murchú called for a debate on the effect which near full employment has on FÁS and its great work in relation to heritage and staffing of sports centres. I certainly will have time for such a debate in the near future. I shall pass on Senator Norris's views and concerns on motion No. 19 to the Minister. Senator Farrell called for a debate on the abolition of An Bord Pleanála and a new planning court to deal with planning applications. Certainly I can make time available for a debate on this matter at the earliest possible time.
Senator O'Meara voiced her concerns about waste management plans. I understand every local authority in Ireland has discussed this matter, including her constituency which is coupled with Laoighis-Offaly, Longford and Westmeath. This matter is at an advanced stage, but additional information is required regarding health issues in the midlands area. As soon as this is received, the local authorities in the five county area, in particular, will look at it again. It is the single greatest challenge which will face local authorities in the next ten to 15 years. I share the Senator's concerns. I hope by Easter there will be a waste management plan in every local authority.
Senator Mooney, with the Cathaoirleach and me, will endeavour to have the point about the Library clarified and brought to a successful conclusion. Senator Keogh asked for a debate on education. I can certainly allow time for such a debate.
I expect 15 Bills to be published from the start of this Dáil and Seanad session. The Bills are as follows: the Housing (Gaeltacht) (Amendment) Bill; the Irish Film Board (Amendment) Bill; the Vocational Education Committee Bill – this is the Bill to update aspects of law relating to vocational education committees, including parent representation on the committees, and it was raised on the Order of Business many times; the Carers Leave Bill; the National Training Fund Bill; the Part-Time Workers Directive Bill; the Electoral (Amendment) Bill; the Road Traffic Bill; the Appropriation Bill; the State Banking Bill; the Courts and Court Officers Bill, the Human Rights (Incorporation of European Convention) Bill, the Private Security Services Bill, the Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill which was initiated in the Seanad yesterday and the Postal (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. These 15 Bills are due to be published and, hopefully, some of them will be initiated in the Seanad.
What are the time limits on speakers on No. 1?
I have no difficulty allocating as much time as necessary. Every Senator wishes to make a contribution on the success we have achieved over the last number of years.
(Interruptions.)
There are 300,000 new jobs and Senators will have a wonderful morning and afternoon praising the Government for these developments. Spokespersons have 30 minutes and there are 20 minutes for all other Senators. Senators may share time.
Is it the intention that the statements should conclude today?
We can review progress at 3.45 p.m.
Is the Order of Business agreed to?
On a point of clarification, a Chathaoirligh, did I hear correctly that the time limit for spokespersons is 30 minutes?
Yes, 30 minutes and 20 minutes for other Senators.
Order of Business agreed to.