The Order of Business today is No. 1, motion re referral of draft code of standards and behaviour of civil servants to the Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service, to be taken without debate, and No. 2, statements on the interim report of flooding on the Shannon river, with the contributions of spokespersons not to exceed 20 minutes and of all other Senators not to exceed 15 minutes and on which Senators may share time.
Order of Business.
Will the Leader provide time for a discussion in the House today on the ASTI strike, the fact that thousands of teachers are currently outside Leinster House, the huge disruption this is causing to parents and pupils, particularly examination candidates, and the unsatisfactory way the teachers are being dealt with by the Department of Education and Science?
What is the position in regard to the Registration of Lobbyists Bill, which it was promised would be taken at the beginning of December. The Leader did not mention it today. Will he give us some indication of when he intends to take it?
Will the Leader provide time this week for a discussion on food quality, particularly the position of the Minister of State, Deputy Ned O'Keeffe, who has a financial interest in a farm which does not follow the feeding procedures used by 90% of piggeries? Given that the Minister of State spends a lot of time abroad promoting Irish food quality, I question his credibility on this issue, in light of the recent revelations.
Will the Leader also provide time today to afford Senator O'Toole an opportunity to give the full details of the 2000 budget to this House in light of the unprecedented motion tabled on the Order Paper?
I would be very pleased to give my budget speech here tomorrow afternoon as an alternative budget strategy, if that is what is required. I look forward to speaking on the motion later and I hope its contents will be shown to be true. I expect to propose that motion tomorrow and I look forward to a full discussion of it, particularly the Senator's contribution, which I think will be very helpful.
It has been urged on a number of recent occasions that the general issue of industrial relations should be discussed in the House. Given that the agreement between the social partners which emerged from Government Buildings last night has effectively shown the PPF has the flexibility to deal with difficulties and to move on, this is something that could be discussed and—
Rubbish.
This is an appropriate time for even regressive people like my colleague, Senator Ross, who do not understand the concept of partnership, particularly social partnership—
The old Tory is on my left.
—to be educated in the way people in the 21st century should work together.
Stalin is alive and well.
I look forward to Senator Ross's contribution. What he has to say comes from the old, patronising and feudalistic view of the world, where the rich and the poor should never get together.
The Senator is getting on well with the rich.
We have to meet the rich to—
Senator O'Toole on the Order of Business.
The rich feel threatened by the PPF and I understand Senator Ross's dilemma.
Waffle.
On the Order of Business last week I pointed out there was an indication by the Government that it would increase maternity leave from 14 to 18 weeks, arising from the review of the PPF. I asked the Leader to inquire when the necessary amendment would be made to the legislation. I understand it can be done by ministerial order. Will the Leader indicate as soon as possible when it will be done as many people are depending on it?
I understand we will debate the BSE issue later in the week. While I do not want to make a political point about the Minster of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Deputy Ned O'Keeffe, the controversy surrounding him needs to be explained. The beef industry is the most vital industry in the country and we need to have trust and confidence in it.
I move amendment No. 1:
That a debate on the teachers' dispute be taken before item 1.
I call on the Leader to ask the Minister for Education and Science to attend the House for this debate, which will give us the opportunity to put on record our views on the matter. We have not had a debate on this issue since the dispute started a number of weeks ago and it is of enormous importance to parents and school children. As legislators it is very important we ensure the matter is dealt with properly. I ask the Leader to facilitate the House on this issue to ensure that the amendment will not be put to a vote and that all Members be given the opportunity now to tease out the many issues involved and make suggestions regarding a resolution of this very serious matter.
I agree with Senator Taylor-Quinn that it would be good if we got a preview of the budget from Senator O'Toole. He knows a lot about it. I wonder if the Minister for Finance knows what is involved in as much detail as the Senator or the teachers involved in the benchmarking proposals. I am not sure if the ASTI would welcome all aspects of the motion the Senator has put down for this week's Private Members' business.
There are other teachers besides ASTI members.
There are, but a catch-all motion—
Senator Costello, you will have an opportunity tomorrow evening to make your contribution to the debate on Senator O'Toole's motion.
I look forward to that.
We are seeking time today. It is of no use tomorrow.
Order, please. Senator Costello on the Order of Business.
We only get some detail on the budget after it has been presented to the other House. We have a unique opportunity to get a preview of it before then.
Last Thursday the House had to pass all Stages of the ICC Bank Bill without the opportunity to table amendments and give the Bill proper parliamentary scrutiny.
We cannot have a rehash of last Thursday's business or of the debate we had on the Order of Business in relation to that matter.
I wish to draw attention to the procedures operating in the House. Last Thursday we protested that we would not take all Stages of a Bill and we put that to a division. We perceived that an extraordinary general meeting was taking place that had presumed the outcome of our discussions.We now read in the newspapers that not only has it taken place but that the ICC has been sold for £220 million to the Bank of Scotland, which is outrageous. It has been sold for a song.
That is not in order on today's Order of Business. This matter has been dealt with and disposed of in the House.
All this was done behind our backs. It is a serious matter. How we do our business in this House is relevant to the Order of Business.
The House had a division last Thursday and made its decision on each Stage of that Bill. The matter is over as far as this House is concerned.
I am concerned that if we continue our business in this fashion, we will bring the House into disrepute.
Hear, hear.
I think it is outrageous.
So do I.
It is time we called a halt to it and emphasised the importance of ensuring that each Stage of a Bill is dealt with separately so that it can be properly examined. This House should not be seen as rubber stamping legislation or being part of a charade in dealing with legislation which ensures that we do not have hand, act or part in its format. We must ensure that pro per mechanisms are in place and that we do not go down that road again.
We should all welcome last night's agreement on the PPF. It shows that social partnership can solve problems which arise from time to time. We should bear in mind that it does work.
I ask the Leader to accommodate an urgent debate on the beef industry and food safety. The magnitude of the difficulties in relation to BSE must be discussed as a matter of urgency. I ask the Leader to accommodate that request as soon as he can.
Last week I sought a debate on climate change and on the outcome of the negotiations in the Hague. I ask the Leader to accommodate that in the near future.
I second Senator Costello's amendment to the Order of Business. I have raised the teachers' issue on a number of occasions recently. Thousands of teachers are outside the gates today. Deputy Kenny showed initiative in the other House by asking that a commission on teaching be set up which would deal with all the problems affecting teachers. I am sure Senator O'Toole would agree with that. The Minister cannot ignore the teachers. We would be remiss in our duty—
We must not pre-empt the debate.
I am not pre-empting the debate. We have asked for a debate on this issue. It will soon be Christmas and parents want their children back at school. Teachers also want the students back in the classroom. They have missed time at school, but it is not the teachers' fault because they have not had an opportunity to meet the Minister.
The Senator is pre-empting the debate.
(Interruptions.)
Order, please.
There are a number of teachers here who know in their hearts and souls the difficulties teachers face at present.
Everyone, not only teachers, has difficulties in life.
I am speaking about teachers.
Order, please. Senator Jackman, please, if you will allow me to speak for a moment.
The Senator is talking about everyone else.
I am speaking about the teachers in this House.
Order, please.
I hope they agree to the amendment proposed.
The Senator has seconded Senator Costello's amendment to the Order of Business. The points she is making would be more relevant to the debate Senator Costello is seeking in his amendment.
Which we will get today.
A recent report on disabled people makes for worrying reading. While it applies to only one county, there is a possibility that the statistics in it could apply to any part of Ireland. For example, of the 80% of disabled people who wished to get employment, only 23% were successful. The reasons given are lack of qualifications, low pay and attitudes of employers. However, the same problems apply in education, accommodation and transport. Will the Leader arrange for a debate on this issue? The last time the issue of disability was debated in this House it was confined to a very controversial issue. I would prefer to debate the issue on its own merits.
I want to raise an issue which arises from a life sentence imposed by the High Court today on an accused person who committed one of the most horrendous murders in a long time. The accused person, who was already serving a life sentence in Castlerea Prison, committed the murder while on temporary release. This raises a serious question as to why a person serving a sentence for such a serious offence should be on unsupervised temporary release. The outcome of that release on St. Valentine's Day last year was this murder.
Last week we had a long debate on prison policy. Some of us who raised the matter of the inadequacies in the prison system in relation to unsupervised releases, rehabilitation and so on got no better answer from the Minister than outbursts of emotion and anger. Will the Leader request the Minister to come back to this House to give an outline of his policy in this area and his proposals for the establishment of a parole board? That is very relevant in light of what has taken place in the courts today.
Senator Taylor-Quinn raised the matter of food safety. I refer to the testing procedures in regard to food safety in view of the fact that a small firm, Irish Analytic Services of Bagnalstown, County Carlow, is being closed down because certain changes have taken place in the business environment. The industry analyses water, beet, soil and so on and did 47% of its work with Greencore, which has now withdrawn from the company. This affects 20 jobs at a time when we are all seeking greater food safety. This small firm has never had a problem with its analyses, whether for Greencore, Glan Bia, farmers, private individuals and so on. I ask the Leader to see what can be done to save these jobs in view of the fact that there is such a demand for greater food safety.
The BSE crisis has been raised and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development is in Egypt today trying to get back the Egyptian beef market. We should acknowledge that the Egyptian Ambassador has been working extremely hard on behalf of the Irish beef industry to try to re-open this trade. We must remember also when we talk about trade that it is two way traffic and we must buy a certain amount from these countries. We must look at this issue.
I have given the Senator a lot of latitude.
If we demand trade with third countries, we must look at how we can trade with them, otherwise we will be in deep trouble.
I join my colleagues on all sides of the House in calling for a debate on BSE. I would like to ask the Leader if the Government proposes to introduce an ethics in farming Bill in light of the feeding of spinal cerebral tissue to animals and injecting them with their own excrement. I would like to know from the Ministers of the relevant Departments how they would feel if they were injected with their own dung and then forced to eat their granny's brain and spinal cord tissue. The way in which we treat animals is abominable and there is no excuse for it.
I join also with those Senators who referred to recent court cases. What is the Government's intention with regard to the issue of the insanity defence and the establishment of a parole board? These are important issues. Will the Leader draw to the attention of the Minister for Foreign Affairs the document on torture circulated to members by Amnesty International which calls for an initiative in the foreign affairs area on the elimination of torture which currently takes place in more than 50 jurisdictions?
I support the call by Senator Gibbons and others for a debate on the BSE crisis. I also support Senator Norris's request for a debate on illegal practices in farming. This is a serious problem and it is causing damage to the reputation of the agriculture industry. I call for a debate on the beef industry and I am sure that, given the Leader's usual willingness, it will be held in the near future.
In light of the fact that the Minister for Education and Science has discovered that industrial action is taking place, I request that he come before us to listen to the constructive ideas that would be put forward by Members on this side of the House. We must break the ongoing stalemate in this dispute and a debate would be useful in that regard.
Last week a young woman who was abused wished to have the identity of her abuser made known but the judge in the case, acting well within his rights, decided that it would not be appropriate to do so. He imposed a blanket ban on the reporting of anything that would indicate the identity of the perpetrator. What course of action is open to this young woman? If a victim wishes to have his or her rights vindicated, what avenues can they explore to allow them to do so?
I have no difficulty with time being made available for a debate on the changes that have taken place in education and the conditions in which teachers are obliged to work. However, I will only agree to such a debate – I am a member of the teachers' union – when the teachers are prepared to enter negotiations.
That is precisely what we want.
To suggest that the Minister is not available to meet the ASTI is very misleading. The Minister was available on Monday and Tuesday and the union did not see fit to enter negotiations with him. He is waiting to take part in such negotiations and we will have a debate on education when these have taken place.
We must not pre-empt the debate which has been sought.
I have great regard for teachers and I will give them my support when they enter negotiations.
I understand that Aer Rianta is still in discussions about the possibility of selling off one of our airports. Will the relevant Minister explain why large amounts of money are being spent on certain airports and not on others?
I join Senators Connor and Norris in calling for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to come before the House to explain the grounds on which a person can be granted day release, without supervision, in circumstances where that person committed a capital crime in the first instance and committed a further crime while on release. The public should be informed about the basis on which people are being released. Will the Minster indicate whether, as a result of this death which occurred in the county in which I live, he intends to bring forward proposals regarding the establishment of parole boards?
The issue of BSE and the beef trade has been raised by other Members. In my opinion it would be appropriate that the Seanad should send its best wishes to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development and his officials—
The Senator will do that.
The Minister better not come back empty handed.
—who have travelled to Egypt with a view to reopening the market there to Irish beef exports.
I support calls for a debate on the future of the beef industry and on the BSE crisis. I hope the Leader will arrange to make time available for this urgent debate. I also hope that the comments made in the said debate will be relevant and will be supportive of an industry which has been rocked by a campaign of misinformation. I am disappointed that Senator O'Toole referred to the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Deputy Ned O'Keeffe, who made a clear and forthright statement last evening.
A request has been made for a debate on the general subject of food and food safety. I will not tolerate a debate on personalities on the Order of Business.
I thank you for that. Bord Bia and Dairygold made independent clear statements in relation to the O'Keeffe family farm.
They did not have much choice, did they?
I join Senator Costello in his call for a debate on the teachers' dispute. While mentioning teachers I congratulate the soothsayer on the Independent benches, Senator Joe O'Toole. He may have a better crystal ball than anyone else here or there may be an element of insider trading. I congratulate my fellow Kerryman on the part he played in saving the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness.
They stick together.
One of the most pressing issues facing the country is the BSE crisis. In the last number of weeks I have repeatedly asked the Leader to place this matter on the Order Paper and he has failed to do so again this week. I am disappointed by this.
I move amendment No. 2 to the Order of Business:
That time be made available this afternoon for a debate on the BSE crisis.
This is the most serious issue facing the country. It affects the livelihood of genuine farmers and consumers are extremely concerned about it. We have allowed time to pass when we should have been debating this issue.
I second the amendment.
As there is such a tremendous Christmas atmosphere in the House and no election in sight, I support the proposal of Senator Gibbons and others that we debate the cattle export industry, the BSE crisis and the quality of our food. In the interest of consumers and in order to deal with this major uncertainty, it is important that this debate takes place.
I call on the teachers' union to enter negotiations with the Minister, iron out some of the major difficulties which exist between the parties and resolve the dispute in the interest of students who will sit the leaving certificate examination next summer. It is important that dialogue takes place. There is an onus on the trade unions to fulfil their obligations.
I support my colleague's call for a debate on the beef crisis. Senator Hayes has raised this issue on a number of occasions in the past number of weeks before it became the much discussed topic it is today. This amendment should be made to the Order of Business.
Senators Taylor-Quinn, Costello, O'Toole, Jackman and Keogh called for a debate on the teachers' strike. I will do everything I can to facilitate this during the week. The Order of Business for today has been agreed with the various Ministers. I call on teachers to begin negotiations. We should all congratulate the social partners and everyone associated with the PPF agreement which was arrived at in the past 24 hours. Senator O'Toole played a major part in those negotiations and we are pleased that a leading Member of the Seanad was so involved.
Hear, hear.
The success of our economy—
Is due to the Independents.
—since 1987 is due to what was then the national understanding and is now the PPF.
Rewriting history.
Everyone who participated in the agreement did so responsibly and future generations will thank them for that.
Several Senators called for an urgent debate on the BSE problem. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development has probably just arrived in Cairo. However, I contacted his Department and I understand he will leave Egypt tomorrow and that he will be back in Ireland early in the afternoon. I intend to place on the Order Paper a proposal that this matter be discussed tomorrow from 1.30 p.m. to 4.15 p.m. The Minister of State will open the debate and I hope the Minister will conclude it. This is the earliest that such a debate can be held.
The Leader is action man.
The farming community is facing a serious dilemma because there is no guaranteed price for its produce. It is a difficult industry and it should receive our support. I congratulate the Minister on his decision to go to Egypt to find out what can be done. It shows the Taoiseach's and the Government's serious concern about trying to keep the market open for Irish products.
Senator O'Toole and Senator Gibbons called on the Minister to make the order to increase maternity leave from 14 weeks to 18 weeks. I will pass on their request to the Minister.
Senator Costello expressed his concern about the sale of ICC Bank. Every small and family business in the country owes its survival to the understanding and caring approach of ICC Bank over the years. I hope the purchasers will continue the policy led by the bank's chief executive, Mr. Michael Quinn. The bank has been the backbone of small and family businesses in Ireland.
Senator Gibbons called for a debate on climate change. I will make time available for such a discussion. Senator Ó Murchú requested a discussion with the Minister on issues affecting disabled people and the report he mentioned. I will provide time for such a debate. Senators Connor, Norris and Coogan expressed their concern about the case involving a prisoner who was on day release and they called for the establishment of a parole board. I will pass on their views to the Minister in this regard. I will also pass on Senator Norris's views to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Senator Keogh's views regarding the issue she raised. Senator Dino Cregan called for a debate on Aer Rianta and its future policy. I will make time available for such a debate.
Two amendments were proposed to the Order of Business and I shall deal with them in the sequence in which they were raised. Senator Costello moved an amendment to the Order of Business that a debate on the secondary teachers' strike be taken today. Is the amendment being pressed?
Yes, because the Leader only offered the possibility of statements and the Minister should be present for such a debate.
Amendment put.
Tá
|
Coghlan, Paul.Connor, John.Coogan, Fintan.Cosgrave, Liam T.Costello, Joe.Cregan, Denis (Dino).Doyle, Joe. |
Hayes, Tom.Jackman, Mary.Keogh, Helen.Manning, Maurice.Norris, David.Ross, Shane.Taylor-Quinn, Madeleine. |
Níl
|
Bohan, Eddie.Callanan, Peter.Cassidy, Donie.Chambers, Frank.Cox, Margaret.Cregan, JohnFarrell, Willie.Finneran, Michael.Fitzgerald, Liam.Fitzgerald, Tom.Gibbons, Jim. |
Glennon, Jim.Glynn, Camillus.Kett, Tony.Kiely, Rory.Lanigan, Mick.Leonard, Ann.Moylan, Pat.O'Donovan, Denis.Ó Fearghail, Seán.Ó Murchú, Labhrás.Ormonde, Ann. |
Tellers: Tá, Senators Costello and Jackman; Níl, Senators T. Fitzgerald and Gibbons.
Amendment declared lost.
Amendment No. 2 not moved.
Order of Business agreed to.