The Order of Business is No. 1, Sustainable Energy Bill, 2001 – Order for Second Stage and Second Stage, with the contributions of spokespersons not to exceed 30 minutes and of all other Senators not to exceed 20 minutes. Senators may share time.
Order of Business.
We agree to the Order of Business. I ask the Leader to consider providing time for a debate on the continuing rail strike, to be attended by the Minister for Public Enterprise. There are huge economic difficulties arising as a result of this, particularly in the west of Ireland because of the lack of visitors. This is an added difficulty on top of the problems which arose due to foot and mouth. The problem is critical and should be addressed urgently in the House today.
Tourism from Britain and the United States is now deemed to be in crisis and there is a need for the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation and the Taoiseach to address the matter and to provide funding in addition to what has already been provided to get over what will be a serious decline in tourist numbers this year and into 2002. That should be addressed but the first matter I raised should be dealt with today if at all possible.
Next week perhaps the Leader could provide time to discuss a report which shows that the number of people suffering from autism has increased threefold. This is an extraordinarily high increase and a thorough examination of this issue is needed. The Minister for Health and Children needs to come to the House to address the issue.
I have always said it is clearly not good practice to discuss industrial relations issues in the heat of battle but, without commenting on the rail strike, people should understand that the position of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the trade union movement is that the trains should be running. They have made it very clear and there is no doubt about that. To put it simply, there are two issues which it has suited people to fudge – there is an inter-union dispute and it is the business of ICTU to sort that out. In fairness to the Minister, she has no role in that and anyone who says otherwise is incorrect. People might have misunderstood what I said yesterday but the Minister has a different role here.
The other issue is the disciplining of certain members and that is certainly a matter for management. The Minister obviously would have some input into that from her side. There are three issues here. The trade union movement wants the trains to run and does not believe there should be a strike at this stage, while the inter-union aspect is a matter for ICTU and it has asked the unions involved to ensure that services continue while that is being dealt with. The other issue is the question of disciplinary issues and that can be dealt with in another forum. These are three separate issues that can be dealt with. It is absolutely disgraceful that the trains are not running. I say that in the strongest possible terms lest anyone think there is any equivocation on this issue.
Senators
Hear, hear.
I add my voice to the concerns expressed about the present industrial chaos, which is reflected in the fact that the trains are not running. We have a repeat of what happened last year. I am not prepared to say that nobody on the Government side has a role in the matter. The Taoiseach has a role. The Tánaiste has a role. The Minister for Public Enterprise has a role. It is important they show leadership. It is not good enough to say this is simply an inter-union dispute.
Senator Taylor-Quinn has sought a debate on the matter and Senator O'Toole expressed the view that it might not be helpful to have such a debate. It will be a matter for the Leader whether or not he concedes that debate and if he does, the pros and cons can be teased out during that debate. I cannot allow a debate on this matter on the Order of Business. I am certainly not going to allow it.
I entirely respect the Chair's position and I did not intend to embark on a debate. What I wanted to say was that the Minister, the Taoiseach or Tánaiste could come to the House. I do not want this House to say that this is an inter-union dispute because it is not. It is extremely important that a relevant person, one of the three I have mentioned, comes to the House to tell us what the situation is, what it is proposed to do about it, what initiatives can be taken and what the options are. They should listen to the views of the House and the relevant Minister as they are important.
I add my voice to the calls that were made yesterday for a debate on education. I welcome the ASTI's decisions to take a step away from the industrial action campaign it has pursued for 12 months and not to take any further industrial action this side of autumn. The ASTI's plans to review the situation and look at how supervision talks take place present us with an opportunity to explore the trade union and industrial relations aspects of education in a quieter mood. We should look again at benchmarking, as it is not impossible to add an educationalist to the benchmarking body. That might give some succour to a union that is very suspicious of the benchmarking process.
I share Senator O'Toole's view that a debate in the House on the rail strike would not be particularly useful. I take that view in the context of Senator Costello's remarks as his views seem to be contrary to those of the trade union movement as a whole, which is surprising when one considers he is a Labour Party spokesman. It is obvious that the disputes committee within the Irish Congress of Trade Unions is the proper body to deal with inter-union difficulties. The Minister's role is minimal at this stage. The Taoiseach made his position clear yesterday when he said those involved should return to work.
It might be more useful for us to discuss the impact of this strike on tourism, an industry which behaved responsibly during the foot and mouth disease crisis by voluntarily taking a very severe hit. It is outrageous that a tiny minority of people can compound the industry's problems. I appeal to the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation and Bord Fáilte to ensure people are aware the country is open for business, as the Leader said yesterday. I was in the west at the weekend and was told that some of those who have been coming here for years are under the impression there are difficulties entering the country. They asked a hotelier by fax if their clothes and fishing equipment for Lough Corrib would be taken from them upon entry. If such confusion still exists, there is an obvious onus on authorities to ensure it is eliminated and that those who want to come here are welcomed.
I understand and will obey the instruction that we must not have a debate about the rail strike, but we had a debate on it yesterday to a certain extent. It was one of only two items from the House covered by the media, which report on what is considered interesting and relevant. Even if we can only make a brief mention of this matter on the Order of Business, it is important we do so. I said yesterday that this is an inter-union dispute, so the Minister is not directly involved and does not need to come to the House, except perhaps to make her position clear.
We ought to have an opportunity to say something on this matter. There was a man on the radio this morning who said that the west was cut off last year for ten weeks. That is not tolerable, particularly when it is just an inter-union dispute and when there has been such massive recent investment in rail infrastructure. Poor staff relations have to be addressed within the rail industry.
May we have a debate as soon as possible on the developing drug crisis in Dublin? I received a letter today from someone who lives very close to me in the north inner city. It said that there are more than 5,000 people in Dublin receiving treatment for heroin addiction, there is a waiting list of 200 and the Dublin city and county coroner's office recorded 86 drug-related deaths in 1999, an increase of 16 on the previous year. We shall soon feel the impact of crack cocaine, the first traces of which have been found. It is important that this House is given the opportunity to discuss an epidemic that is centred in Dublin, but which could soon spread to the rest of the country.
As one who was badly impeded on Tuesday by the lack of trains and as one who has been involved in public sector disputes in the past, I agree with Senator O'Toole that we should not jump up and down about this matter at a time when efforts are being made to settle it. I do not think it is constructive as I favour giving those who are doing something to help a few days to see what can be done. Public shows of outrage or emotion are not helpful.
I support the request for the Minister for Health and Children to come to the House to discuss the problems of autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. These are appallingly disruptive conditions and are very difficult for families to cope with. If they are increasing at the rate that has been mentioned, perhaps we should know why and what can be done.
I also refer to the problem of autism. What is the position in relation to disability legislation? I have asked about this a number of times as we need to cater for the special needs of children in our society. We have been promised an ombudsman for children, so I would like to know when the relevant legislation can be expected to come to the House. It is essential that we vindicate the rights of children and an ombudsman would go some way to achieving that aim. We urgently need to proceed with disability legislation as soon as possible.
Senator Maurice Hayes brought reality to the debate on the rail strike. Other Senators spoke of industrial chaos, but it does not exist in Ireland. Industrial relations are stable, although there are glitches which hamper the public. I am afraid a small group of people is deliberately trying to infiltrate various trade unions.
The Senator is getting into the detail of the debate.
I agree, but I do not want the phrase "industrial chaos in Ireland" to be sent from this Chamber.
The Senator does not want it to come from the Government side.
I have repeated a few times that there is no industrial chaos in Ireland.
There are no trains and no aeroplanes.
There are people in this country who do not want Senator Taylor-Quinn to come from Clare by train. They are deliberately trying, with the help of Senator Costello, whom I should not refer to—
The Senator should make his point without referring to any other Senator.
There was a meeting of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs yesterday and a few statistics emerged. I ask the Leader to allow us to address them in this House. We have allocated our biggest ever budget for development aid this year, £800 million of taxpayers' money, with a proportionate increase next year.
We need development aid in the west of Ireland.
Does Senator Lanigan have a request for the Leader of the House?
May we send for the Leader?
It is more than the rail workers are looking for.
Senator Lanigan's train of thought has been upset.
A huge budget has been allocated, but there are not enough people working in development programmes. Another disturbing statistic to come from the committee concerns the area of human rights violation. I am about to ask a question of the Leader.
I wish the Senator would get to the question.
There are only three people in the Department of Foreign Affairs who work specifically on human rights, and that is a disgrace. Addressing this is a matter of reorganisation within the Department. It could also be addressed in this House, and the sooner the better.
I raised the issue yesterday of the 715 people who were recalled for further blood testing in the Mid-Western Health Board area. The haematologist has assured people the problem was due to a faulty testing kit. I am concerned about that given that those testing kits were subject to quality assurance. It appears in the rush and pressure for cost-cutting in the health boards that these problems tend to creep in. I will ask the Minister when he comes into this House to arrange for an investigation into the products used and whether those faulty testing kits came through because of the necessary cost-cutting exercises the health boards have to introduce.
In relation to the ASTIdispute, which I raised yesterday, I hope the Government will respond generously to the new mood among ASTI members who are anxious that school will start correctly in September. I hope the Government will not sit back and think it is something it does not have to work on and that there will be openness towards the ASTI in relation to the settlement of the dispute.
I take it the Senator is supporting Senator Costello's call for a debate on this matter.
I reiterate what I said yesterday about the need for a generous Government response.
I do not want to test the Cathaoirleach's patience on this issue except to say I agree with what Senator O'Toole and others said about the industrial relations problems in CIE. Today is not the day to discuss that matter because things are at high noon, but that is not to say the issue ought not to be debated in this House at an appropriate time. I call on the Leader to invite the Minister for Public Enterprise, Deputy O'Rourke, to come into this House at an appropriate time, I hope next week, to enable us to have a comprehensive debate on industrial relations in CIE.
It is important that someone should make the case on behalf of the taxpayer who foots a very hefty bill for a service that is proving to be unpredictable and unsatisfactory and has left scores of victims of these one day strikes here, there and yonder. It is important that the Minister should come into this House to discuss this matter. Having regard to the limited scope she has to influence change, I am sure she would find a great deal of support from all sides of the House for any change she might seek to bring about because such change is badly needed and well overdue.
There is no doubt that frustration and anxiety are widespread and on the increase as a result of the ongoing rail dispute. I very much respect what Senator O'Toole said – why would I not do so, given that he is generally a font of wisdom. Despite what he said, the Government must guarantee a rail system that works. The south-west was cut off yesterday and many more strikes are threatened. I hope a good deal is happening behind the scenes and that today will be successful in that regard.
Senator Manning's recent motion on the events of 30 years ago concerning the Arms Trial was sadly turned down. Deputy O'Malley, in a detailed statement yesterday, successfully explained the matter of how these statements were handled in the Attorney General's office. We are all fair-minded people and I was impressed by Senator Gibbons speech on that occasion—
We cannot revisit the debate we had the other night.
I do not intend to do so.
The Senator appears to be attempting to do that.
I would not attempt to go against the Cathaoirleach's ruling.
The Senator is succeeding in doing that.
New questions are arising every day. I read Ryle Dwyer's newspaper article this morning and he has posed further questions. I forecast at the time that all those people involved would behave like this.
Has the Senator a question for the Leader?
I have. I am sure the Leader respects that as a result of the Department's investigation there will be further questions. In view of the fact that Deputy O'Malley and others have said they would co-operate with the holding of a full inquiry, I ask the Leader to reconsider what has happened and to support the establishment of a small expert group to definitively investigate this matter following the Department's investigation.
I support Senator O'Toole's analysis of the rail strike. It is not timely to debate the matter now. I support the views of Senators Dardis and Hayes. It is important there is a major concentration of minds to resolve this dispute and that every effort is made to achieve that. It is not acceptable to deprive people from the regions of a basic service or for those within the trade union ambit to use this situation to seek to balance the rights of individuals concerned.
I support Senator Taylor-Quinn's call for a debate on tourism. The tourism industry is facing disaster. The Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation should come into this House at an early opportunity to outline his proposals to address this matter as it is nearly June. If the matter is not addressed chaos will prevail, the tourism industry will face disaster and there will be many redundancies within it.
Senators Taylor-Quinn, O'Toole, Costello, Maurice Hayes, Dardis, Chambers, Norris and Coghlan expressed various views on the problem the rail strike is presenting for many people throughout the country. I agree with the sentiments expressed on the need for caution, expressed especially by long-serving Members of the House. We can revisit and review the position. The Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Bill, 2001, is due to come before the House in the next few weeks. That would be an ideal opportunity to have an overview of the transport railway infrastructural position. I will allow time for this issue to be debated but not at this time, as it is a sensitive one. As I said yesterday, the Labour Party can play a role in the internal trade union dispute, which is not something anyone would wish to see, particularly at this time of the year.
Senators Taylor-Quinn, Dardis and Burke raised the issue of the tourism industry. I caution Senators against the use of strong words such as "chaos" and other strong language regarding the tourism business. It picked up magnificently over the past two weeks. If there is a case for the Government to do something about the tourism sector, the only matter on which we could all agree is that it could assist in funding the marketing of it, as it is an individual game after that. Everyone is out to get his or her fair share. If there was a debate in the House during which we could advise and encourage the Minister, the Department and the Government to help the tourism sector this year, it would be to provide some additional funding to each individual who has spent money on marketing within the sector in the past to encourage them to redouble their marketing efforts.
All the indications are that all the tour operators are coming back in here and the rest of the season will be much better than was anticipated three or four weeks ago. As I said yesterday, the great work that has been done is to the eternal credit of every man, woman and child on the island of Ireland, ranging from the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development to everyone associated with the farming and tourism communities. Apart from the farming community being very badly hit, those in the tourism sector were also badly hit. The opportunity to address that position is now presenting itself and the rebooking business we have always had is getting under way. Visits to parks, zoos and our various heritage centres began last week. The crowds that visited those locations last Saturday, Sunday and Monday, partly due to the good weather, were way up on the numbers for last year. The number of people who visited Belvedere gardens in Mullingar on bank holiday Monday was up 40% on last year's figure. I will allow the debate as early as possible and try to have it next Thursday afternoon, provided the Minister is available for a debate on extra marketing funding for individual projects and well-established tourism projects.
I accept the points of Senators Maurice Hayes, Taylor-Quinn and Keogh and I will pass on their views to the Minister regarding the great concerns about autism. I agree with Senator O'Toole's comments on industrial relations. I will allow time for a debate as early as possible.
Senators Jackman, Keogh and Costello called for a debate on education. I already said that time will be allowed for this. Senator Norris called for a debate on the developing drugs crisis. This is a worthwhile call and I will allow time for that also. Senator Keogh inquired about the timeframe on disability legislation. I am still awaiting information on this. I propose to take the following Bills in the coming weeks: the ACC Bank Bill, 2001, the Carer's Leave Bill, the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Bill, 2001, the Electoral (Amendment) Bill, 2000, and the Sex Offenders Bill, 2000. They are the next five Bills to come before the House for our consideration.
Senator Lanigan called for a debate on foreign affairs, for which time can be allowed. As the Senator said, £800 million has been allocated for development funding and I will pass on his views on staffing levels in the relevant section of the Department of Foreign Affairs. I will also pass on the views of Senator Jackman to the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin. There has been an increase of 41% over last year's Estimates for health expenditure, the highest increase since the days when the former Taoiseach, Deputy Reynolds, got a 25% or 28% increase in telecommunications in 1980. It is a difficult portfolio, but the Minister is trying very hard. The issue will not be resolved over night, but he is the right person for the portfolio.
Senator Coghlan called for a debate on the Arms Trial. As he knows, the Minister is trawling through various Departments concerning the papers. The 30-year-old papers are public knowledge, but he is trawling through the more recent ones.
Some slip out of the net.
He has an open mind on the matter, which concerns not only one political party but every Member of both Houses. The Minister will return to the House to debate the matter when the issue has been finalised. I understand it will be finalised at the end of next week. The debate may take place during the following week, which will be a very busy week because it comes before the referendum.
Will the Leader indicate when he will allow time for a debate on the rail strike?
The Leader has already replied to that question.
Order of Business agreed to.