The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on Irish Water and related reforms, to be taken at the conclusion of the Order of Business and conclude not later than 1.45 p.m., with the contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, and the Minister to be called on to reply to the debate not later than 1.35 p.m.; and No. 2, statements on flooding and flood prevention measures, to be taken at 2 p.m. and conclude not later than 4 p.m., with the contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, and the Minister to be called on to reply to the debate not later than 3.50 p.m.
Order of Business
I am not going to comment on yesterday's debate on the Minister for Health in the Lower House. People would have found it interesting, to put it mildly, but what people are more concerned about is what is happening on the ground. Next week, the Minister for Health will attend this Chamber. We need a separate debate, however, on the health cuts happening on the ground every day of the week.
In the north Leinster area, including Dublin, the Health Service Executive ambulance service has been restricted. For example, every Tuesday in the Swords base in Lissenhall which had 24-hour, seven days a week advanced paramedic cover the ambulance is stood down for 12 hours between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. This service covers a population of nearly 400,000 people. The people of north Dublin and the surrounding areas would be advised not to have a heart attack on a Tuesday morning but instead to wait until 7 p.m. or not to have a serious incident or car crash in that period. Worse than that, on Tuesday cover for the north Dublin area comes from Tallaght. On another day of the week, the Swords base covers Tallaght and as far south as Loughlinstown. These cuts were implemented on 4 September and affect hundreds of thousands of people in the north Leinster area. I have written to the Minister about them but have not yet received any comment. Will the Leader arrange, as soon as possible, for the Minister for Health or one of his Ministers of State - maybe the one who is still speaking to him, Deputy Kathleen Lynch - to attend the House to explain why these cuts have been allowed to proceed, resulting in a €250,000 brand new ambulance sitting idle for 12 hours on a Tuesday. Last Saturday and Sunday, due to sick leave, there was no paramedic ambulance cover in the north Dublin area. This is a serious issue.
Will the Leader arrange a debate with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, on progress in the jobs initiative for next week or the week after that? For four years, €500 million will be taken each year from people saving for their pensions and retirement.
The Government will raid €2 billion from private pensions over a four year period. We saw the CSO figures yesterday. Long-term unemployment is at its highest rate. It is interesting that in the last quarter some 5,000 jobs were lost in the wholesale and retail sector which the Minister tried to support by reducing the rates of PRSI and VAT. We said at the time that the jobs initiative would not actually be tracked. We are taking money from private pensions to reduce the rates of VAT and PRSI that apply in certain sectors and need to know whether that is actually working. It would be worthwhile for the House to have a debate on unemployment in order that we can explain why the measures the Government took last year are not working. We might be able to feed some of our ideas into that discussion.
I would like to make a final point and thank the Cathaoirleach for his indulgence. I intend to bring legislation I have mentioned previously, the Statute of Limitations (Amendment) (Home Remediation-Pyrite) Bill 2012, to the House. The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government needs to answer two questions quickly. The pyrite report was published before the summer and I attended the committee meeting at which it was discussed. I remind the House that this problem could potentially affect 70,000 people on the east coast. The Minister asked all stakeholders to report to him by the end of September, which is about 11 days away, on the measures they intended to take. I would like to know whether the stakeholders have met. Perhaps the Leader might find out. Are we on track for potential solutions to be published by the end of September? Will we have a repeat of the situation that prevailed where the pyrite report was delayed for eight months? I would appreciate it if the Leader asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to update the House on the progress his Department is making in its search for solutions to the pyrite problem.
I thank those Senators who took part in last night's constructive Private Members' debate on the Labour Party's motion on the regulation of charities. I commend Senators John Whelan and Lorraine Higgins who led the Labour Party group in the debate. It is positive that a consensus was reached on the need for the Charities Act 2009 to be commenced fully. The Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, made some helpful comments when she indicated that she wanted to work with us to try to find a way to commence it. We all appreciate that this is not a suitable time for the establishment of a costly new statutory body. There must be a cost-effective way of doing it. This is something that the charities are looking for. It was great to have the stakeholders in the Chamber.
We are all looking forward to the debate on the Bill that is being introduced in advance of the referendum on children's rights. I thank the Leader for indicating that plenty of time will be given for the debate in this House when it happens in two weeks time. In the 24 hours since the date of the referendum was announced, it has been very positive to see the broad support that has emerged in this House and generally in the media among various groups, political parties and individuals. The special rapporteur on child protection, Mr. Geoffrey Shannon, said this morning that people appreciated that the referendum would not lead to an increase in the number of children going into care but would instead lead to a change in the way the courts and public authorities dealt with children. Such a more child-centred approach is to be welcomed, as are the other positive aspects of the referendum.
I commend the Leader for arranging debates in this House in the run-up to the budget. Senator Darragh O'Brien has called for one of these debates to focus on health care. Perhaps that might give us an opportunity to focus on some of the issues raised by the Minister of State, Deputy Róisín Shortall, when she spoke in the Dáil last night. She spoke about the delays in the reform of primary care services and access to them. When people attack the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, they often forget that he is presiding over the most radical reform of the health service we have ever seen.
Those who were listening to the Minister of State, Deputy Róisín Shortall, were not sure who the Minister for Health was.
It is radical reform.
She did not even mention him.
The Minister and the two Ministers of State at the Department of Health have to work together.
Perhaps the Senator might sit them down to engage in mediation.
I did not interrupt the Senator.
We cannot have the tail wagging the dog.
Senator Bacik to continue, without interruption.
Fine Gael and the Labour Party agreed to a very radical proposal in the programme for Government. That is what the Department of Health is overseeing. We need to support those involved in the development of a system of universal health care which will be a hugely progressive and positive development.
It is not going to happen.
I can hear the naysayers who presided over a shambles for 14 years.
The Senator should not fool herself. It is never going to happen.
When the Senator's party was in government, it presided over a shambles. We should not forget the public private partnerships.
Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?
I do.
The Senator should stop fooling herself. It will never happen.
I would like to ask the Leader about the pre-budget debates.
The Senator knows it, as does the Minister of State, Deputy Róisín Shortall.
Perhaps we might have a debate on the radical and progressive reforms the Government is introducing in the health care system.
That will not take long.
The previous Government failed to deliver such reforms.
It will be a ten-minute debate.
We had a positive debate on the pricing and supply of medical goods with the Minister of State, Deputy Róisín Shortall, yesterday and the House wanted her to be more radical. She was speaking about reductions of 30%, but we were wondering whether reductions of 80% could be provided for. It emerged during the debate that the regulatory impact analysis had not been circulated to Senators. Apparently, we were meant to find it on the Department's website. The custom whereby a regulatory impact analysis is circulated with the explanatory memorandum and the Bill should be reinstated. The information in question should be supplied to Senators retrospectively. It is important for it to be supplied to Members of the Dáil before they discuss this legislation in order that they do not have to look for it on the website of the Department of Health. I ask the Leader to consider these suggestions. The documentation should have been circulated in advance of the debate. If it was an oversight, it should be remedied. As a principle, the regulatory impact analysis should be circulated with the explanatory memorandum and the legislation in every case. Such an approach would have been of assistance during last night's debate. Although it was a positive debate, it could have been even more positive if this had been done. This defect in the Department of Health's approach to the Seanad should be remedied.
I welcome the positive start we have made to this Oireachtas term on a number of fronts. I particularly welcome the setting of a date for the referendum on children's rights. I compliment the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, and the all-party Oireachtas committee. I thank everyone who helped us to reach the stage at which a referendum can be organised.
I welcome the significant job announcements made in recent days. Electronic Arts has announced that it intends to create 300 new jobs in my home county of Galway. A further 400 jobs are being created in Limerick. Realex Payments announced yesterday that it would create 50 jobs in Dublin. These are positive developments. The main issue I am raising relates to the whole employment situation. I draw the Leader's attention to two issues that are affecting small indigenous businesses in areas such as manufacturing, services and retail. The first is the attitude of the banks in failing to make finance available to viable businesses. Some 16 jobs were lost in my constituency in recent days because a bank would not lend a meagre amount of money to a company which had significant orders up to the end of the year. Business people in the retail and other sectors have said to me that the banks are treating them like criminals. That is a significant statement. It is not acceptable for the banks to treat people like criminals. We need to have a major discussion on the matter in the House.
Legitimate businesses cannot compete with those operating in the black economy because they are being undercut by those operating cash-only businesses. Those involved in business often complain about over-regulation, but I suggest there is under-regulation in certain sectors. Every business operating should have to display a licence on its premises and in vehicles and be required to have a tax clearance certificate. We need to do significant work to level the playing field in a way that will enable legitimate businesses to operate, thrive, prosper and survive. The next time the relevant Minister comes to the House the Leader should put the major challenges facing small indigenous businesses on the agenda for discussion. Possibly it will dovetail with what Senator Darragh O'Brien said. I urge the Leader to organise such a discussion in the next three or four weeks, if possible. Many businesses are in danger of going to the wall if we do not do something to help them. There are some very practical things we could do and I will articulate some more of them during the discussion.
Like my colleague, Senator Darragh O'Brien, I am calling for a debate on job creation. In the run-up to last year's general election the Government parties promised to create 40,000 jobs a year. There is no system to measure how many jobs will be created on foot of the Government's raid of €2 billion from the National Pensions Reserve Fund over four years.
I call for a debate on the mortgage issue. We all know it is a serious issue. A report today by Moody's projects that one in five mortgages will be in default next year and that if one is self-employed one is twice as likely to be in default this time next year. This is concerning because these people are going to be the new vulnerable. Often they do not have the safety net of social welfare to look after them. I call for the publication of the Thornhill report into the new property tax. On this side of the House we have argued that while there are arguments for a property tax as a means of collecting revenue now is not the time to bring in a property tax when one considers all the pressures that people are under.
There has been a worrying development from Europe. The German Foreign Minister is calling for the creation of a European army and that the President of the European Commission should make direct appointments to a European government. I call for a debate in respect of Ireland's traditional position of neutrality and for a strong statement from the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to the effect that we are not in favour of the creation of a European federal army with the provision - this is the worrying point from the German Foreign Minister - that no one country could block a common initiative. That is a serious statement by any German Minister.
Did Fianna Fáil not support the treaties?
They created the battle groups.
One should be able to create a situation where-----
Fianna Fáil wanted to support a European army.
Senator Daly to continue, without interruption.
I presume the German Minister is trying to imply that if Europe decided to go to war one country could not stop it. It is bizarre stuff, I agree with Senator Whelan. Coming from the German Minister I need say no more than that we should be slightly concerned that this has been reported. The fact that a German Minister wants to create a European army and that a veto would not be a part of that is a matter of concern. There should be unanimous agreement if a European army were to be deployed. Obviously, I am against the whole concept of a European army but the fact that this is their new mindset must be of concern to everyone in the House. I call on the Leader to organise a debate on Ireland's traditional position of neutrality and on the comments by the German Foreign Minister.
To get back to matters more at home, I draw to the attention of the House that the interim closing date for the registration of septic tanks is one week away on 28 September. To be fair to the Minister and the Department of the Environment, Culture and Local Government, it is a relatively modest €5. Colleagues will be aware that due to the deluges we had and the poor weather during the summer months industrial-scale treatment plants in Cork and Clare were overwhelmed and malfunctioned to the extent that some of our best known beaches in Cork and Clare had to be closed due to pollution and the proliferation of E. coli. Therefore, it follows that if there are 480,000 tanks throughout the country there is no doubt that on a local level many of these tanks would have malfunctioned, would have been overwhelmed and would have flooded.
Where is the evidence for that?
There is plenty of evidence because I saw it happening in my local area.
Where is the evidence? Bring it in. We would love to see it.
It is imperative that people stop paying lip service to the environment and to being good neighbours. There is a need for clean, safe sustainable water. It is reckless in the extreme to encourage people not to maintain and monitor their septic tanks or to ensure they are operating properly.
We all agree with that.
I urge country people to register with what is a modest charge of €5. It makes good sense. It makes one a good neighbour and it protects the local water resource, not to mention that not to do so would leave the State, the Government and the taxpayer exposed to millions of euro in fines from the EU because of not complying with EU directives.
What about tackling county council pollution? What is the Labour Party doing about it?
I congratulate the Labour Party spokespeople who tabled the motion last night on charities. Senator Bacik stated today that there was a good and worthwhile debate last night and I agree. The fact that Ireland is one of the few countries that does not have a regulator for charities is indicative of the work the Seanad can do. We can draw attention to such areas.
Another issue to which we should be drawing attention is diesel laundering. The House may have heard that yesterday there was another huge diesel laundering plant found on the Monaghan Border. There is an answer to this problem. We are one of the few countries that uses a system of colouring diesel to distinguish between duty-paid diesel and agricultural diesel. Let us find another solution.
I am reminded of the efforts in the United States where they introduced prohibition in 1919. It was exactly the introduction of prohibition, which may have been worthy at the time, that gave rise to such gangsterism and criminality and it was 1932 before they abolished it. Something similar is occurring here. The amount of criminal activity, especially around the Border area, is something we should be doing something about. I am keen to see attention drawn to it in whatever way we can do it from this House.
I call on the Leader to consider a debate at some point in future - it is not immediately urgent - on archives. We had a good debate on maintaining archives. The legislation holds that if one prints a book one must register it and a copy goes to Trinity College and elsewhere. Most archives nowadays are not necessarily printed books. There are archives in radio and television. Until recently, RTE did not take note of the tapes it had and used tapes over and over again. Historians will come back at a later stage. Now that we are coming up to the 1916 anniversary, it seems we should value our archives and the information we have. We should take steps to ensure that future historians can look back, learn, remember and find out what we have to be proud of.
Like other Senators, I compliment the proposers of the motion on charities. I hope something positive will come of it in the near future.
Ireland's wireless spectrum bands were to be put up for auction last July but we still have not seen the auctions taken place. Some 28 blocks of spectrum will be auctioned to the highest bidder. Naturally, they will not all be auctioned in one year but the telecommunications companies are waiting. Some estimates suggest that we could raise up to €260 million from these auctions. Naturally, it will not all be raised in one year but some of it could be raised this year if the auctions were held. Will the Minister explain why the auctions have been delayed? They are so important. The Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, has rolled out Delivering a Connected Society - A National Broadband Plan for Ireland. These auctions would help to proceed with the plan.
The independent regulator's office is an independent office. The Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, should be commended for doing what he is doing and on doing what is within his powers to ensure that every sector in society and every business in every part of Ireland is connected and perhaps even fourth generation or 4G enabled.
Many of the telecommunications firms in Ireland claim that until the auctions take place they will not be able to guarantee investment from their parent companies. This is important because if the parent companies will not guarantee investment, the auction or the money will not be there. The companies will have to work together to get these auctions in place. There is only one month until the analogue system switches off. It should be up and ready to go.
I read a statement that the companies had expected the auction by last Easter. We were told it would be July. We are lagging behind. Germany, Spain, Italy and France have already completed their spectrum offers. We are supposed to be at the coal-face or to the fore. We must get up on our bicycle. There has been a delay in this regard in England. I read that this was because the telecommunications companies there were jockeying for position. Is that the case in Ireland? If it is, I want to know what the delay is and what is holding it up. I realise the Minister has said it and he is trying his best. He has rolled out the plan and done what he has done. I refer to the significant €9 billion portion of the €40 billion for connecting Europe infrastructure that the Minister has secured. The Department is doing its business but I want to know what is slowing up the regulator. The industry hopes the auction process will take place. Operators need spectrum so that they can roll out 4G broadband. The various businesses that are developing faster speed telephones and broadband need this. They need certainty and the business community needs certainly. I would appreciate it if the Minister would make a statement on the matter.
In recent days there was a debate in the Dáil on the health service and, more important, the performance of the Minister for Health. A motion of no confidence was tabled.
While the Minister may have survived that motion it is fair to say he was given the yellow card, not from Opposition Members but by the failure of his own Minister of State, Deputy Róisín Shortall, in her contribution, to fully defend him, his policies and his actions.
It is important to have a debate on the health services in this House. While we were on our summer break, €130 million worth of cuts were made. Those cuts could have been prevented if the Minister went after the real waste in the system and if he looked at alternatives to cutting services for people with disabilities or those being cared for, both the infirm and the elderly. That is not the way to bring into being the kind of health service that people want. In the last budget €700 million was taken out of our health services. It is projected that over the course of the next number of years a further €2 billion will be taken out of the public health service.
There are three critical issues facing the health service in the short to medium term. The first is the promise by the Government and the Minister to deliver universal health insurance. Where is that? If anything, we are going backwards. There is no detail as to how it is going to be rolled out. The Minister should spell out his plans. Second, the Minister abolished the HSE but there is still no detail on what is going to replace it, what new structures will be put in place and how we are going to bring accountability into the health service. Third, there are plans to reconfigure hospital services. In the Leader's own constituency in Waterford and in the south east we will see a reconfiguration of services and new hospital networks. Waterford Regional Hospital is to be aligned to Cork, with the centralisation of services in Cork and a drift of services away from other hospitals in the region. That is what is happening in our health service at the moment. These are critical issues and the health service is one of the most important public services available to citizens. Given what has happened, given the cuts announced while we were on a break - we have not had a chance to discuss them - and given that more cuts are planned because there is still an overrun in the Department's budget, if democracy means anything, space must be provided in this House to have a proper debate on where the cuts should be made. They should not be made to front-line services and services for the most vulnerable in society.
I take the opportunity to add my voice of welcome and support for the wording of the children's referendum. The Minister, her officials, staff in her Department and many others have worked tirelessly to ensure that the wording is a good one and that is why we have seen such a warm and positive welcome over the past 24 hours. However, a good start is only half the battle and we all have an enormous responsibility to ensure that the campaign to bring the referendum to a positive result on 10 November is successful. It is a very important responsibility and it is quite easy, perhaps, to be a little complacent because it was done so well and everyone seems happy about it. We will have to work very hard to keep reminding people of the importance of this referendum and to ensure that the essence of the wording and what it means to our society is brought home to people. Every one of us has a responsibility to spend the next few weeks debating the issues in this House, with our constituents, on local radio and in the newspapers to try to ensure that this very important referendum is won.
I also welcome completion of the EirGrid east-west interconnector project. It is not very often that I find myself welcoming a piece of pipe under the ground. I cannot claim to understand it in all its detail but the enormity of the project and the fact that EirGrid has brought it in on time and under budget is a credit to the company and its employees. Indeed, it marks a great opportunity in terms of co-operation and collaboration with our nearest neighbour from a business perspective and hopefully it will bring some security in terms of our energy requirements in the future. I say "well done" to EirGrid.
I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on the status of Cork Airport, in view of the recent announcement by Aer Lingus that it is axing several flights between Cork and Gatwick Airport. Given the fact that there are now 50% fewer flights leaving Cork Airport than there were six years ago, I am deeply concerned that the status of the airport is being wound down in such a way that it will eventually not be commercially viable in the future. The loss of the Cork to Swansea ferry was an enormous blow to the region, both in terms of tourism and the commercial life of the Cork and Kerry region and the greater Munster area but went almost unnoticed. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar is responsible on both counts because tourism is being damaged and the status of Cork Airport is being seriously affected. Furthermore, the commercial and business life of the Munster region can only be damaged by the huge diminution of services from the airport. There is now no flight between Cork and Dublin being operated by Aer Aran, Ryanair or Aer Lingus. At one stage there were nine or ten flights each day between the two major cities but all of those flights have evaporated without notice. I am deeply concerned that Cork Airport could close down totally in the next few years. A debate on this very important element of the transport infrastructure on this island is warranted.
I strongly support Senator Mullins's comments on the black economy. There is increasing evidence of cash rackets, diesel laundering, and illegal tobacco trading and the latter, in particular, is wreaking havoc in the city of Dublin and in other areas of the country. There is also evidence that many of these black market activities are emanating from the Border areas. I know there is excellent co-operation between the two police forces on this island and I am not necessarily saying there should be more because I do not know the details. I ask the Leader to invite the appropriate Minister to the House to debate this matter. We would probably need to invite the Minister for Justice and Equality in order to discuss security and to ascertain what is going on between the two police forces.
It would be helpful to have a debate on this area because there is increasing evidence of people dealing with others who are not registered. This is not good citizenship. It behoves us to ensure that people are law-abiding in their tax affairs. I know there is a tendency in a recession to deal in cash but that causes its own problems. We have enormous problems with regard to the Exchequer. There is an enormous discrepancy between what it is costing to run our services and what the State is taking in, which is why we have our current budgetary difficulties. In that context, I ask the Leader to invite the appropriate Minister to the House to discuss the black economy. We could have a very useful debate on the matter. We are all gathering anecdotal evidence of an increase in various rackets. I do not know what can be done and it appears to be a very difficult issue with which to grapple.
Yesterday the CSO launched its quarterly national household survey for the second quarter, covering April to June 2012. The results show the continuation of a lack of growth in the economy and in employment. Up to June 2012, unemployment increased by 4,000. The unemployment rate of 14.8% has remained constant for the last few months. The actual figure for the number unemployed is 308,500. I draw Members particular attention to the figure for the long-term unemployed, that is, those who have been consistently unemployed for 12 months or more, which is now 59.9% of the total number unemployed. In other words, practically 60% of the unemployed people in this country have been out of work for a year or more. This figure is growing consistently.
The CSO report also shows a drop of 30,000 in the labour force in the year to June 2012.
This indicates that emigration could be reaching 40,000 people a year. I would like to see some emotion expressed by the Minister for Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation and for him to get passionate about dealing with unemployment in this country. He is very excited about the increase in jobs announced yesterday in Galway, which I have no doubt is good. However, two weeks ago, the chairman of the US Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke, announced that he was to put $40 billion per month into the open bond market on an unending basis to stimulate the economy. He was shaking when he made the announcement. Unemployment in the United States is 8.2%. This morning, Senator Mullins spoke about the lack of credit available to small and medium-sized companies. I have spoken on this issue on at least 20 occasions in this Chamber. I would like Senator Mullins to become passionately excited when the Minister comes to the House and tell him what he said here.
I will.
Does Senator White have a question for the Leader?
I have no doubt the Minister is a brilliant academic. He is highly educated and a University of Oxford graduate but I want to see passion in him as regards bringing down this unemployment rate. If 40,000 people per year are emigrating, the figure could be 22%. As a person who created a company during the last recession in the 1980s, I know what unemployment does to people. I recommend Members read a document with evidence of the effects of unemployment on the mental health of people in an economic crisis.
Is the Senator looking for a debate?
I join in the comments of previous speakers on diesel laundering. The criminal activity that surrounds this is of huge concern as it is only a matter of time before something really serious could happen in terms of people's lives. I heard a very interesting suggestion on the radio this morning which perhaps has been considered by the authorities. Low-level radiation is used in diesel to stop the laundering because that is something that could not be laundered. I thought it was a very interesting suggestion which has perhaps already been discovered. Perhaps the Government could ask universities, scientists or other groups to hold a national competition of some sort to see who could come up with a way of stopping diesel laundering by putting something in the diesel that could not be laundered. We need to be innovative about this problem because it causes huge loss to the Exchequer and is a serious issue not only in the Border counties but in general.
I join Senator Mullins and others in respect of small businesses. We heard a very interesting presentation yesterday from various speakers on the issue of sick pay. The Government needs to look at the harsh reality that if one pays people to be absent, they will be absent. That is the reality.
That is not correct. That is a cynical view of human nature. It is an outrageous remark.
It is not an outrageous remark.
It is akin to what Mitt Romney said about people who vote for the Democratic Party.
There are many problems endured by small businesses. I agreed with Senator White when she spoke about the banks.
Say that down in Dublin South-East.
Senator Noone to continue, without interruption.
It would be nice to be able to speak without interruption. It is very irritating. I do not need to be patronised and told that it is good for me to be interrupted.
I am just correcting the Senator. She should not say that about me.
Senator Noone to continue, without interruption.
As I have been sufficiently interrupted, I should just sit down. In respect of small businesses-----
The Senator is out of time.
I am out of time because I was interrupted and now the Cathaoirleach is interrupting me.
(Interruptions).
I am just going to sit down.
Ba mhaith liom a mheabhrú do mo chomh-Sheanadóirí go bhfuil cur i láthair inniu againn san AV room. I remind my fellow Senators that we have a presentation today in the AV Room from the residents of the direct provision centre in Lisbrook in Galway, which is under threat of closure, and I invite Members to come along and hear their side of the story.
Any Member travelling throughout Ireland during his or her summer recess would have noted that rural Ireland is being devastated by the cutbacks being imposed and the emigration mentioned. This morning a District Court judge lashed out over the closure of courthouses in rural areas and she mentioned in particular the threat to Spiddal and Derrynea in County Galway and Cill Rónáin on the Aran Islands. She said that this is a very detrimental move that undermines the ability of people in those rural areas to attend their local court services. According to the Connacht Tribune, she noted that the closure will also involve an added inconvenience for people from these rural areas where public transport is not always readily available to travel to the city for cases that may not even be reached on the allocated dates as lists will get consequently longer. The Connacht Tribune notes that six more Garda stations in County Galway are facing the chop. This issue and policing in rural Ireland are two of the main issues I have heard raised at a number of meetings held by Sinn Féin. To hear that six small rural Garda stations in County Galway are also in the firing line is of great concern to us. I call on the Minister to address this issue. The stations under threat in Galway are Carna, Inverin, Ros Muc, Recess and Leenane.
In the east of Galway, the stations at Monivea, Kilcolgan, Ardrahan, Kiltormer, New Inn, Ahascragh, Killimor, Corofin, Kilconly, Barnaderg, Milltown, Ballymoe and Williamstown are in serious doubt. Closing more Garda stations would be a very detrimental move. Gardaí are already concerned about the cutbacks in the number of Garda cars and the ability to deliver services in these areas if the stations are closed. It is imperative that the Minister for Justice and Equality comes to the House to debate policing in rural areas and the Courts Service and not pass the buck by saying it is a decision for the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána. It is a decision for Government because the Commissioner is dependent on the funds available to him from the Minister. All of my colleagues would agree with me on that point.
I wish to take up the point raised by Senator Mullins about small businesses. One of the saddest sights in years gone by was to see little households in rural Ireland padlocked, the roofs falling in, the buildings becoming derelict and the occupants scattered to the four corners of the Earth. They remain a reminder of how vulnerable we are as a nation and perhaps the lack of foresight we had at that time. This story is being replicated today in towns and villages in modern Ireland. If one walks down any street today, one will see all the small businesses that are closed. These businesses were run by honest, decent people who worked long hours for small profit or none to keep three, four or five people in employment. It was very often the straw that broke the camel's back that closed those businesses. Bureaucracy tried to squeeze the last euro out of them. This is very short-sighted because, again, the people who worked in those businesses have had to emigrate. We talk here about generating jobs. In a recession, the big grandiose schemes do not always deliver the numbers. Small businesses, where one finds dedication, experience and customer loyalty, are the bedrock on which one would build. It would be in all our interests if instead of trying to find ways of making it difficult for those people to exist, the relevant Departments found ways of helping them. If a number of people are already working there, there is the possibility of adding one, two or three jobs more.
Perhaps some day the Leader might provide time to discuss that point because as we walk through these towns and villages, the businesses which are closed are a reminder that there was a lack of foresight.
With other colleagues, I welcome the significant job announcements in the mid-west this week. There was the announcement of 400 jobs in Northern Trust in Castletroy, County Limerick. This is the largest job announcement since Dell announced a few years ago that it was scaling back its operations. Some 24 hours earlier there was the announcement of the creation of 300 jobs at the games company Electronic Arts in Galway. Therefore, between counties Clare, Galway and Limerick a total of 700 jobs have been announced in the past week. Like Senator Michael Mullins and others, I echo the need to support small business. Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú put it eloquently when he mentioned the many businesses throughout the country that employed five to eight people, struggled with the bureaucracy, the Revenue Commissioners and the banks. The good goes out of it because at the end of the day there is precious little with which to pay those who create the jobs in the first instance. As a society, Government and country, we need to support small indigenous industries. We need to create an environment in which industry, enterprise and small businesses can thrive. We had this in the 1970s, the 1980s during the previous recession and the 1990s and we need to foster it again. I, therefore, ask the Leader to provide time for a debate on small indigenous businesses and the practical steps the Government could take to support them.
It is significant that the trend of the debate on this side of the House as much as on the other side has been towards tackling the issue of long-term unemployment. I commend Senator Mary White for highlighting the dire statistics for the second quarter issued by the Central Statistics Office. There are a number of suggestions. However, we have not heard much in recent months about the notion mooted in the House of a venture capital bank. The Minister of State with responsibility for small business, Deputy John Perry, who is from my constituency and a good friend has had personal experience of this as chairman of the Ireland-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Society. That is where I think he got the idea from because the Taiwanese have established such a venture capital bank. There are suggestions that such a bank should be established to help small business as a unit within AIB that would be dedicated to providing venture capital for small and medium-sized enterprises.
There is also a view - I do not necessarily agree with Senator Catherine Noone - that if one pays people, they will remain absent from the workforce. However, economists have proved that at the height of the Celtic tiger when social welfare benefits were at their highest, the rate of unemployment was only 4%. That gives the lie to the view that people did not want to work. When jobs were available, they took them. I do not want to misinterpret what Senator Noone said-----
I did not get much of a chance to say what I wanted to say.
The Senator will have a chance to do so next Tuesday.
They are paid to be absent.
Senator Mooney to continue, without interruption.
I am just taking the stark statement made by the Senator who said that if people were paid, they would be absent. That was the point she made. However, I do not wish to be distracted as there was a significant number of contributions across the House on the issue.
In his announcement of the legislative programme in the other House up to the end of the year the Government Chief Whip indicated that the jobs issue would be a priority. Therefore, it is incumbent on the Leader to ensure this House reflects the real concern expressed about the 200,000 persons long-term unemployed. There must be ideas and suggestions about what could be done to help them. Senator Mary White is correct - we need to be passionate about the issue. She is correct also about its impact on the mental health of those who are without work. Perhaps the Leader might invite the Minister of State, Deputy John Perry, to come to the House to outline the Government's position as the unemployment rate has remained stubbornly high, particularly the number of long-term unemployed. I appreciate the Government has a jobs plan, but it does not appear to work. There is a need to recycle ideas. I ask that the Leader provide time to debate this important matter.
The Leader of the Opposition, Senator Darragh O'Brien, raised the question of health cuts. He criticises the Minister because of overruns in the system and also when measures are taken. However, the Minister is there to reform the system and will continue to do so.
In reply to Senators Darragh O'Brien and David Cullinane, Second Stage of the Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill will be taken in the House on Wednesday afternoon when there will be ample opportunity for all of the ideas expressed to be addressed. I hope we will have a comprehensive debate and all suggestions as regards the cuts Sinn Féin would make and all of the other cuts being suggested will be considered when the Minister is in the House.
Will the Minister for Health take the Bill?
It will not make any difference which Minister takes it as the Government works in unity.
I will be here next Wednesday for the debate.
The issue of job creation and unemployment was raised by a number of Senators. I will endeavour to have the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, come to the House to address the issue. It is the most important challenge facing the Government and the number one priority is the creation of jobs. We had a healthy debate during which some laudable suggestions were made. Perhaps we might receive a further update from the Minister of State, Deputy John Perry, or the Minister on the matter and the points raised by Senators about the problems of small businesses.
I note Senator Sean D. Barrett's point about the circulation of documentation. I will try to have it addressed.
Senators Michael Mullins and Paul Coghlan mentioned the black economy and the difficulty presented for the many small businesses trying to operate legally. That is a point which needs to be addressed and I will invite the relevant Minister to discuss the matter.
Senator Mark Daly raised the issue of the creation of a European federal army. He need have no concerns about it. It does not necessarily mean that the rest of the European Union is saying what the Germans are saying.
Senator John Whelan raised the matter of the registration of septic tanks and urged people to register without delay. The vast majority have done so. I hope the others will do so before the deadline of 28 September.
Senators Feargal Quinn and Catherine Noone raised the question of diesel laundering which presents a major problem, not only because of the revenue lost to the State but also because sludge is being dumped the length and breadth of the country. I have discussed the issue with the Minister. The authorities and scientists on this part of the island and in the United Kingdom are working actively on a solution and I hope there will be positive news in that regard because it is a scourge. Individuals who were involved in subversive activities are now involved in this criminal activity which is causing major problems.
Senator Keane raised an important issue. I have spoken to the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, who is willing to come here to discuss broadband and communications matters. I hope that will be within the next week or two. The Senator can raise the delay in auctioning the spectrum bands with him then.
I have addressed the point made by Senator Cullinane. We will take Second Stage of the Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill next Wednesday.
Senator O'Keeffe referred to the referendum on children's rights and we all welcomed its wording yesterday. A lot of work needs to be done to convince the people to accept the referendum proposal. Like the Senator, I also compliment EirGrid.
Senator O'Donovan asked a question on the status of Cork Airport. I will endeavour to have the relevant Minister here to debate transport. We are due to have such a debate as it has been some time since we last debated the issue.
Senator White referred to the comprehensive CSO report but I have not yet got around to reading it. As she stated, long-term unemployment is a major problem. It is the most major problem faced by the Government. Tabling a motion will not create jobs but prudent policies will.
One cannot create a job unless one is passionate.
I agree with the Senator that we should invite the relevant Minister to give an update on current projects.
I welcome Senator Ó Clochartaigh's review of the Galway newspapers and thank him for informing us which Garda stations may close. In this House we deal in fact, not speculation.
The speculation has been correct in the past.
We will endeavour to have the Minister for Justice and Equality come here at a later stage.
Senator Ó Murchú again raised the matter of small businesses being the backbone of rural society and the need to reduce red tape for them. The matter can be raised during our debate with the relevant Minister.
Senator Conway welcomed the announcements made in the past two days about the creation of 700 jobs in Limerick and Galway. I hope job announcements will continue for the remainder of the year. I also hope jobs will be created in the largest unemployment black spot of Waterford and the south east which has a 20% unemployment rate.
Senator Mooney also raised the issue of long-term unemployment. He inquired about the need for a venture capital bank and its status. I noted his comments and the Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy John Perry, will be here in the next couple of weeks.
Order of Business agreed to.