The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on the role of the SME envoy network, to be taken at 11.45 a.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 not later than 1.25 p.m.
Order of Business
On Tuesday I requested that the Attorney General be asked to come to the House under Standing Order 56 to explain her role in the current controversy and answer valid questions that many of us on all sides of the House had. I will not rehash those questions, but my request is as valid today as it was on Tuesday. I am proposing an amendment to the Order of Business that, under Standing Order 56, the Attorney General come to the House today to answer our questions and those of the public about her role in these issues, given that she knew about them last November and, apparently, did not tell anyone about them.
Will the Leader arrange a debate on online savings and discount companies? How are they regulated? Like many others, I have been done by completesavings.ie. The Leader might like to check this out for himself. Irish Rail offers a €10 discount on the next fare, but, unbeknownst to anyone, the website signs up the customer with completesavings.ie which takes €12 a month from his or her bank account. I have been in contact with Irish Rail and completesavings.ie. Some of my colleagues have been duped in the same way. More important, many hundreds of people have unknowingly been signed up for this payment in connection with future discount offers.
Two questions must be asked. One specifically relates to the appropriateness of a semi-State company like Irish Rail, for example, offering these types of "savings" to people, as it could cost €144 per year to get €10 off a rail ticket. That is a specific example, but, more importantly and in general, there is a question of how these types of online offer are regulated and who looks after them. I have written to the Consumers Association of Ireland in this regard and intend to take up the matter with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Leo Varadkar, who I have no doubt will be concerned about a company in his charge having a commercial arrangement with a private company which is passing on bank, credit and debit card details from the Irish Rail website to a third party which happens to be an English company. We could tease out the matter in the Seanad, as it is wholly inappropriate for Irish Rail to enter into an arrangement like this. Other companies, like Ryanair, have such arrangements, but they are private; although I do not agree with it, they can do as they like. I believe Argos recently had a commercial arrangement with the company but has severed its links in that regard. This is extreme sharp practice and many citizens are paying money for it from their accounts. These do not show up as a direct debit but rather a point of sale payment with no other details. We could have a job to do in looking at the regulations and highlighting these specific cases.
I welcome Mr. Michael Murphy and Ewald Hoffmann to the Vistiors Gallery. They are here at the invitation of Senator Mary White and have a long-standing connection with Waterford Glass.
Senator Darragh O'Brien has proposed an amendment to the Order of Business and I know the Leader dealt with the issue very comprehensively yesterday. I also spoke to the matter and pointed out that it seems to be a rather desperate diversionary tactic by Fianna Fáil to continue to do this. Fianna Fáil should reflect on the matter. Even if the Attorney General was compelled to come before either House of the Oireachtas, she is bound by the same client-lawyer privilege as any other lawyer and there are also considerations of Cabinet confidentiality that would clearly confine anything she might have to say.
She has questions to answer.
In that context, I very much welcome the decision we took at the justice committee last night to seek to include certain matters in the terms of reference of the commission of investigation. We have written to the Taoiseach today in that regard. That decision was agreed by almost all the members on the committee.
I welcome two developments which emerged yesterday. The first concerns a very welcome fall in the unemployment rate to 11.8%. The Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, has pointed out that this is the lowest rate of unemployment for five years. Although the rate is still too high, it is now just below the EU average, which is very welcome. I also welcome publication of the White Paper on universal health insurance yesterday and the debate in which people are becoming engaged that concerns the proposal to reform the health system by introducing universal health insurance. It is an historic move, of which the Government should be very proud.
It is just a tax.
For the first time it will do away with the two-tier health care system that we have had for far too long, with people being able to buy faster treatment and better outcomes in health care simply because they have more money. For the first time we will move to a health care system based on need rather than means, which I welcome.
I will also mention the establishment of the new Educate Together together at Basin Lane in Rialto in Dublin 8. I have been very involved with this campaign for many years and there is an existing Educate Together national school in Portobello that will relocate there. I am pleased that Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, speaking at a ceremony to mark this change on Tuesday, noted the need to ensure greater diversity in the primary school structure and that the Portobello school would be moving to a site at Basin Lane formerly occupied by a Christian Brothers school. It is an historic move towards diversifying patronage and ensuring greater parental choice in the education of children.
I propose an amendment to the Order of Business: "That No. 9 be taken before No. 1." This concerns the carbon monoxide detection Bill.
Senator Ivana Bacik has mentioned the economy and it is good that the jobless rate has come down. We have a long way to go if we are to get back to where we were, but it is the best figure for five years. There are some other good figures related to the economy and it is worth recognising that both the spending and the economic figures are coming in more favourably. Nonethless, we cannot really relax.
It is interesting to hear on radio this morning that the effort by the Insolvency Service of Ireland, with expenditure in the past few years of approximately €5 million to €7 million, has only yielded four deals with banks. This is not down to a lack of work on behalf of the Insolvency Service of Ireland but rather poor legislation. We should pay attention to this. Comparing the insolvency system set up under our legislation with that in Northern Ireland, there is no competition. We must have got something wrong if we only have that return for that length of time invested. There is a good team in the service working well, but it has only achieved four deals with banks after all those years, despite 320 applications being received. This matter needs a better attempt at legislation and this should serve as a reminder that it is not sufficient to have only one House examining legislation. We must ensure we reform the Seanad in order that in future years there will be two Houses with each working and keeping its eye on every piece of legislation coming through and improving what we do.
Yesterday was the 100th anniversary of Cumann na mBan, but owing to commitments in the Seanad we could not get to it. The Council of Europe convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence is an acknowledgement of all the work that women have done in the past and will continue to do in the future. This Istanbul convention was signed by the Council of Europe in 2011, but Ireland has not yet signed it. As a tribute to all women and men working for equity and equality, we should recognise this as a very important convention. It is on the understanding that violence against women is a form of gender-based violence committed against women because they are women. It is the obligation of the State to fully address this in all its forms and take measures to prevent such action, protect victims and prosecute perpetrators. Failure to do so will make the issue a further responsibility of the State down the road. In years gone by we have seen how the State had to take responsibility for past actions. I ask that the Council of Europe convention be signed by Ireland. If we fail to do that we will have to consider the issue in another light. It is not only women who suffer domestic violence so everybody is asked to apply this convention. I am asking that the terms be applied to men as well as women, as some men are subject to violence. There is also abuse of children and the elderly. The convention deals with such matters. This is a serious issue and can pertain within families. I ask for a full debate on the matter and that we approve a motion to have the convention signed. I wanted to raise this issue on the 100th anniversary of Cumann na mBan but to do so now would have the Seanad doing a great service not alone to women but also to men who suffer violence, particularly gender-based violence.
Cumann na mBan was involved with violence.
This issue relates to the perpetrators. Most violence is perpetrated by men and this is a small step. I am sure there will be another opportunity to discuss the issue.
I second the amendment proposed by our leader, Senator Darragh O'Brien.
I ask for an urgent debate on the Government's approach to rural and regional Ireland. There is a front page headline indicating that the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Leo Varadkar, has decided he is disposed to closing railway lines throughout the country. There is no doubt the Sligo to Dublin railway line which a previous Government tried to close will be under attack once again.
At what stage will the Government's relentless attack on rural Ireland stop? We have seen small and rural schools closed, Garda stations have been closed, health services have been centralised and we have seen the first ever reduction in CAP payments. The Minister and his colleagues must realise there is a culture in this country, apart from that of Dublin. People live outside Dublin. They live in small towns, in villages and on islands. It is the Government's responsibility to support these communities, regardless of whether it is profitable to do so. What will happen next? Will they turn off the electricity at Mullingar or tell Irish Water not to provide water because it is not profitable to do so in the eyes of the Minister who lives in his ivory tower in Castleknock, Dublin 15? People and citizens are entitled to the support of the Government, including support for public transportation and utilities, however profitable.
These are provided down the country.
The Minister is responsible for providing these services in the Leader's region also, which, as he knows, has been discriminated against in the context of health services.
Fianna Fáil closed every railway line in the country when it was in power.
The fact that the Minister, Deputy Leo Varadkar, and some of his well heeled cousins in the gin and tonic belts of the nation do not feel there is a need for trains or public transportation for the people is not good enough. I am sure the electorate outside of Dublin will take note of this on 23 May.
Yesterday I mentioned the success story of Ryanair. We have spoken here previously about inviting people to the House to address us and I would like to make a proposal in that regard. As far as I am concerned, one of Ireland's most successful business people -----
The Senator may bring any proposal he has to the attention of the Leader who will bring it up at the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, or he may write directly to the committee.
I suggest to the Leader that he propose to the committee that we invite Mr. Michael O'Leary to come to the House to-----
The Leader will bring that request to the committee.
That is what I ask. I propose the Leader requests the committee to invite Mr. O'Leary to address us on his story and his future plans for tourism.
I second Senator Feargal Quinn's amendment to the Order of Business. This important Bill deals with the issue of carbon monoxide and I assume the reference to dwellings also refers to hotels. There have been a number of tragedies in hotels involving the deaths of young people following inhalation of carbon monoxide.
I condemn publicly the hate mail and other attacks on our colleague in the other House, the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter. It is quite appalling that Nazi emblems were sent to him. I deplore this obviously anti-Semitic attack. I believe I was the first person to say he should resign, but I did so in a way that was proportionate. I dealt with the facts and also paid tribute to his many remarkable qualities as a reforming Minister. However, I have continuing difficulties with regard to the administration of justice.
I was contacted a couple of years ago by a woman in County Cavan whose son, Shane O'Farrell, had been the victim of a hit and run accident. I tried to bring to the attention of the Minister a series of unfortunate situations in this regard where there was clear Garda negligence and malpractice. This young man was brilliant and talented. He was knocked over by a Lithuanian heroin addict who had between 40 and 50 convictions for drug offences and larceny, on both sides of the Border, and was on the Interpol register as a criminal. One hour before he killed this brilliant young man, he was stopped by the drug squad. He had no insurance on the car and there were a number of other complicating factors. This man was registered on the PULSE system and should have been taken into custody. This would have prevented the death of a vital and talented young man. I wrote to the Minister about this case and the family also wrote to him. We received replies that were emollient and which indicated the Minister could not interfere as he had no responsibility in the matter. This precluded me from raising the issue on the Adjournment because no Minister had responsibility for it. Now however, in the light of the various revelations, the case should be included in a public inquiry into hit and run incidents. We should investigate, in particular - I say this without any suggestion of racism - a cluster of accidents that have occurred for which drivers from eastern Europe have been responsible. These drivers may have been unfamiliar with our roads and culture. A predecessor of the Cathaoirleach, the late Liam Naughten, was killed in just such a tragic accident - a great loss to political life. We need to ensure people who drive in this country, no matter where they come from, are competent and that they are driving appropriate vehicles. I call for a public inquiry into this issue.
I bring to the attention of the House statistics published by the Insolvency Service of Ireland today. These show the number of agreements that have been reached in regard to debt are significantly lower than expected. In particular, only four out of 320 deals relating to mortgage debt have been successful since the setting up of the service. The time has come to review the operation of the insolvency service and the legislation which established it. Two issues have become obvious. First, the banks are using their veto to prevent deals relating to mortgage debt and, second, by designating a significant number of borrowers as non-co-operative, they are precluding them from access to the insolvency service. I find it amazing that non-statutory bodies like banks have the capacity to designate somebody as a non-co-operative borrower when there is no independent right of appeal. We are dealing with a system that is entirely non transparent. For example, people who are separated are being deemed non-co-operative because one party will not sign a document. It is not right that we have a statutory solution, but banks which are non-statutory bodies are prohibiting access to that solution. I call on the Leader, as a matter of urgency given the statistics, to bring the Minister to the House to discuss the operation of the legislation and the Insolvency Service of Ireland.
Ba mhaith liom labhairt inniu maidir leis an bPáipéar Bán atá foilsithe maidir le cúrsaí sláinte agus an tseirbhís sláinte uilíoch atá á chur chun cinn ag an Rialtas.
I raise the issue of the White Paper on universal health care which has just been released. Sinn Féin has serious concerns about this issue. We believe the proposal is a flawed model based on competing private for profit health insurance companies and that it will lead to privatisation of the whole sector. The White Paper is late and has been three years in the coming. We have heard much of what would be in it, but it is only half baked in that it is scant on detail and specifics, with no costings worth mentioning. We also need to look at what the costs will be for those without medical cards or private health care under the new regime. The consultation process that has been put in place is too short. It seems to coincide with the EU and local elections, which is not appropriate for such a substantial change as is proposed. I find it quite strange that the leader of the Labour Party group in the House welcomes the White Paper, as it seems to be a long way away from that group's pre-election promise of a single State insurance provider. We have had useful hearings previously in the Seanad on issues such as those affecting older people. I suggest, therefore, that with a change as substantial as the universal health care model being introduced, it might be a worthwhile use of the Seanad to have similar hearings. We could bring in people from jurisdictions where this model has worked and experts on the area of universal health care and tease out the issues further. As I know we have expertise in the House on some of the areas concerning the type of model proposed, it would be good use of Seanad time if we could have such discussion. No doubt, health issues will be raised frequently in the coming months, but perhaps we might deal with the issue in a focused way and bring in witnesses in order that we can delve into the issues in depth. That would be very useful.
I support Senator Darragh O'Brien's call for a debate on the online offers he spoke about, even if it does nothing but highlight the risks people take by revealing bank details and other details to unknown entities. People need to be warned about the number of online scams being developed by agencies inside and outside the State. There is grave cause for concern, particularly if a State agency is promoting an offer that will potentially cost consumers significant amounts of money.
I, too, welcome the publication of the White Paper. I was going to ask the Leader to organise a debate in this House soon in order that we could tease out the many elements of it. I would have no difficulty with the type of consultation process Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh mentioned. This is the most significant reform in the history of the State and will eliminate our unfair and inefficient two-tier system. The consultation process is very important and significant and we need to consult as widely as possible. This will build on the very steady progress Deputy James Reilly has made since he became Minister for Health in reforming the health service. He is to be applauded for the very significant reductions we are seeing in waiting lists and people on trolleys. This is the most important element of the health reform we will see during the next decade. It is important that we consult very widely and I look forward to having that debate or consultation process initiated in this House as soon as possible.
Like the last speaker, I support the Leader of this side of the House, Senator Darragh O'Brien, in his remarks about the so-called online savings and bonus operations. I am thankful to the Senator because when he raised it originally, a council colleague of mine in County Kerry contacted me to say she had looked up her Visa account and found out she had lost approximately €36 over a three month period. I was laughing at the idea of it until I looked up my own and found I had been taken for €60. It happened when I booked online a train ticket from Charleville to Dublin and at the end of my transaction a pop-up box offered me a €10 discount on my next Iarnród Éireann fare. I thought it was very good form and very good business on the part of Iarnród Éireann to reward regular customers such as me. I was chuffed at the idea. I am very vigilant when signing off on any financial offers online and am reasonably computer literate and it must have been a very well worded document for me to have clicked it without realising it would cost me €12 per month in perpetuity had I not been alerted to the fact. I am very disappointed that Iarnród Éireann would be associated with such activity. With Senator Darragh O'Brien and others, I call on Iarnród Éireann to desist immediately because there must be hundreds of people, some of whom may be sitting in this Chamber, who have not checked their balances yet. There are some regular train users here such as Senator Paul Coghlan. I hope everything is all right in his account.
Senators Darragh O'Brien and Ned O'Sullivan made valid points, but I am no longer amazed at Senator Marc MacSharry's performances and how he allows himself to get carried away. The Sligo school of acting has much to answer for.
That is jealousy.
Not at all.
It is.
His points were well made.
Senator Marc MacSharry was disgraceful. There are two issues involved and we would not want to get carried away. One is cost control, which Irish Rail must address. Its accounts show it has a job to do there. Equally, we cannot expect, as the Senator implied, that the taxpayer must continually be screwed for everything, regardless. We no longer live in such a State. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Leo Varadkar, is sounding a note of caution. Senator Ned O'Sullivan rightly points out that we do not have a difficulty on the southern route. We are giving it good use and we often have difficulty fighting for a seat but more power to those who are coming from Cork, Kerry and joining the trains at Charleville, Limerick Junction and even Thurles. The trains coming up in the mornings and returning in the evenings are full, as we know well. Many of the inter-city services are very well used. If what Senator Marc MacSharry said about Sligo is true, it is up to the chamber of commerce and the local communities to be more active in promoting increased rail use if that is required. We cannot expect the taxpayer to continue to fund it regardless. That is the message.
The Senator should ask the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Alan Kelly, about his special train in County Tipperary which carries approximately five passengers per day.
There might be one train service-----
He got that in as a-----
That service cold not operate for a long time. With the floods we had during the winter it was effectively running through a portion of a flood plain.
Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?
We understand that particular line. I am just saying-----
Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?
I am sure the Leader thoroughly agrees with me. We just need to catch ourselves on, particularly Senator Marc MacSharry, with respect.
Sometimes I think we do not live in the real world. I heard the reports today that the Insolvency Service of Ireland, ISI, has concluded only four mortgage deals, as Senator Aideen Hayden said, in one year. ISI said progress is slow; that is the understatement of the year. It is ineffective. My colleague, Senator Feargal Quinn, has said it is time we brought that legislation back into the House to make it effective. All the evidence shows that the system only works when there is intervention on behalf of distressed mortgage and personal or business debt holders who are able to negotiate write-downs and sustainable deals. Organisations such as the Irish Mortgage Holders Organisation are doing that effectively with some of the institutions. Nothing else is working. Negotiation must be the first step. The Government must put its energies behind that because the banks also need to clear off this debt and put sustainable arrangements in place in order that they can get on with their business. I support the call for the Minister to come into the House to revisit that ineffective legislation.
I very strongly support the call for public consultation in this House on universal health insurance. If we can deliver on this in a cost-effective way and offer reliable universal health care for the country, we will be successful and it will be great. I stood on this platform myself. However all the indications are that we are going down the wrong road. Last night I tabled an Adjournment matter before the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Alex White on GP care for the under-sixes. He completely contradicted what 200 GPs said to me and other Senators in Galway City. The Minister of State has said that on three occasions he has offered the GPs an opportunity to negotiate.
We are not discussing yesterday's business today.
The GPs have said the opposite. The Minister of State said the GPs could negotiate without influencing cost. Is that negotiation? I rest my case. Let us have a proper public consultation that includes all the stakeholders who are needed to deliver universal health care.
I must comment on Senator Darragh O'Brien's calling for an amendment to the Order of Business. I understand his political motives. He just wants to keep this issue going. He said it is as valid today as it was on Tuesday when he asked for the Attorney General to come into the House to be questioned. It is just another example of the Senator stirring the pot. I remind him where and how long ago the seeds of this issue were planted. I remind him that this is a corporate governance issue which has affected our corporate community, charitable negations, sporting organisations and, now, An Garda Síochána. The Government is dealing with the issue. There is commentary from many quarters. Bringing the Attorney General here would be just a political game. The Government will not take its eye off the ball but will keep its eye on the economy, job creation and reform. That is what this issue is all about.
With regard to the theatrics of Senator Marc MacSharry, the last thing the Minister, Deputy Leo Varadkar, wants to do is close rural railway lines. This is another example of reform and it is about asking semi-State companies to perform with a business perspective. I know it is a political ploy because the Senator referred to 23 May when the local and European elections will take place. That is why he wants to stir it. I commend what Fine Gael is doing in reforming this great country of ours.
Dublin West will be happy with Senator Eamonn Coghlan. I feel a by-election run coming on.
He is being political now.
I support the comments made by my colleague, Senator David Norris, in utterly condemning the attacks on the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter, at his home, involving his family and, more insidiously, the anti-Semitic nature of the attacks.
Well said.
There is no place in Irish society for this type of behaviour and this message should go out loud and clear. I know my colleagues in the other House, irrespective of their political differences with the Minister, have also condemned the attacks. The Fianna Fáil group in its entirety utterly and unambiguously condemns this outrageous uncivilised behaviour by a person or persons unknown and assures the Minister that we do not in any way support it.
I want to cast minds back to when the Government was formed and concerns were expressed about what was seen as a very serious rural-urban imbalance in the appointment of Ministers. It was stated at the time that it would come back to haunt the Government. Far be it from me to disagree with my friend and colleague, Senator Paul Coghlan, on the most recent statements made by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Leo Varadkar, but one reads headlines such as that on page 1 of the Irish Independent "Varadkar's plan to close railways" and another on page 17 about new fears of another blow to rural life amid a warning of train service cuts. It is not coming from this side of the House; it is what the people believe what is happening, that the Government is systematically shutting down rural Ireland. This is the perception, regardless of whether Senators like it.
Newspaper headlines are an editor's responsibility.
I remind Senators, six weeks ahead of the local elections, of the old cliché that perception is everything in politics. It is not about the reality. Even Irish Rural Link has been chilled to the bone. I am shocked by the statements of the Minister, Deputy Leo Varadkar, because it is a proven fact throughout the world that public services, particularly bus and rail services, are not expected to make a profit. There is an obligation on the Government of the day to provide social services for the people they represent. That is the bottom line. This does not take in any way from their being efficient or run efficiently. A cost benefit analysis was carried out approximately a decade ago by consultants employed by the then Fianna Fáil Government which showed that irrespective of whether there would be increased numbers, the Dublin-Sligo rail service would never be viable.
They got it wrong.
Is the Senator looking for a debate on the issue?
Yes. The rail service would never be viable because there would always be a population imbalance between the west and east of the country. It is a fact of Irish life. If what the Minister stated is endorsed by the Government, woe betide the Fine Gael and Labour Party candidates who will go before the electorate in six weeks time, particularly those in my part of the country-----
The Senator is over time.
They will rue the day they stayed quiet when the Minister threatened to shut down another service in rural Ireland.
It has to do with usage.
I propose an amendment to the Order of Business that the Taoiseach or the Minister come to the House today to explain and clarify the Government's attitude to and policy on rural Ireland, not only on this issue. It is long past time that the Government was brought to account for the measures it has taken in the past three years. As has been explained by my colleague, Senator Marc MacSharry, it is totally unacceptable and the Government will reap the whirlwind on 23 May.
The issue of transport has been raised. I agree with my good friend and colleague, Senator Terry Brennan, on his proposal that the Committee on Procedure and Privileges be asked to consider issuing an invitation to Mr. Michael O'Leary, chief executive officer of Ryanair, to address the House.
The Committee on Procedure and Privileges will deal with that issue.
I support my colleague, Senator Terry Brennan, simply because Mr. O'Leary is one of the greatest business people we have ever created.
He created himself.
The interruption is much appreciated.
It is a matter for the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?
I congratulate Ryanair. The Taoiseach is on his way to Dublin Airport to officially open the new Ryanair block. Ryanair has developed a global brand and is an example of what can be achieved by a small country. It is the leading airline in Europe and went from carrying 1 million passengers to almost 90 million passengers and I understand that in the coming years that figure will grow to 150 million. The airline will drive tourism in this country and make an indelible contribution to the recovery we are experiencing. Senator Terry Brennan's proposal is inspired and I sincerely hope the Committee on Procedure and Privileges will look favourably on it.
I second the proposal made by Senator Paschal Mooney to amend the Order of Business.
I join my colleagues in condemning the desperate treatment afforded to the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter, by the cowards who delivered the package to his house. I express my personal and professional sympathy to the Minister.
The Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, is definitely throwing the baby out with the bathwater with his White Paper on universal health care. What seems to have slid under all of us is a further delay in the development of the national children's hospital. Why is the Minister speaking about universal health care when we do not even have a building for children to go to when they are sick? Some Monday or Tuesday when Senators are travelling to, or leaving, Dublin, I ask them to drive around the grounds of St. James's Hospital. It will only take ten minutes for them to do so. I have done so and met the people involved. I will outline for Senators the Dolphin report which did not recommend St. James's Hospital as the perfect site. It only met one or two of the criteria outlined by Dolphin. The report stated 5.6 ha would be required, whereas St. James's Hospital extends to only 2.5 ha. Demolition of the hospital will take four to five months. I ask Senators to think about 35 trucks on rotas hauling filthy dusty debris five times a day. There are two small entrances to the hospital grounds. There is hardly a car parking space for the staff. The new plans include an underground car park, but I would love the Minister to come to the House to discuss the issue because the Drimnagh sewers run under St. James's Hospital. Most of the heavy electrical cabling under the hospital has not been mapped. It will be extremely difficult to map and in doing so there will be huge time delays. If St. James's Hospital is to be the location of the national children's hospital, staff will have to park off-site. Imagine people from rural Ireland with a sick child getting out at the Red Cow to get on the Luas to bring the child to hospital.
On the heritage note, there is a very fine Victorian church on the grounds of St. James's Hospital that must be destroyed. It reeks of the Mater Hospital site scenario all over again. The press reports state the national children's hospital will still be ready in 2018, to which my response is "balderdash". We need to ask the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly to come to the House. St. James's Hospital is not the site for the national children's hospital. Action must be taken on this issue. We need to discuss what should be done.
For the fourth day in a row, a proposed amendment to the Order of Business requests that we bring the Attorney General to the House. On this fourth occasion I will repeat that the Government has initiated a commission of inquiry investigation. The Fianna Fáil Party continues to play politics. I think Fianna Fáil Members should quit doing this because they have done enough damage to themselves. They should take time to take a pull. People are fed up with their antics for a number of weeks.
Thanks for the advice.
The matter was decided by the Houses of the Oireachtas when the motion of no confidence was defeated in the Dáil. It should be left at that because I would hate to see the Members opposite doing more damage to themselves.
Senators Darragh O'Brien, Michael Mullins and Ned O'Sullivan referred to online discount and savings offers on completesavings.ie.
Was that point okay?
What I heard today was disturbing, as I had not heard of it, but from what the Senators have mentioned, it is absolutely despicable. Perhaps the way to get further information on the matter from the Minister is to raise it on the Adjournment. Such practices should be carefully examined. I am disappointed State bodies are involved in such schemes.
Senator Ivana Bacik welcomed the fall in unemployment to 11.8%. The decrease is to be welcomed by all. To reiterate what she said, we cannot stop at this. Job creation and the economy have been and will continue to be the first priority of the Government. We would not be happy for the rate of unemployment to remain at 11.8%. This is the 21st month in a row we have seen a fall in the unemployment figures, which is to be welcomed.
On the issue of universal health insurance Senator Ivana Bacik was joined by Senators Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, Michael Mullins, Fidelma Healy Eames and others in welcoming the White Paper. As a White Paper is a discussion document, the Government is inviting comments from all side on the issue of universal health insurance. I am sure the Joint Committee on Health and Children will debate it at length and I hope we will have an opportunity to debate it in the House. We have public consultation hearings organised in the next month or two, which will take us up to September, but we can consider other matters also. We are dealing with the issue of human rights in the periodic review. The hearings will take place sometime in May.
Senators Feargal Quinn, Aideen Hayden and Fidelma Healy Eames mentioned the fact that only four cases had been successfully resolved by the Insolvency Service of Ireland. The Minister has stated that after this body beds down - it is bedding down but it has only been in place for one year - the Government will review the legislation. I will certainly bring the matter to his attention. I think it is his intention to have the legislation reviewed and amended, if necessary.
Senator Feargal Quinn proposed an amendment to the Order of Business that No. 9 on the Order Paper be taken before No. 1. I have no problem in acceding to that request.
Senator Cáit Keane raised the issue of violence against women and requested that we debate and sign the Istanbul Convention. I will certainly have that issue examined.
Senators Marc MacSharry and Paschal Mooney raised a number of matters. The theatrical expertise of Senator Marc MacSharry came to the fore when he referred to the proposed closure of railway lines. Some people believe everything they read in the newspapers. When we talk about the closure of railway lines, I can think of the wholesale closure of railway lines in the 1960s by the then Fianna Fáil Government. Many of the lines in question were viable. I can give one example in my constituency, namely, the closure of the railway line from Waterford to Tramore. It would be a goldmine now.
What about Carlingford?
Many more railway lines were closed.
Reopen it. What about the railway line in the Minister of State, Deputy Alan Kelly's county of Tipperary and his special train?
I am glad that the Senator is showing concern for something that might be closed. The Fianna Fáil Party closed railway lines many years ago without recourse to the public. It does make any difference what year it was.
We might as well be talking about Ernest Blythe and his pension.
The Senator has gone off track again.
Does the Leader want a history lesson or does he want he want to return to reality?
Senators Terry Brennan and Martin Conway called for the chief executive of Ryanair to be invited to address the House, a matter which will be brought to the Committee on procedure and Privileges.
Senators David Norris, Paschal Mooney and Mary Ann O'Brien referred to the hate mail sent to the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter. This must be condemned by all and I thank the Senators for raising the matter. It is despicable that there are people who would send hate mail. Senator David Norris had previously called for the resignation of the Minister, but I fully respect that he also said Deputy Alan Shatter had remarkable qualities as a reforming Minister.
Senator Paul Coghlan suggested taxpayers could not always be asked to foot the bill for non-performing railway lines or other infrastructure, but I am sure a cost benefit analysis will be undertaken of any railway line before closure is contemplated.
Senator Eamonn Coghlan mentioned that the Government needed to continue to focus on job creation and the economy. The Government has been doing this for the past three years and it is beginning to bear fruit with the upturn in the economy.
Senator Martin Conway welcomed the fact that Ryanair was driving increased passenger numbers to Ireland. With the opening of new routes, it is expected that an additional 1.4 million tourists will visit Ireland.
I will not get into a debate with Senator Mary Ann O'Brien on the location of the national children's hospital; the matter has been decided and the project will proceed. We have received many reports on the site and I think most, if not all, people, except those who may have vested interests, want the project to proceed.
Senator Darragh O'Brien has proposed an amendment to the Order of Business, "That, in accordance with Standing Order 56, the Attorney General be invited to attend the Seanad today to discuss the taping of telephone conversations in Garda stations." Is the amendment being pressed?
Yes, it is.
Again.
Amendment put:
The Seanad divided: Tá, 12; Níl, 24.
Tá
- Crown, John.
- Daly, Mark.
- Leyden, Terry.
- MacSharry, Marc.
- Mooney, Paschal.
- Norris, David.
- Ó Murchú, Labhrás.
- O'Brien, Darragh.
- O'Sullivan, Ned.
- Quinn, Feargal.
- Reilly, Kathryn.
- White, Mary M.
Níl
- Bacik, Ivana.
- Brennan, Terry.
- Burke, Colm.
- Coghlan, Eamonn.
- Coghlan, Paul.
- Comiskey, Michael.
- Conway, Martin.
- Cummins, Maurice.
- D'Arcy, Jim.
- D'Arcy, Michael.
- Gilroy, John.
- Hayden, Aideen.
- Henry, Imelda.
- Keane, Cáit.
- Landy, Denis.
- Mac Conghail, Fiach.
- Mullins, Michael.
- Naughton, Hildegarde.
- Noone, Catherine.
- O'Brien, Mary Ann.
- O'Keeffe, Susan.
- O'Neill, Pat.
- Sheahan, Tom.
- van Turnhout, Jillian.
Tellers: Tá, Senators Paschal Mooney and Ned O'Sullivan; Níl, Senators Paul Coghlan and Aideen Hayden.
Amendment declared lost.
Senator Feargal Quinn has proposed an amendment to the Order of Business, "That No. 9 be taken before No. 1." The Leader has indicated that he will accept the amendment. Is the amendment agreed to? Agreed.
Senator Paschal Mooney has proposed an amendment to the Order of Business, "That a debate on Government policy on rural Ireland be taken today." Is the amendment being pressed?
Amendment put:
The Seanad divided: Tá, 12; Níl, 23.
Tá
- Crown, John.
- Cullinane, David.
- Daly, Mark.
- Leyden, Terry.
- MacSharry, Marc.
- Mooney, Paschal.
- Norris, David.
- Ó Murchú, Labhrás.
- O'Brien, Darragh.
- O'Sullivan, Ned.
- Quinn, Feargal.
- Reilly, Kathryn.
Níl
- Bacik, Ivana.
- Brennan, Terry.
- Burke, Colm.
- Coghlan, Eamonn.
- Coghlan, Paul.
- Comiskey, Michael.
- Conway, Martin.
- Cummins, Maurice.
- D'Arcy, Jim.
- D'Arcy, Michael.
- Gilroy, John.
- Hayden, Aideen.
- Henry, Imelda.
- Keane, Cáit.
- Mac Conghail, Fiach.
- Mullins, Michael.
- Naughton, Hildegarde.
- Noone, Catherine.
- O'Brien, Mary Ann.
- O'Keeffe, Susan.
- O'Neill, Pat.
- Sheahan, Tom.
- van Turnhout, Jillian.
Tellers: Tá, Senators Paschal Mooney and Ned O'Sullivan; Níl, Senators Paul Coghlan and Aideen Hayden.
Amendment declared lost.
Question, "That the Order of Business, as amended, be agreed to," put and declared carried.