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Seanad Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 19 Jun 2014

Vol. 232 No. 6

Order of Business

The Order of Business is No. 1, address to Seanad Éireann by Ms Catherine McGuinness on children's rights in Ireland, to be taken at 11.45 a.m. in accordance with the arrangements set out in the motion passed by the House on Tuesday, 17 June - I hope as many Members as possible will be in the Chamber for the address; No. 2, motion regarding the renewal of certain provisions of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998, to be taken at 1.15 p.m. and conclude not later than 1.45 p.m., with the contributions of all Senators not to exceed four minutes; and No. 3, motion regarding section 8 the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009, to be taken at 1.45 p.m. and conclude not later than 2.15 p.m., with the contributions of all Senators not to exceed four minutes.

I wish the banking inquiry committee the best of luck in its endeavours. It is meeting for the first time this morning and I hope it will expedite matters, rather than drag them out, as appeared to be suggested, with a political agenda in mind.

In a month during which the Minister for Social Protection has been out on the hustings and reassuring Labour Party members that she has learned the lessons of the recent election debacle, in which the party's vote was decimated, that there will be no more austerity measures and that she will stand up for core Labour Party values in the Government, particularly in the budget, it is somewhat ironic that she has announced that she will take money from over 9,000 single parents who will lose their one-parent family payment, while next year it is intended that the payment will be taken from all families with children over seven years of age. I realise these measures have been in gestation for a couple of years and date from a couple of budgets ago. However, in the light of all that has happened and the recent verdict by the people on continuing austerity, it is extraordinary that the Minister is still pursuing her austerity line. It is affecting the most disadvantaged part of society, one that I would have thought the Labour Party would consider to be a natural constituency - lone single parents. The National Lone Parent Family Network claims that working single parents will be forced to give up work because of the cut. It states that when it is implemented, there will be a loss of €3,600 per year and that single parents would be better off not working. Despite the fact that the Minister's spokesperson-----

That issue will be the subject of an Adjournment matter later.

I am aware of that, but I raise the issue in the context of the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill. Perhaps the Leader might indicate when it is intended to take that Bill because I am referring to certain provisions contained in it.

On an unrelated matter, the continuing sectarian war in the Middle East is a source of great concern. It might appear that it involves countries about which we in this country know little and care less but nothing could be further from the truth. There are substantial oil deposits in Iraq and the war could have a detrimental effect on the Irish economy. I would be grateful if the Leader invited the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to come to the House to make a statement on Ireland's position on the war and update us on the European Union's position on the action, if any, it intends to take. There appears to be no international reaction to the war, perhaps because people are waiting to see what will happen militarily. The issue is fraught with complexity and it would be helpful to have a debate or at least be given an indication from the Minister as to the Ireland's and the European Union's position on it.

I also wish the banking inquiry committee well in its endeavours. The inquiry starts this morning.

I wish to comment on Professor Thomas Piketty who has published a landmark study of history and the dynamics of inequality in economies. He will speak at the Think-tank for Action on Social Change, TASC, economic conference tomorrow at Croke Park. He has called for amendments to property tax in Ireland and suggested it should be redesigned so as to be based not on the gross value of properties but on the net value to owners, in other words, after the amount of any mortgage or other debt on property has been taken into account.

That is a great idea.

I express my support for this proposal. I cannot see any way we can justify levying a tax on a property where the owner might be in negative equity and the asset might be worthless. It simply compounds his or her nightmare. I have dealt with a sufficient number of people who are in that position to know that we must address the issue. If we remove taxes on people who are in negative equity or have lower levels of value in their homes, we will have to seek to obtain more from people with greater wealth, be it in their homes or other forms of wealth such as stocks and shares. However, I am prepared to champion such a move towards greater fairness and strongly suggest there be a debate in the House to consider it. I ask the Leader to facilitate such a debate.

I welcome the report from the National Economic and Social Council, NESC, today. Unfortunately, it states approximately one quarter of Irish households are economically inactive. I do not welcome this aspect, but the fact that the author of the report, Dr. Helen Johnson, has welcomed moves by the Government to try to address some of the structural issues faced by people who find themselves in that position. It is unfortunate that at the height of the Celtic tiger economy Ireland had the second highest rate of economically inactive households in the European Union. Dr. Johnson has highlighted, in particular, changes the Government is making to the rent supplement system and the introduction of the Intreo offices as positive steps in the right direction. However, I agree with Senator Paschal Mooney and call for the Minister for Social Protection to be invited to the House in early course to discuss the NESC report and the position of single parents.

On a positive note, I welcome the introduction of the Leap card deal for tourists, which will give tourists 72 hours of travel in the Dublin region for €19.50.

It is a great idea. I cannot understand why we did not do it years ago and hope it will be rolled out quickly to other parts of the tourism industry.

My final comment is directed at those who have advocated that, as a nation, we should default on our debts. I bring to their attention the fact that Argentina is experiencing problems in paying the next tranche of its debts which falls due for payment at the end of the month. Because it defaulted in 2002 it has been unable to access the capital markets and its economy is in serious trouble. We should take on board this salutary lesson.

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business that No. 13 be taken before No. 1 today. I urge the Leader to accept this proposal.

During the week the Central Bank warned customers that there was no regulation in Ireland or elsewhere in Europe of crowd funding. Crowd funding is a wonderful idea and those involved are happy to see regulations, but there is no urgency because the small number of companies involved have taken steps to protect consumers, investors and lenders. However, the fact that there is no regulation in Europe probably means we should be setting some standard because at some point in the future somebody may misbehave and citizens will lose out if that happens. I suggest, therefore, that we bring the issue to the attention of the responsible Minister who I imagine is the Minister for Finance.

I second Senator Feargal Quinn's proposal.

I welcome the announcement yesterday by Rory McIlroy that he will represent Ireland at the Olympic Games in 2016. This is wonderful news. Rory has represented Ireland from when he was a young man in youth and junior competitions. It is only two years since the London Olympic Games took place and we were all delighted with the wonderful gold medal performance by Katie Taylor and the other medals won. With two years to go before the next games in Rio de Janeiro, the excitement in Irish sport has already begun. The athletes are half way through their preparations to represent Ireland and pursue their dreams. I know that when athletes compete at the Olympic Games, whether from the North or the South, they are very proud to represent the island of Ireland. When the fans watch the Olympic Games, irrespective of whether the sports person concerned is from the North or the South, they know that they are representing the people of this island. We must not forget those athletes who are pursuing their dreams and ambitions now that Ireland's most famous son on the international sports circuit has announced his intention to represent Ireland.

I welcome the decision by the R&A that Portrush will stage the British Open in 2019. This is a major statement and another indication of the relationship between Great Britain and Ireland. I have no doubt that with Rory representing Ireland and the British Open taking place in Portrush in Northern Ireland, it will give a huge boost to tourism here in the next five years.

Members will have received recently a copy of the annual report of Horse Racing Ireland, which makes interesting and encouraging reading. It highlights again the contribution of the racing industry to the economy and the number of jobs involved in it, apart from the great image it creates for us abroad. I ask that the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine come into the House to take us through the report, examine the positive aspects and the ways by which we could enhance and expand on them. The rural festival race meetings have huge turnovers. Everybody knows about the meetings at Punchestown, Leopardstown and the Curragh, but in my town of Listowel the turnover in one week in September was almost as much as the turnover at the Curragh for the entire year. These are issues that should be examined and the Minister might come into the House to do so.

I note that a small training stable not far from where I live pulled off a wonderful achievement at Royal Ascot yesterday when Charles Byrne who mostly trains national hunt horses beat all of the Arabs and the other big names with the million pound horses. It shows that if the right man has the right ammunition, he can do the business.

It must be the Ring of Kerry-----

Senator Ned O'Sullivan should have told us about it.

On the day on which former Senator Catherine McGuinness will address the House on children's rights I refer to the European Commission's country-specific recommendations for Ireland. There are eight recommendations on which Ireland should act in the period 2014 to 2015. The Commission recommends that Ireland take action in the period 2014 to 2015 to facilitate female labour market participation by improving child care facilities and having more affordable and full-time child care services, particularly for low income families. If we ever listen to the European Union on any issue, we should listen to it on this one, particularly when we hear that management at Tallaght hospital sent an e-mail to all members of staff - the hospital has a huge staff - informing them that the crèche located in a mobile unit which had operated for a number of years would close. I call for a debate on child care provision, particularly workplace crèches. Tallaght hospital would be the ideal place in which to promote this European Commission country-specific recommendation. The chief executive officers of the hospitals, the Minister for Health, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and child care organisations should come together to produce a prototype of a workplace crèche. New buildings are due to be built at Tallaght hospital and it would be an ideal place in which to start implementing this country-specific recommendation for Ireland. Twenty years ago I led the way in proposing, as my first action in the former Dublin County Council, that a crèche be provided in the functional area of South Dublin County Council. The idea was pooh-poohed initially, but I got an architect involved and it was the first local authority in Ireland to have a crèche. Some 20 years later we are still on the back foot waiting for workplace crèches in particular to be provided. We now have a recommendation from the European Commission which I ask the Seanad to take seriously and address. We should lead the way. Tallaght hospital would be a good place in which to start. There are new buildings ready to go and a workplace crèche should be incorporated in them. I suggest it be used as a prototype. There are workplace crèches, but the Government, hospital managements and everybody else should become involved. However, we should lead the way on the issue, particularly as we have been given a kick, so to speak, by the European Commission.

Ba mhaith liom aontú leis an méid a bhí le rá ag an Seanadóir Mooney maidir leis ghearradh siar atá ann do thuismitheoirí aonair. I support what Senator Paschal Mooney said about the cuts for lone parents. I listened with interest to Government Senators discuss issues to do with child care, housing, etc. I hope the concerns they are expressing will also be expressed at budget time when we will see further cuts of up to €2 billion. These are the areas that have been hammered in budget after budget. The position in which lone parents, in particular, find themselves, especially young mothers, is distressing. My office in Galway is inundated with people who are very concerned about how they will cope because of the cuts made to rent supplement.

I thank all those Senators who were able to attend the presentation last night on the direct provision system. It was a very good presentation and I extend an invite to anybody who wants to become involved in the cross-party Oireachtas group we have set up; he or she will be most welcome. The Leader might consider having a debate on the direct provision system, for which we have called previously.

The main issue I want to address is the crisis facing farmers. Is the Leader concerned that on two days this week we saw huge protests on different issues by members of the farming community? There will be another protest today about the GLAS programme. Small farmers, in particular, are protesting. They were very unhappy with the Ministers, Deputies Simon Coveney and Jimmy Deenihan, last night.

Very little wriggle room is being given in regard to how the collective agreement situation is being handled, how the GLAS programme will proceed and the impact this will have, particularly on small farmers in the west of Ireland. Farmers are also concerned about the legacy environmental issues from previous Administrations, which have affected the way farming has progressed, and about some of the environmental impacts of measures they were asked to take previously which are now being rowed back on, leaving them high and dry and without funding to continue the work that was started.

With this and with yesterday's conference on our ocean's wealth in mind, perhaps we could have a series of debates on agriculture, fishing and natural resource issues. We could focus on fisheries and aquaculture in one session, on the changes to the terms of the oil and gas regulation in another, on inland fisheries and on agricultural issues. Will the Leader ask the Minister to come to the House to discuss the issues affecting farmers within the next week or two?

Thanks to extensive media coverage over the past week, most people in the country are aware of the dastardly deed that took place in Dalkey earlier this week - the cruel and callous attempt to poison peregrine falcons nesting in the quarry. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident, and we have records of recent attempts to kill, poison or shoot protected species such as white-tailed eagles, red kites and owls.

We in Ireland are blessed to have such a range of wild birds and birds of prey, but unfortunately we do not value and prize them as much as we should. I call on the Leader to invite the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Deenihan, to the House to discuss this. In fairness, he has shown great interest in his brief and remit in regard to natural habitats and the preservation and support of wildlife. However, we must support organisations such as BirdWatch Ireland, which must often operate on a wing and a prayer, with limited resources, to try to do a great deal of work. It is impossible for BirdWatch Ireland to do the task before it unless we resource and fund it better.

I am calling this morning for us to support BirdWatch Ireland's call for the appointment of a wildlife liaison officer so that the public at large and the stakeholders in this sector, such as the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Garda, can be made more aware of the value of our natural heritage, our habitats and our wild birds, particularly birds of prey. It is horrendous to think that people would set out deliberately to poison, persecute and shoot birds or steal eggs from the nests of rare and protected species.

If we look across the water to the UK, we can see the energy, resources and effort put in there to protect birds of prey and develop them as a resource and tourist attraction in rural communities. It is well established that many sustainable and good jobs can be made available to rural communities in places as remote as the Isle of Mull in Scotland, where birds of prey attract tens of thousands of tourists to the area every year, which supports the local economy and tourism. I call on the Leader to invite the Minister, Deputy Deenihan, to the House and I call for support for the efforts of organisations such as BirdWatch Ireland so we can stop the type of carry-on and misconduct we have seen here, which is often based on misinformation surrounding birds of prey. Unfortunately, the situation in Dalkey was not an isolated incident, as we have seen similar incidents in Kerry, Donegal, Tipperary and Clare. We must ensure that we value our natural heritage and environment.

I welcome the announcement made yesterday by the Government that it will provide €200,000 to GOAL to provide humanitarian assistance for vulnerable families fleeing the conflict in Iraq. We all share the concern that the security situation has seriously deteriorated and the fact that 500,000 people have been displaced as a result of the intense fighting there. Everybody in this House joins the Tánaiste in condemning the sectarian attacks against civilians in Iraq and calls for the immediate release of prisoners, including the Turkish nationals who were taken hostage recently in Mosul. In recent elections the Iraqis have demonstrated their support for civilian government, and it is now incumbent on all Iraqi leaders to come together to provide national unity and ease the tensions within the country.

I also call on the Leader to schedule a debate in this House on the NESC report published yesterday which shows that 23% of Irish households are jobless. This is far above the European norm. Some 56% of Irish jobless households have children and these households are most likely to have no educational qualifications, to be unskilled and never to have had work. The Taoiseach has said it is a priority of the Government to break the cycle of poverty and unemployment and the Government has stated that it will not accept a recovering economy and labour market where a large number of people are left behind. We need to tease out with our Ministers how we are going to break this cycle of unemployment for so many people. If we cannot have this debate before the end of this session, can we have it early in the new session?

I support Senator Eamonn Coghlan's welcome for Rory McIlroy's decision to declare for Ireland in the Olympics. This is an excellent decision for this country. We have no idea of the talent that exists here, talent like that of Rory McIlroy. A family in my town, Ballaghaderreen, has a few young lads in it and one day the father decided to bring the boys out for exercise and chose golf. After three years of playing golf, the family's 13 year old is now playing for Ireland. I have no doubt that Patrick Callaghan from Ballaghaderreen will be the Rory McIlroy of this country at some stage in the future.

I wish to raise the issue of small businesses and call for a debate on the struggle these businesses face on a daily basis. Commercial rates are a noose around their necks and county councils have failed to deal with this issue. If we are lucky, each year they just manage to keep them at the rate they are at or reduce them by 1%, which is not adequate. I know of businesses that in an effort to keep their doors open have decided to take most of their stock and move it into only half of the area from which the business operates to try to survive. These businesses are struggling against the Tescos and Aldis of this world. In particular, because of bad planning decisions made in the past, they are struggling against out-of-town developments. This is happening in most towns. People come to the outskirts of a town to do their business. They do not go into the towns and support other businesses but go home. I appreciate that the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, has tried various initiatives, such as JobsPlus, where half of a social welfare payment can be given to a business to employ somebody. This is an excellent initiative, but the problem is that it is working to the benefit of big business, as small businesses cannot afford to match that payment and employ people. Businesses are on their knees and we should have a debate in this Chamber on that issue as a matter of urgency.

On a day when thousands of farmers are coming to Dublin to protest about new measures, it is important that we have a discussion on the whole rural development programme, particularly the GLAS programme. From consultation with farmers over the weekend since the details of the scheme were announced, I have found that most small farmers, particularly those all along the west coast, will not be able to participate in the scheme. Over the years, we have seen the benefits of rural development and environmental schemes for the countryside.

It is important that we have a debate, resolve this problem and allow the smaller farmers to join the schemes.

I have a quick question for the Leader. When I was fairly newly elected, a controversy arose involving another politician who had made representations in respect of a criminal case to the Judiciary. It emerged in the press that several similar episodes had occurred. I was interviewed in the press and stated this was a practice we should probably regulate and legislate for. My first backbencher Bill was an attempt to regulate the process. At the time, the then Minister for Justice and Equality issued a statement to the effect that it was a bizarre proposal and that it would have represented a gross violation of the separation of powers. In view of recent reports, I wonder whether it is possible to have the question re-addressed. Considering that the practice I described still occurs, is it possible to have it acknowledged that my proposal to have clarity surrounding the making of representations, rather than the current opacity, and force people to register representations made to judges on behalf of constituents in criminal cases was not bizarre after all?

Senator Mooney made a point on lone parents. I understand there will probably be a social welfare Bill considered in the House next week. Therefore, we will have ample opportunity to discuss the matter.

Senator Mooney and others called for a debate on the sectarian war that is taking place in Iraq. I have asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to come to the House to debate the issue. I am still awaiting a response.

Senator Aideen Hayden referred to a number of reports and called for more fairness in the taxation system. She outlined the positive changes to the rent supplement scheme that were announced. She pointed out the circumstances in Argentina, which defaulted in 2002. We now see the problems it faces as a result, and lessons should be learned in that regard. I am sure this is not the last we will hear about the Argentinian economy.

Senator Feargal Quinn asked that the Order of Business be amended so No. 13 could be taken before No. 1. I am willing to accept that amendment to allow the Senator to publish the Bill.

Senators Eamonn Coghlan and O’Sullivan referred to sporting themes. Reference was made to Rory McIlroy representing Ireland in the Olympic Games. This is wonderful news. He has represented Ireland since he was a schoolboy, as was pointed out. The British Open will be held in Royal Portrush Golf Club. This will be a major boost to tourism. Senator O'Sullivan referred to the successes of Irish horse trainers in Royal Ascot. With regard to the Horse Racing Ireland report, the Minister was in the House discussing the horse-racing industry not so long ago. I doubt, therefore, that we will get him back to discuss that issue.

Senator Cáit Keane referred to country-specific recommendations from the European Commission, especially that on child care, and the emphasis on workplace crèches. She called for a debate on that issue. I will ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Flanagan, to come to the House to discuss it.

Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh referred to direct provision. I could not make the meeting last evening but I acknowledge there is certainly a need for more to be done with regard to direct provision centres. There is no question about that. The Senator raised the GLAS programme, as did Senator Comiskey, and called for a debate with the Minister. As stated, the Minister and Minister of State met farmers last evening on the matter.

Senator Whelan referred to the value of our natural heritage and the despicable effort of some individuals to poison peregrine falcons and many other protected species. This is a dreadful practice. The Senator praised the efforts of BirdWatch Ireland. We all praise its conservation efforts. I take the Senator's point on the recruitment of an extra member of staff to deal with these matters.

Senator Michael Mullins mentioned the allocation to GOAL to assist with humanitarian efforts in Iraq. He called for a debate on the NESC report also.

I note Senator Kelly's points on small and medium-sized enterprises, especially in the context of commercial rates. I am trying to arrange another debate on jobs and small and medium-sized enterprises with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, in early course.

Senator Crown referred to the registration of representations made on criminal cases. I agree there should be a register so we can see who is making representations. It is not acceptable that politicians should ask judges to reduce sentences, irrespective of the crime committed. I am sure we will hear more about that on another occasion.

Senator Quinn has proposed an amendment to the Order of Business: "That No. 13 be taken before No. 1." The Leader has indicated he is prepared to accept this amendment.

Amendment agreed to.
Order of Business, as amended, agreed to.
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