Brendan Ryan (Labour)

I rarely anticipate your rulings, a Chathaoirligh, but do so on this occasion. Contained in the Order Paper laid before the House this morning are no less than 57 national heritage area orders. Where did they come from, what are they about and will we have some opportunity, at least in a generic fashion, to discuss measures as extensive as 57 separate national heritage area orders? I only saw the list this morning and I doubt even if I had seen it in time, I would have looked at them all. However, it is a major change and there are implications for people who own property in those areas. This should not slip through the Seanad without some debate.

Most of the debate on the Government's sudden proposal for a referendum on citizenship, to the extent that there has been a debate, has been conducted in a very restrained fashion. Will the Government give us some evidence, as opposed to misquoting doctors, supporting the suggestion that 23% of births in Dublin maternity hospitals are connected with an abuse of citizenship? Many people argue that the increased number of non-nationals having babies in Dublin relates to international recognition of the quality of maternity care in the city and that many of the non-nationals are well off and pay to come here because of the quality of the service. Nobody would dispute that point. That is the reason. It has nothing to do with citizenship and much to do with the quality of the service. It also gets rid of any suggestion that there is an urgent crisis.

This issue should be discussed dispassionately. Less emotionally sensitive issues such as land were referred to the All-Party Committee on the Constitution and this matter, more than any other, deserves to be referred to a special committee made up of all parties which can evaluate the evidence and come up with a consensus solution to whatever problem is identified. To do otherwise is to leave one open to the charge of exploiting fears about racism and immigration.

There have been many contradictory statements about the rights of the security personnel who will be protecting President Bush when he comes to Ireland in June. Will the Leader find out what passports those security personnel will be using? I refer to those who will be carrying arms, as the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform believes they will have the right to use them. Will they be travelling on ordinary or diplomatic passports? If they travel on diplomatic passports, the Garda Commissioner can do all the investigating he wants but they will be covered by diplomatic immunity. The Leader should clarify whether they will all be covered by diplomatic immunity, in which case the commissioner can investigate anything that happens but nothing will come of it because they are covered by diplomatic immunity.