Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

The Acting Leader recently asked the Leader to consider a debate on Northern Ireland. Has he been successful in getting a date for such a debate? It is important that the House debates Northern Ireland before the Christmas recess, in light of the very dramatic and drastic plans for alleged reform of local government announced yesterday by the Secretary of State, Peter Hain.

This is a very serious issue. The Secretary of State wants to virtually abolish half of the local authorities in Northern Ireland and to create seven super authorities, three of which will be dominated by Nationalists and three by Unionists, with the one in the middle in Belfast being up for grabs.

This is a dangerous repartition of Northern Ireland whereby local government will now be streamlined between the two great alleged tribes. It is clear the Secretary of State wants to put pressure on the parties to take responsibility and he is using this as a means of ensuring they take control at some point in the next 12 months or so. The House should debate this issue because it has serious ramifications.

It is interesting that the only political party in favour of this sectarian carve-up is Sinn Féin, which speaks volumes. I ask the Acting Leader to organise a debate along those lines. Local government is one of the few aspects of government working in Northern Ireland. It provides an opportunity for Unionists, Nationalists, republicans and loyalists to come together and talk about local issues. While there is not much measure of responsibility in local government in Northern Ireland, it is working. We need to tread very carefully before this radical reform package is accepted by all sides.

On a final matter, when the Navan bus disaster happened we all asked for a debate on the report once it was published. I understand the report cannot be published because of possible criminal proceedings in the case. Will the Acting Leader ascertain whether the five families affected will at least be given an opportunity of reading the report before it is published and when the matter is likely to be debated in the House? The issue of the safety of the school bus fleet is of concern to all Members.