Seanad debates
Thursday, 1 March 2012
Order of Business
11:00 am
Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
Ba mhaith liom chuile ádh a ghuí ar mhuintir Fhianna Fáil roimh an Ard-Fheis ag an deireadh seachtaine. Ta súil agam go n-imeoidh an Ard-Fheis go maith dóibh. Tuigim go bhfuil deacrachtaí acu faoi láthair. Sílim go léiríonn an méid atá ag tarlú faoi láthair go bhfuil tuairimí éagsúla ann faoin reafrainn atá ag teacht chun cinn. Léiríonn sé freisin an gá atá ann le díospóireacht an-leathan ar na ceisteanna seo.
I wish my Fianna Fáil compadres all the best for the Ard-Fheis and, in all seriousness, what is important about the events of the past 24 hours is that they have shown that there is a need for a very broad debate on the issues. It is a polarising treaty and there are very different viewpoints within all parties. It is very important that the debate be as wide, honest and open as possible. I say this in all sincerity. Tacaím leis an méid atá ráite ag an Seanadóir Ó Domhnaill maidir le ceist na dabhcha séarachais. Yesterday, a large crowd protested outside the House on the important issue of septic tanks. The Minister promised to have a debate on the standards that will apply to septic tanks once they were published. I welcome the publication of this information because it may put to bed many of the rumours and scaremongering that may have taken place.
I ask that the Minister for Education and Skills come before the House to debate the future of rural schools. While the House has debated educational issues on a number of occasions, it has not had a specific debate on rural schools. The Government has rowed back somewhat on its proposals on DEIS schools in urban areas but has failed to row back on its proposals for DEIS schools in rural areas. Hundreds of rural schools with between one and four teachers still do not know what the future will hold. It is important, therefore, that Senators discuss the implications of cutbacks in rural schools, school transport, scholarships and other areas. It is important to have a debate on rural Ireland. I will quickly plug the launch of our rural campaign in Castlebar tomorrow. Perhaps we will see the Taoiseach at the event.
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