Seanad debates

Thursday, 9 November 2017

10:30 am

Photo of Keith SwanickKeith Swanick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Cathaoirleach will know that the investment of public moneys in the tobacco industry is a great disappointment to me. In July this year my colleague, Deputy Sean Fleming, and I wrote to Mr. Justice Peter Kelly about the investments made by the Courts Service in tobacco companies. Mr. Justice Kelly is chairman of the investment committee of the Courts Service, but in his response he effectively stated that the service would not invest in the tobacco industry if the Government instructed it accordingly and if the Oireachtas made it illegal to do so. There is no law prohibiting the Courts Service from investing in the tobacco industry so it is okay for it to do so.

As a result of this response, and due to the inaction of the Government, I have drafted the Courts Service (Amendment) Bill 2017. It is a very short Bill whose aim is to amend the Courts Service Act 1998 to prohibit investments by the Courts Service in tobacco-related industries. The moneys being invested pertains to wards of court and moneys awarded to juveniles - those under the age of 18. It is abhorrent that these moneys, particularly those relating to medical cases, could be invested in the tobacco industry. It makes no sense to me at all. I believe the Bill is unnecessary and cumbersome but it is within the gift of the Government to bring this farcical situation to an end.

I move that leave be granted to introduce No. 10 on the Order Paper, the Health and Safety (Carbon Monoxide) Bill, a Bill which introduces a requirement for all landlords, which includes a public body or an approved housing body, to ensure an annual service and maintenance is carried out on all carbon monoxide-producing heating products in all tenanted properties. It requires proper records to be maintained and that work be carried out by an authorised person. The HSE has published data showing that, on average, six people die unnecessarily from carbon monoxide poisoning and many others present to GPs with symptoms.

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