Seanad debates

Wednesday, 4 July 2018

10:30 am

Photo of Kevin HumphreysKevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Having listened to people talk about the water crisis, sometimes I think it is like crocodile tears. Climate change is a reality and one must take a holistic approach. Last night the Heritage Bill was voted through the Dáil, which means grubbing and upland burning can take place now. There is no point in saying that it is terrible to have a water crisis unless one actually addresses climate change in a holistic way. Unfortunately not everyone is prepared to go down that road.

On the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, I must say that something stank last night. The Minister who was in the Chamber said he had not read the GRECO report. Then he was able to turn around to Senators and say there will be no earthquake when one reads it. After sustained pressure he said that he would bring the report to the Cabinet. Cabinet papers were circulated several days ago. Is he bringing it as a matter of urgency? He had not obviously planned to bring it to the Cabinet at present because at the very least what would be expected of any Minister from any party is that he or she would have read the papers he or she circulates to Cabinet before they are circulated.

GRECO is the Council of Europe's Group of States against Corruption and has issued a report, but we have not seen it. I believe we were being misled in the Chamber last night. It is a case of getting this through at all costs. My party has always acknowledged that there are some good elements in the proposals and we need to debate and discuss them, but we cannot do that in the dark. At the very least, the full facts should be put in front of us. I will take the Minister at his word, that he will bring this report to Cabinet tomorrow; that he will seek publication and then it will be circulated. There is an onus on the Seanad to say that we will not take Committee and Remaining Stages until we have had an opportunity to consider the report, the Government's viewpoints and to ensure that the amendments to the Bill take account of the GRECO report. I think there is an onus on us to do that. We have a responsibility to do that. The courts are one of the pillars of our democracy. We have seen the Northern Ireland Assembly being taken down as a consequence of "cash for ash". This is more important than cash for ash. This is one of the foundations of this State that has served us so well. We as legislators have a responsibility to ensure any changes in our court services are the best they can be. I will be supporting the amendment to the Order of Business.

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