Rory Kiely (Fianna Fail)
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Before I call the Leader I must point out an error in the Order Paper. No.1 refers to Dáil Éireann where it should refer to Seanad Éireann. That will be corrected tonight. It is a printer's error.

Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)
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It is a motion about bovine diseases.

Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)
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We can all have a wish list for Christmas. The Order of Business is No. a1 on the Supplementary Order Paper, a referral motion whereby the subject matter of No. 1 on the Order Paper is being referred to the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food for consideration. These regulations concern a reduction in the disease levies applied to milk deliveries for processing and cattle slaughtered or exported to facilitate the eradication of TB and brucellosis in cattle. The rates have been reviewed in light of the improving disease situation and, as a consequence, there is to be a reduction in the costs of the scheme. This will be taken without debate; No. 2, a motion referring to the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights the report of the Independent Commission of Inquiry into the Dublin and Monaghan Bombings. The committee will report back to the Seanad within three months. This will be taken without debate; No. 3, statements on defamation, to be taken at the conclusion of the Order of Business and to conclude not later than 1.30 p.m, with the contributions of spokespersons not to exceed 15 minutes, those of all other Senators not to exceed ten minutes, Senators may share time and the Minister is to be called on to reply not later than ten minutes before the conclusion of the statements; No. 4, Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Powers and Functions) Bill 2003 – Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 2 p.m. and to conclude not later than 4 p.m; and No. 17, motion No. 26, to be taken, with the agreement of the House, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. This is a change from the proposed time of 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)
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We all await today the publication of the independent report into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. In particular, those who lost loved ones in that terrible atrocity more than 30 years ago await the report. In agreeing to No. 2 and allowing the committee to go about its work of drawing conclusions from the report over the next three months, in no way am I agreeing that the matter cannot be debated in the House over the coming weeks or perhaps early in the new session. It is important that the Government is represented in a debate in the House tomorrow or early next week, so that it can reflect on today's publication and colleagues on both sides of the House can make their views on the report known. It would be utterly wrong for us to jettison this report to a committee of the House for a three month period without any debate whatsoever. The Leader has my support on No. 2, but I reiterate that this should not suggest that I think the matter should not be debated in the House over the coming three months. That would be the wrong signal to send out to those who have sought this report for some years. I urge the Leader to organise a debate on this matter as soon as possible.

We have had some good debates in the House on the national drugs strategy, during which the Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Noel Ahern, has given a good account of himself. The problem of cocaine abuse, especially in Dublin, is escalating and must be addressed. Earlier this week the National Advisory Committee on Drugs pinpointed the problem of the rise in cocaine use in Dublin. The Government has continually failed to recognise this growing problem, using the argument that it is not emerging at treatment centres around the city.

We need to get real on the problem of cocaine abuse. It is the next wave after heroin, which has destroyed so many communities in this and many other cities. Cocaine is a real issue and it must be addressed. I ask the Leader to convey my views on this matter to the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Ahern, at the earliest possible time with a view to arranging a debate early in the next session on this problem. A range of measures is needed to address the problem of cocaine abuse. We are not well equipped currently when the Government will not recognise the extent of cocaine abuse in the city.

Feargal Quinn (Independent)
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I agree with Senator Brian Hayes that it would be a shame if we lost the opportunity to debate that report promptly. It is almost 30 years since the Dublin and Monaghan bombings took place. Many of us remember that day so well. Those who have sought the report need that debate immediately rather than it being put on the long finger.

I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Health and Children to come to the House to discuss the National Nutrition Surveillance Centre report on healthy or the lack of healthy lifestyles in certain parts of the country, which was published yesterday. We have always known that Ireland has different lifestyles from other parts of the world. We had not realised until yesterday the health implications for different parts of the country, for example, the east coast as against the south coast. There is a substantial amount of information in the report. The Minister will have much to say on it and we should invite him promptly for such a debate.

Kathleen O'Meara (Labour)
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I also welcome No. 2 and I agree with previous speakers that we should not wait three months before discussing the contents of the important report being published today, particularly since it has already been suggested that the extent of information or co-operation from the British side was not complete. If that is stated to be the case, it would be an important matter that must be discussed and given a public airing. I presume the same motion will come before the other House. It is important that Members of this House are given the earliest possible opportunity to comment on that report, to lend support to the families of those affected by the Dublin and Monaghan bombings and to attempt to give closure to the matter.

In light of Senator Quinn's comments on the National Nutrition Surveillance Centre survey on health, I suggest the Leader put it to the Minister for Health and Children that decentralisation could be good for one's health.

Camillus Glynn (Fianna Fail)
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We think so anyway.

Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)
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I am glad the report on the Dublin and Monaghan bombings is being published today. We have waited a long time for it and one can only imagine the suffering and grief of the families during the intervening period. The difficulty in not having a debate here is that a vacuum could develop which would be filled with supposition and conjecture. It is important for us to play a role in this regard. On the radio this morning, informed sources said there has been a lack of co-operation by the British Government. The British Government is a sovereign Government on friendly terms with Ireland. If a sovereign Government acted in the manner suggested, it casts a shadow over all our dealings with Britain and every other aspect of co-operation. It is vital that we have an early debate. I suggest it take place next week when we have had an opportunity to study the report. That does not take from the proposal that it should go to the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights, but in the current climate, a period of three months is too long. I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on this report in the immediate future.

Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)
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I support the call of Deputy Brian Hayes for a debate on the abuse of cocaine. It is not taken seriously enough because it is often considered as a drug for the middle and upper classes. I compliment "Fair City" on highlighting this issue recently. A trend is developing in Ireland after discos where people return to parties in houses not to continue drinking alcohol, but to take cocaine. This is happening not only in urban, but in rural areas also. Senator Brian Hayes is correct that this problem must be taken seriously; otherwise it will lead to heroin abuse. It has been classified not only as a recreational, but a designer drug.

Much attention has focused on the Hanly report. I will not dwell on the merits of that report except to say that the Mid-Western Health Board area, which the Cathaoirleach and I represent, is regarded as a pilot area. There has been a big increase in the number of consultants and new services in areas such as neurology, which I welcome. However, I cannot understand the contradiction in terms with, on the one hand, the increase in the number of consultants in the Mid-Western Health Board area and, on the other, the Hollywood report which does not recognise the need for a radiotherapy facility in the same region. I have often raised the issue of radiotherapy. I hope that if there is an expansion of services in Limerick Regional Hospital and the area that radiotherapy would complement those other facilities that are put in place.

Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)
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I support the views of a number of Senators from both sides on an issue first raised by Senator Brian Hayes. It is essential that we have a debate on the report which is being published today. That debate would help inform the work of the joint committee on the issues it will explore. I agree it is too serious a matter to be left aside for three months.

I would welcome, if possible, a debate next week on the ESRI report on poverty. Sometimes the media coverage of such issues can be unbalanced in one direction or the other. Clearly much progress has been made in reducing consistent poverty but, as often happens in a time of boom, the relative gap widened. It would be a good idea to have an informed debate on that subject.

Mary Henry (Independent)
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I support Senator Quinn's call for a debate on lifestyle. We all have different interests and come from different walks of life and we may be able to make positive suggestions as to what we can do about improving lifestyle here, particularly for children, because the increase in obesity among children is very substantial. I have asked Senator Ó Murchú previously if he could get Irish dancing back into schools for ten minutes each morning. There may be other things that people can suggest. Children are fatter than they have ever been and it is sad to see.

Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)
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That is a very good idea.

Maurice Hayes (Independent)
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I support the plea for a debate on the forthcoming report. I hope the Leader will balance the debate in such a way that it does not become an orgy of Brit bashing and do more harm than good. I have enormous sympathy for those who lost loved ones, who will not be brought back by it, and I have enormous admiration for the courage they have shown in remaking their lives over the years. I am a poor surrogate for the Protestant and Unionist people in Northern Ireland but this gives us some feeling of what many of them went through over this period when they saw unsolved crimes and perceived that there has been a lack of co-operation in dealing with them.

That was then, however, and this is now. We have been through this awful period and are beginning to pull things together. The relationship between the British and Irish Governments over the past ten years has been very helpful and to say that we would have to review our attitude to the British Government could be destructive. If there is a debate, we must remember that the Good Friday Agreement draws a line under the past and we are trying to make our way into the future.

James Bannon (Fine Gael)
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It is nearly three weeks since the report of the Competition Authority was published. It highlighted Ireland's rip-off culture, stating that we are the most expensive and least competitive country in Europe. A former enforcement officer of the authority pointed out areas in which improvements can be made and we should debate the report, which the Fine Gael website highlights.

Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail)
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It must be important then.

James Bannon (Fine Gael)
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There has been a huge response to the website, which is making people more aware. We must establish a body along the lines of the Criminal Assets Bureau to deal with the rip-off culture.

Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)
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I join those Senators who seek a debate on the report which will be published by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights today. The families of the victims must be complimented. They ploughed a lone furrow for 29 years when seeking justice for the forgotten. This State has not distinguished itself in dealing with this tragedy and the Taoiseach should also be complimented for taking the matter in hand and establishing the inquiry into the bombings. There was a lack of co-operation on the part of the British authorities and if that is all, as we hope is the case, that should be the extent of British embarrassment.

Joe McHugh (Fine Gael)
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I refer to the new rural social scheme for 2,500 people announced in the budget. I welcome it but it does not go far enough to deal with rural development problems and there should be a debate on farming and rural development. Under the CAP reforms, farming and rural development will go hand in hand and it is important that we keep the portfolio under observation.

Will the Leader consider No. 17, motion 25 on the Order Paper, on fisheries? It is another portfolio that has been relegated to the second division. The location of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources in County Cavan was a heavy psychological blow to fisheries. I am not being parochial but the headquarters of the fisheries sector could have been located anywhere from Killybegs to Castletownbere. The combination of the marine sector with communications eroded the democratic voice of fishermen. There must be a debate on this because we do not want the sector to be relegated to the third division.

Mary White (Fianna Fail)
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Will the Leader arrange as a matter of urgency in the new year for a debate with the Minister for Health and Children? A headline in yesterday's edition of The Times read "Teens face obesity and infertility" and another in today's edition of The Irish Times reads "An unhealthy time bomb ticking in our obese laps". Teenagers in both Ireland and England have a tendency to overeat and Ireland has a drug problem which is particularly extreme from Balbriggan to Arklow. While The Times stated that young and old people get extremely good medical care, teenagers are being totally neglected. They are the leaders of the future so we must examine this issue.

We should also debate the annual report of the Competition Authority. Our economy has been navigated for seven years by the Minister for Finance and both sides of the House agree that he has done a brilliant job.

Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)
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He has steered it into the rocks.

Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)
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The Senator was doing well until she said that.

Mary White (Fianna Fail)
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Senator Ross said the Minister did a brilliant job managing the national finances and I agree. It took vision and courage to introduce the decentralisation programme.

Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)
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It took the local elections.

Mary White (Fianna Fail)
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It is a pity no one had the vision to introduce it 20 years ago because although we are one of the richest countries in Europe, we must reach out more to help those who are still in poverty.

Michael McCarthy (Labour)
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I wish to raise the issue of golden Thursday, prior to the general election, when 1,700 jobs were announced by the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and candidates in constituencies where the Government was under pressure to win or hold seats. The Tánaiste conceded yesterday to Deputy Howlin in the Dáil that less than 10% of those jobs has been delivered. Will the Leader ask the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste to revisit those areas and explain where the jobs have gone?

Michael Brennan (Fianna Fail)
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Will the Leader pass on our good wishes to the recently appointed members of the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland? The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources said rules for the issuing of licences would be reviewed in 2004 and new guidelines would be introduced. The Minister should be invited into the House to hear the views of Senators on the issuing of licences.

Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)
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I support Senator McHugh's call for a debate on agriculture. In the past 18 months there have been many debates on the subject. Once there is a crisis to be debated, we deal with it, but we are also well placed to give a long-term view on the future of agriculture. Will the Leader set aside time early next year for a number of detailed debates on the sector, not just on the Fischler proposals but on the type of farming we want in the country in the next 20 years? I welcome decentralisation to rural areas but we should try to protect the jobs that exist there now. We should consider a series of policy debates on the future of agriculture and try to develop a route map for the future of Irish farming.

Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)
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The Leader of the Opposition, Senator Brian Hayes, raised the referral of the report of the Independent Commission of Inquiry into the Dublin and Monaghan Bombings to the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights. It will go to the other House too. It is important that we have the opportunity to debate it here because according to the Order Paper the joint committee will take public submissions within the three months prior to its report to the Seanad. Our debate could be seen as part of that submission process and we should view it in that way. We will likely receive the report in the new year. Senator Brian Hayes also raised the question of the national drugs strategy and the worrying aspect of the increased rate of cocaine abuse. The Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, with responsibility for drugs strategy, Deputy Noel Ahern, has been very good about coming here to report on his work. We could have a debate on that matter in the new year.

Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)
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Gazumped again.

Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)
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Senator Walsh mentioned the report on the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, pointing out quite properly that the loss of life on that day was equivalent in proportionate terms to the attack on the World Trade Centre on 11 September 2001. Senator McHugh welcomed the announcement of 2,500 places on the new rural social scheme, or whatever will be its title, and asked for a debate on agriculture. He also wants a full debate on the motion regarding fisheries on the Order Paper.

Senator White asked if the Minister for Health and Children could come into the House and quoted a report in The Times yesterday on teenagers facing obesity and drug abuse. She agreed with Senator Bannon about the need for a debate on competitiveness.

Senator Michael McCarthy talked about "golden Thursday" and the announcement of jobs in his area in County Cork before the last election.

Peter Callanan (Fianna Fail)
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Including by Senator McCarthy.

Michael McCarthy (Labour)
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By two of Senator Callanan's colleagues, and there are no jobs.

Rory Kiely (Fianna Fail)
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Allow the Leader to speak without interruption please.

A Senator:

There is no unemployment.

Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)
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We have a very low unemployment rate of 4.3%. It is wrong to say there is no unemployment.

Mary White (Fianna Fail)
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There is unemployment but there is 95% employment.

Rory Kiely (Fianna Fail)
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Allow the Leader to speak without interruption please.

Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)
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There is 4.3% unemployment which is a very good rate.

Senator Brennan would like the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to come to debate the issuing of radio licences now that a new broadcasting corporation has been set up.

Senator Bradford made a wise point about the policy aspect of the future of farming saying we react when there is a disaster or some edict from Brussels and it would be a good idea to debate agricultural policy and the future of agriculture.

I apologise for a mistake I made when I read out the Order of Business in that I did not allow for a sos. The sos will be from 1.30 p.m. to 2.30p.m. so the subsequent debate will begin at 2.30p.m. and not at 2 p.m. as I said.