Seanad debates
Thursday, 27 April 2006
Order of Business.
10:30 am
Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)
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The Order of Business is No. 1, Registration of Deeds and Title Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] — Report and Final Stages, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business and to conclude not later than 1 p.m.
Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)
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As we all know, we are in the run-up to a general election in the next 12 months or so. In that context, it is vital that the electoral register is accurate and up to date and that those who should be on it are on it. There is considerable public concern that, as the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government said, there are at least 300,000 additional persons on the register this year than there are people entitled to vote. Some people have suggested the inaccuracy is close to 500,000.
It is unacceptable that so close to a general election this kind of electoral register inaccuracy exists. We must deal with the issue and make a number of changes. We should introduce a system whereby people are registered when they get their PPS number and local authorities must take more concrete action in the compilation of the registers. Also, we have new residential communities in areas such as west Dublin where 4,000 to 5,000 houses were built in the past five years, but no polling stations are provided for the people there, despite the best efforts of local authorities to demand polling stations from the county sheriffs and returning officers.
On 29 March I wrote a letter to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government proposing a simple legislative change in this area, but I still await a reply. The issue is urgent. Will the Leader arrange a debate where we can hear what the Minister wants to do about this urgent matter?
Given the position taken by the junior partner in Government last weekend that electronic voting should be abandoned, is that the collective view of the Government? Is this not the time to deal with the issue and state clearly that there will not be e-voting at the next general election?
Joe O'Toole (Independent)
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When the Abattoirs Bill was going through the House approximately 15 years ago, some Members pointed out the difficulties it would create for local butchers and industry and we have discussed the subsequent problems many times. On several occasions over the years I have heard the Leader talk about the difficulties created for the development of home industry which is destroyed by an overly strict interpretation of European regulations.
We are now about to do the same again. European regulation 854/2004 will create havoc for small supermarkets and butchers. Whereas throughout our lives we have seen local butcher shops provide steak and meat to local hotels, we now have a situation where the regulation will require the butchers to register as wholesalers as opposed to retailers. This will result in a whole new set of regulations, thereby doubling up on the regulations with which retailers must currently comply. The regulation will also require veterinary and health officers to examine each business to ensure the butchers are within the regulations. This will create havoc around the country.
The interpretation the Government is taking has not been taken in other countries, particularly not in the UK. I do not want to go into the details but will give a simple example of the outcome. Around the Border areas butchers will be in competition with their colleagues. On this side of the Border, butchers who sell more than 500 kg of meat over a certain period to a local hotel or business will have to register as wholesalers putting them in competition with people from the other side of the Border who can sell up to 2,000 kg.
This regulation means we are going to over-regulate once again, put small industries out of business unnecessarily and create hardship and difficulty. This is a matter for the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children and I want her to come to the House to discuss it. The Tánaiste has shown herself to be practical on issues such as this and I do not believe she would want the regulation to go ahead. I understand she has been pushed into it by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, but we should review it and ensure that Irish butchers and meat outlets are not under a more difficult regime or regulations than their colleagues in the UK. We should adopt the same approach throughout the island in accordance with the Good Friday Agreement. We should ask the Tánaiste to address the issue.
Yesterday, Senators referred to the importance of St. Michael's CBS, Inchicore, which is located in a highly-underprivileged area. I did not intervene in the debate because I wished to check something. I believe the Christian Brothers are closing the operation because the school is situated on two acres of prime development land. We are walking away from a highly-underprivileged, disadvantaged community for the sake of a small investment. We should discuss this. The Minister for Education and Science must abide by decisions of the management and school authorities, who seem determined to close the school, but she should support the appointment of an additional staff member. This is one of the most underprivileged areas, a fact I have been aware of for many years. The school has done Trojan work despite difficulties and opposition. It deserves our support.
John Minihan (Progressive Democrats)
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I join with Senator Brian Hayes in highlighting the issue of the electoral register. Democracy and our system of voting begins with an accurate register. Those of us who stand for elections are conscious of results and have seen how seats have been won by a margin of a couple of votes. Considered alongside the inaccurate figures on our register, the principle of democracy and elections is called into question. Regardless of whether the method of voting is electronic or manual, the starting point is the register. I encourage the Leader to invite the Minister to the House to debate this issue. We can then see what action is being taken to ensure an accurate, honest register is presented to the people so that the general election can be held in a fair manner. It is too easy to have misrepresentation and we should not facilitate it by failing to ensure a proper register.
Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)
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I listened with great interest to the debate on the electoral register in the other House. The latest register contains many inaccuracies, including the names of people who are deceased. Currently, voting papers are franked before voting and may subsequently be declared invalid because they were not properly franked. Returning officers should take an interest in this. Research should be done to determine the polling booths in which these errors are made. Having been the subject of a close vote, I know that candidates become conscious of all these issues. I was in favour of electronic voting because of the serious deficiencies in the existing system but that debate is over.
I refer to an issue on which the media have focused, which is very important for the telecommunications industry, namely, the bid for Eircom by Babcock & Brown. Eircom will have had four owners in seven years if this bid is successful. Its turnover last year was €1.6 billion and it made profits of €160 million. The assets and capital infrastructure of this country have been sweated to facilitate venture capitalists making big money. In that context I urge the Government not to accede to Babcock & Brown's request for a commitment that it will not be pressurised into unbundling the local loop.
Telecommunications is in a mess at present. ComReg is at loggerheads with a telecommunications company, various companies have initiated litigation and we have a dismal record in provision of broadband. In that context, the concessions sought by Babcock & Brown may be unpalatable for the industry and I urge the Government to examine this. The Minister should come to this House to discuss telecommunications.
Camillus Glynn (Fianna Fail)
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The debate on the electoral register takes place regularly. The current system is a failure. I have come across many people who did not wish to be on the electoral register. If this is not an offence, it should be because registering to vote and voting should be mandatory. How people cast their vote is up to them.
In order to correct the system, we should have all-party agreement to defer the general election for a year. We might have as much chance of getting agreement on that as we have had to date on correcting the electoral register.
Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)
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Senator Glynn might find that difficult.
Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)
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The Leader's star sign is looking good.
Feargal Quinn (Independent)
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An horrific case of someone charged, found guilty of rape and sentenced was reported yesterday. The body that employed the person had been unable to verify references of potential employees with the Garda Síochána. Two years ago I referred to the opportunity to provide this information to those involved in child care and general businesses. This requires investment but it is a business opportunity to provide a service for which businesses would pay.
This service is provided by 300 people working in the police force in Scotland. In Ireland we have allocated 30 people to this function. An investment in technology is also required and any employer should be able to access information on a potential employee's records before taking somebody on. This business opportunity for the Garda Síochána would benefit the community as a whole.
I urge the Leader to arrange a debate on nuclear energy. Today a British Government body will announce plans to bury the nuclear waste of the past 60 years in Britain, some 470,000 cu. m. of nuclear waste. It is currently stored in 500 temporary underground sites. The former president of an Irish university stated that we should not close our minds to the option of nuclear energy. The Leader has stated that we do not wish this to occur but we should consider the implications. I seek a debate on nuclear energy to hear both sides of the story.
Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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Nothing concentrates the minds of voters and candidates like the electoral register. It is appropriate that we have a debate now rather than when the election is under way and people are busy canvassing. The census, held on 23 April, is the best possible record of every voter in Ireland.
In the past, when finance officers collected the rates, they were also the best people for collecting names as well. However, that day is gone. I am not sure about the confidentiality issue. Commitments were given that the census would be confidential but surely the names, addresses and location could be used.
The Minister should also outline the regulations for the register of electors with regard to prisoners. Mountjoy Prison has a high prison population which could affect the outcome of the election in Dublin if all the prisoners voted in the Dublin Central constituency. That is also true of Roscommon, which is the location of Castlerea Prison. It is important the Minister outlines what rules will apply to prisoners, who have a constitutional right to cast their vote by post, and whether they should cast their vote in the location where they are resident or in their home constituency where they were resident before being imprisoned. We should have a debate on this as soon as possible.
Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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I support Senator Brian Hayes's comments with regard to the electoral register, fraud and so forth. The Minister said recently that there are approximately 300,000 inaccuracies in the register. That has the potential to affect a significant number of seats. It is a basic requirement of presiding officers to ensure that ballots are franked. Sadly, in too many parts of the country unstamped ballots were given to genuine voters. Perhaps polling clerks were not paying enough attention in some instances. However, it is such an essential element of their function that where there were breaches of that regulation on the part of presiding officers, steps should be taken to ensure they are not reappointed. Perhaps in the past some of them were doddering or did it deliberately but it is a basic requirement and they should not be reappointed.
The Official Languages Act contains the daft proposal, to which Senator O'Toole and I have referred previously, that all documents be translated into Irish, regardless of whether it is necessary. It is mandatory under the Act, of course, and we must respect that. All of us are interested in the promotion of the Irish language but we know these documents are not requested and are being dumped. The point was made previously that these could be provided on disk or whatever when requested rather than go through the unnecessary and wasteful expenditure of having everything printed, merely to be dumped. It is a national scandal. If the Government wishes, it is something Senator O'Toole and I can rectify in our Official Languages (Amendment) Bill which is on the Order Paper. We will await word in that regard.
Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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I will not debate it. You understand that I would never do that.
Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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You do, a Chathaoirligh, you are a wise old owl. Everybody knows that individual councils are spending anything from €70,000 to €100,000 annually and this is a significant extra imposition on their budgets. One councillor said to me last week that given that this is mandatory, it should be opened up to the local Conradh na Gaeilge groups. It would be a way of funding good, well meaning local groups that are actively promoting the language.
There are 24 Bills before the Houses of the Oireachtas at present. How many are Seanad Bills on the Dáil Order Paper and what progress will be made on them before the summer recess?
Eamon Scanlon (Fianna Fail)
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I support Senator O'Toole's request for a reasoned debate on the regulations being introduced that will affect small butchers throughout the country. A number of years ago small abattoirs were regulated out of business and that is now seen as a serious mistake. They had to compete against heavily subsidised meat exporting plants which were supposed to be exporting meat but which are now selling meat on the home market. They just could not compete; one cannot compete against a business that is being heavily subsidised. We must be careful and I welcome the call for a reasonable debate. We must be seen to support small local butchers. If we continue as we are, we will simply regulate them out of business.
Joanna Tuffy (Labour)
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I support calls for a debate on improving the electoral register. One issue which must be discussed in that debate is the position of people who have permission to remain in the State but who are not Irish citizens. They had a vote in the last local elections but they will not have a vote in general elections unless they secure citizenship. Some of them are in this country many years. They work and pay taxes here and their children go to school here. They will possibly be in this country for the rest of their lives.
It is important that we address either the issue of them acquiring citizenship on time or allowing them to vote in general elections. It takes a long time to acquire citizenship. Many people have been in this country far longer than the period of time that is required to apply for citizenship and those who do not have citizenship are left in a limbo. They should have a right to vote and this will be an important part of any debate we might have about improving the electoral register.
I support the idea of the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey, on the GPO being used as a museum to commemorate 1916. Senator White spoke about the importance of history. It is important for everybody, which is why we held celebrations on the 90th anniversary of the 1916 Rising. However, it should be recorded that James Connolly founded the Labour Party and was a member of that party when he was executed in 1916. There was no mention of that in the material produced——
Joanna Tuffy (Labour)
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——for the 90th anniversary, including on the Taoiseach's website.
Before the summer recess we should hold a debate on local government, particularly the rights and powers of councillors. Another issue is the pension rights of councillors. I and other Senators attended the LAMA conference last week which debated councillors' entitlement to pensions. I support them on that issue. There should be a debate on this issue and on the role of councillors and local government. Most Members of this House are elected by councillors and we must maintain that connection. We are no longer allowed to be councillors as well, so we must keep up the special relationship the Seanad has with councillors and ensure we raise their issues in this House.
Maurice Hayes (Independent)
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With regard to the point raised by Senator Coghlan about the production of reports in the Irish language, could we extend the debate to include the production of many of the reports in the English language? It would ease my recycling bill if those reports were made available electronically and could be supplied on demand. I also support Senator O'Toole with regard to the harmonisation of regulatory powers across the Border. That is an important function for the North-South bodies and should be carried out by them.
Does the Leader intend to schedule a debate on Europe on the occasion of Europe day next week? In that context, I intend to provide a report on the recent activities of the forum to the Taoiseach towards the end of next week. We have made arrangements for it to be available to Members of the Oireachtas on the Monday of the following week.
11:00 am
Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)
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I support the call for a debate on voting procedures and the electoral register. I recall that during or immediately after the last general election, at a polling station in south Galway, 40 valid voting papers were declared invalid. I inquired into this because a large number of votes for me, which I considered to be valid, were declared invalid. It would not have made any difference to the outcome.
We encourage people to vote and complain when a high percentage do not do so. However, there can be inefficiency either through a deliberate or mistaken attempt by a presiding officer to invalidate a vote. There is something seriously wrong when one reports that to a returning officer who may dismiss it out of hand and reappoint the same presiding officer for the following election.
Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)
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It is not just a situation concerning the electoral register. The whole appointments procedure for presiding officers and clerks should be scrutinised more carefully than has been the case heretofore.
Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)
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We cannot legitimately complain about people's lack of determination to vote when, in such instances, one sees a high percentage of votes invalidated through that mechanism. The Minister should attend the House for a debate to review the entire voting procedure, not to mind the question of electronic voting. I shudder to think what would have happened if some of those traditional presiding officers had been in charge of electronic voting without proper training. That area needs to be reviewed.
Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)
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I hope we will have such a debate soon.
I ask the Leader to request the Minister for Education and Science to review her determination to publish school evaluations on her Department's website against the wishes of the teachers' unions. In order to maintain goodwill with the teachers, the Minister must carry out further consultations on this matter. Following their recent conferences, some of the teachers' unions clearly indicated they wanted further consultations. There is little disagreement between the Minister and the unions over her proposals, provided there is more consultation to resolve the outstanding points. It all boils down to the continuing endeavours by certain sections of the media to publish league tables. If we take that route, people within the education system will become demoralised. If we can afford to do that in the current situation, things will have reached a very low ebb.
John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)
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I join in the calls for a debate on the nuclear industry. Yesterday marked the 20th anniversary of the Chernobyl incident, which answered the question concerning the probability of the impossible occurring. We were told such an event was impossible, yet it happened. Whether we like it or not, we live in a nuclear zone. We should bear in mind the fact that Dublin is a lot nearer to some of the nuclear facilities in England than Portsmouth,Southampton or London.
I am raising this point in light of the recent RTE programme entitled "Fallout". Whether one considers the programme to be good or bad, and however it was presented, the reality is still there. As I understand it, caesium is carried by clouds. During the recent G8 summit in St. Petersburg, clouds were sprayed before reaching the city to ensure that rain did not fall on the area. I am not suggesting that contaminated clouds should rain on the Isle of Man but God forbid that something unforeseen should happen at Sellafield. The facility's name was changed from Windscale some years ago for public relations reasons. Should anything untoward happen at Sellafield, however, it would be a good idea for our Air Corps to be able to spray the clouds before they reach our shores, thereby protecting the population.
I share in the call for a debate on the electoral register. We have focused this morning on getting people onto the register who are not listed but there are others already on the register whose names should be removed. As a Member of the Oireachtas, I had reason recently to send out a large number of letters in the Dublin area. Many of these were returned to me, so I forwarded them to the franchise section of Dublin City Council. As a result, many of those people were taken off the register on the basis that An Post could confirm they were not living there.
John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)
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Is it not time for us to ask some public bodies to think outside the box? They could contact the direct-mail companies which are getting letters back stating there is nobody of that name at an address. Such a list could be used to remove people's names from the electoral register.
Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)
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Last night, I tabled a matter on the Adjournment about the flight which was recently diverted from Paris to Prestwick.
Rory Kiely (Fianna Fail)
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That matter was discussed last night, so I do not think we can repeat it now.
Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)
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Arising from that worthwhile Adjournment matter and the Minister's frank reply, will the Leader contact the Office of the Taoiseach to ask if he was aware of the flight being diverted? Last night, the Minister told the House that the flight was diverted to Prestwick Airport when, in fact, there were other airports nearby. This incident concerned a bomb scare on the plane.
Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)
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Yes, it was a Ryanair flight. There was a subsequent incident involving an Aer Arann flight. If British citizens had been aboard the flight would they have been treated in the same way? Those passengers were left for two hours.
Rory Kiely (Fianna Fail)
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The Senator raised all those points last night. We cannot have a repetition of that debate.
Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)
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They were left for two hours on the aeroplane after landing and were not allowed to disembark.
Rory Kiely (Fianna Fail)
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The Senator got an answer last night. What is the purpose of raising matters on the Adjournment if Senators can raise them here again the following morning?
Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)
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This matter arises from the Adjournment debate.
Rory Kiely (Fianna Fail)
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Should we forget about matters on the Adjournment altogether?
Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)
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No. My point follows on from the explanation that was given last night.
Rory Kiely (Fianna Fail)
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I do not think we should discuss what was said last night.
Rory Kiely (Fianna Fail)
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Is the Senator seeking another debate?
Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)
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I have made my point and will finish with it now.
I ask the Leader to arrange an urgent debate on yesterday's decision by the Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, on provisional driving licences. I am not sure if the decision has yet been finalised. Apparently, there are over 400,000 such licences, which cover almost one fifth of all licensed drivers. The Minister is planning to forbid people who fail the driving test to drive again prior to resitting the test.
A case was illustrated on the radio earlier today concerning a lady who arrived at Rathgar for a driving test and crashed into the wall of the driving test centre. She then failed her test and drove home. None of us could condone such behaviour. An urgent debate is required in this regard.
It is unfair, however, to think that people who fail the driving test could be banned from driving for a year or more while awaiting another test. Some 4,000 applications were made recently for contract driving tester positions, yet none has been appointed to date. It is a major problem on which we should have a full debate. There is no point in solving one problem while creating an even bigger problem through the Minister's proposals.
The issue of lapsed drivers has also arisen in this context. According to a radio report this morning, a 78 year old lady who had been driving for 50 years——
Rory Kiely (Fianna Fail)
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The Senator can raise all those points in the debate he is seeking.
Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)
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We need to examine that sector and perhaps an exception could be made for such people.
Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)
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It is understandable that a body such as the Institute of Industrial Engineers would like to reopen a debate on nuclear energy. However, I am sure all of us remember being warned that the lights would go out in or around 1985 and, therefore, this matter will be treated with a great deal of scepticism. A debate on the subject would be useful in order to set out certain realities. There is not a constituency in the country that would be willing to house a nuclear waste dump or a nuclear power station and people who are re-engaging in this debate should realise this fact.
We have not always been good at looking after our heritage. I hope, however, that the authorities concerned will think seriously about the preservation of the house or houses on Moore Street to which those engaged in the GPO in 1916 fell back and from which they issued to surrender. This is particularly relevant at this time of year.
I wish to reassure Senator Tuffy that our founder Éamon de Valera——
Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)
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I want to say only one sentence——
Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)
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The Senator is being controversial.
Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)
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I am saying nothing controversial.
Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)
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The Senator should remember what happened to Senator White.
Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)
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We did not have a debate. There was a demand in the House for a debate on 1916 but we never held it.
Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)
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Mr. de Valera said that James Connolly was the person to whom he felt closest among the leaders of 1916 and Connolly was very close to Countess Markievicz, who went on to become a founding member of our party.
Maurice CumminsMartin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)
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I was very glad to see the deputy leader of the Labour Party dressed up as Countess Markievicz recently.
Rory Kiely (Fianna Fail)
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Too many history lessons have been given on the Order of Business.
Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)
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The Senator should remember what happened to Senator White.
John Minihan (Progressive Democrats)
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The Mullingar accord is gone again.
Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)
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We should have ongoing debates on nuclear energy because I have noticed recently that the big powers are orchestrating this issue. On several occasions, including Prime Minister Blair's visit to Australia, this was choreographed. We need to be particularly vigilant. We have been reminded, through the generosity of the Irish people who continue to respond to the tragedy in Chernobyl, of what can happen when nuclear energy goes wrong.
An heroic woman, Adi Roche, received the Pearse Award last night for her work in Chernobyl. Someone like her is a constant reminder to us of the terrible dangers that exist in nuclear energy. Small nations should not allow themselves to be undermined by the orchestrated approach of world leaders.
It would be helpful to invite the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to the House to discuss the Official Languages Act on an ongoing basis. It is a multifaceted Act which places specific requirements on over 700 agencies. One of these requirements is that they draw up a programme which will be submitted here for discussion in the Houses.
I have seen news reports about some agencies which have completed that work. In that context, any relevant issue, including translation must be considered. Prior to the enactment of that legislation several legal judgments were handed down, including by the Supreme Court, on the rights of citizens to have access to documents when they are brought before the courts.
I understood that this Act was intended to harmonise several Acts which already existed. Ongoing and updated reports on this by the Minister and others would be helpful.
Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)
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Senator Brian Hayes spoke about the errors in the electoral register. There was a debate on that matter yesterday in the other House. We will seek to bring the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, into the House. There are serious inaccuracies in the register, not just regarding people who are no longer here, or have moved, remaining on the register. More important is that large numbers are not on the register.
I spent one week over the Easter break in Kinnegad, and one in Rochfortbridge, and found over 300 people who are not on the register. They are new to their areas and had never been put on the register, or did not know how to go about being put on the register. I submitted their names to the fine woman in charge of this in Westmeath County Council. She will call a meeting of all the parties to discuss ideas on how to deal with this problem.
We may talk about democracy but if one is not on the register one cannot vote. Then the people blame us when we call on their houses. I will be there on a second occasion, when the new register comes out, and maybe a third time.
John Minihan (Progressive Democrats)
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The Leader should make three visits.
Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)
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The Senator also mentioned the lack of polling stations and e-voting. He wants a debate on the electoral register, as do we all.
Senator O'Toole mentioned the Abattoirs Bill, which we recall, and the new EU directive which will work against small butchers and leave them open to too much competition with butchers over the Border. Generally speaking it imposes more onerous regulations on small butchers who find it difficult enough to manage.
The Senator also raised the question of St. Michael's national school in Inchicore and the fine land around it which will be sold for development. This does not harmonise with the purpose of the school, namely, helping disadvantaged young people. The Minister for Education and Science is emphatic about seeking to retain a school there.
Senator Minihan said we want a debate on the electoral register. Senator Finucane spoke about the non-franking of ballot papers because it is upsetting to be gathered around the table for a count and hear votes deemed invalid simply because they have missed the franking machine. The Senator knows more than anyone how upsetting that is, having lost out by such a small margin in the last election. I do not understand why this happens. Every paper given to a voter should be franked.
Senator Finucane also referred to Eircom, Babcock & Brown and the unbundling of the local loop. That was covered by an EU directive approximately eight years ago which has not yet been implemented. I do not understand why. Eircom will not do it for proprietorial purposes.
Senator Glynn said it should be mandatory for a person to be registered and to vote. I note the edict from Mullingar to defer the general election. There is an edict from Athlone which says "No" to that.
Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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The lines are drawn, and not in the sand.
Camillus Glynn (Fianna Fail)
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I made the comment with more hope than conviction.
Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)
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Senator Quinn said how difficult it is for employers to get information on an employee and we heard about the sad case he mentioned. The Senator thought the Garda should use technology to get the facts on a particular person. He also said that the nuclear waste from Sellafield is being buried in 500 sites and is familiar with Dr. Ed Walsh's report, which I too saw.
I said yesterday that there is an orchestrated attempt to make nuclear energy nice and present it in a favourable light. This will come into a debate but on behalf of the Government I can say we do not intend to promote nuclear energy as a policy. I am not rebuking the Senator. He is right to say we should discuss it but we do not intend to make it a policy.
Senator Leyden is worried about the prisoners in Roscommon getting their votes, which is correct, as that is now the law. He spoke about the census collectors. There is some legal difficulty on that point. It is correct that everybody should be enumerated wherever they should be, which is useful.
Senator Coghlan also mentioned the franking of the ballot papers. He and Senator O'Toole are very involved in the Official Languages Act and the translation of all the documents into Irish which are then dumped.
The Senator asked me about Bills. I do not have the precise information other than to say that 147 Bills have been published since the Government came to office almost four years ago, and 58 of those were Seanad Bills. I realise that is not the information the Senator requested but I will endeavour to get the required information. I did not have time to do so this morning.
Senator Scanlon supported Senator O'Toole's point about the over-regulation of small butchers. We can always rely on the Senator's voice to be the voice of sanity for small businesses in rural Ireland.
On the matter raised by Senator Tuffy, the Senator's colleague raised the matter of James Connolly yesterday and the Labour Party being the oldest party in Ireland, which it is, but his gripe was that the Taoiseach's website did not mention James Connolly.
Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)
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I said we might have a joint Labour Party-Fianna Fáil website quite soon.
Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)
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Which upset the Leader's colleagues on the other side of the House.
John Minihan (Progressive Democrats)
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It upset Fine Gael terribly.
Joanna Tuffy (Labour)
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In the tradition of Connolly we want to provide an alternative to the right-wing Government.
Rory Kiely (Fianna Fail)
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We will not have a debate on the Order of Business.
Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)
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Senator Tuffy also raised the burning issue of pensions for councillors.
Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)
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The Senator also raised the question of citizenship and the vote. Deputy Bruton spoke on that also. One cannot vote until one becomes a citizen but I agree with the Senator. I constantly meet people who say they would like the vote but they cannot get it. It is a question of whether we should give status to the asylum seekers first and then the vote will follow. We will wait and see how the other matter progresses.
Senator Maurice Hayes would have regard to all reports. We are getting far too many but we look forward to his report on Europe. We are planning debates here on Europe day. Will the Senator's report be out by then?
Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)
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We have to get dramatis personae first but we will see how we do on that.
Senator Ulick Burke raised the issue of the electoral register and 40 papers being invalid. His point was that the returning officer should demonstrate a concern about such a matter and check up on it. He wondered about the appointment procedures for presiding officers. We all know how that happens, it is chaotic.
The Minister has consulted on the question of whole school evaluation but she is willing to have further consultations, which is the point raised by Senator Burke. I have spoken to very sensible teachers about this matter and there is a fear of pinpointing particular teachers without having to name them but the Minister has gone very far with the consultations and I am sure she will have more.
Senator Hanafin called for a debate on nuclear energy. He made an interesting point about the electoral register and letters being returned but it would not be satisfactory to remove people from the register just because letters were returned with "Not known at this address" written on them. That would not be the correct procedure. People are very squiffy about being removed from the register if they are still around. I do not believe one could——
Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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Allegedly, 300,000 of them were not around.
Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)
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Senator Browne spoke about a diverted flight but the Cathaoirleach has ruled that he got an answer to that question.
Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)
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He also called for a debate on driving licences.
Senator Mansergh raised the question of nuclear energy. Of course we will debate it but we do not want it. He also referred to the Moore Street houses and our heritage. He referred to the Labour Party but we dealt with that yesterday.
Senator Ó Murchú spoke about the ongoing debate on nuclear energy and he praised Adi Roche. We all admire her humanity and I am glad she got the Pearse award. He also called for a debate on the Official Languages Act.