Seanad debates
Tuesday, 4 July 2006
Order of Business.
2:30 pm
Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)
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The Order of Business is No. 1, the Criminal Justice Bill 2004 — Report and Final Stages, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business and to conclude not later than 6.15 p.m.
Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)
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I have just heard that the Government intends to bring a special motion before the Dáil on Thursday seeking the permission of the Dáil to proceed with the sale of Aer Lingus although the Dáil is not meeting over the summer months. Will a similar motion be put before this House before the end of session? It would be outrageous if the Government chose to sell this State asset without recourse to this House, given the debates we have had on the matter in recent months. It would highlight the irrelevance of the House if the Government was to proceed in such a way.
When the Leader's colleague, the then Minister for Transport, Deputy Brennan, brought the Aer Lingus Bill through the Houses two years ago, he gave an absolute guarantee that before a flotation would take place, the Government would publish in full a detailed assessment of the criteria applying to and reasons for the sale of the asset. He gave a commitment in both Houses that a full, detailed White Paper would be published before such a sale but it has not been done.
We are entering the summer period but there is still confusion. The asset is worth 50% less than it was when Mr. Willie Walsh was in charge of the State airline. It would be highly unusual and wrong for a decision to be taken without recourse to both Houses. The other House will have its chance on Thursday. Will this House have a chance before Friday to debate this important matter?
I was privileged to be in Islandbridge last Saturday for the national celebration of the 90th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme. I want to record my appreciation and congratulations to the Departments, whether the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Foreign Affairs or other Departments, which organised that wonderful commemoration of reconciliation for those from all parts of this island who gave their lives for peace in that awful war that emerged in the first part of the last century. We need to learn from that reconciliation. It was an excellent commemoration and all involved should be congratulated.
Joe O'Toole (Independent)
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I was not aware of the Aer Lingus debate in the Dáil. I concur with the points raised by Senator Brian Hayes. People on all sides of the House hold all sorts of views. Senator Ross has called for a debate numerous times and looked for a business plan. Everybody has views on it, probably all different, and we are entitled to put them on the record.
Last year when we discussed employment I made the point that 80% of Irish call centres would migrate to English-speaking Africa by the end of the next decade and I still think that will happen. What happened yesterday in Waterford is tough on the workers and the area. That was only a consolidation and reorganisation. There will be more of this and only the call centres that have added value such as technical support will stay here. Those that only give information and deal with issues will move to English-speaking Africa and we cannot depend on them. We should make every effort to bring better industry and to retrain and help the workers who have lost jobs in Waterford and to ensure they get a decent redundancy if they are left without employment. This is a significant issue for the future. A large number of people work for call centres around the country. Those who are simply giving out information will not do that for much longer and we must ensure there are alternatives for them. I would like to have a debate in the autumn on that kind of employment without added value.
Kathleen O'Meara (Labour)
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It is news to me that the Government plans to put a motion on the sale of Aer Lingus to the Dáil this week. I hope the Leader will tell us that a similar motion will be put to the Seanad before the end of the week, although I, like other speakers, believe it is designed to give the Government carte blanche to make a decision during the summer without any accountability to either House. That is unacceptable. Considering the views expressed on this matter in the last number of months by Members here it would be extraordinary if the matter were rushed through in the summer.
I, too, note the commemoration of the Battle of the Somme last weekend. It was appropriate and has greatly advanced the cause of reconciliation on this island around the issues that first came up for us around the time of the Battle of the Somme. It was an important, valuable and worthwhile exercise. I acknowledge and congratulate all those involved.
As we approach the end of this session I note that the calls I have made for a debate on child care regulation and media law have not been successful. I do not blame the Leader or hold her responsible. I simply note that various Ministers promised a review of child care regulations, a very important area, and that has not happened. We had a promise from the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, who is productive on legislation. However, he has not brought forward any of the long-promised legislation on media law and the press council. This will not happen before the summer, I doubt it will happen during the summer, and I look forward to it happening in the autumn.
Michael Brennan (Progressive Democrats)
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In this historic week I call on the Leader to congratulate the Government and President Mary McAleese for an extension of the centenarians bounty to people living outside this country. The first emigrant to benefit from such an extension of the scheme is Ms Mary Kelly, who was born in Askeaton, County Limerick and resides in New York. She is one of 30 applicants who will receive this payment of €2,500. I ask the Leader to congratulate all concerned and to wish all our Irish emigrants in America a happy Independence Day.
Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)
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It was recently announced that the Health Service Executive is putting out to tender for four private hospitals in the campus of existing public hospital areas. One of those is Limerick Regional Hospital. I wonder what is evolving in the health service. In the Limerick area there is already permission for two private hospitals. During the week a private hospital recently established in Galway announced 150 redundancies because of lack of agreement with the VHI on rates. In my area I see the difficulty of accessing public hospitals for the elderly due to the reduction of beds on those public hospitals, and I am sure other politicians see the same. The biggest problem in my area is not the distinction between private and public, but the number of elderly people in hospital beds, such as those in Limerick Regional Hospital. Through no fault of those elderly, one cannot access operations and intensive care units. So where is the problem? Rather than talk about private hospitals we should establish a respite location in Limerick Regional Hospital to take these people out of the main hospital, because they cannot get into St. Ita's or St. Camillus's hospitals. Will we have a rash of private hospitals sustained by Government taxation measures to incentivise them, leading to a reduction in the number of beds in public hospitals? Is this the Government's plan for the future?
Eddie Bohan (Fianna Fail)
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Would the Leader ask the Minister for Transport about the number of people driving with provisional licences? I understand that up to 200,000 people are driving with provisional licences. Would the Minister consider an amnesty for those who have been driving for five years without being involved in accidents or experiencing problems? It is ludicrous that this number of people are driving without a full licence. With the carnage on the roads, the Minister should examine this. It would solve a number of problems.
David Norris (Independent)
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I join with my colleagues in calling for an explanation of the Aer Lingus situation. The Minister appeared before the Joint Committee on Transport, and I attended that meeting. There are worries about it. The same, or similar, advisers who were involved in the Eircom situation have been advising on this. It does not look as if we will get a good deal. The public was misled in the run up to this by suggestions that it was legally impossible for the Government to invest in Aer Lingus. We know this is not the case. I would welcome a debate on the matter. Bypassing the Seanad is a bad idea, although it does not surprise me.
I also join with my colleagues in expressing pleasure and satisfaction that the massacre at the Somme was officially commemorated in a dignified and appropriate way. It was also moving that, for the first time, a stamp commemorating this was issued. I would have liked to have been there but because of various factors my invitation did not arrive until Wednesday and it was too late to rearrange my schedule. However I am glad it took place.
I wish to raise the establishment of a heritage council, which is to be welcomed. I would like to think it would be a vigorous body. I regret that An Taisce has been excluded——
Timmy DooleyDavid Norris (Independent)
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I am not, however, altogether surprised, in light of the acerbic remarks of some people in this House, and the Minister. May I remind the interrupters on the other side of the House that the people who attack An Taisce for its reasonable comments on one-off housing and its implications for water and sewerage systems, squeaked about this but did not like it when An Taisce told the truth.
I hope that houses such as Kilmacurragh in Wicklow which was a very beautiful and important Queen Anne house——
David Norris (Independent)
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The State owns it through Coillte but has allowed it to collapse. Something perhaps should be done with that. The editorial in The Irish Times states: "But the remit of the fine-sounding Irish Heritage Trust is so limited that the institution does not deserve that title". I hope that after a period this will be re-examined and proper and full legislation brought in, through this House, to establish a real and vigorous Irish national trust.
Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)
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I also appreciated the dignity of the commemoration of the Battle of the Somme last Saturday where new ground was broken.
I would not take as pessimistic a view as Senator O'Toole of the future of call centres. I read an article in the financial pages of a newspaper from across the water, to the effect that companies there were beginning to rethink the outsourcing of call centres to distant continents because it was not working very satisfactorily. There is much to be said for having call centres closer to the customer base. That argument is by no means over.
John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)
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The Minister for Transport is probably the man responsible for clamping in Dublin. It was the responsibility of the former Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Callely, and may now fall under the remit of his successor, Deputy Gallagher. In the past six months a new company has taken over responsibility for clamping in the city.
A serious incident was brought to my attention last Sunday after I met the Cathaoirleach at the Leinster hurling final. A group of parents of the Kilkenny hurling panel were travelling together and when they left Croke Park at approximately 5.30 p.m. they discovered that the car in which they had travelled was removed from where they had parked it. Most of these people are in their sixties. They assumed the car had been stolen.
An elderly man living in a house nearby told them it might have been clamped. He gave them the telephone number for the clamping company, which they phoned. The company confirmed that the car had been clamped.
They were told to go to a shop two miles away to pay the fine, which they did. That shop did not have the bill and they had to go a further two miles to pay the fine. When they phoned back to the company the man who answered the phone said he did not have a clue where the car was and wished them the best of luck and happy hunting trying to find it.
This is a new company brought on board, I presume, by Dublin City Council, in conjunction with the Department of Transport to oversee clamping operations in Dublin. That behaviour is not acceptable in any context. I urge the Leader to convey my objections to the Department of Transport on that issue.
Shane Ross (Independent)
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I endorse some of the comments of my colleagues about the dangers of a decision being made on Aer Lingus during the recess. There is a general principle involved here. I do not join the opportunist bellyaching which always comes from some parts of the House about a long recess but it would be extremely regrettable for the Government to use the recess as an opportunity for taking important decisions when the Dáil and Seanad cannot scrutinise them.
There is a danger that is exactly what is planned in respect of Aer Lingus. The one thing we know about Aer Lingus is that we do not know much about it. We know nothing of the terms of the proposed privatisation or flotation. The detail is so important that it will decide the merit of the flotation and privatisation. There are people on all sides of the argument who have large stakes in the result of the negotiations.
The workforce has a vital interest in what will happen but taxpayers and investors also have an interest in it. One interest bounces off another. It would be a grave insult to this House to wake up in September and find that Aer Lingus has been sold for a song and we can do nothing about it. It would be absolutely wrong if this flotation were to take place without the Dáil and Seanad knowing anything about how it will happen.
Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)
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The forthcoming budget in December may contain a welcome provision whereby there will be an income disregard for the first €100 of a non-contributory old age pension. While I welcome this I am surprised that people on small supplementary pensions do not have the same benefit. I would like the Minister for Finance to consider this and perhaps we could hold a debate on some of these provisions. It is most unfair that a person on a widow's pension might receive a small supplementary pension of €30 or €40 a week but have it taken away in the means test for a non-contributory old age pension.
3:00 pm
Joe McHugh (Fine Gael)
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Last week the Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, issued a press release on drugs in which he stated that one chooses whether to take drugs. He specified the notion of informed choices. Are we as legislators, educators and parents, informing young people of the dangers of drugs? Do we give them the information adequate to making informed choices?
According to an article on the front page of today's Irish Independent, 300,000 people aged 16 to 24 dabble in cannabis. That is a red alert. Extensive research in San Francisco and Scandinavia shows that 10% of these people will be prone to develop schizophrenia. That amounts to 30,000 young people.
I call for the Seanad, in its final year under the present mandate, to have a debate next autumn on drug abuse and to pose questions about information anomalies. The onus is on us to do that.
I spoke to the international president of Europe Against Drugs, Grainne Kenny, this morning. The Leader is acquainted with her through her ministerial role in a previous life. Ms Kenny issued a personal plea through me to the Leader to consider holding a national conference on drug awareness and the dangers of drug abuse. She will contact the Leader personally but we should use this House to highlight the dangers of drug abuse and protect those who take drugs.
Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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I too urge caution in regard to the announcement to which several Members have referred and which is expected on Thursday in the other House about the plan for the proposed sale of Aer Lingus. In view of the details which I understand are to be announced around now by the Commission on Electronic Voting, perhaps it might be more in the Government's line to recommend the sale of this country's electronic voting machines.
Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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Surely those machines will be redundant after today.
James Bannon (Fine Gael)
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I am disappointed that the Leader has not yet made arrangements to have a debate on the issue of planning. Many people, particularly in rural areas, face substantial difficulties when they look for planning permission. When the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party met in Sligo two years ago, the Taoiseach gave a commitment that the planning guidelines would be reformed.
James Bannon (Fine Gael)
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Nothing has happened since then, apart from more empty promises being made.
Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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Go to Peggy and she will deal with it.
James Bannon (Fine Gael)
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Young people across the midlands, particularly in County Westmeath, are being refused planning on a daily basis.
James Bannon (Fine Gael)
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It is happening to a lesser extent in County Longford.
Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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There are good councillors in Longford.
James Bannon (Fine Gael)
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We have ensured, through our county development plan, that such problems do not arise.
James Bannon (Fine Gael)
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Longford County Council is controlled by Fine Gael.
Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)
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Senator Bannon should tell those experiencing difficulties to come to see me.
James Bannon (Fine Gael)
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I am very disappointed with the dictatorial attitude of some planners.
James Bannon (Fine Gael)
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Rural Ireland will die if we do not have a serious debate on this issue as soon as possible.
On another issue, native trout are in danger of being wiped out by a British species called chub.
James Bannon (Fine Gael)
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The arrival of chub has affected a river quite close to my home area.
Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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That matter was raised by Senator John Paul Phelan yesterday.
James Bannon (Fine Gael)
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In fact, I am the chairperson of the Inny Anglers Development Association.
Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)
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The Senator has a special interest in the matter.
James Bannon (Fine Gael)
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I have first-hand knowledge of what is happening to the fish stocks in the River Inny.
James Bannon (Fine Gael)
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I am calling on the Leader to ensure that emergency legislation——
James Bannon (Fine Gael)
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——is introduced as soon as possible to deal with this issue.
James Bannon (Fine Gael)
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If action is not taken, our tourism industry will be destroyed.
Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)
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The Senator does not have much confidence in the industry.
Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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Perhaps chub could be put on the menu in Longford.
Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)
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The Ryder Cup, which is a major sporting event, will have taken place in Ireland by the time the House meets again in the autumn. It is a major coup for Ireland to have attracted what is probably the third largest sporting event that will take place in the world this year. It is obvious that the organisers of the event have serious worries about controlling the crowds which are expected and implementing the various regulations which are needed in the interests of the safety of those who will visit the area and those who will be involved in all aspects of the event. The chief executive officer of the K Club, Mr. Michael Davern, has sent a letter to all property owners in the area, clearly indicating what I see as a serious situation. Mr. Davern has demanded that all property owners should sign and accept certain rules and regulations if they intend to have any visitors or guests on their property during the course of the event.
I find it disturbing that it is stated, near the end of the letter, that the policies and regulations outlined in the letter will be governed and construed under English law. It is hard to know exactly what that means. Nobody has been able to explain it to me in any way. Does it mean that Ryder Cup Limited, which is an English-based company, has no confidence in the ability of the Irish people to run a major event like the Ryder Cup? Is the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Deputy O'Donoghue, aware of the organisers' statement that this requirement will be imposed?
It seems, in effect, that in a selected area, Irish law will be dispensed with and English law will be transposed for the duration of the event. I would like the Leader to ask the Minister, Deputy O'Donoghue, whether he is aware of these conditions and, if so, whether he has accepted them. Similarly, does the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, know about these regulations and does he agree with them? Given that we have heard many rousing republican speeches from the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, I do not know how he can accept the conditions which have been laid down for this event.
Rory Kiely (Fianna Fail)
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I think the Senator has made his point adequately.
Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)
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I hope the Leader will, in the near future, be able to inform us of the implications of the application of English law in this part of County Kildare for the duration of the Ryder Cup.
On a separate matter, I support Senator Kitt's request for the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Brennan, to explain fully a significant social welfare anomaly, whereby PAYE workers who are paying into a pension are allowed to earn €100 a week but there is no corresponding identifiable benefit or condition for self-employed people. I hope the Minister will clarify this unfair set of circumstances as a matter of urgency because many people could benefit from such a provision.
Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)
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The Senator has spoken about a form of Poyning's law.
John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)
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I would like to ask the Leader to arrange a debate on the economy at the earliest opportunity. While it is not an urgent matter, it would be useful to discuss it. A Senator has already mentioned that if our trout stocks die out, rural Ireland will die and our tourism industry will be destroyed. The economy is a minor issue compared to such difficulties we might have to face. I ask that we be given a chance to debate the economy at the earliest opportunity.
Frank Feighan (Fine Gael)
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I join Senator McHugh in calling for another debate on cannabis use in light of a new Government report which shows that 300,000 young people use the drug on a regular basis. Given that the use of cannabis is now seen as kind of cool, we need to ensure that its ever-increasing dangers are highlighted. New medical research has proven that cannabis joints contain four times more tar than tobacco cigarettes and that adolescents who use cannabis are four times more likely to develop schizophrenia than those who do not use it. I am worried because there has not been a cannabis awareness campaign in Ireland. Most parents are ignorant of what is happening in our communities. I ask the Minister for Health and Children to come to the Seanad to outline the protections she intends to put in place. We need a cannabis awareness campaign, for example. We have to fight this ever-increasing scourge, which is found throughout Ireland.
Camillus Glynn (Fianna Fail)
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I support Senator Feighan's remarks about the use of cannabis which I, along with other Members, have raised previously. Cannabis has been glorified by certain people. If I remember correctly, a Dáil candidate in Dublin approximately 20 years ago had the use of cannabis as one of his plans for election.
Camillus Glynn (Fianna Fail)
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I would welcome a debate on this issue, which is so important that it was the subject of a headline on at least one national newspaper today. It must be remembered that cannabis is a gateway drug with some very serious components that can affect mental and physical health. We need a debate at the earliest possible opportunity on the use of cannabis.
Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)
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This week, many of this country's thousands of primary school teachers are giving up the first week of their summer holidays to do courses. Can the Leader ask the Minister for Education and Science to explain why the teachers will receive just three days of annual or personal leave in return for spending five days doing such courses? Will the Minister consider providing substitute cover while these teachers attend courses? Primary school teachers who take course days have the day off but their classes are split up among the rest of the school. It would not happen in any other profession. If, for example, a doctor is missing, a locum will replace him or her.
The substitute teacher option is also important for health and safety reasons with many classrooms already overcrowded. As a result, many teachers do not take the three course days to which they are entitled. In many rural schools, the children tend not to go to school on the day in question. That is, however, happening less because both parents may be working or single parents cannot keep their children at home. Will the Minister for Education and Science consider allowing teachers on day courses to put in a substitute for the days in question?
Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)
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I compliment the Irish Independent for giving such generous coverage to the issue of cannabis use. The coverage arises out of the report, to be published tomorrow morning, by the Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs on cannabis use. It is good to see we are making front-page news. I pay tribute to the committee's Chairman, Deputy Keaveney, and the various witnesses who gave their points of view on the issue. The Irish Independent took the report as it found it and did not endeavour to put its own spin on it. The newspaper also gave the Chairman the opportunity to respond to some questions it had.
The report has heightened an awareness of the subject of cannabis use. Too many people, particularly socialites, put forward the idea that cannabis is harmless and that it has many kinds of medicinal values. We all know the dangers that lurk in that argument. When an Oireachtas committee puts so much work into a report that receives such coverage from a daily newspaper, it should be debated in the House. It would be a worthwhile debate and I hope it will happen in the next session.
Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)
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Senator Brian Hayes, as did many other Members, asked if the sale of Aer Lingus would be debated in the House. It will be debated in the Dáil. Section 3(5) of the Aer Lingus Act 2004 states, "The Minister for Finance may not dispose of any shares in the Company without the general principles of the disposal being laid before and approved by Dáil Éireann". The Act was passed by the Seanad on 31 March 2004. I am giving Members the legal position before they all jump up on the issue. I will ask if the relevant Ministers will discuss the matter with the Seanad. Senator Hayes also raised the matter of the White Paper on the sale of Aer Lingus promised by the then Minister for Transport, Deputy Brennan. I do not know where that has gone but we have sent a note on that matter.
Senator Hayes congratulated all Departments responsible for the recent ceremony for the Battle of the Somme commemoration. I, like others, received an invitation but I had a previous arrangement which I could not cancel. The Battle of Verdun was even greater than the Somme and more Irish soldiers, particularly from the fusiliers, died there. That will be for other days. What I saw of the Somme ceremony made terrific viewing.
Senator O'Toole also called for a debate on the sale of Aer Lingus. I have already given the legal position on that and it is up to the Minister for Finance if he wishes to have a debate. I will seek a debate regardless. The Senator also called for a debate on employment, considering NTL's announcement on its call centres.
Senator O'Meara raised the Somme commemoration, media law and child care. Bills on child care and defamation and privacy will be introduced in the autumn and both have been secured for first reading in the Seanad.
Senator Brennan pointed out that today is 4 July, American Independence Day. He also welcomed the extension of the President's centenarians' bounty to expatriates. The first to receive the bounty is Mary Kelly, who was born in Askeaton in July 1905. I am very happy for her and others who will be lining up for it. The Senator marked the matter in a dignified way.
Senator Finucane raised the issue of public and private care in hospitals. He believes more respite centres should be built where the elderly can go in comfort rather than divvying them out between public and private hospitals.
Senator Bohan pointed out there are 200,000 drivers with provisional licences. He asked for an amnesty for those with a licence for at least five years and no convictions. I do not know whether that is proper but I will put it to the Minister.
Senator Norris raised the issues of the sale of Aer Lingus and the Somme commemoration. Like me, he could not go to it. He noted the establishment of the Heritage Council but with the exclusion of An Taisce. He is correct in saying there are no warm feelings for An Taisce. He also raised the matter of the lovely Queen Anne house in County Wicklow that has fallen into disrepair.
Senator Mansergh claimed the argument is not over about the fading away of employment in call centres because there is a rethink about hiving these jobs off to India and other countries. Perhaps it will be back to base for call centre employers.
Senator John Paul Phelan recounted a terrible story about how a clamping company laughed at the people who were clamped. To say "Good luck, I hope you find your car", particularly after a warm day, is a terribly derisory way to treat anyone. The company was awarded the contract. When one contacts such companies, they can be very offhand. I understand the individuals, although they were in the wrong, were not happy when they were clamped. However, that is beside the point when they sought the return of their car.
Senator Ross called for the flotation of Aer Lingus to be discussed. He heard what I said. Senator Kitt asked for a debate on the means-testing of supplementary pensions, which he claimed was unfair. Senator McHugh raised Kofi Annan's recent comments on drug-taking. I saw Grainne Kenny of Europe Against Drugs with Senator McHugh in the canteen earlier. I recently met a Donegal woman who is mad about Senator McHugh and wants him to get——
Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)
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No, she is mad about his political chances and wants him to win a Dáil seat.
Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)
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He also spoke about the dangers of dabbling in cannabis use. It is awful that 16 year olds are using it. The Senator called for a national debate on drug-taking, particularly cannabis which is seen as an easy drug. That is not so, particularly as it can result in the onset of schizophrenia in later life.
Senator Coghlan raised the sale of Aer Lingus and the storage of the electronic voting machines. We will see what Bishop——
Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)
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I meant Mr. Justice Smith. We will see what he has to say on that. The Cathaoirleach will have to do something about Senator Bannon and myself because it gives rise to all sorts of carry-on.
Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)
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I mean argumentative carry-on. Senator John Paul Phelan raised the matter of the chub fish yesterday. The chub fish is predatory. It is rather like some people in political life who may be predatory. It is predatory on other fish. This is an interesting matter. Senator Bannon sought emergency legislation to deal with it.
Senator Bannon also called for a debate on planning. Statements on planning were debated in the House on 15 February this year. Second Stage of the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 was discussed here on 7 and 8 March. Committee Stage was taken on 3 May and Report and Final Stages were taken on 16 May. As amendments to the Bill from the Dáil will be debated in the House on Thursday, Senators will have a great opportunity to——
John Minihan (Progressive Democrats)
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Senator Bannon will be gone fishing.
James Bannon (Fine Gael)
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I know it will be guillotined. No further debate will be allowed.
Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)
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We have no Madame guillotine in this House.
Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)
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If Senator Bannon has constituents who have difficulties he might refer them to me and I will attend to them.
Mary White (Fianna Fail)
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If he is not able to help them, Mary will sort them out.
Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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Could that be considered a predatory comment?
Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)
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Senator Ulick Burke referred to the Ryder Cup. I do not understand the position in regard to that, except to say that the committee to which he referred, Ryder Cup Limited, must have an English constitution on which the rules are based. That is all I can think of. I will ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Deputy O'Donoghue, if he knows about this matter because it is quite incredible to think the event would be governed under English law not Irish law.
Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)
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There is no extra-territorial jurisdiction in the K Club.
Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)
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Senator Hanafin called for a debate on the economy, which he thinks is important. I agree with him. Senator Feighan spoke about the dangers of cannabis. This was echoed by Senator Glynn who reminded us that it is called a gateway drug, which is a nice warm name for leading the way to other much more harmful drugs, but it is harmful in its own right.
Senator Browne wants substitute teachers to be provided in cases where teachers undertake the five-day course rather than have pupils divided among other classes in schools. Senator Ó Murchú believes the Irish Independent has given generous coverage to the issue of cannabis in view of the report pending from the Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs chaired by Deputy Keaveney. Cannabis is harmful and I would hope to have a debate on the matter in the autumn.