Seanad debates
Wednesday, 6 June 2012
Order of Business.
2:30 pm
Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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The Order of Business is No. 1, motion re proposal for a directive on the freezing and confiscating of proceeds of crime in the European Union - referral to the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality and Defence, to be taken without debate; No. 23, motion re access to the committee papers of the Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service, to be referred to the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, to be taken without debate; No. 2, Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012 - Second Stage, to be taken on the conclusion of No. 1 and to conclude not later than 5.45 p.m., with the contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and the contributions of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, and the Minister to be called on to reply to the debate not later than 5.35 p.m.; and No. 3, Private Members' business, to be taken at 5.45 p.m. and to conclude not later than 7.45 p.m. The Minister for Finance will be in the House to take that business. I confirm for the House also that the Minister for Finance has indicated that he will be in the House to take a general debate on the economy and mortgage arrears which has been scheduled for Tuesday, 3 July, following the Order of Business.
Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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The Leader has just dealt with one of my questions which he will be glad to hear will shorten my contribution. I have raised this matter on a few occasions. I welcome that we have a date now for the Minister to come into the House for a debate on mortgages, even if it is a month from now. The ongoing mortgage crisis is an important issue on which there was agreement across the House on the part of the many Members who contributed to that debate.
Is there any news as to when the community employment scheme review is due? A number of reports are pending but they were not published in the past week and I wonder if that was one of them. When that report is published I ask the Leader to afford time for it to be debated.
Regarding the pyrite committee report, in her role as Deputy Leader, Senator Bacik said that the Government had hoped to get that report published by the end of May. We are only a week past that but we had a target date originally of the end of March. As I said previously, approximately 72,000 houses are potentially affected, mainly on the east coast. I visited many people in my constituency whose houses are in a desperate state of disrepair and who have had the legs cut from under them, so to speak, by HomeBond, which now says it has no liability in this regard. Does the Leader have a date for the publication of that report? When we have had an opportunity to examine that report it is important that we have a debate on how we will assist hundreds of thousands of people across this country who have no safety net in this regard and who are living in houses that are unsafe and will continue to pay mortgages on houses that are effectively valueless. That is a major challenge for all of us across the House in terms of the way the State deals with that issue.
I record my support for the call by the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, last Sunday that Sinn Féin would pay for the cost of the High Court challenge to the Referendum Commission's comments, the public relations stunt it engaged in two days before polling that will cost the taxpayer in the region of €200,000. I ask the Leader to ask our colleagues in Sinn Féin whether Sinn Féin can confirm that it will leave that bill with the taxpayers or-----
David Norris (Independent)
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The Senator and his lot left plenty, and so did those on that side of the House.
Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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We know that Sinn Féin is well versed at fund-raising not just in this jurisdiction but in Britain and in the United States of America-----
Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?
Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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I would like the Leader to afford some time next week to discuss the referendum, the role of the Referendum Commission and the High Court challenge brought by Sinn Féin over comments made by the Referendum Commission.
David Norris (Independent)
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Would the Cathaoirleach advise my learned friend that we have no role whatever in discussing these kinds of judicial decisions?
Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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I thought we had one in this House.
Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?
Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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The Leader might consider affording some time next week to discuss the referendum. My party is very pleased that the "Yes" vote was carried. We were pleased to play a positive role in ensuring that an important step was taken by the Irish people in passing the fiscal treaty. It is one part of the jigsaw but there are many challenges Government will face, and we will support it in seeking a write-down on debt and in examining the banking debt. That is something that should be discussed.
I ask the Leader to afford us some time next week to discuss the referendum now that it is over, to see what were the positive aspects of the campaign and what could be done better should future referendums come down the track. Perhaps my colleagues in Sinn Féin will use this opportunity to confirm that they will pay for the cost of the High Court challenge to the Referendum Commission two days before polling.
Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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I wish to congratulate everyone involved in carrying the Olympic torch through the streets of Dublin today. I had the privilege of watching it going down Clanbrassil Street through the south east inner city. It was a moving ceremony in both senses of the word because it moved very fast through the city. It was also moving to see children and adults turning out in large numbers to watch it go by.
I also wish to send best wishes to the 120,000 sitting the junior and leaving certificate examinations today. We all wish them well.
I join with Senator O'Brien in welcoming the result of the referendum last Thursday. All of us who were canvassing on the ground were quite worried and concerned about the possible result, but in the end it was more decisive than some of us had anticipated. We certainly heard a good deal of frustration on the ground but also an acceptance that this was the better option and that, in particular, access to the ESM was essential to help this country in its recovery.
I support Senator O'Brien in calling for a debate on the aftermath of the referendum and looking ahead to where we go from here. We might debate two issues, perhaps without a Minister. The first is the need to pursue the growth agenda and support President Hollande's efforts to try to ensure there is a growth package at EU level alongside the fiscal stability treaty. Second, we should see some way forward in the settlement of the bank debt, which is the big issue. I know negotiations are ongoing but we could usefully debate that in the aftermath of the referendum.
I ask the Leader for a debate on the role of the Seanad in the constitutional convention. I welcome today's announcement that the convention has been established and that it will be proceeding along the lines the Labour Party has proposed - that we will see a two-thirds and one-third split between members of the public and elected representatives. It needs a tight timeframe for it to be effective. It would be welcome to see more contentious issues taken on alongside the first two issues in the first stage of the convention. We might well debate the Seanad's role in examining constitutional change and the work the constitutional convention will do.
Jillian van Turnhout (Independent)
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I agree with Senator Bacik's proposal for a debate on the future of the Seanad in light of the announcement concerning the constitutional convention.
I also send my best wishes to those sitting the junior and leaving certificate examinations. I would not swap places with them but I wish them the very best, having dropped my nephew to his first exam today.
I warmly welcome the announcement by the EU for funding for the missing children hotline on Missing Children's Day. This House played a strong role on that matter by having an all-party, all-group motion seeking the hotline to be up and running. This funding has now been announced by the EU but the ISPCC, which has been awarded the hotline and the funding, will need additional funding from the Government. I therefore repeat my call of 22 May, asking the Leader to invite the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, to the House to discuss her Department's plans to provide the necessary funding and support for Ireland's missing children's hotline, so we can have it operational in the coming months.
We should also discuss with the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, how her Department and the Government can support the exceptional work done by the ISPCC through its Childline service. I also ask the Leader to seek from the Minister a date for the publication of the report into child deaths. She should give a commitment to attend the House shortly after it is published so that we can discuss it with her.
I commend the joint policing operation between the Garda Síochána and the PSNI into organised prostitution, brothel keeping and money laundering. On Tuesday last, 29 May, searches were carried out at over 120 houses, apartments and flats on both sides of the Border under Operation Quest, which led to a number of arrests. I particularly welcome the fact that three suspected victims of human trafficking were rescued during the course of these searches. I welcome the Garda Síochána's recognition of the link between prostitution, organised crime and money laundering, as well as the additional link between prostitution and human trafficking, which this case demonstrates. I commend the gardaí for their approach.
The Minister for Justice and Equality has advised us that he will shortly publish his public consultation document. I am disappointed, however, that the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland has banned a radio advertisement campaign by "Turn off the Red Light", which seeks to highlight abuses in the Irish sex trade. That is very disappointing.
Jillian van Turnhout (Independent)
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Will the Leader ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to give us a date for publishing the consultation document?
On 24 May, we raised the Government's arm's length policy on our cultural institutions which are being eroded. I am a keen family historian and on 1 June a notice appeared on the National Archives' website stating that its genealogy service has been temporarily suspended and that it is hoped to reinstate the service as soon as possible. When we are promoting a year of Gathering next year, is it greatly remiss of the authorities to suspend such a service.
David Norris (Independent)
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I have frequently spoken in this House against the horrible trade of human trafficking for whatever purpose. I would have to say, however, that if in 100 busts North and South of the Border, which involved multiple arrests, the fact that only three people appear to have been trafficked suggests that the link is not quite as strong as has just been suggested.
I usually agree with the Leader of the opposition, Senator Darragh O'Brien who is a very courteous and honourable man. I do take issue, however, with the idea that we should discuss court judgments in this House in this manner. The point raised by Sinn Féin was in fact an intricate one and this was recognised in the judgment of Mr. Justice Hogan. I believe it is appropriate that any person - I speak as somebody who has benefited from this situation myself - should have the costs paid when they raise a very important constitutional point. Fianna Fáil obviously feels rather touchy on the subject because it is threatened by Sinn Féin.
David Norris (Independent)
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I can understand their difficulties.
David Norris (Independent)
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When we have this debate, which I believe we should have, I hope they will realise the seriousness of the situation.
Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?
David Norris (Independent)
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Yes. I am supporting the call for such a debate because we are facing a really serious situation. I do not think we realise exactly how serious it is. Where are all the promises we heard before the referendum now? What response did the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, get from the spokesman for Wolfgang Schäuble, who is the paymaster? He was given the brush-off, which he did not expect. We have been the best boys in the class, yet all we do is get slapped for it all the time and it will not get better. Therefore I will wait to see if all the promises produced by the "Yes" side are right. I hope so. I have never had any problems being wrong if it is for the benefit of other people, but I very much doubt it.
I am also seeking a debate on homophobia. We did not have much to say about this on the recent international day against homophobia. The campaign against homophobic bullying was largely subverted - even though the Government won - by being diluted into a general debate on bullying which we have all the time. However, the statistics from the National Office for Suicide Prevention are stark. Some 59% of young gay people experience homophobic bullying in school; 25% are physically threatened; 34% hear homophobia from teachers; 27% have self harmed; 50% have seriously thought of ending their own lives; and 20% have attempted suicide. It is time we did something about it, particularly in light of the kind of international situation we have where people are being murdered because of their sexual orientation.
Recently, in North Carolina - of which, curiously enough, I am the honorary attorney general - one pastor called for lesbians to be corralled into a 100-km diameter concentration camp.
Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?
David Norris (Independent)
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I am seeking a debate on homophobia and am giving the reasons. The pastor said no food should be dropped in to them because they would then die out. Another pastor said that if a boy was showing what he called "a limp wrist", he should be given a good punch.
David Norris (Independent)
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We have also had the cowardly and disgusting attitude at the Anglican synod recently. I am urging that we should take this issue seriously. On most occasions when I raise these issues in the House, nobody speaks against them but I do not get a lot of support. I would welcome it if we showed a bit of solidarity in this area instead of always taking the soft, easy options which everybody is comfortable with.
Deirdre Clune (Fine Gael)
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This morning, Pfizer announced that it was to shed 177 jobs in two plants in Cork. Pfizer employs 4,000 people in this country. This decision will affect the lives of those who will lose their jobs and the lives of their families and it will cause devastation and shock. I extend my sympathies and that of all Senators to those people. That announcement shines a light on the pharmaceutical industry and the way it is changing worldwide. The reason for these job losses is that Pfizer's blockbuster drug Lipitor has come off patent. Other drugs will also come off patent. We see mergers and acquisitions take place on an international basis. It is important that this House examines the pharmaceutical industry and employment it provides here. I ask the leader to invite the Minister to come to the House to explain the discussions he is having with the pharmaceutical companies and what the IDA has planned in this area. While much of this is out of our control we must have a strategic plan for this area which is an important employer across the pharmaceutical life sciences. I ask the Leader to arrange a discussion on the future of the pharmaceutical industry, which is an important industry that is changing internationally, and the implications that has for this country.
Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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I ask the Leader to arrange for the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, to come to the House to discuss health matters and to have a question and answer session on it which is always useful.
The new emergency aeromedical service commenced operation on 4 June. It is a pilot scheme based at Custume Barracks, Athlone. It is a national ambulance service and this is the first time it has been introduced. The service responded to a young lady who had a farm accident in Castleplunkett, Castlerea, on Monday and she was brought to University College Hospital, Galway, within approximately 30 minutes of the helicopter being summoned. It has been extremely useful and initially it has proved to be very successful but it is no substitute for the active accident and emergency department we had in Roscommon County Hospital. It is all very well having accident and emergency departments in Portiuncula, Castlebar, Mullingar, Tullamore and Galway but the excellent accident and emergency department we had in Roscommon was a far better service where an ambulance brought a patient to the hospital rather than having to rely even on an air ambulance service which can be called in emergencies. The provision of an air ambulance service and accident and emergency department plus the ambulance service is an excellent combination and I commend Minister, Deputy Reilly, on bringing it forward with the Minister, Deputy Shatter, in Custume Barracks, Athlone, even though its launch was very secretive. Nevertheless, that is fine as it is operating now.
Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?
Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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They will evaluate the position but it is an exaggeration to say that the service was provided for Roscommon County Hospital because this is a national service. It could be provided in Cork or elsewhere in the State, and it is based in Custume Barracks in Athlone. If Fine Gael thinks it is off the hook as far as Roscommon is concerned it can forget about it. Sone 60% of the people were generous in voting "Yes" in the referendum on the treaty.
Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?
Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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They will never forgive and they will never forget-----
Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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-----the activities of the current Government. They have been misled so much-----
Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome what happened during the week in regard to this service but I still believe that the restoration of the accident and emergency department there is vital.
Mary Moran (Labour)
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I send my good wishes to the 116,774 students who began the State examinations this morning. From my teaching experience I understand how stressful examination time can be for students but we need to send them out the message to keep calm and remind them that they always know more than they think they know.
As a mother of two children who are sitting State examinations this year, one is sitting the junior certificate and the other the leaving certificate, this is my third year in a row when I have had a child sitting State examinations. I am well aware of the pressure students can place on themselves but students should see this as an opportunity to demonstrate their talents and to look on the positive side. It is a showcase for the culmination of all their hard work.
I welcome the junior certificate cycle review which will come into place in 2014 where State examinations will not just depend on a student's performance on a particular day.
There are changes to two of the leaving certificate subjects - Irish and mathematics - this year. For the first time higher level mathematics will carry 25 bonus CAO points, which is to be very much welcomed, to encourage students to take higher level mathematics. In addition, in the oral part of the Irish paper there will be a picture section. I call for a debate on the taking of Irish as a subject at leaving certificate and the alarming drop in the number of students who take Irish at second level.
I welcome the arrival of the Olympic torch to Ireland today. It was symbolically passed over at the Border north of Dundalk this morning and it was a fitting gesture that it was handed over by a Protestant sporting hero to a Catholic sporting hero on the Border. I reiterate President Higgins's words this morning that the flame's arrival in Ireland symbolised the growing closeness between Ireland and the United Kingdom, no doubt heightened by the visit of the Queen last year.
Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?
Mary Moran (Labour)
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Senator Bacik said it was a fantastic moment to witness. I was fortunate this morning to be able to go to Merrion Street where I saw the torch being carried.
David Norris (Independent)
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Was it a Protestant or a Catholic-----
Mary Moran (Labour)
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-----and not only to see it but to touch it and to hold it with Katie Taylor's mother who was carrying it on behalf of all the mothers of Ireland.
Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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The Senator should have run herself.
Katherine Zappone (Independent)
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Here's to Katie Taylor. I am in solidarity with Senator Norris calling for a debate on homophobic bullying. The Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality heard evidence from many groups against homophobic and transphobic bullying on 17 May but I am in solidarity with the Senator.
I welcome the publication of the heads of the Bill on the establishment of the human rights and equality commission that the Minister, Deputy Shatter, published earlier this week and his commitment to put in place a new body that will be strengthened in its ability to respect the human rights and equal status of everyone in our society. He has moved swiftly in response to the working group's report which reflects the public consultation process that fed into it. I am sure all Members would agree that now more than ever before within the context of our vulnerable Irish society and economy we need to get it right in terms of the way equality and human rights can be delivered side by side.
I have some questions I would like the Leader to ask of the Minister, Deputy Shatter. Of primary concern in the establishment of this body is that it is effective and that it has the resources to be effective and the way it will be regarded at international level. As many Members are aware, the Irish Human Rights Commission was regarded by the UN as an independent national human rights institution. The new body will not have that special status. It will not yet comply with the Paris Principles-----
Katherine Zappone (Independent)
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-----but it needs to prove in its first year that it is able to be independent and comply. As Members will recall, the budgets of the Irish Human Rights Commission and the Equality Authority were cut significantly in 2008, totalling about €3.4 million. The working group's report noted that the current bodies do not have enough resources to meet their existing obligations. On "Morning Ireland" earlier this week the Minister for Justice and Equality indicated that with the merger there would be immediate savings of €500,000, which is welcome because it could go towards the work, but will the Leader ask the Minister from where those savings will come and how we will recover the €4 million that has been lost by the two bodies to allow the body be effective in its first year? It must be effective in its first year to be declared independent in terms of the Paris Principles. Given that we are still seeking a seat on the Human Rights Council the Minister should be able to answer these questions sooner rather than later.
3:00 pm
Catherine Noone (Fine Gael)
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I was alarmed to read this morning figures on the sale of the morning after pill. Some pharmacies have increased their sales of the morning after pill from 30 to 90 per week, which is astonishing. This is something that should be a last resort but this indicates that perhaps it is being used as a contraceptive. Young women in many instances are putting themselves at risk of sexually transmitted diseases.
It also has many side-effects for reproductive health and causes other problems down the line for young women. Will the Leader ask the Minister for Health to liaise with the pharmaceutical bodies to obtain more precise figures on this? Perhaps raising the price should be considered. The price was reduced from €50 to €15 last year. We should also have an awareness campaign about the potential dangers of partaking in this type of contraception. The bigger problem is the social one that throughout the country intercourse has become much more casual, and we probably need to debate this and the Minister of Health should bring his attention to it.
Feargal Quinn (Independent)
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Last week the European Court of Justice ruled on MasterCard's multilateral interchange fee. This is quite an important decision but has not received much attention. It applies only to cross-border transactions but its effect startled me. It will mean a reduction in costs to European consumers - solely for cross-border transactions - of €25 billion per year. The court ruled the multilateral interchange fee is unfair to consumers and retailers and consumers receive no benefit for the charge. The court ruled it should also be reduced and removed internally in each of the European countries. Will the Leader draw the attention of the Minister for Finance and the Competition Authority to undertake this? It has huge implications. The multilateral interchange fee is also charged by Visa but the case heard last week was against MasterCard. The UK and other countries have stated the ruling should also apply domestically in each member state. I urge that we do this.
The constitutional convention will be convened and we should have time to debate it in the House rather than wait for it to be debated outside the House. It is exactly the type of topic we should discuss.
Jimmy Harte (Labour)
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I also call for a debate on the referendum and its fallout and on who was telling the truth and telling lies during the campaign. This would become very clear if we had a frank debate in any forum.
I agree with Senator Darragh O'Brien with regard to the €200,000 Sinn Féin is seeking from the taxpayer to pay for its grandstanding on the eve of the referendum. To put it in football parlance seeing as the European championships are beginning on Sunday, when Sinn Féin saw it was losing the match it decided to attack the referee. It was sad. The €200,000 in legal fees which Sinn Féin will attempt to have paid by the taxpayer could employ eight teachers in Donegal for a year who otherwise might be let go.
Jimmy Harte (Labour)
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I accept that any individual is entitled to claim fees if a legitimate constitutional question is raised. However, Sinn Féin is not an ordinary person on the street. It is the only party in the jurisdiction which has deposits in sterling and dollars.
Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?
Jimmy Harte (Labour)
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I call for a debate on the referendum. Sinn Féin benefits from a fall in the euro but this is not the case for the Labour Party, Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil.
Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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These are points the Senator can make during the debate. We are not having the debate now.
Jimmy Harte (Labour)
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Tell the people at a child care meeting in Donegal next week that the €200,000 in fees will be taken from their budget.
Jimmy Harte (Labour)
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I wish the Irish soccer team the best of luck-----
Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
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What about all the money you spend on special advisers?
Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
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The Government has and far more than €200,000.
Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Does Senator Harte have a question for the Leader?
Jimmy Harte (Labour)
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My question is whether we will have a debate on the referendum.
I was not allowed finish my sentence about the Irish soccer team. I wish them, Giovanni Trapattoni and the Irish fans the best of luck. I was amused by Sinn Féin's sudden interest in the Irish soccer team. It was just like its sudden interest in the Donegal GAA team last year when it reached the all-Ireland semi-final. If Donegal does not get past the first round Sinn Féin does not appear at the game.
Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
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The all-Ireland is a 32 county competition.
David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)
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If I were a bookmaker I would offer very short odds on Senator Harte speaking about Sinn Féin because every contribution he has made since I have been a member has been an attack on Sinn Féin. He is trying to take over from Senator D'Arcy as the Government spokesperson on Sinn Féin.
Terry BrennanDavid Cullinane (Sinn Fein)
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If that is how he wants to waste his time in this House it is a matter for him.
I agree it is important to have a debate in the aftermath of the referendum. I commend all of those who voted and all parties, Independent Deputies and Senators, trade unions and civic leaders for the role they played in both sides of the campaign. The campaign, which took place in recent weeks and months, was very constructive. The Government and those advocating a "Yes" vote now have a responsibility to deliver on the rhetoric of the campaign and deliver the stability, certainty, investments, jobs and all that was promised. It will be interesting to see in the months and years ahead what exactly will happen in Europe and here.
A number of people have raised the issue of the court case and I should be given an opportunity to respond. I will quote Mr. Justice Kevin Feeney who stated the case raised complex, important and powerful issues concerning European international and Irish constitutional law which might be considered by the European Court of Justice and the Irish Supreme Court. Any citizen of the State who feels constitutional issues need to be examined, and as the judge stated-----
David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)
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-----complex and important issues, they should be raised-----
Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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Yes, but Mr. Justice Hogan wondered why Sinn Féin waited until two days before the referendum.
David Norris (Independent)
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The Cathaoirleach allowed plenty of latitude for him to be questioned, now let him reply.
Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?
David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)
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When Fianna Fáil Senators speak about recovering costs for court cases perhaps their party should stump up the costs of the Moriarty and Mahon tribunals-----
David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)
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-----which cost hundreds of millions of euro because of the corruption in their party.
Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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This is not relevant to today's Order of Business.
David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)
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It would be far better for the country if they paid for these tribunals rather than attacking an individual for taking what was a good court case to examine the constitutional issues at play. The country would be better served if this happened.
Michael Mullins (Fine Gael)
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I join Senator Leyden in welcoming the recent launch of the air ambulance service based in Athlone. It is a commitment by the Government to provide a top-class health care service. I know the new service has been welcomed by everybody along the western seaboard.
I also welcome the decision of the Irish people in the recent referendum. People voted for certainty, stability, recovery and the availability of future funding. I am pleased people rejected the negative campaign waged by the "No" side based on many untruths and irrelevancies. However, there is one outstanding matter with regard to the referendum and I ask people to address it. A large amount of very unsightly posters remain throughout the country in particular in the city of Dublin. I am very disappointed that these posters were not removed in time for the Olympic torch coming through the city. Many visitors will come to Dublin for the Eucharistic Congress at the weekend and I appeal to all organisations to ensure the posters are removed. They are unsightly, and many cable ties, which look particularly awful, also remain.
Now that the referendum is over I hope we will begin to discuss positive initiatives on how we will get out of our economic difficulties and create more employment. Following a commitment made some time ago by the Minister for Jobs, Innovation and Enterprise, Deputy Richard Bruton, I call on the Leader to schedule during this session an update on the jobs initiative which will give us all an opportunity to further feed into the programme.
Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)
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I would also welcome an opportunity to debate the jobs initiative and, from my perspective, its failure. An ESRI conference yesterday learned how 80% of the jobs created in recent times have been located in Dublin, Galway and Cork even though job losses in those locations would only have been 60% of those elsewhere. It is important to focus on the original visions of the national spatial strategy and why it has clearly failed. Why has Government policy to date not adequately tackled those areas that have suffered the highest redundancies and unemployment per capita, when one considers Donegal and the counties in the north west? As Senator Leyden has said, it is consistent with the plan to phase out services throughout the area north of a line from Dublin to Galway.
It is very insulting to celebrate the provision of an air ambulance when people are entitled to a health service comparable to that of the rest of the country. If the people of Roscommon now find themselves in need of an emergency department and cannot get to Galway quickly enough, provided the weather is favourable and the air ambulance works, they might survive, but if not they are second class citizens compared with the people based on the east coast or close to a so-called centre of excellence.
I would welcome the opportunity to debate some of these issues, in particular the employment issue other Senators have raised. It is unacceptable that the lion's share of activity as measured by grants and other resources provided through IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland is in certain areas. The focus of Government should be at least a basic acknowledgement that those people who happen to live outside the pale or outside the catchment area of our larger cities are just as entitled to a policy that at least aspires to provide the same level of employment and resources to them.
Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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I echo what Senator Mullins said about posters. I have an aversion to election posters being left up -----
Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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If the Senator does not get elected.
Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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-----for any longer than is absolutely necessary. I hope Senator Leyden has taken down the posters in County Roscommon.
Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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They are wonderful when one gets elected.
Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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I believe the Fine Gael posters in Roscommon looked very good and the result was correct. I am delighted with the result of the referendum, which was appropriate. People voted for stability, confidence and rebuilding Ireland. They realised that our future lies in playing a central part in the European movement. However, we will have a fundamentally more important referendum later this year - not the referendum on the abolition of the Seanad, but the referendum on children's rights. Senator van Turnhout mentioned that the missing children's hotline has been funded from Brussels, which I welcome. I believe Europe has put up approximately €150,000. It is waiting for a contribution from the Government to move to the next phase.
David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)
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The Senator should not forget what happened at the previous budget.
Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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As it is moving to the next phase, it is very important that the 116000 number be launched as a matter of urgency. I call on the Leader to ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Fitzgerald, to ensure this happens.
While speaking of children's hotlines, I repeat what I said here previously. It is appalling that Childline is funded completely from voluntary contributions. It costs €6 million to run Childline. If it were not for the good nature of the people who fundraise for Childline, we would not have this facility. Each day hundreds of calls remain unanswered because Childline does not have the resources, which is an indictment of the country.
Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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That is a clear example of why we need a referendum to ensure that children's and young people's rights are enshrined in the Constitution. Successive governments have failed the children of this country. I commend the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, in her quest to ensure that the constitutional amendment will receive broad support and that the referendum will happen in 2012 to enshrine the rights of children in the Constitution once and for all.
David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)
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The Senator voted for a budget to put more children into poverty. That is a clear contradiction.
John Crown (Independent)
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As we are now more than a year into the term of the Government, I ask the Leader to consider scheduling in the near future a formal broadly based debate on the fundamentals of health policy reform. This should not be another of the very worthy but piecemeal debates we have had on individual pieces of legislation, which could be broadly construed as part of an overall agenda for reform, but I believe they are not. The fundamentals of reform of our health system were contained in the programme for Government synthesised by the two parties. It was based on two quite informed individual party strategies, which together formed a nice synthetic programme which if implemented would address the core problems in our health service, which are poor quality, inefficiency and inequity.
My good friend and colleague, Dr. Gerry Burke, a consultant in Limerick, has been quoted in the press commenting on what he regards as rampant managerialism which is impeding the development of the health service. I fear somewhat that some of the first tentative steps, which we are being told are part of the reform process, are in fact steps in the direction of further managerialism and not dealing with the fundamental problems. I will give one quick example which I would like the Leader to convey to the Minister for Health regarding the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire. Any Senators who have had the privilege of visiting it will know it is an extraordinary institution which works in very difficult circumstances with some of the most challenging problems of often young people facing incurable spinal injuries as a result of trauma, cancer or sports injuries. They go through very rigorous rehabilitation with variable outcomes and get the very best care they can in an institution that is grotesquely under-provided for in two key areas.
The number of consultants is approximately 60% to 70% what it would be by UK standards and less than 10% of what it would be in France. The number of beds is approximately one fifth of what is recommended by the professional body. As a result, for some of its specialist neuro-services there is a six-month waiting list to get started with rehabilitation. This means that someone whose spine has been fractured or head badly injured may be either sitting at home or in a hospital bed losing rehabilitation time because he or she cannot move on. This causes the downstream effect of failure to admit people for other procedures that have varying degrees of urgency. This is merely one example of a system that is deeply dysfunctional and we need to have this debate in the near future.
I wish to comment on Senator Noone's - if I understand her correctly - somewhat extraordinary suggestion that the right way to deal with the widespread use of the morning-after pill is to increase its price. It would be somewhat like trying to reduce abortion by increasing the waiting list to ten months.
Caít Keane (Fine Gael)
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D'fhoilsigh an Comhchoiste um Chomhshaol, Iompar, Cultúr agus Gaeltacht tuarascáil an-tábhachtach mar gheall ar an teanga Gaeilge agus ról Foras na Gaeilge inniu. Ba cheart go mbeadh díospóireacht sa Teach seo ar an tuarascáil sin. As this morning we published a very important report on the role of Foras na Gaeilge and the future funding mechanism for the Irish language organisations, it would be opportune for this House to discuss that report's recommendations with the Minister of State so that we can further enunciate the report's recommendations to ensure it goes to the North-South ministerial council, from which the initial recommendations came through Foras na Gaeilge. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister of State, Deputy McGinley, to come to the House to discuss that report.
Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
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Tacaím leis an moladh atá déanta ag an Seanadóir Keane. Tréaslaím leis an gcomhchoiste as foilsiú na tuarascála céanna. Ach an oiread leis an Seanadóir Moran, ba mhaith liom gach dea-ghuí a sheoladh chuig na mic léinn ar fad atá ag déanamh scrúdaithe faoi láthair. Ba cheart go mbeadh díospóireacht againn maidir le cúrsaí oideachais trí mheán na Gaeilge.
I have asked for a number of debates on the fishing industry, the Celtic Sea quota division that will be done and our marine resources policy. The Leader indicated previously that the Minister would be willing to attend and I would be very grateful on any update on that.
I agree with Senator MacSharry that the national spatial strategy has been an abject failure under the previous Government. As I have previously suggested, perhaps the Seanad could be used in an innovative way to have a series of debates on the regions. We should consider the needs of each of the regions individually, which have specific needs.
My main question for the Leader will be of particular interest to the Cathaoirleach. It relates to the earthquake off the coast of Mayo, which is of concern.
Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
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We are safe thankfully. It is a very serious issue. Could the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources be invited to the House to give a statement on it? It was apparently a 4.0 magnitude earthquake and it has serious implications for the oil and gas industry off the coast of Mayo, in particular. There have been a number of calls this morning for clarification, particularly from Councillor Rose Conway-Walsh, regarding the infrastructure of the oil and gas pipelines off the coast and whether any damage has been done. In addition, when the development of the Corrib gas field and other fields off the west coast of Ireland was taking place, did the environmental impact statements take into consideration that there might be seismic activity of this type? Was that factored in and was seismic testing carried out? It is potentially a serious issue. If any damage was done to that infrastructure, it could have catastrophic repercussions.
Bheadh fáilte roimh an tAire, an Teachta Rabbitte, teacht isteach agus cúlra an scéil a thabhairt agus a mhíniú dúinn céard go díreach a tharla agus an bhfuil an tír seo ag coinneáil súile ar na gnóthaí seo agus an bhfuil muid ag tógáil na cúinsí is sábhailte agus is sláintiúla san áireamh gur cóir a dhéanamh.
Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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Senator Darragh O'Brien raised the review of the community employment, CE, scheme and the pyrite report. I will find out when the CE review report will be available and will revert to the Senator. I have been constantly asking about the pyrite report. I am told it is imminent but we were told that a few weeks ago. I assure the Senator that I will pursue the matter and report back to him, but I understand that it might be available in the next week or so.
On the High Court challenge by Sinn Féin, I do not propose to intervene in an argument between Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin. However, it is great to see that Sinn Féin now recognises the courts. It is not long ago that it failed to recognise them so it is great the party is taking cases to court. Senator O'Brien also sought a debate on the referendum, as did other Members. I am agreeable to that proposal and will schedule it for Thursday afternoon next week. There will possibly be no Minister present but I will schedule it for that afternoon.
Senators Bacik, Moran, van Turnhout and others wished our students well at the start of their examinations. We all agree with those wishes. They also welcomed the Olympic torch to Dublin. It was great that it came to this country. It again highlights the links between Great Britain and ourselves that the torch came to Ireland, and it was great to see so many people on the streets of Dublin and elsewhere to welcome it.
I will try to arrange a debate on the establishment of a constitutional convention.
Senator van Turnhout raised the issue of the missing children hotline. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, has welcomed the allocation of €150,000 by the EU Daphne programme to the ISPCC for setting up the initial operation of the 116000 missing children hotline in Ireland. Last year, the Minister established a project team to oversee the establishment of the hotline, something she announced in the course of a debate in the Seanad, which was very welcome. I understand that the ISPCC has advised that it will make an application to the Government for funding for the balance of the set-up costs. The Minister, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, will consider any funding application in conjunction with the Department's agencies involved in the project team and she hopes that any additional funding requirements can be met. That is to be welcomed. It is a matter that has been highlighted by Senators van Turnhout, Conway and others on numerous occasions.
Senator van Turnhout also welcomed the activities of the Garda and the PSNI on Operation Quest. We all welcome that activity. The Senator also asked about the report on child deaths and when it would be published. I will revert to the Senator on that matter.
Senator Norris called for a debate on homophobia and suicide. The joint committee on justice discussed this and I understand that the Deputy Leader, in my absence a week or so ago, referred to this in the House. I assure the Senator that we can and will arrange such a debate at an early date.
Senator Clune raised the Pfizer job losses and the future of the pharmaceutical industry. We all regret that 177 jobs have been lost in Pfizer and our thoughts are with the workers and their families. All the supports of the State will be made available to the workers. As the Senator correctly pointed out, products coming off patent is a reality of the pharmaceutical industry and one that all companies throughout the world must face. However, I will try to arrange a debate with the Minister on that matter.
Senator Leyden sought a debate on health. I am working with the office of the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, to arrange a debate and question and answer session-----
Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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-----similar to the one we held in October. I hope we will have a date for that soon. We all welcome the emergency ambulance scheme and, as Senator Leyden mentioned, we can already see the effectiveness of the introduction of the air ambulance.
Senator Moran spoke on the significance of the handing over of the Olympic torch in Dundalk. We all realise its significance.
Senator Zappone referred to the merger of the Equality Authority and the Human Rights Commission. She put forward a number of questions for the Minister. Perhaps Senator Zappone would raise that matter on the Adjournment. As there were so many questions involved, she would get proper and necessary answers in an Adjournment debate. The questions she asks are very relevant.
Senator Noone and Senator Crown referred to the morning after pill. Last week, for the first time, we held a sexual health awareness week, which was very welcome. When we arrange the debate with the Minister for Health I am sure the Senators can raise the points they raised today on that matter.
Senator Quinn asked that the Competition Authority investigate the charge in respect of MasterCard. I agree with the Senator and I will raise the matter with the Minister. Like other Senators, he also called for a debate on the constitutional convention. I will arrange such a debate soon.
In response to Senator Harte's request for a debate on the referendum, as I said earlier I will schedule a debate for next Thursday afternoon. Of course, we all wish our soccer team and all our supporters travelling to Poland and Ukraine well and a safe journey, and we wish the team every success.
I agree with Senator Cullinane in commending all the people who voted in the referendum. That will be debated next week. Senator Mullins and others referred to the posters that are still on display. There is a law relating to such posters and I hope the local authorities will enforce it. The Senator also sought an update on the jobs initiative. In the next number of weeks the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, will be in the House to deal with three, if not four, Bills. I am sure there will be an opportunity during the debates on those Bills to raise the question of the jobs initiative. If not, I certainly will try to arrange to have the Minister come in to deal with that matter specifically. However, it would be unfair to deal specifically with the matter, given the Minister will be in the House at least four or five times in the next number of weeks to deal with several Bills under his remit.
Senator MacSharry raised the national spatial strategy and how it appears that jobs are going to Galway, Dublin and Cork and that little is going further north than a line from Dublin to Galway.
Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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I assure the Senator that those of us who are from the south east are also greatly concerned by the lack of jobs and this is a matter on which I should and will arrange a debate with the Minister.
Senator Conway raised the children's referendum, which will proceed in September or October. It is another day's work and I commend the Senator on raising the question of the Childline helpline.
Senator Crown called for a debate on health policy reform after a year in Government. I will try to arrange a debate with the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly and as I stated, I am trying to arrange with the Minister's office to have a question and answer session. However the Senator seeks to have a specific debate on health policy reform and I can perceive the reason for this. I will raise this proposal with the Minister.
Senator Keane raised the role of Foras na Gaeilge. As a Bille na Gaeltachta is scheduled to come into the House in the coming weeks, perhaps the debate on that Bill could include a debate on the role of Foras na Gaeilge.
Senator Ó Clochartaigh referred to the fishing industry. While I had thought the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Coveney, attended the House to discuss the fishing industry only a matter of weeks ago, I will ask him for an update in that regard. The Senator also called for a debate on the regions and I will ascertain whether this can be arranged.
Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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I note the Senator's points on the earthquake in Mayo and his question in respect of the infrastructure of the oil and gas fields. I am sure Senator Ó Clochartaigh will consider raising this issue as an Adjournment matter to ensure he has the proper information from the relevant Minister.