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Seanad Éireann Vol. 202 Wednesday, No. 7 5 May 2010 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES SEANAD ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Wednesday, 5 May 2010. Business of Seanad ………………………………427 Order of Business …………………………………428 Treaty of Lisbon: Motion ………………………………445 Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2010: Report and Final Stages …………………445 Ministerial Pensions: Motion ……………………………454 Adjournment Matters: Inter-Country Adoptions ……………………………478 Library Projects ………………………………480 Crop Damage Compensation …………………………482 SEANAD ÉIREANN ———— Dé Céadaoin, 5 Bealtaine 2010. Wednesday, 5 May 2010. ———— Chuaigh an Cathaoirleach i gceannas ar 2.30 p.m. ———— Paidir. Prayer. ———— Business of Seanad. An Cathaoirleach: I have received notice from Senator Fidelma Healy Eames that, on the motion for the Adjournment of the House today, she proposes to raise the following matter: The need for the Minister for Health and Children, in the light of the current block on Russian adoptions, to give a timeline by which the block can be lifted in order that Irish adoptions can recommence with Russia. I have also received notice from Senator Brendan Ryan of the following matter: The need for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to sanc- tion the immediate opening of the new state-of-the-art Rush Library, County Dublin, in the converted 19th century St. Maur’s Church, which has been completed and ready for operation since the end of September 2009 and which has been short-listed for the World Architecture Award but which cannot open owing to the embargo on public service recruitment. I have also received notice from Senator Nicky McFadden of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to outline the reason the garden-nursery sector was not included in the recent frost damage scheme. I have also received notice from Senator Pearse Doherty of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Finance to bring forward proposals that will see an end to the application of vehicle registration tax in the State. I have also received notice from Senator Diarmuid Wilson of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation to act immediately regard- ing the job losses in Quinn Insurance Limited. I have also received notice from Senator Jerry Buttimer of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport to make a statement on her strategy to attract visitors to Ireland and assist the tourism industry. 427 Order of 5 May 2010. Business. [An Cathaoirleach.] I regard the matters raised by the Senators as suitable for discussion on the Adjournment. I have selected the matters raised by Senators Healy Eames, Ryan and McFadden and they will be taken at the conclusion of business. The other Senators may give notice on another day of the matters they wish to raise. Order of Business. Senator Donie Cassidy: I extend our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the late Gerry Ryan who was an outstanding broadcaster and a man of the people. The Order of Business is No. 1, motion re implementation of new powers of national parlia- ments under the Lisbon treaty — extension of deadline — to be taken without debate at the conclusion of the Order of Business; No. 2, Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2010 — Report Stage, to be taken at the conclusion of No. 1 and adjourn not later than 5.30 p.m., if not previously concluded; and No. 36, Private Members’ motion No. 16 re ministerial pensions, to be taken at 5.30 p.m. and conclude not later than 7.30 p.m. Senator Frances Fitzgerald: I join the Leader in expressing sympathy to the family and friends of the late Gerry Ryan. It was a very sad loss for his family and many loyal fans. It is disap- pointing that the Taoiseach has decided not to support the Fine Gael motion on pensions to be discussed this evening. It was an opportunity—— An Cathaoirleach: The matter is to be debated tonight in Private Members’ time and I would appreciate if it was left until then. Senator Frances Fitzgerald: I want to make a relevant point. It was an opportunity for the Taoiseach to show leadership and his commitment to fairness and equity. An Cathaoirleach: I ask the Senator not to anticipate the debate. When a matter is to be raised as a Private Members’ motion, it should not be discussed on the Order of Business. Senator Frances Fitzgerald: I think this is linked to the question of political leadership—— An Cathaoirleach: It is the Senator’s own Private Members’ motion. Senator Frances Fitzgerald: ——which is a very relevant matter to raise in this House. People are looking for fairness and equity, especially with regard to higher civil servants and those who earn less than €30,000. There are many issues where fairness and equity arise in political discussions in this forum and that was the point I was making. I propose an amendment to the Order of Business to ask the Minister for Finance to come to the House to discuss the loan of €1.5 billion to Greece. It is crucial this House has an opportunity to discuss this important topic today as there are significant implications. Everyone outside the House can see the pressure on the euro and the deteriorating situation in Greece where three people have died in a fire today as a result of street protests in which a bank was fire-bombed. This is a very serious situation. There are threats to the stability of the euro which has significant implications for this country. It would be very appropriate to have a debate today on that issue. My amendment to the Order of Business would allow a discussion on the loan to Greece. Senator Joe O’Toole: Following on from the point made by the Leader of the Opposition, I agree the House should discuss what is happening in Greece but perhaps from a different perspective. Like their counterparts in Greece, Irish workers are also extraordinarily angry and 428 Order of 5 May 2010. Business. resentful and morale is low in both the public and private sectors. The Croke Park agreement is an attempt to deal with the situation in the public sector. We should look at what is hap- pening. The global mismanagement of the economies of the world has found expression on the streets in Athens, with three people dead today. This is because people were not given a way of dealing with it. The need for the House to discuss the elements of the Croke Park agreement so that people can understand it has been raised in the House on many occasions by Senator MacSharry, Senator Buttimer and me. There is a great deal of misinformation and incorrect information about it. Many ordinary public sector workers believe they have no choice, that voting “No” is their best protection and that if they vote “Yes”, changes will be imposed. We need to explain to them that what is involved in this agreement is change by negotiation, not imposed change. We need to show them that voting “No” offers no protection whatever but is simply a case of walking away from decisions that have to be made by Government without the input of the unions or others. There is a debate but I do not want to go into it now. Rather than allow things fall apart and find expression, I want Ministers to come to the House, bolster the agreement by showing their bona fides and their commitment to both the spirit and the letter of the agreement and to fight with it and for it. Senator Alex White: I join others who have expressed their sympathy on the recent very sad death of Gerry Ryan. As somebody who spent some years working in the same building as him, I feel a really profound sense of sadness and loss at his passing. When we talk about people being frank and perhaps talking about things they would find difficult to deal with, Gay Byrne cracked the glass but it can truly be said that Gerry Ryan shattered the glass in that respect. He made an immense contribution to broadcasting and it is a very sad day to realise he has left us. I support Senator Fitzgerald’s call for a debate on the recent decision on Greece. It would be difficult to imagine that there are many other countries in the European Union not debating this issue today. I presume the governments of those countries in the eurozone that have been called upon to make a contribution to this so-called bailout would go back quickly to their parliaments to explain what has happened, give the details, set out the basis for the particular figures involved in the respective contributions, explain the pace and timescale involved and discuss the exposure of banks in Ireland and elsewhere to what has occurred in Greece. While I know the Minister for Finance briefed the Cabinet on the issue, he should also brief the Oireachtas. He has an opportunity to attend this and the other House to do so. It is not good enough for us to be told legislation will be brought to the Cabinet next week and will get to the Oireachtas some time thereafter. We are talking about an exposure of up to or even in excess of €1.3 billion. Once again, this is an example of where more information and detail must be given for debate in the House. Last week, the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Martin Mansergh, attended a debate in this House in which he said many things.
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