Vol. 201 Wednesday, No. 8 10 March 2010 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES SEANAD ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Wednesday, 10 March 2010. Business of Seanad ………………………………459 Order of Business …………………………………459 Irish Language: Statements ……………………………478 Multi-Unit Developments Bill 2009: Committee Stage ……………………489 Compulsory Retirement from the Irish Army of Lieutenant Dónal de Róiste: Motion … … … 538 Adjournment Matters: Thalidomide Compensation Scheme…………………………561 Gaelscoileanna ………………………………562 Rural Transport Services ……………………………514 SEANAD ÉIREANN ———— Dé Céadaoin, 10 Márta 2010. Wednesday, 10 March 2010. ———— Chuaigh an Cathaoirleach i gceannas ar 10.30 a.m. ———— Paidir. Prayer. ———— Business of Seanad. An Cathaoirleach: I have received notice from Senator Mary White 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 to support thalidomide survivors in their demands for acknowledgement, an apology, disclosure of documents and a health care package that will properly address their unique health care needs now and in the future. I have also received notice from Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Health and Children to ensure the charges being introduced on SITT rural transport services to day centres in County Donegal are reversed in line with services being operated in other parts of the country. I have also received notice from Senator Maria Corrigan of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Education and Science to report on the provision of a gaelcholaiste in south Dublin at Syndeham Road, given the growing unmet second level needs of pupils completing their primary education in a number of local gaelscoileanna. I have also received notice from Senator Pearse Doherty of the following matter: Noting the announcement by the Taoiseach of the new free rail travel scheme for EU citizens over 66 years and given the fact that Donegal is one of the few counties that does not have rail services, the need for the Minister for Transport to ensure the scheme will extend to bus services in counties with no rail facilities in order that they will gain from the increased number of tourists availing of the scheme. I regard the matters raised by Senators White, Ó Domhnaill and Corrigan as suitable for discussion on the Adjournment and they will be taken at the conclusion of business. I regret that I have had to rule out of order the matter raised by Senator Doherty, as the Minister has no official responsibility in the matter. Order of Business. Senator Donie Cassidy: The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on the Irish language, to be taken at the conclusion of the Order of Business and conclude not later than 1 p.m., on 459 Order of 10 March 2010. Business. [Senator Donie Cassidy.] which the contributions of spokespersons shall not exceed ten minutes and those of all other Senators shall not to exceed five minutes and Senators may share time, with the Minister to be called ten minutes from the conclusion of the debate for closing comments and to take ques- tions from leaders and spokespersons; and No. 2, Multi-Unit Development Bill 2009 — Com- mittee Stage, to be taken at 2 p.m. and adjourn at 5 p.m., if not previously concluded. Private Members’ business will be No. 37, motion No. 16 regarding the compulsory retirement from the Army of Lieutenant Dónal de Róiste, to be taken at 5 p.m. and conclude not later than 7 p.m. There will be a sos between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Senator Liam Twomey: The Minister for Health and Children needs to come to the House for an urgent debate on the newspaper headlines about the failure to read 58,000 X-rays in time for the patients affected. This means that either no one gives a damn about the results of the X-rays or the X-rays were irrelevant in the first place. The Government’s response has been pathetic. There is almost a malaise and apathy affecting certain Ministers regarding con- cerns about their Departments. We need an urgent debate on the matter. It is too serious to ignore the fact that 58,000 X-rays were not read properly and that there are still delays in reading X-rays carried out in excess of six months ago, with some taken up to four years ago. I also seek an urgent debate on the public sector strike action. The phoney war is over but this is a serious issue. Any strike will reduce productivity in the economy. If productivity is reduced, our competitiveness will be reduced and if that happens, more people will lose their jobs in the coming months. The Government deficit is already massive and we are heading towards bankruptcy. I ask the Leader to facilitate a debate on the issue as a matter of urgency. Public sector workers have taken a disproportionate hit in the last two budgets, which is accept- able, but the Government part of the economy is the part that is in the greatest mess. We need to have an urgent debate on the likely outcome of the strike and how it will impact on citizens. Therefore, I propose an amendment to the Order of Business that we discuss the effects of the strike and how it will affect all citizens, both now and in the future. I ask that the debate be held as a matter of urgency. Senator Joe O’Toole: We should not waste the time of the Minister for Health and Children by requesting her to come to the House to deal with the matter raised. It does not reflect malaise or apathy on her part that there were problems among medical staff, including clin- icians, physicians, radiographers and others. It is time we had a debate on the difference between accountability, responsibility and related matters and on the role of a Minister. Senator Jerry Buttimer: Hear, hear. Senator Joe O’Toole: The role of the Minister is not to read X-rays or run hospitals but to ensure they are run as well as a Minister can so ensure and that if problems arise, they are dealt with. Blame cannot attach to the Minister in this matter. That is a disinterested indepen- dent view. What has happened is absolutely appalling. I understand what the Opposition parties have to do and do not blame them for so doing because Members on the other side of the House would do the same. Some Members have been here long enough to know that I defended the former Ministers for Agriculture, Mr. Ray MacSharry and Mr. Ivan Yates, a few months later, on the same issue. We do not do ourselves justice in carrying on like this. While we need answers, we also need to recognise and understand what it is a Minister is supposed to do. If anybody believes having a different Minister in the Department of Health and Chil- dren would change matters at hospital level, that is not the way it happens. We should consider this point. 460 Order of 10 March 2010. Business. I propose an amendment to the Order of Business to debate an issue I raised yesterday. I hope the Leader of the House will accept the amendment because I know it is completely in tune with his own thinking. I also know Members on the other side of the House, certainly of the main Government party, agree with me. My proposal relates to the non-Government motion No. 17, “That the Broadcasting Act 2009 ... Levy Order ... be and is hereby annulled”. The levy — there is a huge increase in the charge — imposes an unacceptable and unfair burden on local radio stations, in particular, at a time when their advertising and other income has dropped by perhaps 50% or more and they have had to cut jobs and reduce their activities and services. It seems to be a daft time to do this. I accept that money needs to be raised and it can be done. However, it should be left to the Joint Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to go through the accounts in order that we will have cogent reasons, proper arguments and a clear understanding of why this needs to be done now, what the new costs are and how the equation to implement these decisions was arrived at. I ask the Leader for his support on this matter and to follow his heart on it. I ask that he accept my amendment that motion No. 17 be taken as the first item on the Order of Business. Senator Alex White: Will the Leader indicate what is proposed about the reports in the newspapers today that thousands of marriages conducted at embassies in Dublin have appar- ently been declared invalid? Will he indicate whether the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, or the relevant Minister, will respond to this extraordinary state of affairs, whereby hundreds of people who have lived in this country, many of whom have worked here, and got married in embassies in Dublin have been told that their marriages are, in fact, invalid? If the shoe was on the other foot and this was occurring to so many Irish people living abroad, one can imagine the level of justified indignation and high dudgeon there would be both here and elsewhere. Will the Leader indicate what is proposed to rectify this extraordinary state of affairs, whereby people are finding, in some cases three, four or five years after they were married in Dublin, that their marriages are invalid? This will have very serious implications for them in terms of the recognition of their marriages in their home countries.