Seanad Éireann
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Vol. 225 Tuesday, No. 2 16 July 2013 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES SEANAD ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Business of Seanad 80 Personal Explanation by Member 80 Order of Business 81 Proposed EU Directive on Freedom, Security and Justice: Referral to Committee 95 Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) 95 Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage 167 Land and Conveyencing Law Reform Bill 2013: Fifth Stage 189 Prison Development (Confirmation of Resolutions) Bill 2013: Second Stage 191 Prison Development (Confirmation of Resolutions) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages 205 Adjournment Matters ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������205 16/07/2013PPP00150Noxious Weeds 205 16/07/2013PPP00650Medical Card Eligibility 207 16/07/2013QQQ01000Missing Persons 209 16/07/2013SSS00150Job Creation Issues 212 SEANAD ÉIREANN Dé Máirt, 16 Iúil 2013 Tuesday, 16 July 2013 Chuaigh an Cathaoirleach i gceannas ar 1030 am Machnamh agus Paidir. Reflection and Prayer. Business of Seanad 16/07/2013A00200An Cathaoirleach: I have received notice from Senator Paschal Mooney that, on the mo- tion for the Adjournment of the House today, he proposes to raise the following matter: The strategy, if any, the Government has to prevent the spread of Japanese knot weed along Irish roadways and if he will provide a policy which will oblige local authorities to address this matter I have also received notice from Senator Colm Burke of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Justice and Equality to put in place legislation in accor- dance with the proposals published in the Law Reform Commission’s Report on Civil Law Aspects of Missing Persons I have also received notice from Senator Lorraine Higgins of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to set up a taskforce to enlist the support of all enterprise agencies to provide an employment focus in Portumna in view of the loss of many jobs and many small businesses in recent times I have also received notice from Senator Marie Moloney of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Health to clarify why a medical card has been withdrawn from a terminally-ill cancer patient (details supplied) in County Kerry I regard the matters raised by the Senators as suitable for discussion on the Adjournment and they will be taken at the conclusion of business Personal Explanation by Member 80 16 July 2013 16/07/2013A00400An Cathaoirleach: Before I call the Leader of the House, Senator Norris wishes to make a personal explanation to the House Before calling the Senator I want to make it clear that I will not allow any debate on this matter Once the personal explanation is made, the matter will be closed 16/07/2013A00500Senator David Norris: I thank the Cathaoirleach I would like to explain what happened yesterday, put it in context and withdraw some of the words that gave offence I was simply furious, having just possessed a copy of this mendacious document in which those of us who over the past 30 years have campaigned for Seanad reform were smeared in the nastiest way This will be a very dirty campaign and it comes from the top I was incandescent with rage I accept that my language was intemperate Had I been called for an explanation at the time I would have given one I do not intend to go into a lengthy, linguistic explanation and try to defend what I said, which I could do if it was an academic discussion I regret any offence but what I regret most is that this will be used in this dirty campaign as a diversion 16/07/2013A00600An Cathaoirleach: Senator, under Standing Order 33, which allows you to make the ex- planation, you have to be brief 16/07/2013A00700Senator David Norris: I will finish by saying that it was stated on the radio by the Min- ister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, that there was personal antagonism between myself and Deputy Doherty That is untrue I spoke to her last week and I sympathi- sed with her on the horrible attacks about the abortion Bill, and I put that on the record of this House There is no disagreement There is nothing but friendship I did not prepare anything 16/07/2013A01000An Cathaoirleach: Senator, I ask you to stick to the matter 16/07/2013A01300Senator David Norris: I did it off the top of my head and I am very happy to withdraw the comment and to say that this is a very valuable document because it shows a smoking gun in that the Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny, was prepared to parachute people in who had failed in the Dáil election That is a serious issue, not intemperate language from me, which I am happy to withdraw Order of Business 16/07/2013A01500Senator Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No 1, motion re the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the fight against fraud to the Union’s financial interests by means of criminal law and a motion re the Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation and Training (Europol), to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business without debate; No 2, the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013 - Second Stage (Re- sumed), to be taken on the conclusion of No 1 and to be adjourned not later than 345 pm, if not previously concluded, with the contributions of all Senators not to exceed ten minutes and the Minister to be called on to reply not later than 335 pm; No 3, Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2013 - Report Stage, to be taken at 4 pm and to conclude no later than 6 pm; No. 4, Prison Development (Confirmation of Resolutions) Bill 2013 - All Stages, to be taken at 6 pm, with the Second Stage contribution of group Senators not to exceed eight minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, and Committee and Remaining Stages to be taken immediately thereafter 81 Seanad Éireann 16/07/2013B00200An Cathaoirleach: Will the Leader clarify the arrangements for No 2? He states it is to adjourn not later than 345 pm, with the Minister to be called at 335 pm Must the Minister be called upon at 335 pm? 16/07/2013B00300Senator Maurice Cummins: No later He is to reply no later than 335 pm 16/07/2013B00400An Cathaoirleach: Is the debate to conclude then? 16/07/2013B00500Senator Maurice Cummins: If it is concluded I am expecting that Second Stage will be concluded before the time 16/07/2013B00600An Cathaoirleach: Must the Minister be called at 335 pm? 16/07/2013B00700Senator Maurice Cummins: Can I leave out that reference? I do not want to guillotine this Bill in any way The reason I am including a time for the Minister to reply is that the debate may have concluded at that time I will not conclude the debate until all Members have had their say on it I suggest that the debate be adjourned at 345 pm if not previously concluded 16/07/2013B00800Senator Marc MacSharry: I thank the Leader for ensuring that everyone will have their say We will not call a vote on the Order of Business today on the basis that many Members are waiting to speak and in order to deal with our business as quickly as possible I wish to raise a few issues Certain publications this morning claim a HSE overrun of some €25 million and that the target for cuts will be the mental health services area and the money set aside for suicide prevention and so on We produced a document entitled Actions Speak Louder Than Words, which was welcomed by all involved in suicide prevention and even by the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Kathleen Lynch Sadly, very few recommendations in the document have been implemented thus far Now a front-page report states that the funding in place for this year for the employment of community health officers and those involved in suicide prevention will only be made contingent on savings The level of prioritisation being given to this area is not sufficient, frankly. Close to 600 people are un- der threat of dying in the year ahead as a direct result of suicide It should not be the case that funding for suicide prevention is contingent on savings If it were known that two planes were about to crash on a particular day at a particular time, we would do everything possible to pre- vent it from happening. Senator Gilroy, Senator White and many others have made significant contributions to the debate on this subject. It must not be the first thing to be put on the block when there are overruns Yesterday, FLAC and others warned that the mortgage arrears crisis is worsening and very little is being done The response of the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, which the Leader read to the House yesterday, is an abdication of responsibility by the Minister of the day The people depend on their representatives and on the Government; they depend on the Houses of the Oireachtas to represent them. On the biggest financial crisis facing families throughout