Vol. 202 Thursday, No. 6 29 April 2010 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES SEANAD ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Thursday, 29 April 2010. Business of Seanad ………………………………371 Order of Business …………………………………372 Communications (Retention of Data) Bill 2009: Second Stage …………………390 Inland Fisheries Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages ……………………411 TETRA System: Statements ……………………………413 Adjournment Matters: Missing Children Hotline ……………………………420 School Facilities ………………………………422 Human Rights Issues ………………………………423 SEANAD ÉIREANN ———— Déardaoin, 29 Aibreán 2010. Thursday, 29 April 2010. ———— Chuaigh an Cathaoirleach i gceannas ar 10.30 a.m. ———— Paidir. Prayer. ———— Business of Seanad. An Cathaoirleach: I have received notice from Senator Maria Corrigan 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 report on the establishment of a national hotline number for missing children and the initiation, by Ireland, of the operation of the agreed common EU number for missing children and to indicate if this can be done on an all-Ireland basis. I have also received notice from Senator Dominic Hannigan of the following matter: The need for the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science to clarify if she will support moves to progress the tendering and construction of a new sports hall facility for Ashbourne community school, Ashbourne, County Meath. I have also received notice from Senator Mark Dearey of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to outline his response to the running and result of the recent multi-party election in Sudan which has been widely judged, within and without, as fraudulent and grossly maladministered. I have also received notice from Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to provide funding under the strategic road grants scheme for the Donegal airport regional road. I have also received notice from Senator Paschal Donohoe of the following matter: The need for the Minister of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to provide an update on planned prisoner rehabilitation facilities in Wolfe Tone Street, Dublin 1 and, specifically, the level of public consultation delivered, the planning permission sought for work at this site and the role of the new facility. 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. 371 Order of 29 April 2010. Business. [An Cathaoirleach.] I have also received notice from Senator John Paul Phelan of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to outline both the supports available to community enterprise centres nationally and the proposals to help these centres survive the economic downturn. I regard the matters raised by the Senators as suitable for discussion on the Adjournment. I have selected the matters raised by Senators Corrigan, Hannigan and Dearey 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: The Order of Business is No. 1, Communications (Retention of Data) Bill 2009 — Second Stage, to be taken at the conclusion of the Order of Business, with the contributions of spokespersons not to exceed ten minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed seven minutes and on which Senators may share time, by agreement of the House; No. 2, Inland Fisheries Bill 2009 — Report and Final Stages, to be taken at the conclusion of No. 1 but not before 1.30 p.m.; No. 3, statements on TETRA, to be taken at the conclusion of No. 2 and conclude within 70 minutes, with the contributions of spokespersons not to exceed seven minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, on which Senators may share time, by agreement of the House, and with the Minister to be called upon ten minutes before the conclusion of the debate for closing comments. Senator Paudie Coffey: As Members look across Europe this morning, the fragile state of the economies of many countries within the European Union is evident. The economy of Greece is almost a basket case, while Spain and Portugal have had their ratings downgraded and Ireland is next. Senator Mary M. White: It is not. Senator Paudie Coffey: For many months Members have been discussing how countries are bailing out banks. Ireland is among them, as has been proved by the millions and billions being pumped into its banks. The time is almost approaching when the question will be raised as to who will bail out countries. Members must ask themselves fundamental questions regarding European stability and that of the euro. I ask the Leader to make provision for a debate on the subject because not only our economy but the entire European economy is in a serious state. I note that the Minister for Finance is now open to considering the possibility of winding down Anglo Irish Bank. This has come like a bolt from the blue because he has continually dismissed this option in the past year while pumping millions of taxpayers’ money into the bank to keep it alive. He has been pumping taxpayers’ money into what essentially is a zombie bank. Consequently, it is now surprising to learn that he is willing to consider winding it down. However, Members on this side of the House would welcome doing so because this has been the Fine Gael position for some time. Yesterday evening I watched with interest some American politicians on television as they hauled banking leaders before a committee and made them answer questions under oath on their roles and responsibilities in the banking crisis in that country. Is it not a great shame that something similar cannot be done here under oath in Parliament to have proper accountability and transparency regarding banking and Government decisions? This possibility must be exam- ined because, when one considers the millions thrown at tribunals, it would save money. The 372 Order of 29 April 2010. Business. full potential of Ireland’s parliamentary system is not being exploited. This issue must be examined. The most sad and devastating news of all concerns the possibility of a further 800 redundanc- ies at Quinn Insurance Limited. While this is devastating news for the families and workers concerned, it is news that has been shared in other regions on foot of the closure of SR Tech- nics, Dell and Waterford Crystal, as well as the thousands of other small companies in which there have been redundancies. More than 435,000 people are unemployed, which constitutes a rate of 13.5%. This does not take into account the 52,000 people on the waiting list to receive social welfare assistance or those already attending FÁS training courses. Yesterday I called for a debate on youth unemployment, but it must now be broadened to consider the entire subject of redundancies and unemployment because no plan or structure to tackle it appears evident. I, therefore, table an amendment to the Order of Business to the effect that Members discuss the issues of unemployment and redundancies as a matter of urgency. Senator Joe O’Toole: In recent days the levels of anger, resentment and outrage at the Government have been evident at various conferences. Members are aware that public sector or construction workers who are out of work or the Quinn Group workers who face job losses are not those who can be held responsible for the mess the country is in. There is a responsi- bility on Members, including those on the Government side of the House, to tell the people that to get out of this mess, it may be necessary to do things that appear to be supportive of the Government without intending to so do. I refer to the Croke Park agreement as one of them. As I stated, those voting on it are not the ones who created this mess and they should not be blamed to pay the price, any more than the other groups I mentioned. Once again, the responsibility falls on those at the bottom of the line and it appears as though this is the hard strategic choice facing us. Members must send a message to the people that their own self- interest, as well as the national interest, probably points in the direction of supporting the Croke Park agreement, however much they may wish to have a go at the Government. Responsibility also falls on the Government side to tell the people there will be a chance for those who wish to give the Government a bloody nose to do so at the next election. While that will be the time to deal with that desire, as of now we must deal with and face other issues. I raise this point because a debate is required on the subject to express a view that will find at least some recognition among the aforementioned groups, namely, the unemployed, public sector workers and those facing difficult times such as the Quinn Group employees, etc. It is that a job faces us at this stage and that strategic decisions must be taken that may not be attractive but which may not be the worst decisions before us. In that regard, I seek a debate specifically on the Croke Park agreement but in the context of the wider issues hitting workers within the economy. For instance, people may say what they wish, but the absence of a trade union to fight, argue and negotiate for the Quinn Group workers is a sad state of affairs.