Vol. 205 Wednesday, No. 16 24 November 2010 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES SEANAD ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Wednesday, 24 November 2010. Business of Seanad ………………………………897 Order of Business …………………………………897 Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Order for Second Stage ……………………………912 Second Stage …………………………………912 National Recovery Plan 2011-2014: Statements ………………………940 Adjournment Matters: Sport and Recreational Development ………………………981 Schools Building Projects ……………………………983 SEANAD ÉIREANN ———— Dé Céadaoin, 24 Samhain 2010. Wednesday, 24 November 2010. ———— Chuaigh an Cathaoirleach i gceannas ar 10.30 a.m. ———— Paidir. Prayer. ———— Business of Seanad An Cathaoirleach: I have received notice from Senator Dan Boyle that, on the motion for the Adjournment of the House today, he proposes to raise the following matter: The need for the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport to clarify the plans, if any, she has to amend the Irish Sports Council Act 1999. I have also received notice from Senator Maria Corrigan of the following matter: The need for the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills to give an update on the application from St. Michael’s House regarding the proposal to replace the special national schools on Grosvenor Road and in Ballinteer with a new school building for both in Ballin- teer and to indicate if the application is on the priority building list. 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. Order of Business Senator Donie Cassidy: The Order of Business is No. 1, Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 — Order for Second Stage and Second Stage, to be taken at the conclusion of the Order of Business and conclude not later than 2.15 p.m., on which spokespersons may speak for 15 minutes and all other Senators for ten minutes and Senators may share time, by agreement of the House, with the Minister to be called upon to reply ten minutes before the conclusion of the debate. There will then be a sos until 4 p.m. when it is proposed to commence an open-ended debate on the national recovery plan 2011-14, on which spokespersons may speak for 15 minutes and all other Senators for ten minutes and Senators may share time, by agreement of the House. Senator Frances Fitzgerald: I regret that the Leader wants to do away with Private Members’ business today, during which we were to deal with an important motion. We could have dis- cussed that motion today as well as the four-year strategy. While I am sure the Government side is worried about losing that vote, obviously, the most important issue today is the publication of the four-year plan. It is welcome that we will be discussing what is of most relevance to the country. However, it is with a heavy heart that we will read the plan, as we will see the 897 Order of 24 November 2010. Business [Senator Frances Fitzgerald.] unravelling of 60 years of progress in this country. We are seeing the pain laid bare that will affect every family, every community and the entire country. Not alone is it being laid bare to this country, it is being done in the full glare of international publicity and humiliation. The Government wrapped the State around the banks and when confronted with the Price- waterhouseCoopers report on the banks, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Lenihan, said that the finding did not jump out at him. We can see the consequences today and every man, woman and child will pay thousands of euro every year to cope with the mistakes of this Government. What is most disturbing is that the Government is still in denial and is still not doing the right thing. The Taoiseach is not resigning and he is not bringing forward the budget as we said he should yesterday. He is still refusing to do what is necessary. The Green Party can play a role if it wants to be constructive. That party can ensure the budget and the Finance Bill are brought forward and enacted quickly. That has been requested by every European commentator of note. It is clearly necessary to calm the markets and provide some stability not just to Ireland but also to the eurozone. The Government is still refusing to do what is necessary. I ask that the Taoiseach, his Ministers and the Green Party do what is right and what is necessary for the country, what everyone is saying is necessary. Bring the budget in now, deal with the Finance Bill now, and stop this prevarication over the next few weeks. The situation for the banks is critical and every commentator is saying the delay is costing a fortune. It is making it increas- ingly difficult to bail out this country, to save the banks and to get the economy working. The Government should do the right thing in respect of the process of this budget. Senator Joe O’Toole: People say that we should not play the blame game but it must be played to learn from it. The Honohan report on banking outlined the level of responsibility the Government should take. It is not 100% and that balance needs to be reflected in the debate. Senator Frances Fitzgerald: It was 75%. Senator Joe O’Toole: Mistakes were made and Professor Honohan has given a view on it. It is quite clear that passing the budget on 7 December is a crucial part of the timeline of the budget and what is required in dealing with the IMF and Europe. The Opposition parties have accepted that aspect of it. It is also important to recognise that the IMF and our European partners do not have exactly the same level of interest in this. The IMF has a vested interest in this country growing and coming out of this, whereas some of our European friends are competitors in the marketplace of taxation. We need to be clear about that and I hope that the debate today, which I welcome, will focus on these issues. Let us be clear that the budget is a Budget Statement. It is not a Vote, a Bill or legislation. The number of votes that take place on budget night are determined by the Government. Excise issues must be voted on but they will not be an issue anyway. The Finance Bill comes two months later and often there are many differences of attitude to the budget. Constitution- ally, legally or otherwise, there is no reason we could not pass the budget on 7 December and have a general election before the Finance Bill. I am not suggesting we do this but I want people to know the option exists. It has been too easy for parties to hold positions or oppose positions. There are other options. After the Budget Statement is made, people adjust to it and the Government respond to that in the Finance Bill. It may be in the interest of the incoming Government to implement the Finance Bill in terms of putting shape on the budget. On the other hand, it may be against their interests and may be better for the incoming Government to have the horrible budget, the desperate Finance Bill and the extraordinary social welfare Bill passed by the outgoing Government whose fingerprints are all over them and the new Government can then start over. These are the options and it is not a matter of black and white. There are grey areas. I ask that today’s debate would be positive as well as recognising 898 Order of 24 November 2010. Business the depth of the difficulties we are in. There are positive matters in the economy, as Professor John FitzGerald put very well this morning. We should develop these issues. Senator Michael McCarthy: I begin by acknowledging the mass in the private dining room this morning for the deceased Members of the Oireachtas. It was a special, thoughtful and prayerful tribute to Members of the House who have gone before us, not least those who died during this term. It was a nice way to honour their memories and to start business in the Oireachtas. I welcome the fact we will debate the four-year plan today and agree with Senator Fitzgerald that the state in which this country finds itself is shameful. We are an absolute disgrace inter- nationally and the manner in which greed and avarice created a property bubble supported by Government tax incentives and initiatives means we now expect the marginalised, vulnerable, those on basic rates of social welfare, students struggling to get third level education, pensioners fearful of a reduction in income and people fighting with banks through the courts to hang on to their homes to pay for the crisis. At the same time, we have a Government in absolute denial. On top of the economic mess, we have political instability, which is the worst thing the country could have at this time. When this House was formed in 1922, it played a significant and constructive role in a dark historical era of this country. The body politic and, in particular, Seanad Éireann has an important role to play in how we come out of this mess. We will come out of this mess and it is a question of where we will be when we come out of it. This House has a significant contri- bution to make. There is much cynical and anti-politics comment at the moment, driven by elements of a very cynical media who want us to say we should give the keys of Leinster House to someone from Ryanair or another company in order that a businessman would run this country.