Vol. 189 Tuesday, No. 6 22 April 2008 DI´OSPO´ IREACHTAI´ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES SEANAD E´ IREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIU´ IL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Tuesday, 22 April 2008. Business of Seanad ………………………………205 Order of Business …………………………………206 Order of Business (resumed)……………………………221 Council Framework Decision: Referral to Joint Committee …………………224 National Skills Strategy: Statements …………………………225 Patient Safety: Statements ……………………………236 Business of Seanad ………………………………262 Patient Safety: Statements (resumed)…………………………263 Adjournment Matters: School Accommodation ……………………………265 Pharmacy Services ………………………………267 SEANAD E´ IREANN ———— De´ Ma´irt, 22 Aibrea´n 2008. Tuesday, 22 April 2008. ———— Chuaigh an Cathaoirleach i gceannas ar 2.30 p.m. ———— Paidir. Prayer. ———— Business of Seanad. An Cathaoirleach: I have received notice from Senator Alex White that, on the Adjournment of the House today, he proposes to raise the following matter: The need for the Minister for Education and Science to outline the progress to date on the application for the redevelopment of St Colmcille’s senior national school and junior national school, Knocklyon, Dublin 16 and to allow the school to apply for planning per- mission without delay. I have also received notice from Senator Joe O’Reilly of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Education and Science to give final approval for the immedi- ate construction of a new primary school at St. Mary’s Virginia, County Cavan as a necessary response to long-term chronic overcrowding of existing buildings and prefabs. I have also received notice from Senator De´irdre de Bu´ rca of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Health and Children to outline the contingency plans the HSE has in place if pharmacists withdraw from the community drug scheme from 1 May as they have publicly stated they will do. I have also received notice from Senator Pearse Doherty of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Health and Children to outline her plans to ensure that patients availing of the general medical card scheme and the drugs payment scheme will receive their medication from 1 May onwards in areas where pharmacies have indicated that they will no longer dispense medication under these schemes. I have also received notice from Senator Cecilia Keaveney of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism to press for the launching and funding of the Report on the Sub-Committee on Arts in Education under the Arts Council, which relates to both the Departments of Arts, Sports and Tourism and Education and Science. I have also received notice from Senator Maurice Cummins of the following matter: 205 Order of 22 April 2008. Business [An Cathaoirleach.] The need for the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to outline the current position regarding the request by Waterford Crystal for support aimed at saving 600 jobs in Waterford. I regard the matters raised as suitable for discussion on the Adjournment. I have selected the matters raised by Senators Alex White, O’Reilly and de Bu´ rca and they will be taken at the conclusion of business. Senators Doherty, Keaveney and Cummins 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, motion to approve framework decision re the exchange of information; No. 2, statements on the implementation of the national skills strategy; and No.3, statements on patient safety. It is proposed that No. 1 will be taken without debate at the conclusion of the Order of Business; that No.2 will be taken at the conclusion of No. 1, to conclude not later than 5 p.m. during which spokespersons may speak for seven minutes, all other Senators for five minutes and Senators may share time, with the Minister to be called upon ten minutes before the end of the debate for concluding com- ments and to answer questions from spokespersons; and that No.3 will be taken at the con- clusion of No.2, to conclude not later than 7 p.m., during which spokespersons may speak for eight minutes, all other Senators for five minutes and Senators may share time, with the Mini- ster to be called upon ten minutes before the end of the debate for concluding comments and to answer questions from spokespersons. Senator Frances Fitzgerald: Many people are extremely concerned about the very sad case in Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin, where the wrong kidney was removed from a child during an operation. The family wants privacy but given the enormous concern that a case like this raises among patients and families, whatever report is prepared should be made available as soon as possible. We must know the facts of the case. The pharmacy dispute continues to be of huge concern. I ask the Leader to raise the matter with the Minister for Health and Children and to reassure Members that steps are being taken behind the scenes — even if we are not being told about them — so that patients will not suffer if the dispute escalates. Clearly I would prefer it if the escalation of the dispute does not go ahead. I wish to refer to an issue raised in this House last week. I ask the Leader to apologise to Members on this side of the House for the comments he made regarding our approach to the Lisbon treaty. Senator Maurice Cummins: Hear, hear. Senator Frances Fitzgerald: Senator Cassidy was quite inaccurate in what he said. Fine Gael has taken a most proactive approach, as emphasised by the huge number of public meetings we have held, at which thousands of people attended. If there has been any delay in selling the merits of the Lisbon treaty, it has been on the Government side of the House. The Government has been very slow in circulating the kind of information people need. The level of ignorance about the Lisbon treaty and its merits is worrying. The treaty has not been sold by the Govern- ment at all. For the Leader of the House to say what he said last week to Fine Gael — the party that has done so much to promote the merits of the treaty — was very inappropriate and inaccurate. I ask the Leader to acknowledge the work that has been done throughout the country by Members on this side of the House. We are very aware of how important it is for 206 Order of 22 April 2008. Business Ireland that this treaty is ratified. We are anxious that it be supported by the people and are very concerned about the lack of information. I look forward to the Leader’s response. Senator Joe O’Toole: I agree with what Senator Fitzgerald has just said. Perhaps the Leader was not aware of the situation. I have been invited, along with a number of colleagues, to meetings organised by Fine Gael on the Lisbon treaty. All the activity in my area has been organised by Fine Gael. I am totally disinterested in this issue but Fine Gael has pulled out all the stops and deserves credit for it. A great deal of tosh has been uttered in the debate and people need to examine it. It is all fine and well for those who need a 150-page contract to buy a few acres of land to seek a simple document for us joining 27 countries in Europe. The notion that a simple document can be produced such as the Ten Commandments or the US Constitution is another way of inviting a million lawyers all over Europe to challenge us at every nip and turn. This must be a complex document and it is not drivel. Many pages are easily read but others are necessarily complex. The US Constitution only takes a few pages and it is very clear but it has given rise to court case, constitutional challenges and constant reinterpretation. It is not a correct comparison and that case needs to be made publicly. It is completely incorrect for commentators to say the treaty is drivel. It is easily read by anybody who takes the trouble to go through it but it is hard going. It must be a complex document. The document cannot be written so that it can be read by a third class child as it concerns the most difficult and complex set of arrangements ever put together. The new treaty encompasses the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, which is also an easily read document and which is very like the US Constitution. Whichever people are right and wrong, we should make the case. The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has done good work but she should ask the following simple question of every farmer in Ireland: Do they think a representative of one island off the western seaboard of Europe would have greater clout at the World Trade Organisation than a representative of all of Europe? That is the issue and, therefore, our focus should be on supporters of farmers throughout Europe. There are many to make it work that way. People in France and Holland voted against the draft constitution for reasons other than what was in it and we cannot allow that to happen with this treaty. Let us have a fair debate and people can make up their minds at the end of the day. It has nothing to do with the WTO or Commissioner Mandelson or anybody else. The treaty reduces the power and influence of people like Commissioner Mandelson, placing him on an equal footing with parliamentarians. Senator Alex White: I support the comments of Senators O’Toole and Fitzgerald on the Lisbon treaty debate.