Vol. 197 Thursday, No. 7 15 October 2009 DI´OSPO´ IREACHTAI´ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES SEANAD E´ IREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIU´ IL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Thursday, 15 October 2009. Business of Seanad ………………………………291 Order of Business …………………………………291 Issue of Writ: Motions ………………………………307 Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children: Motion ……………308 Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages ………………308 Adjournment Matters: Strategic Development Zones …………………………322 Long-Term Illness Scheme ……………………………325 SEANAD E´ IREANN ———— De´ardaoin, 15 Deireadh Fo´mhair 2009. Thursday, 15 October 2009. ———— Chuaigh an Cathaoirleach i gceannas ar 10.30 a.m. ———— Paidir. Prayer. ———— Business of Seanad. An Cathaoirleach: I have received notice from Senator Shane Ross that he proposes to raise the following matter on the Adjournment: The need for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to outline whether he has received a request from Du´ n Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council regarding the strategic development zone in Cherrywood and if he will make a statement on the matter. I have also received notice from Senator John Paul Phelan of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Health and Children to recognise fibromyalgia as a long- term illness for the Health Service Executive and the Department of Social and Family Affairs purposes and to take action on raising awareness, facilitating research and improving access to diagnosis and treatment for sufferers. 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, motion re vacancy on the administra- tive panel; No. 2, motion re vacancy on the agricultural panel; No. 3, motion re Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children; and No. 4, Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009 — Report and Final Stages. It is proposed that Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, shall be taken without debate at the conclusion of the Order of Business and No. 4 shall be taken at the conclusion of Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive. I remind colleagues that tributes to the late Senator Peter Callanan will be afforded to every Member of the Seanad at the appropriate time on which we shall consult his family in order that they can be present. I thank everyone who went to his funeral and who represented Seanad E´ ireann in such a distinguished way during the past two days. Senator Liam Twomey: I would like to extend our sympathies to the families of the two serving members of the Defence Forces who lost their lives since the Seanad last sat. We should also express our concern for the wellbeing of Fr. Michael Sinnott who was kidnapped in the Philippines last week. 291 Order of 15 October 2009. Business [Senator Liam Twomey.] We should examine the issue of filling the vacancies in this House at this time. There is one vacancy on the Government side and one on the Opposition side. When regard is had for the fact that we are talking about saving money on behalf of the taxpayer and the concerns that have been expressed by the general public about us not being in touch in terms of how tax- payers’ money is being spent, perhaps those two positions should be left vacant for the foresee- able future. Senator Donie Cassidy: Will we do that for the one in the Da´il as well? Senator Liam Twomey: We should consider that as well. Senator Donie Cassidy: So the Senator will consider that. Senator Liam Twomey: We do not really have any say as to what happens in the Lower House. We must bear in mind that there is huge anger and hurt and a perception that people in politics do not understand what the ordinary man and woman on the street is feeling right now. Regardless of whether it is true, people have a sense of anger about every politician rep- resenting the public. Such anger is expressed when they see \1 million payoffs and bonuses of \70,000. What really annoys the general public is when they hear the Minister for Health and Children state that she has no responsibility for how \15 billion worth of taxpayers’ money is spent. Senator Jerry Buttimer: Hear, hear. Senator Liam Twomey: It annoys the ordinary man and woman on the street when the Minister for Health and Children basically washes her hands of her responsibility for how taxpayers’ money is spent. I ask that she comes into this House and clearly states what her responsibilities are to citizens in regard to health services, as perhaps she is basically saying her Department is no longer relevant and, therefore, one would have to ask why she is there in first place. We have to examine this because we will be voting on a budget in eight weeks. The hard decisions that need to be made to protect our economy are difficult political decisions. The easier political decisions that can be made could have a detrimental effect on the recovery of our economy. We are avoiding this hard debate on the economy but we need to have it. We also need to have a debate promised by the Leader of the House on ministerial expenses and on the excesses in terms of the waste of taxpayers’ money that were allowed to happen during the previous decade. Senator Joe O’Toole: I note the revised programme for Government and offer my congratu- lations to the Green Party on attempting to add a human, caring element to the hard face of NAMA. Senator Terry Leyden: It is a joint programme. Senator Paul Coghlan: The Senator could have fooled us. Senator Liam Twomey: He was only there for the picture. An Cathaoirleach: Senator O’Toole to continue without interruption. 292 Order of 15 October 2009. Business Senator Joe O’Toole: The provisions on education have given some hope to schools, parents and young professionals because, even if they did not include a lot, they showed somebody cared. The Government can learn a lesson from this. Concerns were expressed that Fianna Fa´il might not play ball or that the Green Party would look a gift horse in the mouth rather than make progress. In the event, it was a master class in negotiation by the two parties. Senator Donie Cassidy: As a past member of the family, the Senator would know. Senator Joe O’Toole: We should learn from the experience by moving forward in other ways. A social contract is needed among all groups in society. The Government should give hard leadership by showing what needs to be done and sharing the problems with everyone in society in order to determine what our common objectives should be and agree a way forward. The space outside the gates of Leinster House will command high rents in the coming three months if the Government does not draw together the ordinary people who represent communities, interest groups, professional associations and the unemployed. All of us in the public arena have a responsibility to make that happen rather than leave it to a fight to have survival of the fittest. Let us pull the people together to deal collectively with these issues. Senator Dominic Hannigan: I offer my condolences to the families of the two airmen who tragically lost their lives earlier this week and the family of Stephen Gately on his tragic and untimely death last weekend. Stephen was a source of great pride and inspiration for many and will be sorely missed. Yesterday a number of us were briefed by the Irish Dental Association on the cutbacks in dental services across the country. Tooth decay is preventable if services are available but because of the recruitment embargo, the crisis in this regard is growing. In County Meath clinics are closing, with the result that children are being denied access to dental treatment. I ask the Leader to impress on the Minister for Health and Children the need to reconsider the recruitment embargo on health professionals in dentistry because otherwise our children will suffer in the long term. Earlier this week the Minister for Transport, Deputy Noel Dempsey, announced his intention to publish legislation to reduce blood alcohol limits. I commend him on his initiative which I am aware is not universally popular. However, we should consider his record in this area. Prior to the introduction of random breath testing in July 2006, on average there were 32 deaths each month on Irish roads, which figure subsequently fell to 25. Therefore, as a result of the introduction of breath testing, approximately 300 people are walking around towns and villages who would otherwise be dead. We ought to commend the Minister on his bravery and I offer him my support in dealing with the forthcoming legislation. It will not be popular but is needed. It will bring us into line with the rest of Europe and we will enjoy a further reduction in the number of road deaths. Senator John Carty: I was disappointed to read in a newspaper yesterday that the country had only one paediatric rheumatologist. As a sufferer, I am aware of the pain rheumatoid arthritis can cause and it is damnable that we have only one specialist for the 350 children awaiting a first appointment. We read in the newspapers that additional payments are being given to HSE executives. That money should be put aside to recruit a second rheumatologist in Crumlin Hospital. I do not know how children can bear the pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis. If they are not treated in time, they can suffer lifetime damage due to wasted muscles and deformed bones.