[Deputy Jan O’Sullivan   ]
We have debated these matters in this House over the past two nights, there is widespread concern relating to testing for cancer and the Minister has called for support across the House for her proposals on cancer. I believe this House has a strong role in debating these reports and I support Deputy O’Reilly regarding the Committee on Health and Children and public representatives playing their roles in ensuring confidence is restored in cancer services. Will the Government provide time in this House to debate the results of the various inquiries and ensure we make a contribution to restoring confidence in cancer services in this country? It would also be positive to discuss Professor Keane’s proposals and announcements in next week’s budget on the funding of cancer proposals, which I hope to hear. As the Tánaiste knows, no indication has been given of how we will fund the considerable resources needed to implement the proposals. Current resources, even in what will be centres of excellence, are inadequate. An Ceann Comhairle: We have fully debated these issues over the past two nights and, while I understand the Deputy’s concerns, I know the Tánaiste will say the Whips will have to agree on the discussions the Deputy proposes. Deputy Jan O’Sullivan: Will we have the opportunity to contribute positively to this issue as it is a concern that is felt on all sides of the House? The Tánaiste: This is a matter for the Whips but, to take up Deputy O’Sullivan’s point, it is important that this House plays a role in all services, rather than seek to undermine them. It is important to point out that 96,000 people who, unfortunately, have this disease were diagnosed properly and that is 75% more than ten years ago. BreastCheck is being rolled out and many positive things are happening. Deputy Jan O’Sullivan: It is four years too late in my constituency. The Tánaiste: The genesis of this strategy was the 1996 cancer care strategy of Deputy Michael Noonan and that is to his credit. As Minister for Health and Children, I brought forward a cardiovascular strategy—— An Ceann Comhairle: With respect, we cannot have a debate on this issue.  11 o’clockThe Tánaiste: I ask the Ceann Comhairle to allow me make this point. Too often, the impression is left hanging that everything is wrong in the health service. The reality is that there are 5,000 people alive and well today who would have suffered perhaps fatal heart attacks if we had not implemented strategic changes in the area of treatment for heart disease, the other great killer. Major developments and improvements are taking place in this regard. Professor Keane’s role is to redirect resources to these centres, to ensure that what happened in Portlaoise—— An Ceann Comhairle: We cannot debate this issue now. The Tánaiste: ——does not happen again. Aside from the allocation of additional resources, it is clearly a question of redirecting resources to ensure we get the quality outcomes that all citizens are entitled to expect. If we can construct our debates so that this is the focus of our concern, bearing in mind that we are here to represent ordinary people, not interest groups or people who put forward their own particular version of events to maintain the status quo and are opposed to everything—— Deputy Jan O’Sullivan: Ordinary people are saying that additional resources are required. The Tánaiste: If we are prepared to do that, we can add to the quality of the debate. Deputy Michael Mulcahy: Deputy Jan O’Sullivan should listen to what the Tánaiste is saying. The Tánaiste: Too often, however, the narrative is such that it does not add anything and, on occasion, takes away from the dignity of the House in the way that we conduct our debates. Deputy Michael Mulcahy: Hear, hear. Deputy Jan O’Sullivan: My contribution was entirely in a positive spirit. An Ceann Comhairle: I have called Deputy Crawford. Deputy Jan O’Sullivan: The people to whom I have spoken tell me that additional resources are required. Deputy Noel Dempsey: We are not concerned with listening only to those with vested interests. An Ceann Comhairle: We cannot have a debate on this issue. Deputy Seymour Crawford: Given that home care services that allow patients to remain in their own homes have been removed, there is an urgent need for the nursing home support scheme Bill to be brought to this House. There is cross-party support for efforts to secure a good outcome for illegal Irish immigrants in the United States. However, it is important that we have a full debate on how we treat people who come to this State, some of whom are fleeing severe circumstances. When will the immigration, residence and protection Bill be introduced? I attended a discussion on mental health and suicide this morning. Those who contributed to the discussion emphasised the part played by alcohol in mental illness and the damage it does. Is there any prospect that the Bill included in the legislative programme some years ago regarding the promotion of alcohol at youth events will be reintroduced? When will the sale of alcohol Bill, which is included in the current legislative programme, be introduced so that we can have a debate on this issue? We cannot walk away from this extremely serious situation. The Tánaiste: The question of whether to reactivate the alcohol products Bill is under consideration. The drinks industry has taken a voluntary approach and is operating a code of conduct. We are working with the industry to ensure advertising is more responsible. Deputy Róisín Shortall: That approach is not working. The Tánaiste: People can have their view on these matters. I am bringing to the Deputy’s attention the current status of the legislation. Deputy Seymour Crawford: We were promised that the alcohol products Bill would be reintroduced. The Tánaiste: I understand the immigration, residence and protection Bill will be introduced this session. The Government is anxious to see the nursing home support Bill enacted as quickly as possible. Deputy Brian Hayes: The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government informed the Seanad last night that it is the Government’s intention to reform the Upper House. In particular, there is a proposal to reform the university seats by merging the two panels together and extending the franchise to all graduates. The latter proposal would implement a referendum decision of the electorate in 1979. When are we likely to see the legislation to implement these proposals? The only way to effect the changes is through primary legislation. Assuming this is an agreed Government initiative, what timeframe is envisaged for its implementation? The Tánaiste: The Minister pointed out that, in principle, we are of the view that extending the franchise should form part of prospective future reform of the Seanad. He took the first opportunity yesterday to give that indication in the Seanad. I am sure it will be welcomed by Members on all sides of the House given that it is a long-standing recommendation and one that will reflect the far greater participation we are pleased to have reached in third level education. There are many graduates who should have voting rights to those seats along with those who traditionally held them in the past when the situation was different. The question of when legislation will be brought forward—— Deputy Róisín Shortall: Surely that is elitism. The Tánaiste: It is the very antithesis of elitism to extend voting rights to all third level graduates. An Ceann Comhairle: We cannot have a debate on this issue or we will be here all day. Deputy Róisín Shortall: Why should voting rights be confined to third level graduates? The Tánaiste: I never thought I would hear a Labour Party Deputy defend the current situation in regard to Seanad seats. Deputy Emmet Stagg: We do not defend it; we wish to change it. The Tánaiste: As they say in my part of the country, that beats Banagher. Deputy Róisín Shortall: My point is that there is no reason that those who had the benefit of attending third level should have separate representation in the Upper House. There is no justification for that. Deputy Eamon Gilmore: There should be universal suffrage. Deputy Brian Hayes: There is much to be said about the rotten boroughs that exist. I thank the Tánaiste for his reply. Has a memorandum gone to the Government on this specific issue or was the Minister winging it last night when he spoke in the Seanad? The Tánaiste: The Minister gave his views—— Deputy Brian Hayes: That is my point; he gave his views. The Tánaiste: No. He gave the Government’s views on this matter as part of a wider prospect of reform that should take place. Deputy Brian Hayes may one day get to make a ministerial speech — which I hope he will, although not in the near future. (Interruptions). The Tánaiste: In any case, I hope he will be making speeches as a Deputy rather than a Senator. It is possible for a Minister to give his or her views without a memo to Government. Deputy Brian Hayes should not be too stilted if he ever gets the job. Deputy Michael D. Higgins: The Minister is simply making a narrative. Deputy Brian Hayes: There is no legislation proposed. The Tánaiste said this proposal is part of a broader review. In other words, nothing will have happened in five years’ time. The Tánaiste: That is not the case. Deputy Hayes should accept when somebody says something new. Deputy Michael Ring: When will the George Mitchell Scholarship Fund Act 1998 (Amendment) Bill come before the House? Ms Vargo is interested in taking Irish taxpayers’ money but she is not so interested in taking Irish sons and daughters into the United States. An Ceann Comhairle: The Deputy should not make claims about named persons, who are not Members, in that fashion. Deputy Michael Ring: She is interested in our taxes but not in our sons and daughters. An Ceann Comhairle: The person referred to by the Deputy is not here to respond to what he said. He should refrain from referring to this person. Deputy Michael Ring: When will that legislation come before the House so we can have a debate? My second question is on a topic of interest to Deputy Finian McGrath. When will the noise Bill come before the House? There was much noise last week from Deputy Finian McGrath and various Government backbenchers but there was no action. (Interruptions). The Tánaiste: There is no better man in the House than Deputy Ring to ask about the noise Bill. He has the best set of lungs in west Mayo. Deputy Michael Ring: Deputy Finian McGrath takes the Banagher. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan: We have all heard the noise of Deputy Finian McGrath changing his mind. Deputy Michael Ring: As they say in my area, that takes the biscuit. Deputy Ruairí Quinn: Deputy Finian McGrath took the shilling. An Ceann Comhairle: I assure Deputy Ring he is not the only person interested in the noise Bill. The Tánaiste: In view of the delays in bringing forward the noise Bill, perhaps Deputy Ring will introduce a Private Members’ Bill. The George Mitchell Scholarship Fund Act 1998 (Amendment) Bill is at the preparatory stage. Deputy Michael Ring: What is the status of the noise Bill? It is included in the legislative programme. Deputy Pat Rabbitte: Deputy Finian McGrath is introducing that Bill. Deputy Michael Ring: Perhaps Deputies Finian McGrath and Ned O’Keeffe will introduce it. I would support it. Deputy Michael D. Higgins: It is badly needed. The Tánaiste: The Bill is unlikely to be taken while Deputy Ring is in the House. Deputy Michael Ring: I am not like the Government Members who make much noise but take no action when it comes down to it. Deputy Quinn is correct; Deputy Finian McGrath took the shilling, the Taoiseach’s shilling rather than the Queen’s. Deputy James Bannon: Local government is an essential element in any democratic state. Since its establishment in 1898, local government is the vehicle by which important services have been provided in the State. Is the electoral (amendment) Bill being delayed to accommodate the Green Party in its proposal to reduce the number of local public representatives in counties outside the Pale, including Cork and Galway? The boundary commission recently published its report on the constituencies for Dáil and European elections. The latter are fast approaching. It is important we get this legislation out of the way. I have heard there is a proposal from the Green Party to reduce the number of local public representatives in constituencies outside of Dublin. Will the Tánaiste confirm if that is true? An Ceann Comhairle: He cannot discuss the content of the legislation. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan: He wants to. The Tánaiste: The heads of the electoral amendment Bill are being prepared but no proposals have come to Government yet. When the Government gives approval we can discuss the matter. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan: Given the number of post offices which continue to be closed in Kerry, Laois, Offaly, Dublin, Cork and other places, and that the Taoiseach has indicated the ESOP-oriented Bill relating to the post office services will not be introduced in that context, is it intended to introduce legislation to lay out the framework for the future operation of post office services? An Ceann Comhairle: Is legislation promised? The Tánaiste: Not as far as I know. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan: Deputy Ned O’Keeffe might not have a post office handy to send in an application for re-admission. The matter needs urgent consideration. Deputy Damien English: Will the Tánaiste give serious consideration to a debate on the benefits of putting new power lines underground? The Tánaiste should not be dismissive of it. An Ceann Comhairle: I am not being dismissive but the Deputy should come to the point. Deputy Damien English: The Tánaiste was dismissive of the matter. It is unfair to place these power lines without proper discussion. There are two Bills planned, the electricity (transfer of transmission assets) Bill and the electricity regulation (EirGrid) (amendment) Bill. If they were brought forward we could have a serious debate. People’s health deserves such a debate. These power lines will be in the north east but will have a national effect. It is only right and fair that the House has a proper debate on the benefits of putting these cables underground. We should at least analyse data and cost, which could be done under those two Bills. Proper decisions should be made in this House on people’s health. The Tánaiste: Both of those Bills are due next year. |