Today's Order of Business is No. 1, Second Stage of the Equal Status Bill, 1999, and No. 20, motion 13, with contributions of spokespersons on No. 1 not to exceed 20 minutes and those of other Senators not to exceed 15 minutes. No. 20, motion 13, will be taken from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., with business to be resumed thereafter, if not previously concluded.

I am a little concerned about the provision that business is to be resumed thereafter if not previously concluded. It would help Members involved with the Equal Status Bill if a time were set for the conclusion of the day's business. I will be at the match.

Will the Leader make Government time available for Committee Stage of the Shannon River Council Bill? This Bill has the approval of all parties in the House. Will he make time available for Committee Stage next week, while there is enthusiasm for it in his party and elsewhere? The Opposition would be very grateful if he did so.

Can No. 16 on the Order Paper, the motion on the Grand Canal docks area, be taken with debate? Many Members want to offer their views on some of the current developments in the docklands area. Although a public inquiry is taking place, many people are shocked by the density and intensity of some of the proposed developments. It would be appreciated if the Leader made time available in the next couple of weeks to debate this new order.

I support Senator Manning in regard to the finishing of the day's business. The Government made an announcement this week about the need for family friendly policies and a balance between work and family life. It is important for the staff of the House to know when their day's work will be complete. I also await the Leader's answer in regard to Committee Stage of the Shannon River Council Bill.

No. 8, the Telecommunications (Infrastructure) Bill, 1999, has been on the Order Paper for months, which is astonishing. We have no idea why it is not being moved forward or what the Government intends doing with it. Is this because of objections about telecommunications masts or other difficulties? What is the problem? We need to know what is happening. This is particularly ironic in a week when Eircom announced it is starting a huge initiative in Northern Ireland to expand its infrastructure and broadband network there, while we are wondering what to do in our jurisdiction. It is hugely important that we know what is happening in this regard. Many landowners and communities are watching this Bill with great interest. I ask the Leader to get an absolute position from Government on this or else remove it from the Order Paper so that we know where we stand. There is a certain nervousness about this.

I agree entirely with Senator O'Toole on No. 8, the Telecommunications (Infrastructure) Bill, which has been languishing on the Order Paper for a very considerable period. It relates to the very important issue of the infrastructure for the establishment of telecommunications, rights of access and sharing of facilities. If we are to progress the telecommunications industry, it is extremely important to get the infrastructure and legislation in place.

Will the Leader facilitate a debate on asbestos in buildings? The five year survey which has been commenced by the Office of Public Works is showing some very revealing and alarming figures. The survey, which deals with 1,800 public buildings, has revealed that one third of the school buildings in the State built before the mid-1970s contain asbestos. It also revealed that for Farmleigh House, which cost the State £23 million, another £8 million will be needed for the removal of asbestos. There are other public buildings which this initial survey by the Office of Public Works does not cover. What about private buildings such as offices, churches and stands in football stadia? Will the Leader of the House provide us with an opportunity to debate the issue so we can offer some guidance on a way forward?

I wish to raise No. 20, motion 10, on the Order Paper, the proposal to make St. Brigid's day a national holiday. In the run up to St. Patrick's Day, when Ministers will travel to every corner of the globe to honour our great male saint, it would do no harm to honour St. Brigid, our great female saint, with a national holiday. Many women's organisation see International Women's Day, 8 March, as an ideal day, but that would be difficult because it is very close to St. Patrick's Day.

We cannot debate the motion now.

Will we have an opportunity to debate the issue before International Women's Day and St. Patrick's Day?

On recent happenings in the Arts Council, the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands indicated that part of the problem stems from the fact that the Arts Council has to operate under legislation which is out of date.

No. 20, motion 14, on the Order Paper deals with that matter and I would not like to pre-empt it.

I am very grateful to Senator Quill for raising my motion. She is always most helpful.

The motion escaped my notice. I apologise to Senator Norris. Kevin Myers apologised to him today so I will follow the fashion.

Not at all.

Last year the scientific community was delighted when £560 million was allocated to scientific research. There is concern now about how that money will be spent. It appears that much of it will go into bricks and mortar to build two large institutes which may not be of as much value as giving the money directly to research. Will the Leader of the House alter tomorrow's business to allow us debate this with the Minister of State with responsibility for science and technology so the views of those who are concerned that this money may not be spent in the best possible manner are aired? It is an urgent matter because the Government will make a final decision on the matter next week.

Last week Senator Finneran informed the House of a wheelchair user having to be accommodated in the guard's van of a train from the west. As we discuss the Equal Status Bill today, it shows how far we must go to grant equal rights to people with disabilities. Ireland is one of the countries in breach of the European Commission provision for mandatory access for people with disabilities on class one buses. Will the Leader ask the Minister for Public Enterprise why this is the case?

There has not been an increase in subventions to nursing homes since the early 1990s, the maximum subvention being £120. With an elderly population there is an increasing demand for nursing home spaces. It is creating great difficulties for families. I hope the Minister will address these issues in the House and that he will prioritise them at the outset of his term of office.

I am grateful to Senator Quill for raising the matter of the Arts Council. I hope time will be given to a debate on the issue because it seems extraordinary that so many people should have resigned at the same time. I do not wish to be critical of the Minister—

We should not pre-empt the debate on the matter.

I do not propose to be critical of the Minister – she is a good Minister. However we ought to have a debate so that we can look at what lies behind this situation.

I am also grateful to my colleague, Senator Costello, for raising St. Brigid's day. I understand the Leader gave an undertaking – I am sure he will correct me if I am wrong – that he would provide time to debate this matter. Since 8 March is International Women's Day and there will be international recognition of this at 11 o'clock and since the House will sit on that day, I suggest that a debate be taken for even half an hour at that time so that we can coincide with the rest of the world.

I recognise your ruling, Sir, about Mount Congreve and I will not challenge it. In the light of that ruling and given the seriousness of the situation, will the Leader arrange a debate on this and related issues? Significant damage has been done to the ancient oak wood at the Glen of the Downs, there has been the history of Coolattin Estate and now Mount Congreve is threatened. It is extraordinary that a gift to the nation should be treated in this utterly cavalier fashion. Given that the Cathaoirleach has found that it is not possible to raise this matter in a narrow fashion on the Adjournment, we should take the opportunity to open up this issue for full debate in the House.

In view of continued posturing about ethics in Government and so on, could we examine the decentralisation policies? There are coincidences in the series of resignations in the Arts Council, but there are even greater coincidences in the fact that every Department that has been decentralised just happens to have been decentralised to the Minister's constituency. I am sure there are good grounds for this, but perhaps we could hold a wide ranging debate in the House so that we could know the criteria by which these estimable decisions are arrived at.

In recent weeks the Northern Ireland solicitor, the late Rosemary Nelson, has been honoured for her work for peace. She was murdered because of that work and there are many questions to be answered regarding the circumstances of this brutal murder and the possibility of the collusion of the security forces. The legal profession has thrown its weight internationally behind the call for an independent and full inquiry. Will the Leader raise this matter with the Minister for Foreign Affairs because it is vital that such a murder is investigated and the full facts made known?

I join with Senator Kett in seeking information on low floor buses. I hope he has more success than I when I asked the Minister the same questions. In his list of promises to deal with our requests for debate, the Leader should be aware that we did not receive a response last week on the wheelchair issue and we are still awaiting a response on the buses.

On another transport issue, in the last week there have been a number of very lucky escapes in accidents involving young people. What are the safety checks on the multiple carriers that transport new cars around the country? These are enormous vehicles and people may not be so lucky if there is another accident.

Last Thursday I asked the Leader if he would update the House on the Government's position on the much spoken of single regulatory authority for financial institutions. I am sure he did not intend to tell me an untruth or to mislead the House, but he erroneously responded that the matter had been referred to the Joint Committee on Finance and Public Service for consideration. I have since been informed that this is not so. I believe the Leader owes it to the House to clarify the matter and I would be grateful if he did so today.

I ask the Leader to arrange for an urgent debate on Sellafield, given that safety records there have been falsified for a number of years and that there are grave concerns over safety in the industry. This is an urgent matter of great importance.

I ask the Leader to arrange an urgent debate on the recently published CSO figures relating to the wealth of people in various regions, with particular emphasis on why the south eastern region fared so badly. It backs up the often made argument that the influence of the Celtic tiger has not been felt in the regions.

I support the request made a few weeks ago by Senator Finneran and reiterated today by Senators Kett and Ridge for a debate in response to the public demand that we pay attention to those less able than ourselves. This issue will not go away and the call for a debate is not prompted by media attention.

I also wish to raise the issue of radon gas. The Leader has promised me time and again a debate on this issue. Recently a Member on the Government side made a similar demand and supported my request, but that demand was a result of media attention, as if the dangers of radon gas only occur when the media pay attention to the problem. That danger exists all the time and the matter is worthy of debate in the House. Will the Leader give a guaranteed commitment and a timeframe for this debate?

It is important to clarify the matter of the single regulatory authority and the role of the Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service. The committee, of which I am a member – I think Senator Finneran is also a member – has given detailed consideration to the matter. The Governor of the Central Bank, the Director of Consumer Affairs and senior civil servants from the Departments of Finance and Enterprise, Trade and Employment have addressed the committee on this issue. The Senator may be technically correct in saying the matter has not been referred to the committee, but it certainly has been debated at length by it.

With respect, that is not what was said on the record last week.

I would like to reassure Senator Costello and Senator Norris that the people of Kildare never have any difficulty and never need an excuse to celebrate the feast of Saint Brigid.

Hear, hear.

We shall continue to do so for many years to come. It is worth reminding the House that one of the first and most successful breweries was brought here by the selfsame saint.

Regarding the issue raised by Senator Manning, I understood that the phrase "business to resume thereafter if not previously concluded" was a favourite line when the Senator was Leader of the House.

Only after consultation and agreement.

I was just following my predecessor. Of course, we can review progress later in the afternoon.

Senator Manning also raised No. 16 regarding the docklands. As the Senator is aware, orders are not normally debated in the House, but if he requires a debate I will certainly allow the necessary time.

Senators O'Toole, Manning and Costello raised the Shannon River Council Bill, Second Stage of which was completed in the House last week. I have left time during the next number of weeks for the Finance Bill, the Social Welfare Bill and some very important legislation on which there is a time limit. I will possibly review the timeframe around Easter.

It will not go away, you know.

It is a Fianna Fáil Bill and we will make sure it will not go away.

On a point of order, is it a Fianna Fáil Bill?

Yes.

We were not made aware of this, but we are glad to hear it. It was reprinted in the names of the Senators, but word for word and line for line it is the same as former Senator Daly's excellent legislation.

Of what is the Leader afraid?

Is the Leader putting his name to it?

The Leader, without interruption, please.

It is still afloat. Senator Costello referred to the Telecommunications (Infrastructure) Bill, 1999. As I have stated on many occasions, I will bring it before the House when ordered to do so by Government.

Senator Norris, supported by Senators Costello and Dardis, requested a debate between 11 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 8 March, which is International Women's Day. Nollaig na mBan is 6 January, which is a very suitable time to plan a national ladies day.

Obviously, ladies day is more important than the Shannon River Council Bill, 1998.

Why does the Leader not call it girls day?

The Leader, without interruption, please.

Senator O'Toole seems to be floating all the time. Not all Members have a boat. Senator Costello called for a debate on asbestos and I will make time available for that. Senators Quill and Norris called for a debate on the Arts Council. It will take place on Thursday afternoon of next week. It is time to debate it at length in the House and I look forward to many Senators making worthwhile contributions. I have my own opinion on the Arts Council and the enormous sums of money that could do a great deal of good, but which are not evenly distributed. That is my view, not that of the leader of my party.

I will ascertain whether I can meet Senator Henry's request. Senators Coogan, Kett and Ridge expressed their concerns regarding wheelchair users, and everyone totally supports their request. That matter can be raised during the debate on the Equal Status Bill, 1999. I will pass on the views of Senators Jackman and Norris to the Minister. I will also convey Senator Ó Murchú's concerns regarding Rosemary Nelson to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. I join with him in calling for a full independent inquiry into this case. The Minister for Foreign Affairs will be in the House tomorrow between 1.30 p.m. and 3.30 p.m. and the Senator can avail of that opportunity to raise the issue.

I will pass on Senator Ridge's views on car transporters to the Minister for Public Enterprise. Senator Dardis clarified Senator Coghlan's query. I will facilitate Senator O'Dowd's call for a debate on Sellafield the week after next. Senator Tom Hayes again had some difficulty with statistics. I will pass on his views to the Minister for Finance. He hails from a prosperous part of Ireland and the rest of the country is just catching up.

It is not that black and white.

Senator Coogan called for a debate on radon gas and I assure the House that it will take place. Perhaps the Sellafield and radon gas issues could be discussed together the week after next if the Senator is agreeable.