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Seanad
‹ Order of Business

NAMA accountability to Northern Assembly

Summary

Senator Ó Clochartaigh urges the Government to persuade NAMA to appear before the Northern Ireland Assembly’s finance committee, arguing that refusal disrespects a democratic forum and could have legal and financial consequences.

Tacaím le cuid de na rudaí a bhí ráite ag an Seanadóir Barrett maidir leis an chúis nach bhfuil NAMA sásta labhairt le coiste Comhthionóil ó thuaidh. It should be conveyed to the Minister for Finance and the Government that if anything can be done to exert influence over NAMA to appear before the Committee of Finance and Personnel in the Northern Ireland Assembly, it should be done. It is unacceptable that a democratically elected forum such as this should be snubbed in this way.

Tacaím go huile is go hiomlán leis an leasú atá molta ar Riar na hOibre inniu maidir le scoil Inis Meáin. Is trua é nach féidir leis an Seanadóir Healy Eames déileáil lena rún sa Seanad an tseachtain seo. Tá sé fíor-phráinneach mar beidh an cheist seo ag teacht chun foirfeachta roimh dheireadh na míosa seo muna mbeidh cinneadh tógtha go mbeidh an dara múinteoir le fáil ar Inis Meáin. Tá daoine ansin atá sásta cásanna cúirte a ghlacadh. The situation in Inis Meáin did not happen yesterday or today.

The reason there is such an urgency to this issue is that if a decision is not made before the end of July, the Government and the Department of Education and Skills could find themselves in a litigious situation where they are taken to court over people's rights. Serious rights are being impinged upon here, not least the employment rights of the principal in the school. It is totally unacceptable that a principal on an island could teach eight children and not be afforded a lunch break or a toilet break. It is unacceptable in this day and age. Solutions can be found. The amounts of money involved are not insurmountable. The rigidity of the guidelines from the Department of Education and Skills is ludicrous in this situation. They do not take into consideration the fact that this is an island out in the middle of the Atlantic. I wholeheartedly support the amendment proposed to the Order of Business. Even if the senior Minister is not available, any Minister who is in the Houses should be here. It is not acceptable that all the Ministers have decamped and that there is none around.

Comment on this

This is a House of Parliament.

Comment on this

It is a House of Parliament and it should be shown respect. A Minister should make himself or herself available. I appreciate the Leader's predicament in this regard, but it is an important issue which, if left to run, will have serious legal and financial consequences for the State.

Comment on this