Order of Business - 26th October 2006

Order of Business - 26th October 2006
Mr. Norris: I normally agree with Senator Morrissey on transport issues but I was astonished to hear him describe the flotation of Aer Lingus as a success. If the Government wanted to privatise it why did it frustrate Willie Walsh’s attempts to take it over? In the process it lost the business leadership whose lack Senator Morrissey bewails this morning. The Government has got itself into this situation.
I am interested in Senator O’Toole’s comments on salmon driftnet fishing but it would be better if he read the Order Paper where he would see that No.17 has a comprehensive motion in my name-----
Mr. O’Toole: With my name on the bottom of it.
Mr. Norris: That was the point I was coming to. The motion addresses all the problems. The Government has commissioned reports and so on but has never once taken the scientific advice or implemented the conclusions. Ministers have come into this House and been evasive and economical with the truth and suggested they took on board some of the reports but they have never implemented their recommendations.
This is a potential disaster and it would be outrageous if the Government once again buckled in the face of local considerations and pressure. It would be just like the situation that Senator O’Toole and I highlighted last night in which the Government helped to unload 250,000 defective homes on the Irish people because it did not want to disadvantage a section of the cement manufacturing industry that supports it. It would be wrong to allow narrow local considerations to prevent the Government doing what is clearly the right thing.
Last night there was a serious fire in Portland Row, involving a hostel. A total of 11 fire brigades were called, 50 people were evacuated and five people are still in hospital suffering smoke inhalation. We are lucky that there was not considerable loss of life. Would the Leader consider allowing a brief discussion on No. 16 in my name, which draws attention to this fact and asks that the Government ensure that all such accommodation is professionally vetted in terms of fire regulations, hygiene, and so on?
Could the Leader find out from the Minister, or ask him to come into the House to explain, whether this hostel was ever vetted, whether it was fire regulation compliant, how many people were there and what are the conditions in this type of accommodation? This is funded by taxpayers but some people make a great deal of money out of these hostels around the country most of which do not meet elementary safety regulations.
I put down this matter on the Order of Business on 28 September and raised it previously.
Ms O’Rourke: That is right. The Senator did that.
Mr. Norris: There is a tragedy waiting to happen and it will be too late when people are burnt to death. Then we will all lament and bewail the tragedy. We know about it now. I am using this opportunity to serve notice that a tragedy will happen which we can avoid if we implement the proper fire, hygiene and safety regulations.