Order of Business - 20th May 2008

Order of Business - 20th May 2008

Senator David Norris: If the Punch and Judy show is over may I state that frequently in this House I stated that both Bush and Blair were liars and nobody ever stopped me. Perhaps this is because they are.

An Cathaoirleach: On the Order of Business.

Senator David Norris: With regard to Libertas and the “No” vote campaign, Senator Regan referred to an interesting piece about the background of a number of these people. A majority of them are employed by-----

An Cathaoirleach: We are not having this debate on the Order of Business.

Senator David Norris: -----an American armaments firm. I will make this point.

An Cathaoirleach: We will debate the matter this week.

Senator David Norris: This strengthens the point I made in this House with regard to my reservations about the military aspects of the Lisbon treaty and the development of the European armaments group and its desire to go into competition with the United States armaments industry. This would be a clear explanation as to why people with links to the United States arms industry-----

An Cathaoirleach: We are not having a debate on the Lisbon treaty today.

Senator David Norris: -----do not want it passed. I do not want it to pass, but for other reasons.

An Cathaoirleach: We are not having a debate on the Lisbon treaty on the Order of Business.

Senator David Norris: I was clarifying an issue for Senator Regan.
I join with colleagues in calling for a debate on the collapse of the social housing programme. This calls into question our very values as a society. We can have the Shelbourne Hotel and the Thornton Hall super-prison but apparently we are spancilled when we try to do something for the most disadvantaged sections of our society.
I happen to live close to some of the areas concerned and I admire and respect the people there. People living on Sean McDermott Street and Dominic Street got together, formed committees and negotiated. Some of their houses and apartments have been vacated and have begun to be demolished. However, once again the prospect of new housing is snatched away from them. Apparently, one of the problems is the increased size of apartments and standards of heating efficiency. This suggests that people are not entitled to a decent standard.

An Cathaoirleach: Is Senator Norris seeking a debate?

Senator David Norris: Yes, because the Government is responsible. It allowed the housing industry to overheat and encouraged it by giving incentives to pals. The new Taoiseach, Deputy Cowen, has a challenge to resolve this problem and reassure the Irish people that the standards are those of which he spoke so movingly in Clara, County Offaly.
No. 38 on the Order Paper is linked because it is an attempt to face up to developers. It is a motion in the name of some Independent Members on the location of the Abbey Theatre. This situation has changed again because of the planning and development issues at the north end of O’Connell Street. There is an opportunity for our national theatre not to be hidden away at the behest of sectoral interests in the IFSC but to be placed where it belongs in the centre of the principal thoroughfare of Dublin. Will the Leader ask the Minister responsible to come to the House to explain where the theatre will be sited?