Order of Business - 18th June 2008

Order of Business - 18th June 2008
Senator David Norris: I very much welcome that this House has responded so immediately to the situation after the referendum on the Lisbon treaty and I congratulate the Leader on taking this action. I had actually submitted a Standing Order 30 motion that this was a matter of urgent national importance but I have withdrawn it in light of this welcome move.
We are in a remarkable situation. I, for the first time, voted and spoke against the treaty. I did so because of the insulting way in which people like Mr. Giscard d'Estaing made it clear that the treaty and its language were deliberately obfuscated to sell a pup to an ignorant Irish electorate who would do what they were told by their electoral masters. That is a rough translation of what he said. Then, there was the performance of our own leaders, which was regrettable, saying they had not read the treaty and that one would be foolish to try. At least Senator Regan read the treaty. I think he brought it in every day and gave us a lecture about it, but at least he stuck to his guns and he appeared to know what he was talking about.
Senator Fitzgerald referred to a two-speed Europe possibly developing. The two-speed Europe is already here. There is the speed at which the megalocrats in Europe want to drive the institutions and the speed which the general population of Europe want - the Irish people are by no means alone in this.
Senator Donie Cassidy: This is a speech.
Senator David Norris: That is profoundly undemocratic, as is the response of some of the leaders of Europe, who should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.
If there is egg on faces, the massive quantity of it should land on the people in Brussels who attempted to bully and hector, and who said we would be punished economically and would be the first victims financially. There were even people saying we should give back what we got. We got nothing to which we were not fully and legally entitled; of that there is no question. We also gave a hell of a lot. We gave our best expertise and the brains that helped to drive the Community. At the top of the Community, one will find Irish people giving loyal service. The Irish people are loyal to Europe but when they are treated like fools, when they are treated with contempt, when they are treated with a lack of respect for democracy-----
An Leas-Chathaoirleach: Those are points that can be made in the debate.
Senator David Norris: I am sick of asking questions in this House. I asked a series of very detailed questions about the military aspects of the treaty - that was why I voted against it - including the European Defence Agency, coyly renamed from the Western European Armaments Group, and the redefinition of the Petersberg tasks to include intervention in a third country because of a threat of terrorism, which is what got the United States into Iraq. That is why I am worried.
I am moving an amendment to the Order of Business today because of my concerns. I want No. 27, motion 15, concerning rendition, to be taken today. It shows how we are already compromised by this Government. As we speak, aeroplane No. N54PA is on the tarmac at Shannon Airport. Commandant Ed Horgan, who was on the platform with me as the voice of the people against Lisbon for this military reason, is detained at Shannon Airport. He is not allowed to leave the airport. He has requested the Garda to search that aeroplane which was in Guantanamo on 3 June this year. Attempts are being made to remove the camera which he legally possesses and destroy the film. For that reason, and because I got no answers to any of these questions about the increasing militarisation of Europe, I am moving an amendment to the Order of Business.
I second Senator Bacik's amendment to the Order of Business. I also have spoken on the issue of Thornton Hall and consider it regrettable that it is proposed to develop a mental hospital beside the prison. I am glad to see the Roman Catholic bishops came out strongly on this issue.
Will the Leader request the Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs with responsibility for integration policy, Deputy Conor Lenihan, to explain to the House the situation that has arisen in respect of Integrate Ireland Language and Training Limited? This is a non-profit campus company of Trinity College which was established in co-operation with the Government to provide language skill courses to newly arrived refugees, asylum seekers and programme people. It employed 40 full-time staff and trained teachers. It has developed a programme and a website.
An Leas-Chathaoirleach: Several other Members wish to contribute.
Senator David Norris: This is a scandal. Its headquarters at the old veterinary college were sold and it was told it was to move to Greendale community school. It has now been told, however, that it is being axed and the Department of Education and Science has put out a press statement that misleadingly suggests it is going voluntarily. This is wrong. We must have an explanation why these 40 teachers are being let go and why newly arrived programme refugees from Burma and Sudan are being left swinging in the air, so to speak.

An Leas-Chathaoirleach: Senator Norris has moved an amendment to the Order of Business: "That No. 27, motion 15, be taken today." Does the Senator wish to press the amendment?
Senator David Norris: I am obliged to do so because the aeroplane is there at Shannon Airport. An Irish citizen is being detained illegally. We have been criticised by the European Parliament, the Irish Human Rights Commission-----
An Leas-Chathaoirleach: We cannot have a debate on this issue.
Senator David Norris: Regrettably, I have no option but to put the matter to a vote.
Amendment put.
The Seanad divided: Tá, 18; Níl, 27.
Tá
Bacik, Ivana.
Bradford, Paul.
Buttimer, Jerry.
Coghlan, Paul.
Doherty, Pearse.
Donohoe, Paschal.
Fitzgerald, Frances.
Hannigan, Dominic.
Healy Eames, Fidelma.
McFadden, Nicky.
Mullen, Rónán.
Norris, David.
O'Reilly, Joe.
O'Toole, Joe.
Phelan, John Paul.
Regan, Eugene.
Ryan, Brendan.
White, Alex.
Níl
Boyle, Dan.
Brady, Martin.
Butler, Larry.
Callely, Ivor.
Cannon, Ciaran.
Carty, John.
Cassidy, Donie.
Corrigan, Maria.
Daly, Mark.
de Búrca, Déirdre.
Ellis, John.
Glynn, Camillus.
Hanafin, John.
Keaveney, Cecilia.
Leyden, Terry.
MacSharry, Marc.
McDonald, Lisa.
Ó Domhnaill, Brian.
Ó Murchú, Labhrás.
O'Brien, Francis.
O'Malley, Fiona.
O'Sullivan, Ned.
Ormonde, Ann.
Phelan, Kieran.
Ross, Shane.
Walsh, Jim.
Wilson, Diarmuid.
Tellers: Tá, Senators Ivana Bacik and David Norris; Níl, Senators Déirdre de Búrca and Diarmuid Wilson.