THE SEANAD: Dr Maurice Hayes (Ind), who was nominated to the Seanad by the Taoiseach, criticised the absence of a Department of Finance Minister from the Committee Stage debate on the Freedom of Information Bill.
Twenty-five of the 29 sections of the Bill are being opposed by Labour, and 29 proposed amendments have been tabled by the Opposition.
Dr Hayes said that, in respect of the dignity of the House, he thought it was a pity that they did not have the relevant Minister present for whatever reasons. This was a very, very serious Bill. He supported large parts of it. He believed there were other large sections which could be improved in committee. "But, you know, we cannot do anything in committee if the people concerned are not there to deal with it."
Another Government member, Mr Martin Mansergh (FF) said he would wish that Ministers from the relevant Departments were present.
In the event, the debate was overseen for the Government by Mr Michael Ahern, Minister of State for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
Earlier, Mr Brian Hayes, the Fine Gael leader in the House, complained about the refusal of the Cathaoirleach, Mr Rory Kiely, to convene an emergency meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges to consider the need for an amendment to Standing Orders. Such an amendment would be needed before they could go on to consider the Bill further at a time when a committee of the House was about to consider the matter.
"It's time the Government took this House seriously," said Mr Hayes. "We're going through a charade where two members of the Government are no longer with us."
A Minister who was not responsible for the legislation would come in to defend the measure. "This is not the way to do business. This is bad business. This, in effect, is the Government giving the Harvey Smith to this House."
Mr Joe O'Toole (Ind) said he thought the House was being brought into disrepute by the business they were being asked to do. "It's completely wrong what we are doing. We are ignoring the information commission, we're ignoring the users, we're ignoring a committee and we're rushing this through without the Ministers."
Ms Kathleen O'Meara (Labour) said the way the business had been ordered was a farce. "To think that a Bill of such magnitude, which has at its heart the issue of accountability of Government decisions, is being rammed through with such speed and in the absence of the Minister involved."
Mr Michael Finucane (FG) said he believed there was a lot of concern about the leak of a Garda report on the penalty point system. "I believe that what is happening now will lead to an epidemic of leaked reports in the future."
Deploring the absence of the two Finance Ministers, Mr Finucane said it was no wonder that people felt there was contempt for them.
Mr Shane Ross (Ind) said he believed there was a serious issue about the leaked penalty points document. "We heard on the radio where RTÉ had got hold of a report on penalty points which seemed to spin very much in favour of the Garda. I think there is a serious issue involved if there is any question of the Garda spontaneously sabotaging policy of the Government on this issue where lives are being saved."
Mr John Minihan (PD) referred to the document "leaked by the Garda". He believed this was a very serious issue given that the Garda was trusted as the custodians of the security of the State and its institutions.
Mr David Norris (Ind) said it had not been established that it was the Garda who had leaked the document. But it was certainly very unusual that the guards established a body to monitor or review the situation and published a report after a mere three months. He imagined that ordinary people would be concerned that some kind of bargaining lever was being used to get more pay or more personnel.
Mr Noel Coonan (FG) said he wanted to express alarm at the verbal attack by Government members on the Garda. The Minister of Justice should come to the House and explain that the force was not being given the extra resources, manpower and equipment that it needed. "I think this demands a serious explanation as to why the Garda are being attacked by the present Government.