The Cedar Lounge Revolution

Here’s something from last week that may interest people:

SEANAD REPORT: INDEPENDENTS FAILED in a bid to obtain an emergency debate on a motion calling for the cancellation of today’s protest action by public service unions. Government members were joined by three of the six Labour Senators and by Joe O’Toole (Ind) in voting against the taking of the motion in the names of Ronan Mullen and Feargal Quinn.

But what of the transcript… why here it is, in all its glory.

Senator Eoghan Harris: It is approximately two years since the House, the political class and the public became aware that we were in the equivalent of a long war, an economic crisis of a magnitude not previously seen. The other night, I was watching Brendan Gleeson’s powerful portrayal of Winston Churchill. Thankfully, the cringe factor of someone needing to apologise for an Irish actor playing Churchill was avoided.
I was first struck by the way Churchill brought Clement Attlee into the war cabinet. The Tories were not the toughest members of that cabinet. Rather, the three Labour Party members fought the war to a tough and final conclusion. I was also struck by the cabinet’s bipartisan approach and the way in which the war was democratically debated by the House of Commons. A Labour-Tory Government did the difficult stuff and the Parliament was allowed a rolling debate on the war as it continued. We would do well to consider something similar.
Senators: Hear, hear.
Senator Eoghan Harris: The long debates on NAMA are not helping confidence. A tripartisan [hmmmm...wbs] approach to the economic crisis would be better for democracy. A cross-party group or committee could be set up to make the difficult decisions, such as on public sector pay, whether more people should be brought into the tax net and what will be done about social welfare. The Parliament could be allowed to act as watchdog on that cross-party support.
I am one of those who believes the truth sets people free. The public is always ahead of politicians. It knows how bad things are and is not interested in the gassy speculations of economists whose egos are deeply involved in selling books or predicting the future. One cannot predict the future. People know that all we can do is buckle down, as the British did during the Second World War. The Irish are ready to buckle down and do the difficult things and it is time the political class caught up with them and buckled down in the same way via a cross-party approach to the crisis.
But hold on… what’s this… that ‘tripartisan’ approach founders at its first outing…

Senator Eugene Regan [Fine Gael]: Senator Harris referred to the House’s protracted debate on NAMA. The criticism is misplaced. As the OECD survey of the economy shows, we have a chronic problem. The survey confirms all of our worst fears about the state of the economy. However, it highlights the Government’s inaction on this crisis. The debate on the NAMA legislation was deemed “protracted”, but it was only recently introduced in the Dáil and will not be introduced in this House until next week. The debate on NAMA has not been protracted and it has helped to improve the Bill and show up particular shortfalls in the legislation. Statements about protracted debates on legislation are anti-democratic. The country has a problem, but we need proper parliamentary scrutiny of whatever legislation passes through the Houses.
I wish to refer to the matter of An Bord Pleanála as raised by Senator Coffey. A High Court judge, Mr. Justice Peter Kelly, upheld a judicial review of a decision by An Bord Pleanála and recommended that the matter be reheard by different members of the board. He specified this in order to avoid further judicial reviews of the case. That advice was not followed and it was on that point and others that Judge McMenamin found unfathomable the logic of the board in how it proceeded. Judge McMenamin’s second decision against the board has not been appealed by it and yet the chairman of the board can criticise that decision. There is something fundamentally wrong with that attitude, in particular when the Judiciary has found the board to be in default. I support Senator Coffey’s call for the board to get its house in order.
Wait, it’s back on the rails… sort of…

Senator Ivor Callely: Yesterday I listened with interest to Senators express their views. There was a certain concern about the negativity from various quarters, in particular the media. I refer to the view expressed on the national airwaves. I cannot understand why RTE always feels it must have balance.
We should remain positive given the very difficult and challenging times ahead. Senator Harris said this is not necessarily a party political issue and that it warrants unity of purpose, which I wholeheartedly support. We must not underestimate, challenge or overstate our difficulties. What we must do together is address these issues. We must remain positive in respect of the challenges we face.
I would also like to compliment our national broadcaster—–
An Cathaoirleach: A question for the Leader.
Senator Ivor Callely: —–in particular in regard to its programme on the Berlin Wall which Tony Connolly presented last night. He gave a particular perspective on the Hungarian issue which warrants acknowledgement.
I refer to Senator Regan’s comments on what Senator Harris said. This country recognised it faced serious difficulties in 2007 and in 2008 we recognised there was a need to resolve them.
Ah no, what’s this then?

Senator Rónán Mullen: I propose an amendment to the Order of Business that before No. 1, we take No. 34, motion No. 26. This motion, which was seconded by Senator Quinn, calls for a debate on the proposed day of action and the proposed strike. From time to time as we meet different groups, we speak about the needs of the most vulnerable members of society. We cannot have it both ways. We cannot have sectoral interests insist their rights and privileges are not interfered with while at the same time hope that the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and other groups doing important work in our society are not frustrated at budget time. This is a time for unity and solidarity and for letting the Government govern and legislators debate the merits of various proposals. Strikes will force the hand in favour of particular sectoral interests to the detriment of vulnerable members of society. I hope the Leader will accept this amendment to the Order of Business.
Senator Harris spoke about the need for a bipartisan and a tri-partisan approach. We could achieve a quadra-partisan approach with the Government, Fine Gael, the Labour Party and, I hope, the Independents supporting this motion.

Or this?
Senator Nicky McFadden: I support what Senators Harris and Mullen said and, to some extent, what Senator Regan said. Last night I tabled a motion in Private Members’ time in regard to indebtedness and called for cross-party support. The motion was very broad and covered many areas. I hasten to add it was the most non-political motion ever placed on the Order Paper. There were very few Fianna Fáil Senators present for the debate.

An Cathaoirleach: Who was or was not present is not relevant.
Senator Nicky McFadden: It is very relevant. The motion, which was very serious, was treated with disdain. Senator Boyle wanted it put on the record that the revised programme for Government wanted to regulate those trying to get money from unfortunate people and said there must be legislation to regulate these people. He then left the House.
An Cathaoirleach: The Senator should not comment on anyone’s presence and on whether a Senator leaves the House.
Senator Nicky McFadden: I feel very strongly about this because there must be cross-party support for getting people back to work and for job creation.
The Government amendment to my motion stated how fantastic the Government was and what a great job it had done and yet the country is going down the tubes. I feel very strongly about the way this House is run. The Minister of State responded by saying that Fine Gael supported the Government amendment, which I found insulting.
We must find ways to help unfortunate people achieve resolutions for their debts without having to go to court. I made a very straightforward request but not one Senator opposite or the Minister of State took it up.
I also spoke about the penalties people must endure if they try to get out of fixed rate mortgages but no Senator picked up that point. Senator Ryan has raised that issue on numerous occasions. This is what Senator Harris spoke about. We need collective responsibility in this House for the people who are losing their jobs.
Senator Feargal Quinn: A number of Senators referred to “Morning Ireland” celebrating its 25th anniversary. I took three messages from that programme. The first was how bad things were in 1984 and yet we got out of it. The second was in regard to some of those who criticise some of the established offices in this State, including the Seanad and the Office of the President, which is often thought not useful.
I thought our President played a blinder today and used words which established confidence and were positive. She said she was taking a pay cut and was doing something. She said that under the Constitution her expenses could not be reduced but that she would not spend all the money allocated. The example she set was one of which we should be very proud. It was a reminder of the strength of that office. She established hope, and the word “hope” was used by Senator O’Toole today.
We must do more than hope. We must work together to avoid confrontation which is why I support Senator Mullen’s amendment to the Order of Business. We should debate No. 34, motion No. 26, and discourage confrontation and encourage working together to achieve what we must achieve. I support the call for a debate on that motion before No. 1.

Senator Paul Bradford: I support Senator Boyle’s comments that we are having our daily dose of economic debate and analysis. It is time we moved on from analysis to a prescribed solution. Unfortunately, all of us seem unwilling to begin to address the economic reality. Nothing is more removed from the economic reality than the proposed day of action and the proposed strike. Therefore, I very much support Senator Mullen’s call that we urgently debate No. 34, motion 26, so Senators can outline their views on the grave damage which would be inflicted on this country by so-called days of action and strikes. Most of us have been alive and in politics long enough to know that this economic lunacy which was prescribed in the 1970s and 1980s in both Ireland and Britain created no solutions but rather economic ruin. We do not want to visit it on the people again. We must talk in blunt terms and move beyond the glib debate to start discussing economic truths and reality.
It is almost two years since Senator Harris became the first Member of the Oireachtas to analyse the problems of public sector reform. This was not an attack by the Senator or anyone else on public servants but was simply a method of outlining the economic crisis and indicating that the public sector needed to be reformed urgently. The public sector is funded by taxpayers, by every citizen of the State. It has gone over the top with regard to expenses and we need to start prescribing solutions.
I refer to Senator Hannigan’s comments about the national jobs council not having held meetings. I concede my ignorance in that I have never heard of the council. The Cabinet and the Government should act as a national jobs council; therefore, I am not concerned whether the council has met, as it is another body, another quango. The Cabinet and the political system need to be our national jobs council. The House needs to be proactive in this regard.
I appeal to the Leader to take motion No. 34. We will be remiss in our duty as elected Members of the Oireachtas if we are not willing to speak clearly on so-called days of action and national strikes. I call them days of ruination.

Senator Shane Ross: I endorse everything Senator Bradford said and support the amendment to the Order of Business proposed by Senators Mullen and Quinn.
The House has a serious responsibility which we continuously funk, which is to make immediate decisions on matters which are relevant. We are always discussing and condemning after the event. We have an opportunity to give a certain amount of leadership and express a view that what will happen tomorrow will send a very serious message, particularly if there is an escalation and further strikes. We have a big problem with our credit rating. I do not know whether people realise this but Ireland’s credit rating was downgraded again yesterday. International investors will see our credit rating going down one day and protests on the streets the next. This will damage our reputation and the economy. We have an opportunity in the House to stand up and say we do not wish this to happen and at least test whether this is a House of influence. If the Government funk discussion of this motion today, it will continue the public perception that this is not a particularly relevant body. This is an emergency and we cannot just sit back. We should be taking action and giving leadership. We should be warning that this action will damage Ireland, as will another day of protest. Anyone who doubts this need only wait because if we continue to indulge this irresponsible behaviour on the part of trade unions, we will have the International Monetary Fund coming in. This is a much closer reality than people here are prepared to acknowledge. We are very close to it. If we do not take a stand, if we do not show the world we are prepared to stand up to the unions, then, God help us, we will have an international body take over. If that is what we want, then we should not debate the motion but if we want to show we are in charge, let the House debate it today.

An Cathaoirleach: Three Members are still indicating but time is practically up. I ask speakers to be brief.

Here’s a man who hasn’t got the memo…

Senator Paddy Burke: I support Senator Coffey’s case on An Bord Pleanála. I have raised the issue of An Bord Pleanála on several occasions in the House and asked why inspectors’ decisions have been overturned without any reasons being given.
It is stated in the Irish Independent today, “For God’s sake, somebody do something”. On previous occasions I have asked for a debate on tourism because such a debate is needed. It is a sector in which jobs can be created. Other governments, including the Spanish Government, have taken action. I ask for a debate on what can be done in 2010.
And here’s one who has…

Senator Michael McCarthy: I thank the Cathaoirleach for his indulgence. I will be supporting tomorrow’s national protest at Government decisions. We did not stand up to the banks or the corporate capitalist monsters who brought us to the brink of economic collapse, yet we stand up to the garda, the nurse, the teacher and the worker who is now paying a pension levy, an income levy and a health levy to fund our way out of the recession. We will stand up to them but will not stand up to the people who caused the economy to collapse.
I refer to the headline in the Irish Examiner this week which caught my attention: “Judge orders repossession of record number of homes”. In another case of a young couple in County Cavan the headline reads, “They hound us. They want €1,300 a month”. This is a young family with three children and in whcih one parent has become unemployed. They are unable to repay the mortgage at the same level but have had to tell their children they will be unable to buy toys this Christmas, yet we have this nonsense. A motion has been tabled with the date Friday, 4 November. Tomorrow is not 4 November and there is not a scheduled day of strike action on 24 November. When our learned colleagues are tabling motions for discussion in the House, they should at least be accurate in their attempts to muzzle the trade unions and workers and to subvert democracy.
Senator Ciaran Cannon: I did not intend to speak this morning on the Order of Business until I heard Senator Hanafin make the same hypocritical and cynical call for patriotism which his colleagues have been making for the past few months. It started with the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan, during his Budget Statement who was followed by the Tánaiste, Deputy Mary Coughlan, last week. They have been calling on hard-pressed families to voluntarily subject themselves to a higher tax regime by not travelling to the North to buy groceries. The Government was elected to govern. The mistakes made in the past six months have not been made by families but rather by a Government which imposed a VAT rate and acknowledged in March that this was a significant mistake. It has refused to address the very high costs associated with doing business. We now have the third highest energy costs in Europe. I ask the Government to cease from asking the people to rectify its mistakes and to begin to do what it was elected to do, that is, to govern.

And here’s a man keen to show the value of the institution…

Senator Donie Cassidy: Senators Fitzgerald, O’Toole, Hannigan, Boyle, Walsh, O’Donovan, Twomey, Regan, Callely, Quinn, Bradford and Ross expressed various views and concerns on the Order of Business. I join Senators in congratulating “Morning Ireland” on 25 years of excellent broadcasting. I congratulate, in particular, those pioneers David Hanley and David Davin-Power who helped to launch the programme. I also congratulate Tomás Sabhaois, Tom Savage, who reviewed the newspapers every morning and, as David Hanley said this morning, made a significant contribution. I congratulate all those currently involved in the programme. It was refreshing to hear the Taoiseach and former Taoiseach Dr. Garret FitzGerald discuss the problems that have had to be faced in the past 25 years. They have both advised that the current crisis must be addressed immediately. When asked what he would have done differently, Dr. FitzGerald replied he would have taken action earlier. I remember the time when David Hanley interviewed me about what action we planned to take on insurance reform. The people came in behind us on what could be done to lower the high insurance premiums being charged at the time.
I refer to the points raised about the OECD, McCarthy and Commission on Taxation reports. They can all be raised in the House next week when we will sit for 55 hours over three days to deal with the NAMA Bill.

And the upshot?

An Cathaoirleach: Senator Ryan has proposed amendment No. 2 to the Order of Business: “That No. 22 be taken before No. 1.” The Leader has indicated he is prepared to accept this amendment. Is the amendment agreed? Agreed.
Senator Mullen has proposed amendment No. 3 to the Order of Business: “That No. 34, motion No. 26, be taken before No. 1.” Is the amendment being pressed?
Senator Rónán Mullen: Tá sé.
Amendment put.
The Seanad divided: Tá, 19; Níl, 29.

Notable who voted agin, I’d have thought.