Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I totally agree with Senators Cullinane and Barrett. The comment the Minister of State read out is outrageous and I do not believe the Minister of State believes it herself. It is something that has been handed to her. I hope she, as a democratically elected member of the Oireachtas, does not believe it. This House is an important part of the Oireachtas. To say the Government would be afraid this House would play politics with the issue is totally unacceptable. I cannot believe the Minister of State read out that reply in this House. Senator Barrett's amendment that the plans would be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas and not just the Dáil is reasonable.

We are all given to understand that the Cabinet has been reduced to a sub-committee comprising the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. It is quite obvious from the Minister of State's response to this amendment that the Government wants to reduce this House and the Dáil to nothing but talking shops. As a democratically elected member of this part of our Oireachtas, I will not accept that. I urge the Minister of State to rethink what she said in this very proud part of our Oireachtas and to evaluate its consequences.