Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I was going to ask the Taoiseach, just between the two of us, to do a quick puzzle; number five across, six letters, begins with the letter A and ends with the letter T. The answer is "absent". I ask the Taoiseach and the Government Whip what happened last Friday. Why was the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform not present? Why were no Progressive Democrats Deputies present in the House? Why was the Government which wanted to bring forward the Criminal Justice Bill, supposedly the most important legislation since the sting of the dying wasp, unable to muster a quorum on Friday evening?

See this speech in context