Noel Coonan (Fine Gael)

I always say nice things about the Minister of State. I say what I need to say to him, not elsewhere. He knows where he stands with me, whatever about his colleagues.

I will read my speech because, having listened to 2,000 angry farmers in Abbeyleix tonight, I would be in danger of using some of the expletives I heard there and might be accused of using unparliamentary language.

This is a sad day for the Seanad and the Government. This morning we will further advance a subversive Bill designed to cover up the mistakes of this and the previous Government in the past six years. When I hear from my colleagues on the Government benches that this Bill was created to further the public interest, I wonder when increased cynicism and distrust of public officials became such an important part of the public interest. More than this, I wonder when they became so crucial that they must subvert even the normal political process which governs the actions of this House. Senators on all sides did not have time to consult on the Bill, to adequately prepare for the debate or to contemplate all of its negative consequences. Some Senators, of whom I am one, only received a copy of this convoluted legislation today. Had I not gone home this evening I would not have received it even then.