Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

I was just coming to that. The Senator thinks like me. I did not get on very well, I have to say. I spent 45 minutes of the past hour in communication with the Minister's private secretary and, finally, with the Minister himself again. All Stages of the Immigration Bill are scheduled to be taken here tomorrow. I have informed the Cathaoirleach and he is not happy about it. I am distinctly unhappy about it too because the Bill will not be taken in the Dáil until next Wednesday and, therefore, I cannot understand why we should be pushed around, which is what is happening. I agreed in the end but I have dictated a strong letter to the Minister about this. I do not blame the Minister personally but I genuinely think he is being pushed around by people in his Department. I am being frank about it because I know from the conversation I have had that that is what is happening. Following comments made recently in a judge's report about officials in that particular Department, we are all aware of the situation, which does not seem to have altered.

In any case, the House will take all Stages of the Immigration Bill tomorrow. It has nothing to do with the Taoiseach, in case Senators thought it had. It concerns a particular Department. I said earlier that I would come back to report to the House on the matter, although I do not like having to bring this news.