Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

Senator Brian Hayes raised the matter of the killers of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe. He asked now that both Government and Opposition are singing from the one hymn sheet, why the killers have special status. He wants me to ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform why they are in that special category. I will do that because it jarred with me when I heard it on the radio, as I am sure it did with those who read about it in the newspapers.

The Senator also raised the issue of the Minister for Transport's speech in this House last week on Private Members' business, on the Fine Gael motion. I listened on and off to the debate in my office. In the main I have found that the Ministers who come here do a good job and give us good value in what they have to say. Senator Brian Hayes said the speech was meaningless. I presume, as he made the speech, that it was meaningful to the Minister. He would, perhaps, say — I do not hold with this so Senators should not all jump until they have heard me out — that he was going to the Irish Management Institute the following week and that, perhaps, he had his speech prepared with all his points laid out. I do not hold with that. If he had, the Oireachtas Chamber was the place to unveil this, and that is the point made by the Senator.

Senator Ross took up the matter with regard to the second terminal at Dublin Airport. He said the Minister's speech showed disrespect to this House and that he was waffling. He asked why there should not be a question and answer session on these occasions. The Cathaoirleach stated that would require the Committee on Procedure and Privileges to change Standing Orders. I think that would be interesting. However, I remind Senator Ross that Dáil Reform proposals suggested that Ministers should answer on the hoof, so to speak, on issues of the day in the House. I thought this a great idea because I would love answering on the hoof, but apparently the suggestion did not find favour in the Cabinet ranks.

The suggestion seems fair, but the procedure would need to be well managed so that it would not dissolve into a shambles. It is one of the points suggested with regard to Seanad reform. We think it should, perhaps, be discussed at the next meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. This does not mean the Ministers will accept it if, or when, it is activated.