Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

Senator Brian Hayes asked for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to come to the House. I do not know if he can do so because he will be in the other House, having agreed to answer special notice questions. The Senator said that those who set themselves up as moral should account for their own actions.

Senator Brian Hayes also said he was heartened by the show of strength on Friday. Like Senator Dooley, I walked with the teachers in Athlone. We had a great outing, it was a great show of solidarity. Partnership must learn lessons to prevent the exploitation of workers.

Senator O'Toole mentioned parliamentary privilege and I could not agree with him more. The whole point of parliamentary privilege is that a person is allowed to say things he or she could not say in another forum. Otherwise it would not be privilege. Reporters keep saying, "It was said under parliamentary privilege". The Minister is entitled to do that, it is the point of parliamentary privilege. Look at the fun I would lose in the way I can berate a particular person. Senator O'Toole also found Friday's march heartening, saying that trade unions should be recognised as a service to workers. The Labour Court and the LRC should also be recognised.

Senator Ryan referred to the enforcement of worker protection legislation, noting there were 16 inspectors in the 1940s while there are now 21 and we are waiting for more. The Senator quoted a former, or a retired judge — I suppose one always remains a judge in one's mind if one was one. I found the comparison made offensive and Senator Dardis replied very ably to it by rejecting the comparison between a particular gentleman, or whatever one might call him, and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Parliamentary privilege is a cornerstone of our democracy — that is the point of it.

Senator Coghlan is losing his touch.