Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

That would not be wise because this is a positive exchange and we should have more positive exchanges. One point the group left out is that the Irish people are put off politics because we are not engaging in politics but in personal petty destruction of individual characters. That is not good.

We all have exchanges and sometimes use strong language in both Houses, which is the nature of politics but we should have a more calm and focused debate. All these points are worthy of detailed study and assessment. Such a committee could have a real role. The Seanad Committee on Procedure and Privileges might like to consider and focus more clearly on some of my points. If the all-party group permits, when it meets on 18 October, I would be quite willing, in line with my positive responses here, to put the group's considered view as the first item on the agenda, which is the appropriate place to discuss it. The idea is good, and if we focus it we can take something positive out of it. I must answer to people who wrote a script that suggests otherwise. We have been talking for a long time in a kind of haze about the concept. Perhaps I should say "maze" to make it clear that I do not refer to Senator Brian Hayes.