Alex White (Labour)

The chorus line on the Government benches has reduced this serious political and constitutional issue to one of jealousy. Government Senators should understand that our system does not have a parliament within a parliament but a single Parliament. They gave out on the previous occasion I raised this matter and asked whether Senators should be prevented from speaking to Ministers. I have no problem with the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party holding meetings with any Minister. The issue, however, is that on a matter of public concern, which has been debated in the House, including by Members opposite belonging to Fianna Fáil, the Green Party and the Progressive Democrats, Senators have an equal right to participate in debate and be informed as to whether policy changes are likely. This should be done in public in Parliament rather than in some back room.