Dan Boyle (Green Party)

I am confident that what has been agreed will be fulfilled and will be acted upon. The people appointed yesterday are the very people whom the Taoiseach knows will deliver on the programme.

I wish to put on the record of the House an explanation regarding No. 3 on the Order Paper. This matter was raised by Senator Norris and I can understand his concern. When acting as Leader last week I can assure him that I was not instructed to do anything but I was in receipt of advice and I chose to act on that advice. This House has a tradition for independence which it uses in open-ended debates on many subjects. The Order of Business last week contained demands for debates on the Middle East which I am sure can be facilitated at the earliest opportunity and on the ongoing situation of China and Tibet and the Olympic Games. Now that we have a new Minister for Foreign Affairs I am sure these debates can be held. My understanding of the advice I received with regard to No. 3 was that the June meeting was of particular significance to confirm whether or not the monitoring systems are working and I accept they are not working. If that meeting comes up with a conclusion the Seanad will be in a better position to act on foot of that advice. We will see what happens.

It seems that Senator Buttimer has left the Chamber and I am glad of that because it means I can speak without interruption——