Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I ask the Leader to plan to have a Minister of a different Department before the House to be questioned by Senators every week. This would enable Senators to have a dialogue with a Minister with responsibility for a different area each week and to discuss the development of policies. The House should have a role in this area. While joint committees serve a great purpose, they are not a House of the Oireachtas. As a separate House, the Seanad should have an input into various policy issues. I would like the Opposition to put forward ideas and try to assist the Government at this particularly difficult time.