Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

With respect to Senator Callely's comments, there is no question of anybody on this side of the House not wishing the negotiations between the Government and the social partners well. Everyone wishes those negotiations well because their outcome is vital to the national interest. However, Senators Fitzgerald, O'Toole and Alex White commented upon the fact that a democratic deficit exists in the Houses. This is a line of thinking to which I also subscribe. The Leader recalled the Seanad this week and the first item on our agenda was a debate on the economy. However, Members were not presented with a framework document, an options document or any other kind of document which might have indicated the nature of the Government's thinking on the matter. As other Senators and I commented in recent days, the debate took place in isolation and was disjointed as a result.

There is a need for the Dáil and Seanad to be involved in a more structured way in the current process. The Oireachtas must be made more meaningful. We did not do justice to the debate on the economy or give to it the detailed consideration it required because we were not presented with an options or framework document. That is what is wrong and what has given rise to the lack of accountability. Everyone accepts that it is to the Houses of the Oireachtas that people should be accountable.

Senator O'Toole referred to North-South co-operation and the meetings that take place regularly, not merely at ministerial level but also among agencies and bodies of an official or semi-official nature. It would be useful if Ministers could make occasional reports to the Seanad in respect of this matter.