Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

——and lead them to recognise that there is a constituency depending on those of us in politics to find a way through the current difficulties.

Will the Leader arrange for a separate debate on the ten-point plan proposed by congress? It includes excellent ideas and others with which I would not agree, but it should be properly debated.

When the Leader arranges the debates, would it be possible to organise them in a way that is not essentially stage managed? Currently, people stand up to speak for ten or 15 minutes and much of their comments are irrelevant. Could it not be done like the way in which discussions are held in committees? Were we asked to defend and put logic behind some of our more outlandish statements, it would lead to a more constructive interaction, which is necessary in both Houses, not just the Seanad.