Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

He is a sporting hero who deserves to be treated with respect. We need a debate on mental health and men's health. This is related to the point raised by Senator McFadden about bowel cancer. We should also have a debate on the role of men in society.

I call for a debate on the economy and the crisis or emergency budget which is due to be published in April. I do not entirely agree with Senator Regan. This House is becoming irrelevant whereas we should be driving the debate rather than Joe Duffy or Pat Kenny. This situation has arisen partly because of the way business is scheduled in the Seanad. It is extraordinary that the Minister for Finance has not attended the House. We have debated matters with the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Mansergh, but with respect, he is the junior Minister at the Department. As Senators Fitzgerald and Alex White have pointed out, we need not only to be given facts, figures and information but also the ability to hold Ministers to account. It is time to reform our business to allow Senators to put written questions to Ministers.