Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

I was shocked by the heading in the newspaper today that the Seanad was to be suspended on Tuesdays for the month of May. I did not know about that and I am a Member of the House. I resent the Leader deciding on the schedule without consulting Members, going on a solo run and bringing this House into disrepute. The Leader is bringing me and my work into disrepute too. I was elected to this House in good faith, I am a hard worker and that is the way I would like to be known rather than being attached to this type of image, which is really appalling.

For some time I have not been happy with the quality of the Leader's responses in this House. The Leader tells us what we want to hear, and either these comments are hypocritical or else the parliamentary party is not listening to a thing he says. This is the Upper House and we must regard it as such. We are elected by the people for the people so it is time we addressed the programme of work and the quality of both the work and the leadership.

I also wish to address the spot closure of libraries throughout the country, which comes under the remit of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley.