Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senators Fitzgerald, O'Toole, Hannigan, Ormonde, Coghlan, MacSharry, Norris, Cummins, Mullen, Healy Eames, Bacik, Coffey, Ross, Regan, Buttimer and McFadden expressed serious concern about issues concerning the future scheduling of the business of this House. I am pleased to inform the House that the Fianna Fáil submission in this respect will be made to the Minister concerned within the next seven days. Our submission is at an advanced stage. We consulted widely on it with all the Members. As I have said previously, almost 50% of the membership of this House comprise members of the Fianna Fáil Party. I have undertaken to consult widely with all colleagues in the group. Work on the submission is at an advantaged stage. I am pleased to inform the House, as I did the Minister last week, that we will ensure the submission is forwarded to him within the next seven days.

I understand the Minister is also at an advanced stage in making up his mind on bringing before this House for our attention and before the Government for its attention a proposal on meaningful Seanad reform. We all welcome that. We have been looking forward to it for the longest time. Such reform will ensure the workings of this House are moved forward into the 21st century in terms of meetings the necessary requirements.

As Seanad colleagues have said, this House that done the State a great service over the years. It was not the Upper House of the Parliament for a one-liner, as I have often said previously. Our predecessors worked very hard in it. I am proud to say that last year 30% of all legislation enacted was initiated in this House and that 1,201 amendments proposed to Bills and legislation were accepted by the Ministers of the day. This House has sat only two days fewer than the number of days sat by our colleagues in Dáil Éireann. To put everything in perspective, there has never been a more productive Seanad in the history of Seanad Éireann than this Seanad. I thank and congratulate colleagues on all sides of the House on their co-operation in making this the hardest working Seanad in this history of the State. I have served in these Houses for 27 years.

Regarding legislation that is to come to the House, quite a number of Bills will be brought forward for our attention. Senators Coghlan and MacSharry have called for the bringing forward of a Bill on everything related to the practice of auctioneering, and that is to be initiated in the House next Thursday.

Today is the seventh day of deliberation on the Adoption Bill. I congratulate very many colleagues who have spent many long and hard working hours to assist those who depend on them regarding the urgent issues that are being discussed and debated. In any parliament, seven days is a large amount of time spent on deliberation, consultation, negotiation and communication with the Minister. We in this House are proud to be able to assist the families who depend so much on the Adoption Bill by debating it on the floor of the House.

On the HSE, I never found Deputy Harney, as Minister for Health and Children, wanting in coming here personally-----