Cecilia Keaveney (Fianna Fail)

I agree with Senator Walsh that the issue of expenses will be addressed. I also note that the press gallery is empty again today. When we talk about expenses it is important to look at what we do to incur those expenses. Too often we do not sell the message about what we are doing. Regarding the Ceann Comhairle, I agreed with the stance taken by Fine Gael at the beginning of the week that natural justice would be allowed and people would be enabled to give their say. I am disappointed that this changed. I am a member of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission and I was looking forward to natural justice and to people giving the other side of the story. When the cloak spreads further, as it undoubtedly will, I hope we will get the same justice from the media in explaining what we do for our expenses.