Seanad debates

Thursday, 22 October 2009

10:30 am

Photo of Larry ButlerLarry Butler (Fianna Fail)

I wish to defend the House, as I did not get a chance to do so yesterday. I also wish to defend the right of Members who rise to speak in the Chamber without being interrupted. I have been interrupted many times and was obliged to write to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges to have it stopped. It is unfair that any Member should be interrupted when speaking. One must honour Members who have been elected to the House; Members are letting themselves down badly if they do not do so. I also wish to defend the right of the House to exist as part of our democracy, for which we fought extremely hard. Moreover, I agree with Senator O'Toole when he states it is easy in difficult times to put a price on what democracy is worth. The democracy in this House is worth keeping. It also is important to bear in mind that in budgetary terms, it would save half a day's expenditure out of a budget for 365 days. I refer to the right-wing thinking of the leader of the Fine Gael Party who proposed the abolition of the House, which is the wrong option. Moreover, Senator O'Toole put it clearly when he stated the other proposal for the Lower House in respect of a list system was completely undemocratic. The list system does not represent the people who elect Members. It represents those who do not want anyone to be elected and represents a diminution of democracy.

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