Pat Moylan (Fianna Fail)

To clarify, as I understood it, Senator Callely raised a matter on Seanad reform with which I did not have a problem good, bad or indifferent. He is entitled to do that.

On fair procedures yesterday, the Joint Committee on the Constitution has not issued any report on Article 15 of the Constitution. In fact, the deadline for submissions on review of the parliamentary power of inquiry under Article 15 of the Constitution is not until 3 December. If and when the committee places a report before the Seanad on this issue, it would be appropriate then to seek a debate on this issue.

Also, in the course of Senator Callely's contribution yesterday, he made a reference to investigations or inquiries being taken in private. As Senator Callely will be well aware, the High Court has reserved judgment on an issue of investigation by the Committee on Members' Interests of Seanad Éireann on Senator Callely's good self and the raising of this matter has a potential overlap with the current case before the courts, and I consequently ruled it out of order yesterday. That is the position.

I am leaving it and moving on to Senator Keaveney.