Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

Yesterday I spoke about the importance of how we conducted our campaign in the next general election. We are in the dying days of this Seanad and I am sad that we must now try to defend ourselves and the Seanad. It is said it is finished, but when I come into the House every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, I am delighted to listen to contributions from all sides. Yesterday, for example, the Seanad passed the Student Support Bill, a fine legislative measure that was welcomed on all sides of the House and by students in third level education and their parents. They were anxious to have this legislation processed quickly. Many other legislative measures have been initiated in this House. I am sad that the sub-contractors Bill initiated by Senator Quinn will not now be passed. These are examples of the work done in the Seanad, yet we are abused left, right and centre by the media as being defunct and nobodies. I ask all Senators to defend themselves. This Chamber should be recognised; we need this House. I also ask the media to be honest in the general election campaign and not to bring forward spin doctors or persons who will spin a line to encourage sales of their newspapers. That is not what the country is about. I urge Senators on all sides of the House to play an honest game of politics in the election. We are trying to save the country and bring it back to normality. I will do my part and ask everybody else to do his or hers also.