Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)

I second Senator Terry Leyden's motion to amend the Order of Business. I do not wish to join the universal praise for the formation of another group of Independents in the Seanad. The Croke Park agreement was mentioned in the context of duplication in the public and Civil Service. This is more duplication. In the Lower House, Deputies Richard Boyd Barrett and Shane Ross are in the same grouping. I do not see why that cannot apply in the Seanad. I think the duplication is not appropriate and it is mind boggling that members of political parties can be members of an Independent grouping. I agree with Sinn Féin that it is totally wrong that it is excluded from the grouping. If it can be done, I would be more than happy to join an Opposition cross-party group to allow Sinn Féin to have speaking rights in the Chamber, when that party seems to be excluded.