Rónán Mullen (Independent)

I have questions on several procedural matters. I have heard Senator John Kelly speak in the House on several occasions and he is always interesting and well informed. However, in this instance, given the scrutiny associated with the issue, I encourage the Cathaoirleach to exercise his right to stand up. It is not in his nature to be too hard on Members on any side of the House, but it important that we are seen to observe the appropriate protocols and Standing Orders relating to the work of the House.

I understand it is the Leader's intention to initiate a process, whereby there will be leaders' meetings at least once a week before the Order of Business. In that context, I propose that it would be good practice for group leaders to be informed in advance when it is intended to take more than one Stage of legislation in the course of a given week. I fully support what Senator Darragh O'Brien said in this regard. We must not slip into bad practice in rushing legislation through in the space of a week. It is important that Members are given an opportunity to consider legislative proposals and reflect carefully on amendments. That can only happen if the passage of legislation is spread out over more than one week.

The Leader will agree that our Special Olympians deserve our admiration and support. Aisling Beacom, Mary Gavin and Peter Oxley are our latest sporting heroes, testament to the triumph of the human spirit. In this time of difficulty we should look to what their achievements say about the dignity of the human spirit and person. From a position of vulnerability, they offer great leadership to us all.

In the light of how well the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Leo Varadkar, did at the weekend on the issue of the pay of chief executive officers of semi-State companies, it begs the question of what the Government proposes to do about bonuses paid to other staff in these companies. We have it from the office of the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Pat Rabbitte, that there is no tradition of Government intervention in the fixing of salaries for staff other than chief executive officers. However, by the same token, there is no tradition of the Executive intervening in the regulation of judges' pay, but it is proposed to sort out that matter by means of a referendum.