David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)

I join Senator Bacik in commending the Carers Association, which is giving a number of briefings to Deputies and Senators today, on its pre-budget submission. It hopes it will get the support it seeks in the upcoming budget. We had a very useful discussion with the association which represents tens of thousands of people who care for others.

I praise the Leader of the House in respect of changes which have been made in recent weeks regarding Ministers coming into the Chamber. On six occasions we have had Ministers in for statements followed by a question and answer session, which is a very welcome departure from the old way of simply having statements without any further interaction. I qualify that by saying that on the first four occasions, a Sinn Féin Member was given an opportunity to make statements, but on the last two occasions when the Minister for Finance and the Minister of State with responsibility for science and innovation came into the House a Sinn Féin Member was not given an opportunity. We were told by the Acting Chairman at the time that we would have one minute to address the Minister for Finance and one minute to address the Minister of State with responsibility for science and innovation.

It is not unreasonable for our party to refuse to accept one minute in a two and a half hour debate. It is important to recognise that we have three Senators in this House. This is not about Standing Orders because I have outlined the precedent that on four occasions we were given the opportunity. Why were we given the time to make statements on the first four occasions and not given that time on the last two occasions? I formally request and we can put this in writing, that a representative of the Sinn Féin Party meet the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, CPP, to discuss these issues. We do not want to have to continue to raise these issues on the Order of Business. We would like them resolved. The Leader of the House and other Senators have said they want all debates and discussions in the House to be inclusive and that all opinions and ideas are valued. In that context it is important that our voices are heard. I hope the Leader of the House will facilitate a Member of my party addressing the CPP. I ask the Leader to respond and put on the record why on the last two occasions we were not given an opportunity to make statements.