John Gilroy (Labour)

I was present for the entire debate in the Chamber yesterday referred to by other speakers earlier. The Minister, Deputy Howlin, was treated with a level of disrespect. When we invite Ministers to the House for statements the least we could do is treat them with the respect they deserve, and everyone here deserves that respect. Some of the Opposition spokespersons constantly heckled the Minister, certainly towards the latter part of the debate. It is disingenuous for some Opposition spokespersons to say the Minister acted with anything less than impeccable decorum when he was here. The person who made that statement should be grateful to the Minister because he corrected one of the Opposition speakers yesterday who introduced a topic that was not being discussed. That might be the reason the offence is being taken. I support Senator Coghlan's suggestion that we re-examine our procedures, particularly in regard to statements. Such debates are valuable but as they stand currently it leaves it open for what is called abuse of our positions where people are more interested in scoring petty points against invited guests to this House than making a meaningful contribution.