Mary White (Fianna Fail)

I second the Sinn Féin amendment on lone parents.

Given that the Government brought in such a cruel budget, it is absolutely incredible that the Taoiseach would have the audacity to try to manoeuvre us out of our elected and democratic roles in the Seanad. I find it amazing and I wonder if he is breaking our constitutional rights. He has never come to the Seanad to speak to Members. I wonder what the people would think of the fact that the Taoiseach has not come to the Seanad to discuss the main issues affecting the country. With all due respect to my colleagues who have criticised the behaviour of Seanad Members, watching the behaviour of Deputies in the Dáil during the Budget Statement, the people would willingly get rid of the Dáil before they would get rid of the Seanad.