Sean Barrett (Independent)

I support the Independent Senators on the other side for the work they put into this and support what we have heard from the Government benches, from Senator Conway and his colleagues. I am not skilled in matters of procedure, but No. 19 on the Order Paper is a Bill on fiscal responsibility put forward by me. When I put that Bill forward, the Leader said he would adjourn it and keep it on the Order Paper with two minutes pending. The Government should not vote down this motion and if the same formula as used for my Bill can be used to keep this issue alive, it should be used. I am not aware of the technicalities, but that formula keeps an issue alive and the Government does not need to vote it down. We can then keep an eye on the legislation coming forward from the Government to ensure it complies with what the Independent Senators have said. This is what I would like to see happen as I would not like the Government to vote down this proposal, which has been put together very skilfully and has also been skilfully argued on the Government side. Senator Conway needs no introduction on this issue and the account given by Senator Moran about going to Dundalk with her son was deeply moving. How could people who spoke so willingly on this issue vote down the motion? They should be offered the same formula as was offered to me if it is available. The Cathaoirleach is in the House longer than I am and could inform us whether it is possible to adjourn this and leave it on the Order Paper with time pending so that the Independent Senators can watch what the Government does in response.