Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

There have been a number of requests for debates and I will endeavour to facilitate those where possible. However, I wish to express my disappointment at the number of Members present in the Chamber for the debate last Thursday which was an excellent exchange with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. For the first 50 minutes of the debate, only three Members were present on the other side of the House and only seven Members on this, the Government side of the House. This number rose from three to six during some part of the debate and from seven to nine, in the case of Members on this side of the House, for the remainder of the debate. This is not acceptable. Members repeatedly ask for debates and I cannot in good faith continue to go to Ministers and say there is great interest from Senators for debates on various areas of their portfolios only for those Ministers to attend the House and address a half empty or less than half empty Chamber.

There is daily discussion in this House on the need to improve its image. This is the responsibility of the Members. Senators who come to the Chamber for the Order of Business and then depart immediately do nothing to improve the reputation and perception of this House. I acknowledge that they must attend committee meetings, but such meetings should not be held during the Order of Business and Senators should not facilitate their commencement when the Order of Business is being dealt with.