Mary White (Fianna Fail)

I apologise to Senator Cummins. I take this opportunity to again congratulate the Leader on the tremendous innovations he has introduced in respect of the workings of the House. The Leader has organised fantastic opportunities for Senators to speak in the House and for Ministers to be in attendance for debates. When he has arranged such debates, he has pleaded for those who requested them to be present in the Chamber while they are taking place. I am in complete agreement with what he has done in that regard.

I do not wish to hurt the feelings of the Leader, who is doing his utmost, but there is an elephant in the room in the form of the fact that the Taoiseach - the leader of our country - has not come before the House. I want the Taoiseach to come to the Seanad. I have difficulty with the Taoiseach in the context of unfavourable comments he made regarding this House - the future viability of which he also questioned - when in certain salubrious surroundings, namely, at a dinner organised by Fine Gael. He found himself in other salubrious surroundings at Davos last week and it appears that being there, in the presence of various world leaders, went to his head. The Taoiseach forgot himself and began backbiting in respect of the Irish people and stating that they went mad borrowing money.