Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)

I join my colleagues in asking the Deputy Leader to ensure the Taoiseach comes to the House. I do not blame the Deputy Leader for what happened yesterday afternoon, which was totally unacceptable. I do not blame the Leader, who is representing this House abroad during St. Patrick's week, for it. I do not blame the Government Chief Whip for it either. Since I was elected to this House, I have noted an attitude among Ministers of this Government and previous Governments who do not seem to believe the Seanad really counts. We are treated as second-class Members of the Oireachtas even though we are not. We are here by constitutional right. I want the Deputy Leader to write to the Taoiseach and his Ministers to inform them that we will not accept being treated as second-class Members of the Oireachtas.