Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

I concur with other Senators, particularly Senator Bradford. On this occasion contempt has been shown for all Members of the House. I have been vocal in the past in praising the Leader and Deputy Leader for changes to procedures here and how we do our business in the House. The Government, however, has shown absolute disrespect to all Members of the House and to the Leader. I do not hold him responsible but I expect him and the Deputy Leader to raise this at the highest level. As Senator Bradford rightly said, it is not a case of doing one a favour, this is not a democratic dictatorship; Ministers are servants to this House and its work rather than doing favours for us.

I ask the Deputy Leader to respond on this. I do not hold her or the Leader personally responsible but I expect swift action and a statement from the Taoiseach on the issue. He has not covered himself in glory in pursuing an abolitionist agenda that he likes to reinforce at every opportunity. No doubt we will have that debate in due course but I would like a response from the Cabinet that, at least for now, it acknowledges that as a functional democracy, Ministers have a responsibility to this House and to the people of Ireland to which they did not live up yesterday.