Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)

I ask the Deputy Leader how many Ministers are here this week. Earlier in the week those of us in this House mentioned the importance of the events held on St. Patrick's Day and the week in which it falls. The two Houses are sitting this week, but yesterday, for the first time I can recall, the sitting in this House had to be suspended because there was no Minister available to take a Private Members' motion we had tabled on a number of items for which the Government should answer. We tried to facilitate the relevant Minister, but all we were offered was one hour. Whether the Government likes it, this Chamber is part of the Oireachtas. If it wants to treat it with such scant disregard and disrespect, it should bring it on. It may not like the robust nature of debates here, but as I am sure all Senators know, we take our job very seriously. I received a telephone call at 2 p.m. yesterday to indicate to me that it was not possible to find a Minister to take the Private Members' motion, which was an absolute disgrace.