Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)

I second the amendment to the Order of Business proposed by my colleague, Senator MacSharry. Will the Leader confirm the date the Taoiseach will come to the Seanad, how long he will be here and what format the questions session will take? Will it be confined to party leaders or will it be open to every Member of the Seanad to pose a question to the Taoiseach? It would be helpful if the Leader could answer those questions.

I join Senators Norris, Mooney, Noone and others in calling for the future of the Seanad to be part of the constitutional convention that is due to take place.

I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Defence, Deputy Shatter, to the House for a debate on the future of the Defence Forces, with particular emphasis on the future of the Reserve Defence Force. There are strong rumours among members of the latter force that it is about to be abolished. While this may be dismissed by Members on the Government side by stating this is only a rumour, I note there were rumours that Dún Uí Néill Barracks, Cavan was about to be closed.