David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)

Like previous speakers I commend the Cathaoirleach, the Leas-Chathaoirleach and the Leader of the Seanad on the invitation extended to the grand secretary of the Orange Order. It was a significant, historic and important day. There have been many important days in recent years, and in recent months. The Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, MLA, attended a soccer match with Peter Robinson,MLA, in which Linfield was playing. We had Peter Robinson, MLA, watching a GAA match in Casement Park. We had the Lord Mayor of Belfast, who is a Unionist, throw the sliotar into a game in Casement Park. All of those are significant steps. The peace process and the Good Friday Agreement is 14 years old but it is still in its infancy in that much of the work that is ongoing is part of a long-term project of which many of us are supportive. Progress was made again today with the invitation to and the speech from the grand master of the Orange Order. Senator Jim Darcy was wearing an orange tie for the occasion, and fair play to him.

On a somewhat related but different note, people spoke about the relevance of the Seanad. I ask that later this year we would have a number of constructive debates on the preparation for the budget. I called for this last year. We seem to have debates when the stable door has closed. There is a real purpose for this House to have debates on the pre-budget submissions, not just from the political parties or the views of the Independent Senators but also from the plethora of organisations that lobby all of us on an individual basis. I ask that we would have a number of structured debates, not just with the Minister for Finance but also with Ministers with different responsibilities, and that we would seek to have a number of those debates in the run up to the budget this year. It would be helpful for the Minister, the Government and all of us in ensuring we have constructive criticism and debate on the shape of the budget.