Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail)

I support Senator Norris in his protest at the absence of the Order of Business on tomorrow's agenda. It should be a principle that we have an opportunity to discuss and adjudicate on the Order of Business every sitting day. That said, we are at the end of the term and I wish to compliment Senators on all sides of the House on what has been an excellent Seanad term. Indeed, the 24th Seanad is shaping up to be a very sound and successful one. In that regard, I wish to commend the Leader for arranging for the Taoiseach to be with us yesterday. It was an important and dignified event and was an opportunity for the Taoiseach to readjust his thinking on the merits of abolishing the Seanad.

I noticed an interesting manoeuvre by the Taoiseach when he said that the future of the Seanad is in the hands of the people, as if he, the poor innocent man, has nothing at all to do or say about it. Is he just going to throw out this idea about abolishing the Seanad like a wet fish on a plate and let the people make up their minds about it or is there going to be a Government position on it? Will I see my learned colleague from Kerry, Senator Paul Coghlan, going around knocking on doors in Killarney to put himself out of a job to which he is eminently suited?