Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to echo the statements of the Leader and the other speakers. I thank the Cathaoirleach and the Leader for their unfailing courtesy at all times. There may be problems in other debating chambers near here but they do not occur in this Chamber, which is a tribute to them both. I agree with everything Senator Hayden said about all of our staff.

It was a momentous year, with a Nobel prize winner addressing the House and the Orange Order being here. Those are momentous events which have not yet made the impression they should have on the outside world.

If we keep at it, the media will form a better view of what we do here. The Seanad must convince the public, as it has convinced me, that it does useful work in terms of scrutiny, checks and balances on how the country is run. The year 2011 is in the past. There are lawyers, which is a conservative profession, involved in the New Beginnings group. Let us hope that when this House returns in the new year we will have new beginnings and will finally stop fighting last year's election. There are huge problems facing this country. We must move forward.

One of the headlines on the front of today's edition of The Irish Independent is, "TDs sneak through own budget with just 2.5pc cut". In a debate about ten days ago with the Minister of State, Deputy White, we heard that the cost of running Leinster House had been reduced by more than ¤60 million. I ask the Leader to draw the attention of the wider public to this. Let us have debate informed by the facts. We are doing a good job but can do better. It is regrettable that the ¤60 million saving announced during that debate with the Minister of State, Deputy White, was not reported in the media.