Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I second the motion. Senator David Norris was showing off when he said he had been a Member for 25 years. It was my 20th anniversary as a Member last Sunday. I have experience of working on a number of committees, of which one of the most useful was the Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service, on which I sat during traumatic times. If some of us are to blame for what went wrong during that time, I have to take responsibility. Senator David Norris is correct that the recognition of what the Houses do has changed because of the work done by committees. I also served on the Joint Committee on European Affairs. Currently, I sit on the Joint Committee for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and convinced my colleagues to meet at 1.30 p.m. every Tuesday rather than 2 p.m. or 2.30 p.m. This meant that when the Minister for Social Protection appeared before the committee earlier for a discussion on tackling the unemployment problem, I had an opportunity to put a number of questions to her. However, I had to wait until she had made her presentation and replied to others before I could put my questions to her, which was not until 3.15 p.m. I could not leave the meeting without asking them. I waited for the replies and then ran to the House to participate on the Order of Business with only seconds to spare. That is a typical example of what happens almost every Tuesday. The reason the committee meets at 1.30 p.m. is to facilitate Senators.

Senator David Norris's point is correct, but I am not sure how we can solve the problem. Perhaps the solution is for the House to meet on Mondays and Fridays also. I hope Seanad reform will take place. Senator Katherine Zappone will introduce a Bill in this regard in the next few weeks and it is hoped we will be able to say a number of changes can be made without holding a referendum. We can do this through legislation rather than amending the Constitution and could earn huge respect for the House. However, if we cannot attend committee meetings and the Order of Business, the onus will be on us to make sure we do something about the matter. Senator David Norris has pinpointed the issue and the solution is in our own hands. If we avoid quislings, we can say we will not allow the committees to meet, unless they do so at a time that enables us to attend the Order of Business in the House. I recognise that somebody could ask why we should miss business other than the Order of Business to attend meetings. However, the Order of Business is crucial in the context of what happens on the day in question, as well as on other days, because the Leader listens attentively and endeavours to bring Ministers to the House to handle the topics raised by Members.

This is a worthy motion. The solution should be in our own hands, but, as Senator David Norris said, the issue is how we handle the issue. We should say to the committee convenors that they have to schedule meetings at a time that enables us to do our primary job in the House and that if they do not do this, we will not attend. Meetings cannot commence until at least one Senator is present. I, therefore, support the motion. Senator David Norris has done the House a great service in tabling it and it is worthy of support.