Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

At the first committee meeting I attended I noted it was going to clash with the Order of Business. My first priority is to attend to the business of Seanad Éireann. As a Government Senator, there is an obligation on us to be in the Chamber to ensure the Order of Business is conducted. When committee meetings are being scheduled, why is it not ensured that they will not clash with the Order of Business? All Senators want to contribute constructively as they can to committees. We also want to ensure we do not neglect the business of Seanad Éireann to which we have been elected.

I support the motion tabled by Senators David Norris and Feargal Quinn. I have sympathy for those trying to order the business of the Oireachtas. There are so many committees engaged in much activity. The fact that the Houses of the Oireachtas sits three days each week means much of the business has to be crammed into those three days. Seanad Éireann is regarded as a second-class Chamber.

As previous speakers have said, rightly, when there is a vote in Dáil Éireann the committees are suspended. Everyone goes to vote and business recommences when it is over, but a similar provision is not in place when there is a vote in Seanad Éireann and that is not correct.

I support the call by Senator Norris and Senator Quinn for the Oireachtas to examine how committees are organised and to ensure that there is no clash with the Order of Business. I am also a member of the particular committee referred to by Senator Quinn. In addition, we have our Senators meeting at 1.30 p.m. on a Tuesday and this causes another difficulty for myself as a member of that committee. I would prefer an arrangement - I imagine it is quite possible - whereby in several weeks time Members will be able to attend the Order of Business and participate fully in the committees to which they have been nominated. We are simply asking for a little fair play and consideration and I believe it is possible to do this if the will is there. I call on the Chief Whip and everyone else involved to ensure that Members can be facilitated to serve on committees to their full capacity.