Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I note the Minister for Health is not available today. We need a debate on men's health in light of the report that men are more likely to die of cancer than women. This might be a surprise to many people.

It brings me no pleasure to call for a debate on the conduct of the Taoiseach in recent weeks. My comments refer to all those who serve in this House, particularly those who served in the previous Senate, such as the Leader, who is the best Leader I have seen in my 11 years here, the Cathaoirleach, Senator Bradford, Senator Healy Eames, Senator Norris - the father of the House - and others who have been here for more than ten years. It is objectionable in the extreme to hear somebody who has as much to do with the lack of reform in this House through the generations as anybody else accuse the Seanad of doing nothing to stop the excesses of the Celtic tiger era. Even as a Fianna Fáil person, we in the north west, and Connaught in particular, were never so proud to have a Taoiseach from our part of the country. Since then, however, his contribution has effectively set Knock airport on the path to destruction. We see him clowning around Europe, acting like a clown it has to be said, and turning the Government and the office of Taoiseach into a circus ring.