Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is interesting to note that five Bills have been tabled for today, one of which relates to the abolition of the Seanad. In the House, the Taoiseach will propose the Seanad's abolition without having anything to replace it. Most of us would condemn the fact that the Government guillotined this Bill in the Dáil last night, allowing only 40 minutes for Committee Stage. The idea that the Bill forms part of a reform programme is a nonsense and a farce. I will tell the Taoiseach directly today - out of 93 Bills in Dáil Éireann, 55 have been guillotined, the last of which was last night. The Seanad is an important plank of the Oireachtas.

I am glad that the Taoiseach will attend the House today, but it will only be the second time in two and a half years.