Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom tréaslú leis an Seanadóir Barrett agus an Seanadóir Ó Murchú i dtaca leis an méid atá ag tarlú sna Sé Contae faoi láthair. Is ábhar mór díomá é dúinn go léir go bhfuil na heachtraí sin ag tarlú oíche i ndiaidh oíche. It is unfortunate, and Senators Sean Barrett and Labhrás Senator Ó Murchú summed it up very well. I was in Belfast last week on the Newtownards Road. I know the areas where the trouble is brewing quite well. We should play a role and I hope the Leader will reflect on the proposal by Senator Ó Murchú, which is a fair one. I would be very supportive of sitting an extra day to discuss the issue.

I refer to political opportunism and the announcement yesterday. Unfortunately, I was not here for the discussion on Seanad abolition during yesterday's Order of Business, but I commend the Leader on his contribution, which was well stated and reflected the mood of this Chamber. It is regrettable that misinformation is being fed to the media and the public in order to gain political advantage out of this Chamber's future. It is not our future, because we can come and go, but the Seanad will be no more. Senator Ned O'Sullivan articulated the situation very well in his statement that the cart was put before the horse in making an announcement. That is treating this House and the Office of the President with contempt, which is regrettable. It shows the manner in which the Taoiseach and the Cabinet want to force this issue through and use every means at their disposal to do so.

I appeal to Senators on the Government side, although I appreciate that it is not easy to vote against one's own Bill. Can we agree, however, to look at amending a section or lines in the legislation in order that it can be reverted back to the Dáil? We should not go with the consensus that the Taoiseach and the Government are seeking on this issue, rather we should reflect on the legislation. Report Stage is due to be taken in the next couple of days, but we should come together, work as a united group, leave politics to one side and come up with an amendment to refer the Bill back to the Dáil and delay the agenda which has been established by the Taoiseach.