Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I join with others in welcoming Senator Naughton to the House and I wish her well.

The person who has provided the ticket to this particular ship believes that it is the Titanic, but we all hope that it will continue like the Olympicfor many years to come. We wish Senator Naughton well.

If extra days were provided this week, I would not mind postponing any holiday plan that has been made. Some weeks ago, I called for a criminal investigation into Anglo Irish Bank. As Fianna Fáil's spokesman on finance on the other side of the House during the period in question, I was never briefed by Anglo Irish Bank. If any criminal investigation were to be held, I would happily speak with it. The Taoiseach should be prepared to do the same. It is disingenuous in the extreme, given the manipulation of democracy by way of rigging a situation that will effectively guarantee the abolition of this House. Democracy was affronted last week by the way in which Government Senators needed to intervene to save the democratically elected positions of people from all parties and none who had made excellent contributions on Oireachtas committees.

If criminal issues are to be answered, be they in respect of the allocation of mobile telephone licences or discussions with bankers, let me say it loud and clear - the full rigour of the law should be applied regardless of whether the people in question are from Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Labour or Sinn Féin. That man who I had another word for in recent weeks should make himself available to this House to answer some questions. Frankly, it is understandable why people might feel that his hand was in the till.