Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There used to be some element of mystery to it but unfortunately as a result of the leaks and spins that have occurred, especially this year, there is none. As Senator Mooney said, one need only have listened to the "News at One" to hear almost the entire budget. Surely there is a constitutional issue here. It is not that many years ago when a Minister had to resign because an official of his sent a fax before the budget was announced. That man is a senior Minister today, I am glad to say, but because of a mistake by an official in his Department he had to resign. What has changed constitutionally between then and now when journalists have access to details of the budget before democratically elected Members have an opportunity to hear them at first hand from the Minister?

I join with Senator Terry Brennan in congratulating Wellman International in Mullagh, County Cavan on celebrating 40 years in that town yesterday. The company employs 260 people in this rural part of County Cavan and has a €5 million investment programme which over the next couple of years will see the numbers employed there grow. I welcome too that 25% of the extra jobs created have been in the BMW region, particularly along the Border.

I also join Senators Mooney and Power in welcoming the Taoiseach's comments regarding the democratic decision of the people in a referendum of 1979 that the franchise for the university sector of this House should be extended to all graduates while supporting the view that this is not acceptable as the only reform required in this House. I reiterate Senator Mooney's call for the CPP to examine the O'Rourke all-party report and the legislation championed by Senators Quinn, Zappone and Crown. This House must be proactive in taking initiative on reform, rather than have it foisted upon it by the Lower House.