David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I express disappointment that, once again, we are not sitting this Thursday. I understand the Leader has indicated that it may be the same next Thursday. We should sit on Thursdays. I acknowledge it is not the Leader's fault, but calls have been made in the Chamber for debates on important issues which we could easily take place this Thursday and next Thursday. It is disappointing that, through no fault of any Senator, the Cathaoirleach or the Leader, the House is not sitting and it does not look good for this institution or the Government's approach to political reform.

I primarily want to raise the concerns many citizens have about the alleged bugging of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Office. This is a very worrying development. The Government's response was disappointing in that the Minister for Justice and Equality appeared to be more concerned about not being informed than about dealing with the central questions of whether the office had been bugged and, if so, by whom. We need to get the answers very quickly because it would be appalling if the watchdog over An Garda Síochána was being bugged. We need a prompt response and the Minister needs to act quickly. I would like an independent inquiry to be conducted to get to the bottom of the matter to ensure the integrity and independence of the office is protected and to find out who was responsible. I join Senator Ivana Bacik in calling for a debate on this important issue. All of us want to ensure whoever is responsible is brought to justice and that we get the full facts. Why can we not have that debate on Thursday? I fail to see why the Minister cannot make himself available to discuss this issue in the House.

We have not yet debated the HSE service plan, even though we were promised such a debate. The Leader stated last week that we could have the Minister for Health before us to debate 15 issues. Why can he not come to the House on Thursday to discuss the HSE's service plan?

I am not placing the blame for this at the door of the Leader, but I am saying it is an appalling situation that must be rectified. Moreover, I am serving notice that if no Thursday sitting is scheduled next week, my party will write to the relevant committee of the Oireachtas seeking permission to hold a debate in this Chamber on any issue that is of relevance to the people of this State. If that request is refused, we will book the AV room and hold the debate there. We will turn up for work and do our job. We will not be held back from doing so by any Minister or by the Taoiseach.