Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

In response to the point made by Senator Mooney about the motions, I want a full debate on the reports and all of us who were involved with them want the same. I do not think it would have been appropriate to arrange for a Minister with no knowledge of their contents to come into the House. We did try to get a Minister who would have been able to do it. At 7 p.m. yesterday, however, it became apparent that we could not and we had no other business. I have proposed the amendment to withdraw the motions on the basis that people have objected to them. I accept they were not substantive business. In the extraordinary circumstances we were facing, it was an understandable set of motions to put on the Order Paper in that they simply noted reports. We had to put some business on the Order Paper or else we would not be sitting, and at 6 p.m. yesterday, I had said we were sitting. I stand over the decision, but I also stand over the decision to withdraw the motions and the promise that we will have a full debate on those reports in the future.