Marie Louise O'Donnell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I know that one is either on a team or not on a team, and I completely agree with the Taoiseach in that regard. However, Ministers have come into this House and ignored warnings from Senators across all parties, Government and elsewhere. They have ignored disagreements expressed by Senators, as well as amendments, judgments and suggestions from Senators. Everybody in the House speaks about the one or two amendments we got through but what about the hundreds or thousands of amendments that were ignored? I have a feeling that since the Seanad was given a reform agenda by the Irish people we have been ignored even more.

I offer some examples of how we have been ignored across all parties. The respite grant for carers should never have been cut. The cuts to the funeral grant and the telephone grant should never have happened. The cutting of community workers' portfolios should not have happened. Upward-only rents should never have happened. There has been a lack of attention to means testing as opposed to universality across medicine, education, health and social welfare. The Seanad has a great deal to offer across all parties and none. I would go so far as to suggest to the Government that some Senators should be considered as junior Ministers. I say that from the perspective of a politically independent Member.

I wish to make the case that we should have a special session in this House and invite Garda Wilson and Sergeant McCabe to address us. These are two men-----