Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I call on the Leader to facilitate a debate in this House with the Minister for agriculture present. This should be done ahead of the Minister's submission to the European Commission relating to the new Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, programme and the rural development programme, Pillar 1 and Pillar 2. This is of great importance to the farming sector in this country and to rural Ireland. I understand the Department will make its submission towards the end of June so a debate should to take place here prior to that.

I wish to congratulate my colleagues, Senator Barrett and Senator MacSharry, on their successful selection by the Committee of Selection last night. I note the views of Government Senators on the work of the Committee of Selection and I question why any Senator would doubt the ethos or integrity of a House committee, namely, the Committee of Selection. If the Government was to take the view that the democratic decision made by the Committee of Selection last night is voted down in this House it would do the Senate a disservice and totally undermine the Committee of Selection. I hope the Leader will take the pragmatic view that democracy means something. A decision taken by the Committee of Selection under Standing Order 89 should stand. I fail to understand why the Government feels it is necessary to have a controlling majority on the banking inquiry or why the Leader of the Seanad would not facilitate the democratic election of both Senators who were selected last night? I hope the Leader will allow democracy to prevail and will not undermine a House committee.