Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I second the amendment to the Order of Business proposed by my colleague, Senator MacSharry. This is the forum where the vacancy for the Seanad occurred, on the election of our former colleague, Deirdre Clune, to the European Parliament. The issues surrounding Mr. McNulty and the lack of transparency should be debated in this House. The people decided in the referendum held 12 months ago to save the Upper House and the Taoiseach should be reminded that the least he owes us is to come into the House today, if possible, to offer us an explanation. The issue has been widely debated. I have been listening to the news since 7 a.m. about the debates that took place in the Lower House yesterday and apparently today it will be the principal axe to grind for the Opposition.

I ask the Leader to remind the Taoiseach that this House continues to exist. Less than 12 months ago the people decided we should remain in existence. The fact that we need reform is without a shadow of a doubt. It is not good enough that any Taoiseach, past present or future, should appear once during the lifetime of a Government. Perhaps the Taoiseach has been in the House twice but the kernel of the problem is a vacancy in the Upper House. The Taoiseach is obliged, constitutionally, morally and legally, to come before us to give us simple answers on what went wrong. We are not going to crucify him. The last occasion he came to the House he said that he was coming in peace. I am sure he will get a peaceful reception again but we are entitled to ask proper questions.

I listened to Senator Bacik's comments on the announcement by the Minister, Deputy Howlin, regarding transparency and reform in how we make appointments to State boards. That was exactly what Michael Lowry promised 20 years ago. It did not happen. We are in the 43rd month of this Government.

One of the principal objectives of particularly Fine Gael and the Labour Party before the last general election was reform of our political system. Forty-three months on, little if anything has happened. So I believe the Taoiseach should attend the House.

I endorse what Senator Byrne said yesterday about the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland that is imposing a substantial increase in the levy nurses have to pay. While I obviously will not mention the name, I got an e-mail from a nurse, not from the South, who pointed that the 2011 accounts of the board, which were published online, showed that €5 million of its expenditure went on the upkeep of its swanky office in Blackrock, County Dublin, and that the average salary of its staff is more than €71,000. Ordinary nurses working on the front-line had two hits in cuts last year and now they are being hit again by their board. I do not think the board realises the hardship and the hard work of the nurses in front-line services.