David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I note that despite the fact that it does not specify on the Order Paper the Leader has indicated that No. 1 is to be taken without discussion. This is despite the fact that when I raised this matter on Tuesday the Deputy Leader said that there would be discussion. I move an amendment to the Order of Business that we take No. 1 first with discussion. Although the personnel are by and large okay - the chief executive and the chairman, and so on - there is at least one Government toady there and we know that the current Government tried to have many civil servants appointed because it wanted to keep it in-house. Not taking this matter undermines the role of the Seanad and we must send a signal that we will keep watching this area, where the Equal Rights Authority was dismembered by a previous Government.

I would like to raise what happened here yesterday with the asylum Bill. Sinn Féin let itself down. We would have won with its votes.