Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I second the amendment to the Order of Business proposed by the Leader of the Opposition, Senator Darragh O'Brien, to invite the Minister to come into the House today. If he has time between selling insurance for private companies, he might have an opportunity to drop into to us to report on the important issue that was raised.

I draw to the Cathaoirleach's attention that it has been a precedent in this House that we do not refer to Members, whether they are present or not present or whether they have contributed or not contributed to debates. I had to leave to go to another appointment yesterday. Senator John Kelly referred to the fact that I was not present for the debate on the plain packaging of cigarettes Bill on Tuesday, 3 March, which was brought forward by the Minister, Deputy Reilly. The fact is that this Bill was scheduled to be taken at 3.30 p.m. last Thursday, 26 February, when I would have been present and would have participated in that debate and I had my research done. However, the Bill was pulled and was rescheduled for Tuesday, 3 March, when I was with the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs in London engaged on official business on the future of Europe and Britain's position in that regard. I returned to Dublin and was in the House at 5.30 p.m. and, following a very short discussion, the Bill was completed. I am not a very sensitive person about these things and I do not really care very much about them, but I ask the Cathaoirleach, who is a very fair person, if he will deal with that.