Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I can assure the Senator I have no influence in that regard.

Senator David Norris made a similar point about the ordering of business. We will certainly consider whether we should retain the Commencement debate or revert to the Adjournment debate and have the Order of Business at 10.30 a.m., but I do not see too much change. There were not many more Senators present when we had the Order of Business at 10.30 a.m. I heard all of Senators' excuses, including about attendance at committees, and we changed the system to accommodate them, but they are still not coming. They are coming a minute or two before the Order of Business ends to catch the Cathaoirleach’s eye in order to speak. Nothing has changed in that regard. We have changed the time, but the level of participation of Members on the Order of Business has not changed very much. We will certainly examine the issue.

Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill referred to the spending of money like confetti.