Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On this morning's Commencement matters, three Senators had very serious issues we wanted to address to the Minister for Education and Skills but he was not present. I understand that he cannot be here all the time but three of us wanted to raise our matters with him. The Leader responds to the points we raise by telling us he will bring the Minister into the House, but last week I had another Commencement matter on education that was replied to by the Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy English. I am not being disrespectful to any Minister but the Leader needs to make this a priority. If we put forward a Commencement matter, the Minister to whom it is addressed should come to the Seanad and not send in other Ministers who cannot answer the points we make. We put forward Commencement matters to get the Minister in to reply.