Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The legislation is quite confusing. The convention is that one asks whether Senators agree to do something. If Senators agree, then it is agreed, and it usually is, but if it is not, then one says it is fine and one lets them vote. I do not think that there is a need for repetition but people want the opportunity to maybe come back in. It is very restrictive, in terms of a large group of amendments, if one is unable to come back in and ask a question and one is then told the amendment had already been discussed and one happened to miss one's slot, as Senators Norris and Wilson have outlined. Typically, if Senators do not agree, then people say they are unhappy and the amendment goes through.