Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the remarks of Senator Lombard on developing a long-term strategic plan for agriculture. Given the increased stocking levels of an extra 365,000 cows in the country I accept there is a stocking crisis and a fodder crisis. As Senator Grace O'Sullivan said earlier, there is an environmental crisis. Senator Lombard has an opportunity this evening to vote against the Heritage Bill, which attacks the very environment we have been trying to protect over a long period in this House. When the vote is called this evening I hope he puts his vote where his mouth is and votes down the Bill.

I have great respect for Senators Noone and McFadden who voiced their opinions on the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill. I recognise that Fine Gael has made an agreement with the Independent Alliance on the programme for Government. I can very well understand Senator Noone's remarks that she is better staying within Fine Gael and fighting for change and I respect that but perhaps Fine Gael would try to assist the Minister, Deputy Ross, in his ten core principles and priorities that are laid down by the Independent Alliance. One of those is to abolish the party whip in Leinster House. I suggest that perhaps we would have a conversation with the Independent Alliance and that Fine Gael would assist it on a trial basis on this occasion in that the whip would not be applied on the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill and that one of the Independent Alliance's core principles would be trialled over a number of days and let all parties vote without the whip being applied on a very important pillar of our democracy. Perhaps no party should apply a whip on this occasion and let people vote according to what they see as being the correct thing to do.