Marie Louise O'Donnell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I also welcome the Charleton report. It is excellent. I agree with Senator Diarmuid Wilson on the victims left behind at times like this, including Maurice McCabe. The former Minister was also in the victim category, although not at the same level. It was very interesting for me to note how women are capable of rounding on other women and bringing them down. I found that fascinating, bearing in mind the great feminist tradition we are always shouting about around these Houses. I refer to what women are capable of doing to other women. Apologies are needed in this regard.

I would like to find out whether Deputy Richard Bruton, who was Minister for Education and Skills and who is now Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, will come to the House to give us his opinion on the post offices. Just because there is a new Minister does not mean the issues go away. I would like to know what the Minister feels about the post offices and how he intends to pursue the matter. How many more post offices are to close? Does the Minister agree those that have closed should have closed? Does he agree with how they were closed? What were the reasons for closure? The issue has not gone away.

I suggest to the Leas-Chathaoirleach that Senators who call Deputies criminals are out of order, especially when they are not criminals. I was in my room listening to proceedings when I heard Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin call Deputy Michael Lowry a criminal three or four times. We all know Deputy Lowry's position on tax and business. It has been well documented in the press and courts. The Senator is completely wide of the mark to call the Deputy a criminal. That is a very loaded word. Deputy Lowry deserves an apology. The Senator's statement was appalling. It is the weakest of arguments to call other people names. Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin stood up here and called the President of the United States of America a fascist. From my knowledge and reading of history, that term was confined to people who had done worldwide murderous damage. It is appalling that Senators would come in here and call Deputies, of whatever party, names that are outside the language we should be using. It weakens a Senator's argument. If he or she wants to argue about something, he or she should argue the issue and not call a Deputy names. I am appalled that Senator Ó Ríordáin was not put out of the House for doing what he did. I am not an apologist for the behaviour of anybody but I do not want to be part of a Seanad in which people are being called criminals and fascists.