Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House. First, I have certainly reflected, and I know the Acting Chairman has asked the Minister to reflect on his comments about the nature of the House. Having sat here and listened to those comments and reflected on them, I believe they are extraordinary. The tenor of them is to reflect on the leadership of the House, which is in the hands of Fine Gael as a Government party and not in the hands of Senator Norris or anyone else other than the person designated and the party position designated for leadership. It was an unfortunate comment. The Chair was right to ask the Minister to reflect on it and I believe the comments should be withdrawn because they reflect upon the Leader of the Seanad, not upon any of us who have been participating in this debate.