Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Senator Paddy Burke is probably one of the longer serving Members here. I would say two things. The first is that he is correct in that privilege is a great coat of armour for us all but it should never be abused.I rarely make comments like this. Any committee - the Committee of Public Accounts or otherwise - is weaker in not having Senators on it. It is extraordinary. They represent the Oireachtas which has two legs on the chair, one of which is the Seanad which has been endorsed by the people, while the second is the Dáil. Reflecting forward, it would be a stronger committee if it had on it representatives of this House. That is a personal view which I will not impose on the House.