Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In the first instance, I support my colleague, Senator Dooley, in requesting that the Minister with responsibility for transport come in here for an urgent debate on the situation in Shannon because what is happening there seems to fly in the face of what companies throughout the private sector in this country have attempted, and in many cases succeeded, to do at great cost to themselves.

I would also like to make a request of the Leader that at some stage over the next couple of months we would have a detailed debate with the Taoiseach on the programme for Government. This is a new type of programme for Government. It is extremely detailed. It is nearly 150 pages long, with many aspirations and a huge amount of commitment. It is the type of programme for Government that one would see in other counties but until now, we have not seen in this country. It is a welcome type of programme for Government because many issues were stress-tested over many long days and nights in negotiation. Based on that and on the quality of the document that has been produced and the aspirations for our country and our people that are contained within the pages, I believe it would be appropriate and desirable for the Taoiseach to come in here for a detailed and comprehensive debate on the programme for Government.In previous Seanaid, as the Cathaoirleach will know, we had the former Taoiseach, Deputy Varadkar, in here twice. Prior to that, when former Deputy, Enda Kenny, was Taoiseach, he visited the Seanad on two occasions in six years. In this new style of politics, I would like to think the Taoiseach will come to this Chamber at least once every three months or, if not, then definitely once every six months. It should certainly be more than once a year. On the first Order of Business of this new Seanad, I propose we start as we mean to go on and have the Taoiseach in here a minimum of twice, if not three times, each year.