John McGahon (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not usually do this but I must respond to a few points made by the previous speaker. I have the ultimate respect for Senator Keogan and many of the viewpoints she brings to this Chamber so I do not mean this contribution in a negative way or anything like that. However, I feel it is my duty to respond from a Fine Gael perspective. We have been here for two years. If one looks at the list of speakers who will contribute to this debate, the majority are Government speakers. At no stage over the past two and a half years have we all been in the Chamber at the same time because of Covid-19. We have all been moving in and out of the Chamber.

I have been in this House for eight years. The Minister has been here a lot longer than I have. He has been here since 1997. He and anyone else can attest that Members come into the Chamber, make a speech and return to their offices. Much of the time, they have their televisions on and are listening to contributions in their offices. There have been plenty of times I have decided not to take part in a debate only to come down in the middle of a contribution because of something I heard on the television. It is disingenuous, with all due respect, to say Senators are not in the Chamber. It would be a ridiculous use of our time to sit through a two-hour or three-hour debate, listening to every single contribution after we have made our own speeches. I know I am going off on a tangent and I thank the Cathaoirleach for his indulgence.