Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I beg the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach's indulgence with regard to the first point the Senator raised. I have been a Minister of State for seven years now and I must say things do not change. I am asked to come in and read out a script. To be quite honest, it is a permanent feature of how this House has unfortunately been operating that Senators are raising really important issues that deserve answers from the people who actually have policy control of the issues, but Members of this House are not getting such answers. Through the Chair, if I were a Senator, I would not believe this to be acceptable behaviour on an ongoing basis. I said it the last time I was here and will say again the House needs to reform the issue in relation to Commencement debates. It is not fair to Senators, it is not fair the public for whom Senators are raising the issues and is not fair to the Minister of State who has absolutely no knowledge, from a policy point of view, of what is being raised but is expected to respond to it. I say that in deference to my colleagues in government.