Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I formally second my colleague Senator McDowell's amendment to the Order of Business. I want to raise issues relating to the Committee Stage of the policing Bill yesterday. I left the Oireachtas at 11.15 p.m. last night. I just checked into my office before I left to see an email that withdrew the motion due to go before the House regarding how we would reconvene. The Deputy Leader should be aware and certainly the Seanad office will be aware that our group had submitted an amendment proposing coming back on Tuesday, 16 January. I also expressed my concern to the Leader in an email to her office. There were also talks about coming in next week to facilitate our Minister for Justice who wishes to pursue legislation which was agreed by Government. She was totally frustrated in here yesterday as were some of us on this side of the House. We need some explanation today.

I know the Deputy Leader is a very reasonable person. She has a track record of working in this Senate as a Leader herself. Therefore, we need to know when it is proposed that the Seanad will reconvene. I know she has a proposal that it would adjourn today sine die. I want to know why a motion that we submitted amendments to was withdrawn late last night. It reminds me of Lanigan's Ball - I stepped in and I stepped out. We saw a performance of it here last night. At 10.10 p.m., we were told from the Leader's office that this motion had now been withdrawn. They either know what they are doing or they do not know what they are doing. It all sounds a bit manic and desperate. We need to know what is going on. What is the problem with the Government parties? Why was there a suggestion at 10.10 p.m. to withdraw it?

I have a strong view. Given the amount of legislation we have on our books and given what the Minister for Justice said about community policing, I am not in favour of taking off into the sunset until the middle of January. I want this House back doing the business it is elected to do. I want to convey that to the Deputy Leader. I do not have that opportunity anymore because our amendments fall as there is now no motion. It is all politics but the public out there see it for what it is. I ask the Deputy Leader to outline the intentions of the House in relation to when we are going to-----