Frances Black (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I also wish Tom Hickey well on his retirement. I thank him most sincerely for all his support down through the years I have been here. I speak on behalf of the Civil Engagement Group. He has been a great support and an absolute gentleman. He is professional to the core and I wish him well in his retirement. I also thank the Cathaoirleach for the work he has done this year and thank the staff, including Martin Groves and Bridget Doody in the Seanad Office, for the phenomenal work they have done. I also thank Orla Murray and all of the parliamentary assistants, ushers, restaurant staff, cleaners and everybody else. I wish those of all parties and none a very happy and peaceful Christmas.

I will begin by saying a little about my disappointment in certain Members' conduct during yesterday afternoon's Committee Stage debate on policing. The way business was handled was a poor reflection on the Upper House and served to undermine the hard work undertaken by other Senators, including Senators in the Independent Group and my colleague, Senator Ruane. My colleagues in the Civil Engagement Group and I take our jobs very seriously, as do others here. We work very hard at it and the same is true of many other colleagues in this Chamber. We see it as our duty to engage meaningfully and constructively throughout the legislative process, from pre-legislative scrutiny right through to the amending Stages. We do not want to frustrate progress or to frustrate our colleagues in the Government parties but we care about the business of this House and how it impacts on people. It is people's business after all.

I will therefore speak about the business that is to be taken after the Christmas break, as my colleague suggested. I note that there was a proposal that we come back on 22 January to discuss the referendum Bills. I put on record the opposition of my group to any guillotining of debate on that important legislation. We are concerned that pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bills was waived and that it is now proposed that a guillotine be imposed on debates in respect of them. We will be asking the public to give careful consideration to these proposals and we believe that not having full and proper legislative scrutiny may undermine public confidence in the referendum process. It is really important that we do it right in here. It has to be done right so I encourage people to in no way undermine the work we do in here.