I am surprised to be next to be called. I wish to alert the Seanad to something we may be unaware of going on under the radar, which is the selling of the national lottery licence and the selling of Coillte's harvesting rights. It is an outrage.

Hear, hear.

When I became a Member, I thought that this was going to be an independent open-thinking objective Seanad and we were going to act as a great check on the great Executive. I do not see or hear any checks and I believe the Seanad must stand up because we are selling our State assets under the radar. We are being advised by people from New South Wales. I suggest that this island should float out to New South Wales, because everything that happens there seems to be very good for Ireland.

We do not need to sell the national lottery licence but we need to renew it. Selling it is a lie but we should renew it. Senators need to stand up for that. This is being done because it is suggested we need the money for a children's hospital. We can get the money for a children's hospital if we look at the money for good causes - last year €200 million went to good causes. If we were to forego those for one year we would have the money for the children's hospital.

Coillte is now separating trees from the land. I have never heard of anything so ridiculous. Even if we have to separate trees from the land, why can we not harvest them?

Hear, hear.

What is wrong with us that we have to sell everything to New South Wales? I did not become a Senator in order to sit under the radar while our State assets are being whipped from under us and nothing seems to be happening about it. I do not want to receive any more e-mails about golf classics in The Gathering when we are selling our State assets under the radar. I wanted to alert Senators to stand up. If they want to be a check on the Executive they need to stand up or else close the door. What are we supposed to be but objective, equality-minded people who understand what is going on in the country and stand up for what is right? I am sorry about that outburst, but I have had enough. Every Senator should look to what is right for the country and stop being tribal.

Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?

My questions are to the leaders of the House, the Seanad, who are all around me.