Seanad schedule and Croke Park II
Senator Ó Clochartaigh criticises the light weekly schedule, limited Ministerial attendance and the prospect of winding down the Seanad, while demanding a debate on Croke Park II.
Tá mé ag iarraidh mo mhíshástacht a léiriú leis an gCeannaire maidir leis an sceideal atá againn do ghnó na seachtaine seo. I am not one to have a go unless there is a reason. However, this week’s Seanad schedule is very disappointing. It is quite light on meaningful debate on serious legislation. There also seems to be a significant lack of Ministers attending the House this week, which is not acceptable. This is a trend that has been ongoing for several weeks. This week we have three MEPs rolled out almost like a human shield to protect the Ministers. I have no doubt the debates with them will be fruitful and meaningful, as was the debate with Pat The Cope Gallagher last week. However, they should not take the place of robust and meaningful debate on the issues raised by Senators on the Order of Business in the past few weeks.
I am not laying the blame at the Leader’s feet. Perhaps it is at his behest. Is there an issue with the Ministers? Are they afraid of coming into the House because we give them too much of a hard time when they do? Is it that they have so much disdain for this House and they feel it is already half abolished that they do not bother to come in at all? What is going on that we are not getting Ministers in to debate issues of health, education, mortgage distress, poverty, equality, rural affairs, agriculture, direct provision and natural resources, all issues raised over the past several weeks? It is about time the Ministers showed us the respect we deserve.
I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, attend the House to discuss developments on Croke Park II, where the Government stands on it and why it is trying to bully the unions into taking a stance that they are obviously not going to take.
Comment on this
We certainly need to have the debate on Croke Park II while he is here. The Leader also needs to explain to us the stance of the Government regarding the Seanad. Will this continue until the summer recess? Is the Government trying to wind us down slowly? If it is, it should remember that we have not been wound down yet. There has not been a referendum and we are here. While we are here, we should be shown the due respect the electorate has given us by having us elected here.