As Senator Ivana Bacik seems to have developed a very thick skin and is resisting being heckled, I express my continuing dissatisfaction at the manner in which business is ordered in the House. I find it increasingly irritating that the Deputy Leader continues to respond to issues raised by the leader on this side of the House when it is the purview of the Leader of the House, not the Deputy Leader-----

I said that.

Does Senator Paschal Mooney have a question for the Leader?

Senator Ivana Bacik should stick to her own agenda which she repeats constantly.

Rubbish.

Her only mantra seems to be that an abortion Bill will be brought before the House and that we should all embrace it.

Each Senator is entitled to make a contribution on the Order of Business. Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?

I have every confidence in the Leader. I know how difficult it is, having been a Member of the House for some time, to get Ministers to come here, but I cannot accept that it is because of the EU Presidency this mantra is being dished out to explain why we cannot get Ministers to come to the House. We have held the Presidency on two occasions during my time in this House and I never heard that mantra from the then Leaders of the House, irrespective of which side they were on.

With all due respect, the Senator had an opportunity to speak.

The Sentoar did not mind interrupting Senator Ivana Bacik.

I appreciate that.

The Senator does it all the time. What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

Please, Senator Norris.

I am trying to establish if Senator David Norris is heckling me or-----

The Senator should not play party politics.

Does Senator Paschal Mooney have a question for the Leader?

I am framing the question, but I am glad that Senator David Norris is heckling me. For one minute I thought he was heckling the Government side. I do not mind. He should continue to heckle me.

I thank the Senator.

It has gone beyond the point of acceptability that the schedule of business in the House is so thin we are relying on statements from MEPs, eminent and all as they are. I cannot believe - this is about the Order of Business - the reason there are no Ministers available or even a lowly Minister of State cannot be snatched from somewhere around the Houses and brought here to debate several of the issues listed on the Order Paper is as inferred by the Deputy Leader. Legislative measures and also motions are crying out for debate. Topical issues and a range of other national and international matters are being ignored in the House. Surely it is not beyond the competence or capacity of the Government and the Leader, acting in the best way possible - this is not a personal criticism - in representing Members on all sides, to get a Minister to come here to debate issues. We might then at least be seen by the general public to have a more meaningful role, rather than having to listen to a succession of MEPs who are eminent and esteemed and for whom I show no disrespect.