I join my colleague in welcoming the first woman bishop in the church, either here or on the neighbouring island. I welcome also the humane statements of Pope Francis, which show there is compassion and dialogue. There is none in the Government. There is no dialogue whatever and no attempt to meet the people. Every attempt is made to stamp out discussion. The Government is refusing to allow the matter of Seanad abolition near the Constitutional Convention. It is a question of, "Take it or leave it." The people have taken it in that they have taken the tax increases and the mess the Fianna Fáil Government walked us into with the support of the Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny. The current Government is as complicit as anybody else. The Taoiseach voted for every measure that ruined this country. No wonder he is a little bit shy. He refused to debate with me over the past three months - I suppose I am nobody of any great consequence but I am the father of the House – and he refused to debate with Deputy Micheál Martin, the Leader of the Opposition. Tonight he is having a little discussion out in Killiney Castle with Mr. Colm McCarthy, a Government appointee from an bord snip who agrees with him. They should call it after Micheál MacLiammóir: "I Must be Talking to my Friends". It is a question of the Taoiseach not discussing anything and not answering or asking any questions, such as the question as to how many times the Dáil defeated Government legislation.

Never.

However, the Government uses the argument against this House. How much taxpayers' money is being squandered? We know Fine Gael gets €5 million in taxpayers' money and that party funds are used in its campaign. Those concerned are paying out of party funds. It is an unequal fight as people on this side have very few resources. They have their hands tied behind their backs and the Government is using every resource of government, civil servant and quango it possibly can to do us in.

Look at the lies the Government tells on its posters - they are wonderful. Could we ever have a little bit of truth? The posters state "Fewer politicians" but I say "No". There should be more honesty, integrity and decency in politics. Let us take the Government's figure that the Seanad costs €20 million per year. Over the course of the remaining two and a half years, the Seanad will cost €50 million.

Has the Senator a question for the Leader?

Yes. Will the Leader ask the Taoiseach to have a bit of courage, be a bit of a man, face up to the issue and come to this House to listen to the questions that we, his victims, want to ask him? I ask the Leader to write to the Taoiseach today. He will not talk to anybody else. He has a duty to talk to this Parliament. It is an evil thing to set one half of Parliament against another and to divide the nation when we are still facing such a crisis economically. If the people do not know, they should vote "No" and deal the Government a damn good kick where it is needed. It is payback time for all the suffering it has put us through. There are four people running this country: the Taoiseach, Deputy Kenny, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, and the Tánaiste, Deputy Gilmore.

The Senator is way over time.

If they get away with it, they can fire the President and the members of the Supreme Court.

The Senator is way over time.

It is payback time. Let the people rise up and show the Government we are not prepared for tyranny.

There are wonderful slogans, each one of which can be ridiculed, including "One Parliament, One People, One Vote". I know the rhythm of that as I remember it from the 1930s newsreels: "Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Führer".

The Senator is way over time. I call Senator Coghlan.