Briefly, please.

I have noticed that several Senators were allowed to raise three issues. I beg the Cathaoirleach's indulgence.

Several Senators referred to the comments of Sinn Féin Senators. I will extend it further to Government Senators who have come out in favour of abolishing the Seanad and readily agreed that a Senator's job is not worth doing. There will be a lot of relaying of consciences next week. I am in the Seanad to do the job that I was put here to do,-----

Hear, hear.

-----to speak my mind and to raise issues about which I feel passionately. To call me or any other Senator worthless or to claim that our jobs are not worthwhile is offensive.

It is appalling that, once again, awful cases of child sexual abuse have hit the headlines in today's newspapers. I extend my commiserations to the families involved, including the lady who stood out, waiving her right to anonymity, to get justice for a heinous crime that was committed while she was aged between five and 11 years. Equally appalling is the fact that last night's television report that one of her relations had been well aware of the crime and that the defendant had admitted to raping his niece to a Member of the Oireachtas and the leader of a political party, has not been taken up-----

The Senator is out of order.

This was admitted in 2009 but has not been taken up. I really think that,-----

This has no relevance to the Order of Business.

-----if we are to have a democracy and a House, we need a Government that is answerable. This needs to be answered and the Opposition needs to be taken to task. These questions need to be answered.

This is not relevant at all to the Order of Business.

It is very relevant.

The Senator is completely out of order.