The Order of Business is No. 1, motion re conclusion of an agreement between Canada and the European Union on the transfer and processing of passenger name record data, back from committee, to be taken without debate; No. 2, motion re signature of an agreement between Canada and the European Union on the transfer and processing of passenger name record data, back from committee, to be taken without debate at the conclusion of No. 1; No. 3, motion re Irish Aviation Authority Act 1993 (Amendment of Schedule) (Annex 19 to Chicago Convention) Order 2013, back from committee, to be taken without debate at the conclusion of No. 2; and No. 4, Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013 - Order for Second Stage and Second Stage, to be taken at the conclusion of No. 3, with the contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes. I propose that Nos. 1 and 2 be taken without debate as they were debated comprehensively yesterday for one hour at the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality and Defence. No. 3 has also been debated in committee. If the House insists that we debate them, I am open to doing so. However, I am pointing out that they have been debated comprehensively in committee.

We discussed this issue last week, that not every item brought before the House be debated. The Leader has mentioned that Nos. 1 and 2 were debated at the joint committee yesterday, following which they are being brought before us to be passed. Does the House have access to the minutes of the meetings held yesterday, or have they been published yet?

They are on the website.

They are already on the website. If they were debated yesterday, they are being brought before the House for us to rubber stamp them. Without seeing the minutes, I do not know what the level of debate and scrutiny was. In the coming weeks we should look at the level of scrutiny that takes place at the joint committees. In some instances, it may be sufficient, while in others, I am certain it is not. On that basis, I oppose taking Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, without debate. The committees should be cognisant of the fact that the Seanad has a role and they should schedule their meetings around it to enable the Seanad to have access to the minutes to assess the level of scrutiny that takes place at them before we simply rubber stamp motions.

On that basis, I oppose Nos. 1, 2 and 3.

I welcome yesterday evening's debate-----

For clarification, is the Senator opposing the Order of Business?

I have not put forward an amendment. I have just said I oppose each of the items that are to be taken without debate.

The Senator cannot oppose them individually.