With other Members, I attended the opening night of "Sive" in the Abbey Theatre and it is appropriate that we congratulate our colleague, Senator Fiach Mac Conghaíl, on a magnificent production. This was the Abbey Theatre at its best; it was electrifying. There was no doubt it was world class. I had to laugh inwardly because many commentators and critics were moderate in their praise when John B. Keane was alive and they rather looked down on him. This play is a masterpiece and there was no flaw in the Abbey Theatre production in respect of the lighting, direction and the setting, for example, the way in which the cottage interior blended with the ruggedness of the mountain. There were laughs in it and the language was wonderful, as language from County Kerry is always, but there was tragedy and drama with the two wonderful thinkers and the bodhrán. I saw the first production of the play in the Queen's Theatre, Dublin, many years ago when I was a teenager and I never thought it could be exceeded but this production has done so. I am not ashamed to say the extraordinary moment at the end when the bodhrán was played softly almost as a lament brought tears to my eyes.

I was very glad that John B. Keane's family were there to see it. It was a triumph for our national theatre and should be celebrated as such. It analysed not just evil but its causes and misery. I would like Senator Fiach Mac Conghail to pass on our congratulations to all the actors, including his wife who was wonderful.

The best.

The last matter which I wish to raise is a rather more serious and less pleasant. It concerns the recent trip to Japan. I am sorry the Cathaoirleach is not here today because he is charged with defending the rights of Seanad Éireann. They were not defended and the Cathaoirleach was pathetically weak. I remember a situation before when I almost managed to get a Cathaoirleach removed for interfering with a delegation. I accept the Cathaoirleach did not interfere in this trip to Japan, but he stood idly by while a Deputy from the other House, Deputy Emmet Stagg, the Labour Party Whip, stuck his nose into this House. Not one of the Labour Party Senators stood up to him. The Labour Party Seanad Whip was advised that-----

This is not appropriate to the Order of Business.

It is appropriate. If I do not get an answer to this matter, I will write to the Japanese ambassador to advise him of this insult to the Japanese Parliament. I know how they feel about these kind of issues of protocol.

This is not appropriate to the Order of Business.

I want an assurance that this will never happen again and that the other House will keep its nose out. If someone like Deputy Emmet Stagg sticks his nose in again, I hope he will be properly told by the Cathaoirleach to bugger off.