There is an old saying in Ireland that one cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear and that is precisely what some people are endeavouring to do here this morning. There is a whiff of communist Russia in what is being heard this morning. As big as the banking inquiry may be, this is a much bigger issue altogether because it strikes at the foundation of democracy. Many people in Europe marvelled at why Ireland did not have more anti-social street protests over the economic collapse. When one considers what people suffered, people in Ireland are still getting up in the morning and wondering whether they will have a roof over their heads - because they cannot pay their mortgage - next week. People are still trying to raise a family, send them to school, clothe them, feed them and do the best for them on a couple of hundred euro each week. That is the reason the question was put as to why they have not reacted. The reason they did not was because they put some faith in a sundered political system. In addition, they put some faith in a flawed political system. What if they were to get the gist of what is happening here this morning, which is that Members are putting together the elements of a political show trial, the idea of which is to try to regenerate the failing fortunes of some political parties?

Hear, hear.

I do not know how an eminent Senator such as Senator Bacik, who has a crusading spirit, could stand up here this morning and justify what is happening.

I must ask the Senator to conclude.

It must be humiliating for her.

Not at all, Senator.

There is still an opportunity-----

I ask the Senator to conclude.

-----to step back from the precipice.

I call Senator Wilson.

I do not speak on behalf of any political party or even on behalf of the Oireachtas, but on behalf of the people of Ireland.

Senator Ó Murchú, resume your seat.

This could be the end if it goes through this morning. I appeal to every Senator with any sense of decency or generosity to pull back from the precipice.

It is ironic that a few months ago the Taoiseach tried to abolish this House on a single minded crusade. Thanks to democracy and the people of this country, he was not allowed to do so. I congratulate the Leader in this regard because we had to fight to have representation on the so-called banking inquiry. We got approval, by Government motion, to select two Members of this House. The motion did not state that one Member had to be from the Government side and the other had to be from this side. It did not state that one Member had to be male and the other had to be female. It stated that two Members of this House would be selected under a democratic process.

We have four.

Two Members were selected less than a week ago but because the outcome of that democratic process did not suit the Taoiseach, the Chief Whip or the Labour Party, a gun was put to the head of the Leader of this House, who is an honourable and decent man. When every process was tried and failed, including the character assassination of a Senator from my party, an amendment was prepared under the cover of darkness and put on the Order Paper. I have the height of respect for the two people concerned but they were not selected in a democratic fashion. The Committee of Selection selected two Members according to a Government under Standing Order No. 89 and now this Government is trying to ram through two other people because it could not get rid of an upstanding and decent Member from my party.

The Senator is over time.

Four are better than two.

I want to put it on the record of this House that we will not co-operate with the smooth running of business in this House -----

You never do anyway.

That is an outrageous statement.

Senator, resume your seat.

You are a disgrace.

I withdraw it.

I am sorry to have to say that. Until we stand up and realise what is happening in this country, with -----

The Senator is way over time.

-----one man surrounded by a couple of advisers.

The Senator has made his point.

I advise him to get rid of them. Until we stand up in this House and in this country for democracy, we will go nowhere.

I call Senator Power.

I have the height of respect for the Cathaoirleach but I have -----

The Senator is over time.

I appreciate that but this country is nearly out of time.

You are eating into your colleague's time.

In relation to democracy, we are running out of time in this House. We will not stand for it.

I call Senator Power.

I wanted to make that clear.

I, too, object in the strongest terms to what is being pushed through the House today. It is an absolute farce. The people of Ireland deserve a proper banking inquiry that can get to the bottom-----

They have it.

-----of the practices that led to the financial crisis. People deserve the truth but what they are getting instead is the Taoiseach's own little puppet court, for which he appoints the chairman-----

What is Fianna Fáil afraid of?

-----and dictates the terms of reference. The conclusions have been drafted and are sitting in the Taoiseach's office, and he is just waiting for the committee to do its business so the members can sign their names to it. It is a farce. Shame on everyone on that side of the House who supports this motion. It is a disgrace.

Not at all.

People can see what is going on. Instead of getting a proper banking inquiry, we are seeing politics being played on an incredibly important issue in order to serve the narrow and petty political interests of Fine Gael and the Labour Party ahead of the next general election.

That is a petty view.

What are you afraid of?

It is an absolute disgrace. The bankers are laughing at us and at the people of Ireland because they will walk away scot free. The Government has no interest in getting to the bottom of this or in finding out the truth. It simply wants to play politics. Shame on all of you who support this motion. It is an absolute farce.

It is everything that is wrong with politics.