I call Senator David Norris.

Can I remind the Senator that I am the Protestant Tweedledum? I am Senator David Norris. Senator Shane Ross is now in the other House.

Sometimes the Senator does not listen to me. I am allowing him to speak.

He has a problem with his hearing apparently.

I note that the first three speakers and several subsequent ones read prepared statements. I just note the fact.

What is wrong with that?

It is against the tradition of the House.

I did not do so.

I do not think the Senator has spoken yet.

No.

There you are. How could she possibly have read a statement? Really, the intelligence level in the House is going down and down.

It is the season of goodwill.

It is not appropriate for the Senator to question my intelligence level.

I love interruptions, but I cannot hear them.

I ask Senator David Norris to let me correct one thing. This matter was brought before the Committee on Procedure and Privileges at the request of the Senator some months ago and it was agreed unanimously by the committee that those who wished to read statements or from documents and those who, like the Senator, pronounced their contributions very eloquently without same were all entitled to be here and contribute in the manner they wished. It is unfair to say what the Senator said. It may have been the way things were done historically. It was the case when I was here 25 or 30 years ago but not any more. That has been agreed to.

I just noted the fact.

The Senator should not refer to intelligence levels either.

I want to see what is on Senator David Norris's white paper.

It is the Order of Business. There are about three words on it.

I ask Members to, please, allow Senator David Norris to speak. He is running out of time and I do not want him to run out of steam also.

As the only Independent Member present, I will oppose the Order of Business. I note in recent years the habit of meeting without an Order of Business, of which I do not approve. I see no reason we should not have an Order of Business on Tuesday.

We are going to have one.

Why does it state there shall be no Order of Business?

It has been proposed.

It states there shall be no Order of Business. That is what it states in black and white.

To clarify, there will be an Order of Business. Perhaps it is sometimes good to refer to notes.

It is in the official Order of Business, but I have only just received the amendment this second. I have it in my hand.

On the rent issue, we should not castigate all landlords. I spent a huge amount of money on the basement of my house which I rent out. I have not put up the rent for about ten years because I have decent tenants. It suits me very well. They are nice people who leave me alone and I do not have to bother too much with them. However, one is charged approximately 50% on the rent because it is deemed to be "unearned income". I am thinking of giving it up, as it is just not worth it. It is a waste of time. Why should I be earning money for the Government? I cannot see why.

There we are. It was rather an unruly spot, but I am very glad I pointed that out to Senator James Reilly. I delighted in the highly intelligent heckling which is all part of parliamentary business.

It was an own goal.

Despite what Senator James Reilly says, I enjoy the interruptions.

We aim to please.

The Senator does.

The Senator contributed slightly to the disorder on the Order of Business.