I understand the Seanad is not meeting this Thursday because the Brexit committee will be meeting in the Chamber. While I understand the committee might want a nice photogenic setting for its meeting, it is not the function of the Seanad to provide a backdrop to committees. When I was a member of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, I regularly opposed every attempt to divert the use of the Seanad Chamber from its appropriate use as a place for the Seanad to-----

I must interrupt the Senator. That was a decision of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.

Yes. I am just commenting on the decision, as I think I am entitled to do since I am no longer a member of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. As an individual Member of the Seanad, I wish to register my feeling about the matter.

I will allow the Senator a little-----

This is a further demeaning of the Seanad. The late Government-----

I am not sure this is relevant to the Order of Business.

The late Government wanted to extinguish the Seanad and drive it from this Chamber, leaving the Chamber open just for committee meetings and super-committee meetings. I understand absolutely that the Brexit committee is very important, but there are plenty of other places where it could meet. This is a further demeaning of-----

Senator-----

-----Seanad Éireann. The committee should not be allowed to supplant the Seanad.

I must interrupt the Senator again. This is not a matter for the Leader on the Order of Business; it would have to be referred back to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.

I am asking the Leader to consider-----

I ask the Senator to be respectful.

-----the situation-----

The Leader cannot do so.

-----because it is very dangerous-----

The matter will have to be referred back to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.

-----and to refer it back to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges in the light of the historical fact that I have consistently opposed such proposals.

I should not speak for the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. The overwhelming view of Members was there was so much concern among them all that all Senators wanted to be involved, even though it was a committee. We should not discuss the matter here, with respect.

Thanks to the Leas-Chathaoirleach's graciousness, I have been able to put my views on the record anyway.