In the discussion yesterday on the Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016, I said I had been advised by the Bills Office to withdraw amendments but I would like to correct that statement. It was actually the people who tabled the amendments who asked me to withdraw mine, and so I did.

On the question of independence, I am fully independent but Senator McDowell orchestrated my exit from the group of independent university Senators, which I founded 30 years ago with former Senator Joe O'Toole. Senator McDowell brought rejects from Fianna Fáil and Government nominees into his group so how independent is that?

We should not get into that. The independence of Senator Norris was never questioned.

I am not sure how many parties Senator McDowell has been in during his career. I suppose that when one founds the Progressive Democrats and they collapse, it projects one, willy-nilly, into a form of independence. I have not been held back on the Order of Business and have been allowed to introduce legislation. I am a completely independent Independent. Senator McDowell graciously referred to my absence from the House but he is a little bit new to the House and does not realise that one does not refer to the absence of another Member. I gather he was told this but, for his information, I play a full and active role in this House. I had a Commencement matter today and went from that matter, which I shared with Senator Buttimer, to a briefing about the Canadian trade association.

I was fulfilling my parliamentary-----

You certainly are.

I certainly am an independent Independent. I question the independence of the Independent Group but I do wish them well.