Senator Colm Burke was treated in an appalling manner at the meeting of the joint committee yesterday. I missed the meeting but the Leader needs to address the issue because we have parity in those committees.

In joint committees, Senators have the same status as Deputies. I do not want to know which Deputy raised the objection but he or she should be reminded that the people of this country had a referendum on whether to retain the Seanad, which was passed three or four years ago.

It was stated we did not have the right to vote. In fairness, one committee member voted against the proposal so it was not that Senators voted in one way.