I also object to the Leader's outline of the Order of Business today. We have used the guillotine very infrequently in this Chamber which is to the credit of the Leader and all the Members of the House. I have chaired many hours of the debate on the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017, among other discussions, and that has been a very useful debate. We have heard many interesting and helpful contributions from Members and any time somebody suggested to me that it was a filibuster I pointed out very clearly that it was not remotely a filibuster, that this is important legislation that needs to be discussed and carefully teased out. I have yet to hear any Member of the Chamber defend the Bill in question, including anyone on the benches where the Leader sits.

I may not have been here for as many hours as Senator McDowell but I would be up there for presence in the Chamber when it is being discussed and I have yet to hear one of the 60 Members of this Chamber say a good word about the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017. It is not typical of the Leader to try to ram it through and it is not becoming. It is slightly ironic that he is attempting to do it the day before the Taoiseach's annual address to this Chamber. The Leader might reflect on the proposal because I do not want to be voting against the Order of Business all the time but on this occasion I will have to object to that particular part of it that requires a guillotine. I am sorry to have to say that to the Leader because by and large I do not object to the Order of Business which is fair and reasonable. I do listen to it which not every Member does when it is being read out. They come back in at 3 p.m. or 4 p.m. giving out about it. I tell them the Order of Business was decided that morning and everyone voted for it and did not oppose it.

It is important also to acknowledge this momentous day. I welcome Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives. I met Congressman Brendan Boyle, who is part of the delegation, last year in Washington. I congratulate Billy Lawless on his ongoing engagement on all our behalf and his fantastic contribution on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean to promoting Irish-American relations. I wonder if there is anyone in this Chamber who does not have relatives in America. My grandfather was the youngest of ten, one of whom died young and eight of whom went to America. Many of us have family connections, if perhaps distant, in America. There is a great bond there. I particularly welcome Ms Pelosi's comment on Brexit and the possibility of a trade deal if the Good Friday Agreement, an internationally recognised agreement, is not being respected.

I wish the Leader and all the Members a very happy Easter. I hope they get some time to rest and relax. We will not have an Order of Business tomorrow as far as I understand so this is the last one before Easter. I hope the Members will do some canvassing for the European and local elections but not as much as we will do, over the break.

I strongly oppose any attempt to guillotine legislation in the House. I read the speech delivered by An Taoiseach, Deputy Varadkar-----

The boss.

-----dated 1 February 2018. He will be reminded of it later today in correspondence from me and he will no doubt be reminded tomorrow. He referred to:

a new approach to politics and proposed to do politics in a different way. This was promising a new departure in the day-to-day running of political life. [At the time] we talked about a democratic revolution. [...] The Seanad's true role is to be a check and balance on the Dáil [and to scrutinise legislation].

He also said. "There is an end to the use of the guillotine". Is this man credible? Can he stand over what he said? I hope people will ask him about it tomorrow. This is the Taoiseach of this country who came into the Houses of the Oireachtas, the Seanad and gave commitments and promises to us. If he cannot be believed on this and cannot keep his word can we believe him on anything else? It is a disgrace that any attempt would be made to curtail the democratic engagement or scrutiny here. Be it a Minister who is putting the pressure on, or people telling us that they are under pressure to deliver, this was the talk of Leinster House last night. I received calls this morning out of courtesy. We all knew it last night. This plan was hatched yesterday. It was talked of by colleagues in both Houses yesterday. It is disrespectful to the Members and it is unacceptable. I respect the people who told me in confidence and therefore I will not abuse my position in here and name them, but it is unacceptable behaviour, it is unparliamentary conduct and should not be tolerated.

I appeal to Sinn Féin. I would have a lot of time for some of its policies-----

The Senator should tell the councillors that.

-----and its members who are diligent in their work in both Houses of the Oireachtas but they cannot stand up as they did last night and lecture Fianna Fáil and talk about a confidence and supply government that it is propping up and then turn around and prop it up today.

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that we extend the debate on the mayor plebiscite regulations, which is very important, by a further 30 minutes to give us 90 minutes to discuss this important topic and reduce the debate on the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill by 30 minutes.