I thank the House for agreeing to the suspension earlier. The Judicial Appointments Commission Bill has been the topic of conversation. It is my proposal not to deal with all items on the Order of Business today other than the proposed amendments to it. We have given 86 hours and 25 minutes of debate to the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill. I understand the frustrations of the Members who were opposing the Order of Business. Perhaps they should talk to the Joseph of new politics regarding the proposal before us today. We have given the Bill a fair hearing. We started the Bill on 20 June last and commenced Committee Stage on 3 July. From then until today, 17 April, we have given it 86 hours and 25 minutes. By any stretch of the imagination that is a fair time for a Bill. It would be premature of Members now to suggest otherwise. In response to Senator Humphreys's comments about the Sinn Féin Party, his party was quite happy to take their votes in the Seanad campaign and had a number of agreements with them over a number of Seanad elections. It is important that we allow for the progression of this Bill, which is part of the programme for Government.

Even if it is rubbish.

Absolutely. I just recognise that the upper echelons of Fine Gael are co-operating with Sinn Féin.

I understand the frustrations of the Members and appreciate that they have a different viewpoint from the Government in this matter.

He is looking around for justification.

As father of the House, Senator Norris should apologise to Senator McFadden for his intemperate remarks.

I certainly should not. I used a literary allusion from Charles Dickens. She called me a comedian, which was very supercilious, and I then said she was Madame Defarge sitting at the bottom of the guillotine knitting away, and that is exactly what she is. I refuse absolutely to withdraw.

Senator Norris must respect the Chair.

In fairness to Senator Boyhan and his amendment to the Order of Business regarding the mayoral plebiscite, I have given it consideration. On 29 January we had a debate in this House in which the Senator was one of seven Members who participated. I do not think it is appropriate to extend the time today given that we had that debate so recently. It is a fair point that the Senator made, but in light of the fact that only seven Members turned up to speak on the issue that day, I am not accepting Senator Boyhan's amendment, nor will I be accepting the other amendments. I am proposing an amendment to the Order of Business myself, that we delete No. 5.