I am opposed to the Order of Business as proposed by the Leader. To guillotine the Planning and Development Bill in the manner proposed is a crass insult to the House. The Bill costs a layperson €71 to purchase. It was brought through Dáil Éireann and into this House, we were given two days to consider, I believe, 664 amendments to it, and Committee Stage was guillotined at 1.17 p.m. on 17 July in order to clear the deck for this term. The Government has now presented a raft of large amendments that will never be discussed in the House. It is a shame on the Government-supporting Senators that this is happening. It is a shame on the Leader that she has agreed to this. She is being told that all of these amendments will be made without consideration. There has been no explanation of the amendments and no explanatory memorandum or anything else. The Bill, which is of great importance to how Ireland develops, will be the subject of a large political lie, that is, it went through both Houses of the Oireachtas, was considered in this House and this House examined more than 700 amendments on Report Stage, half of which were Government amendments with no explanation ever tendered for any of them. That is a disgrace.

Hear, hear.

I do not know why Opposition Senators should even bother attending the debate. We have reached the point where their views are being rubbished. This House is the ultimate rubber stamp. This is being done by the Leader. No notice was given to the leaders and Whips that this guillotine would happen. There has been no consultation of any kind whatsoever. The first that I, as Whip of our Independent Group, found out about it was at 10 a.m.

I thank the Senator, but his time is well up.

I am sorry, but------

I know, but-----

I am going to be a little bit disorderly. The Cathaoirleach knows that I respect the Chair-----

I do.

-----but the time has come for this House to stand up for itself-----

Hear, hear.

-----and the Constitution and to say “No” to all of this.

I will end with this threat. The House depends on co-operation to run. The Leader has forfeited co-operation today. She will have votes on everything and no co-operation if she goes ahead with this.

The Senator has made his points well.

I ask the Leader to reconsider the barbarous abuse of parliamentary procedure in which she is engaging. It is all very well to discuss other issues today, and they are important-----

The Senator is well over his allocated time.

-----but this House is being treated disgracefully.

Hear, hear.

I ask Senator McDowell to resume his seat.