It is not shameful.

A certain party refused to allow me to do it. I will name some day in this House the people who influenced your party to prevent any reform.

It is nothing to do with the Minister of State's officials and he should not hide behind them. I respect the officials in his Department, and I respect their judgment. I do not believe for one minute that they favour this kind of nonsense.

Vótáil.

Hear, hear.

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 d…

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 am sorry, but------

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

-----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.

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-----

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

Hear, hear.

There have never been fewer members of the Defence Forces in the history of independent Ireland than today.

You and I are on the same wavelength but-----

No.

Please speak to Dublin City Council about the traffic. It is unbelievable.

I do.