The Leader's announcement undermines any trust or confidence we have in regard to this House's system of organising its business. We are witnessing the undermining of the constitutional role of this House and the requirement under the Constitution and under our Standing Orders for the Seanad to order its own business. The Leader received agreement from the House on a particular Order of Business but he now tells us that some Member or Members of Government interfered with that.
On what basis is the Government entitled to interfere with the manner in which this House orders its business? I believe that is unconstitutional and I ask the Leader to explain to us where the Government gets the authority to undermine the Order of Business of this House. It would have been something had the Leader come into the House of his own volition and given us a reason for this amendment, but the reason he has advanced is that the Government does not agree with the statements being taken. We are witnessing the Shakespearean vista of cowards dying many times before their death. This is a nettle which must be grasped at some stage.
This decision does not merely undermine the functions of this House, it also undermines the democratic process. We are being muzzled and gagged by an amendment tabled to the Order of Business in a manner which, in my experience, is quite uncommon. That is utterly unacceptable. Senators have prepared for a debate on this matter. This morning, the Leader walked away from an amendment to the Order of Business which would have required a division on the issue and it was decided to allow statements which would have allowed everyone to express their points of view without causing offence.
If we are at the stage where this House is unable to order its business without external interference, that is an appalling affront to the democratic process as we understand it and as we abide by it from day to day. This was not an attempt to encroach on the work of any tribunal. We decided to discuss an issue which is on everyone's minds and which is being publicised in every organ of the media.
At a time when we are attempting to provide some distinction to the role of public representatives, we let ourselves down once again. On a day which has seen the greatest assault on and diminution of the reputation of political representation in the history of the State, we decide to walk away from the central issue. That sends out a message that we have something to hide or that we are afraid. The message being conveyed from this House is that all politicians are the same. We are all tainted by this issue and we are entitled to put our positions on record. I am not taking any high moral ground here. There are good people in all political parties. This House is being steamrolled by a Government which is afraid of what it might hear or which fears embarrassment through this House doing its duty by the electorate. This is an appalling decision and we will oppose it all the way.