Madam Deputy Speaker, I was going to rise later on a point of order, because what we are going through now in this process goes to the heart of democratic government and the operation of this Parliament.
I have counted that no less than 9 Ministers, perhaps 10 Ministers, are not here. Now if there was ever a time when there had to be a three-line whip for all parties to be accountable, for the Ministers to be accountable to Parliament, it is now.
My request to you, Madam Deputy Speaker, is to direct an enquiry to the Leader of Government Business to demand an explanation as to why Ministers refuse to be here in Parliament, to account to Parliament at the very time when they have to account to Parliament. It is absolutely unacceptable. We come here and we register - and I am sure the other opposition parties do as well - our strongest protest as far as this is concerned. [Applause.]