A Fianna Fáil Senator has criticised MEPs for "bad-mouthing" the Government's nomination of former minister Phil Hogan as Ireland's next EU commissioner.

Ned O’Sullivan expressed his “deep surprise and disappointment at the attitude of some of our MEPs” to Mr Hogan’s appointment. “It is very unusual to see Irish people bad-mouthing their own when they are away from home. It is not done.”

He said Mr Hogan had “come through the process like everybody else”, was a minister of stature and had a great opportunity to get an important portfolio.

“At a time when Ireland really needs help, we should be pulling together and working together.”

Seanad leader Maurice Cummins agreed "about the importance of wearing the green jersey and supporting him in seeking the best possible position".

Earlier the Seanad leader agreed with criticism of the ordering of legislation with a rush of Bills before the summer recess.

“We will have to have a better approach,” Mr Cummins said. “We were waiting for a number of weeks in the early part of this session when we had little or no legislation.”

‘Like waiting for a bus’

Fianna Fáil Seanad leader Darragh O’Brien said the ordering of business was like waiting for a bus. “You might wait for hours only for six Bills to be brought before the House on the same day.”

Successive governments had ordered business this way towards the end of term. “Departments must get their act together.”

Labour Seanad leader Ivana Bacik said there were 11 Bills to be dealt with this week. "It is an understandable human impetus to seek to get legislation through or at least initiated before the summer recess, but it does not make for good legislation."