A resuming senate yesterday assured that it would restore confidence in the ability of the government to rise to the challenges elicited by the public expectation.

In his welcome address to senators after a long Christmas and New Year holidays, President of the senate, David Mark also warned that the senate would not brook any act contemptuous of it, nor will it abnegate a responsibility so expressly conferred, particularly in the oversight and investigation of MDA's.

Setting the agenda for the chamber, Mark said, "The task of the Senate in 2013 would be to work to restore confidence in the ability of the Government to rise to the challenges elicited by the public expectations. We will seek to bring succour to our nation, and re-energise our people's faith in one indivisible nation, and in constitutional democracy. We will do this by pursuing a legislative agenda that not only promotes the common good, but is also responsive to the national mood and expectations".

Some of these expectations he added can be met within the framework of existing laws, "provided that the legislative task of oversight is discharged with firmness, diligence, transparency, courage and commitment. Those expectations requiring constitution amendment will definitely be accommodated and addressed in the on-going efforts to further amend the 1999 Constitution."