Senators as witnesses
Where the Senate conducts an inquiry directly it may order one of its members to appear.[39] A committee, however, has no power to summon a senator. In case of refusal by a senator of a request to attend a committee, the committee must report the refusal to the Senate, and the Senate may order the senator to attend the committee.[40] In practice, these procedures are not used; senators often voluntarily offer their views and information to committees. For an example of a committee reporting on a refusal by a senator to appear, see the report of the Environment, Communications and the Arts References Committee, Energy Efficient Homes Package (ceiling insulation) (2010).[41]