Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Taoiseach on this, his second visit as Taoiseach to Seanad Éireann. Based on the atmosphere that one can feel here, I cannot guarantee that he will have a warm welcome coming with his intention to advocate the abolition of the House. However, I am sure Members will treat him with respect, observe the dignity of the House and be constructive in their comments on the Bill to be debated here today and over coming weeks. I have assured the Members that adequate time will be offered on all Stages of the Bill, which deserves the considered and collective contribution of all Members of Seanad Éireann.

This is a very difficult Bill to deal with for all of us - Government, Opposition and Independents. In the general election campaign Fine Gael gave a commitment that a referendum on the future of the Seanad would be held. This commitment was subsequently written into the programme for Government, which is why we find ourselves dealing with this Bill today. As the Taoiseach rightly pointed out, countless reports on Seanad reform are gathering dust, consigned to the scrapheap by successive governments. In the main these reports dealt with how the Seanad should be elected, but no Government had the courage to implement the recommended reforms. The Seanad is not to blame for not implementing the recommendations contained in these reports. It is the responsibility of the relevant governments which failed miserably to act on all the reports. There was no action - just silence and total disregard for the Upper House of the Oireachtas.

As a young man, I joined Fine Gael Party, whose founders were so instrumental in the foundation of the State and in defending democracy and the institutions of the State. Those formative years of our State when elected Members were murdered were difficult times. Later during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, the State was again under threat from subversive elements when members of the Garda and the Defence Forces, and a Member of this House, Senator Billy Fox, were callously murdered. Fine Gael was always seen as the party that could be trusted in defending the State and its institutions. I mean no disrespect to the many Fianna Fáil governments that stood firm against terrorists who tried to subvert democracy and overthrow the State. After such courage and dedication over the years in this regard, it is difficult for many Fine Gael Members now to advocate abolishing an integral part of these institutions, Seanad Éireann, as the Bill proposes.

I am the first to acknowledge that time never stands still, that change is inevitable and that reform of the political system is urgently required to address the disconnect between the public and politics, which is a cause of concern in many democracies. Whether abolishing this House and going to a unicameral system addresses this disconnect and the need for greater interaction between the people and politicians will be a matter for the people to decide upon.

On the issue of change and reform, this Seanad has initiated many reforms despite the archaic rules and Standing Orders under which we work. We established a public consultation committee at the suggestion of the Independent Senators nominated by the Taoiseach. We have engaged with many organisations from people dealing with the rights of older people to professionals and groups dealing with the necessary lifestyle changes needed to prevent cancer. We have consulted with representatives of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, CoderDojo and Change Nation, who inspired us with their ideas for improving Irish life and society. Each of those consultations has produced a report which we have submitted to the relevant Minister not only for debate, but also for action. As long as we have the co-operation of Government, we intend to continue with this work which gives a voice to people who may not otherwise be heard by Government, but are nonetheless carrying out essential work in wider society.

The House has always been to the forefront in highlighting human rights issues at home and abroad. The former President, Dr. Mary Robinson, and the former Leader of the House, Dr. Maurice Manning, as chairman of the Irish Human Rights Commission, addressed the House on that subject. The Members were greatly appreciative and better informed following those excellent contributions, which were informed by many years of expertise in that area. This type of debate then informed Senators when they raise important matters with members of Government who have the capacity to act. This is where this Seanad is particularly effective, in giving a voice to those who otherwise might not have it.

We have heard from the Nobel laureate, Christopher Pissarides, an expert in the area of youth unemployment, whose observations and counsel I have often heard repeated to various Ministers, again keeping the spotlight on an issue of critical importance. Ms Margareta Wahlström, the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, spoke to us recently about disaster relief and rescue, and also on the economic opportunities to be harnessed from disaster prevention.

This is another matter we can bring to the attention of the Government for action.

Of course the address which received most attention during the life of the 24th Seanad was that made last summer by Mr. Drew Nelson, head of the Orange Order. This historic event was, we were told, more significant in the history of the organisation than all of the steps thus far in the peace process, as it demonstrated just how far the Unionist community had travelled on the road to lasting peace in Northern Ireland. Preceding this event, the House was always a champion for peace in Northern Ireland given that we were privileged to have people such as Seamus Mallon, Bríd Rogers, Gordon Wilson and Martin McAleese as former Members, all of whom played a pivotal role in their own way.

During the Irish Presidency of the European Council which, under the Taoiseach's stewardship was a tremendous success, I decided to provide a platform for our Irish MEPs in the Seanad, as the Taoiseach suggested in the MacGill Summer School. I invited all 12 to come to discuss their particular areas of expertise and inform us of the work of their committees so that we as legislators are better informed about the procedures at European level before we are asked to enact legislation in Ireland which has been largely drafted elsewhere. This initiative was long overdue, particularly given how important it is to engage with our representatives in Europe. Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn also gave an excellent address to the House and spoke of the need for greater dialogue between politicians and EU representatives and institutions. As Senator O'Brien mentioned, when the House tried last year to take on a greater role in the scrutiny of EU legislation, the legislative work programme, EU directives and other significant EU policy decisions which affect us in Ireland, it was prevented from doing so. We asked for an additional staff member to be assigned two days a week to bring the relevant documentation before us and forward our observations to the relevant EU institutions if it was deemed fit. The request was refused, but the Members of the House intend to proceed with this task from within their own resources without in any way duplicating the work of existing committees which, frankly, rubber-stamp EU legislation in many instances without proper analysis of the implications of how policy developed at European level will work practically on the ground in Ireland.

It is my duty to outline the work in which the House engages on a daily basis. Our primary function of scrutinising legislation often goes unnoticed, and recently I have heard many comments in the media and elsewhere asking when the Seanad has ever blocked Government legislation. Blocking legislation is not what the Seanad is about; improving and enhancing legislation is the key contribution we make to the legislative process. As has been mentioned, approximately 600 amendments to legislation have been accepted to date and this is testimony to the contribution made by Senators to the legislative process.

The Taoiseach gave a commitment to the Irish people to hold a referendum on the future of Seanad Éireann and he is honouring this commitment in bringing forward the Bill. I know, from listening to his speech in the House and on Second Stage in the other House, that he firmly believes in a unicameral parliament as the best method to serve democracy in a country of our size and composition. Democracy is a fragile flower which must be jealously guarded at all times. Should the Irish people feel democracy would be diminished in any way by the abolition of this House, they must vote "No" in any referendum.