Eamonn Coghlan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. It was a great honour for me to have been nominated by the Taoiseach to the Seanad in May 2011. It was perhaps the greatest honour bestowed on me, more so than any other sporting achievements I have received during my 30 years involvement in athletics. In GAA terms, I got in through the back door. I did not have to go through what the university panel Senators had to go through and, unlike the other Senators, I did not have to go through the county councils in order to sit in this House, which is a privilege when one considers all the great Senators who sat here in the past.

I was never involved in politics. Coming here from a world of sports and business, I knew it would be a daunting task. I did not know how many Senators were in the House. I did not know how Senators were elected and, as a matter of fact, I did not know the real function of the Seanad. The majority of people I have met in social circles ever since my arrival in the Seanad probably do not know the above either. Yes, the Government wants to radically reform the public service, the health system, the legal system, the courts, local government, child protection, etc. The Government is planning to deliver the biggest reform in politics and the public sector in the history of the State. I am in favour of the Bill being put to a referendum for the people to decide whether the Seanad should remain or be abolished. I cannot necessarily say that I will vote "Yes" in the ballot box.

I agree that Ireland has too many politicians for its size and that there is far too much bureaucracy in the way of completing what should be the simplest of tasks. Abolishing the Seanad to reduce the number of politicians serving our country is not necessarily the way to go. While the Scandinavian countries abolished their second houses and New Zealand, on the other hand, has shown that it is perfectly possible to establish the checks and balances with a single chamber, I have identified that a number of emerging democracies are introducing bicameral systems. At the same time I wonder where the notion of abolishing the Seanad came from. Was it over a cup of coffee? Was it over a pint? Did it come from an individual, perhaps in the Civil Service who had some influence over the Taoiseach and he decided to go off on a whim with it?

Having been a Member for two years, I fear the abolition of the Seanad. I would like to see a reformed Seanad, capable of independently scrutinising legislation, effecting change and holding the Government of the day to account. I would not like to see another proposed committee system.

The proposed abolition of the Seanad completely alters our Constitution and how the various powers vested in the Oireachtas work. The abolition of the Seanad would involve a comprehensive restructuring and rewriting of our Constitution. I do not believe the public really understands this.

I have to admit that since arriving here in 2011, I have been confused and somewhat frustrated by the way things are achieved in the Seanad, the Dáil and the Civil Service. There are roadblocks and hurdles in the way of achieving goals and success. One spends half of one's time ducking and diving. Most of the time a good idea is shot down for the sake of disagreement. Every day I come in here I question the function of the Seanad. Sometimes I think it is a joke, but most times I clearly see through the debate, the scrutiny of legislation, the intellect within it and the powers of force that are truly represented here for the people of Ireland.

There is no doubt that a lot of time is wasted in the Seanad, in particular during the Order of Business with free-for-all questions to the Leader and the opportunity for Senators to be heard. I wonder what it achieves. An average of 33 questions are asked each day on the Order of Business, or about 100 questions a month, yet I still fail to see what action is derived from them. The Order of Business should be used for matters of national importance and not for comments on news items in the media or local issues.

I welcome the Government taking the issue of abolishing the Seanad to the people of Ireland. It should be based not on cost and efficiency, but rather who is best to provide the proper checks and balances when it comes to representing the people of Ireland. That is best done in the Seanad.