Paul Bradford (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

One of our most distinguished former Senators was the late William Butler Yeats. He wrote the famous poem "September 1913", a line or two from which is particularly relevant to the debate on the future or otherwise of this House. In that poem, William Butler Yeats asks:

What need you, being come to sense,
But fumble in a greasy till
And add the halfpence to the pence.....

In a sense, the poster in regard to the €20 million cost of the Seanad is about adding the half pence to the pence. As stated by Senator Ó Murchú, if the level of political debate has reached such levels of cynicism that all we can talk about is a false figure of €20 million then the future of Irish politics is in a dangerous place.

I wish the Government would come forward with progressive and strong reasons for a "Yes" vote. When the lead argument is not only fictitious but deeply and deliberately false, there is a need for us to reflect upon it with great concern. It is urgent that the Referendum Commission, which is independent and tasked with the job of informing every citizen about the referendum, adjudicates on this figure. I served on a previous Oireachtas commission. I had faith in the members serving on that commission, which was, up to 18 months ago, able to clarify the cost of the Seanad. It is inexcusable if such figure cannot be produced. The true amount is not €20 million.

It has often be said that Members of this House should not lead the campaign for saving the Seanad or otherwise. We all have personal views on that. I am glad the Leader and others have expressed their personal views on the matter. However, as politicians we are obliged to ensure the electorate is informed and that when it is being deliberately misinformed that misinformation is clarified. I hope there will be urgent dialogue between the referendum commission and whomever necessary to ensure the real cost of the Seanad is presented.

The good news is that if the actual cost of the Seanad is €20 million and if abolishing it will save that amount it would be possible, using the same calculation, to turn around the national budget deficit by reducing the number of Deputies by up to 60. Let the debate be about fact and not fiction. Let the independent Referendum Commission adjudicate on this in the near future so that the people are not voting in a deliberately false vacuum.