Jimmy Harte (Labour) | Oireachtas source

From now on we should get the respect we deserve. When we debated the referendum, I stated I had no problem with the people making a choice on the Seanad. Strictly speaking, the vote was not about reforming the Seanad but retaining it as it stands. It is up to us as Senators, with the help of others who would give us advice, to reform it in a way that is for the betterment of society.

We still have people this week saying it is dysfunctional, it is an affront to democracy and it is undemocratic. Those people have no respect for their own Constitution. In the last few months, like the hounds after the hares, people could smell blood and they went after us, but it backfired on them. The Irish people are not stupid. I ask all Deputies and some Senators who say this is an affront to democracy to step back and examine themselves. They are saying they are part of an affront to democracy and part of an undemocratic institution. We got a reprieve, but it is up to us to prove the importance of the Seanad for the next Seanad, whatever form it takes. People should stop kicking us around as they have been doing. We are an easy target. The press and the political boot boys will move to another target.