Mark Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I know, but let us be honest; we are not going to reach the rest of the sections. Senator John Crown sums up the need for reform and the need to ensure more people are allowed to vote in a reformed Seanad, which would allow them to have a stake in what this House does and the type of legislation it proposes. I know Senator Crown is not going to run again but it is heartening to see the legislation he put forward, and which the Cathaoirleach and I supported, dealt with in the regulations this week.

This House can do what the Dáil simply would not pursue. Senators are aware that the process is quite laborious, and legislation takes a long time to get through. A reformed Seanad could do more of that and be as dynamic as Senator Crown and others have made it over the years. However, for that to happen the Government needs to want reform and not simply talk about it. I am unsure if it was in the five point plan but perhaps it was tucked in there somewhere. Again, the necessary reform has not happened. That is a regret for all the Members of this House and for the people who voted in that referendum who sought change and who voted for a better form of Government. This Government would tell us it did not get the reform it asked for in 2011.