Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Absolutely. Meeting the Deputy every day is always a pleasure not to be missed.

The electoral commission has not yet been established. As the Deputy said, the renewed programme for Government proposes an electoral commission which will propose reforms to the electoral system, including outlining a new electoral system for Seanad Éireann. Such proposals could give rise to a constitutional amendment; they may or may not, depending on the outcome of that work and the Government's view of it. I understand that parties have been discussing Seanad reform with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. A consensus has not emerged there, as various parties have different positions. The Minister will have to report to the Government in due course to see where we can take it from there. The establishment of a committee to see if there would be a consensus on that issue did not emerge.

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