Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The convention may discuss the issue of human rights and so on. It may also, together with the independent chairperson to be appointed - this is provided for in the document which perhaps Deputy Martin did not read - recommend other issues which it deems appropriate for consideration.

On Deputy Adams's comments, I do not believe that the structure currently in place is fit for a modern democracy in 2012. The programme for Government is clear on the scale of reduction needed in the Oireachtas and governance generally. It is proposed to reduce the number of Dáil Deputies, as per the recently published constituency commission report which proposes a reduction in the number of constituencies and Deputies. This will be followed by a referendum in regard to abolition of the Seanad, which is also provided for in the programme for Government. The Deputy will be aware of the initiatives being taken by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in regard to changes at local authority level, including in Limerick city and Limerick county, the amalgamation of Tipperary North Riding and Tipperary South Riding and other changes to be announced in terms of political reform, including back office services, shared services and a reduction in the overall bureaucracy around local governance.

The Deputy will be aware from the briefing that a facility will be made available to allow 17 year olds and any other person, at home or abroad, to make submissions online. The same will apply in respect of citizens from Northern Ireland, Australia, America or anywhere else. Those parties who are elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly, including Sinn Féin, who wish to respond to the invitation to do so, will be able to nominate a person, separate from their elected representatives here, to attend the convention and reflect the views of the communities which they represent. It is hoped the first meeting of the convention will take place in September and that it will respond on the first two issues by end November. The Government undertakes to then examine those findings and to make a decision within four months on whether a referendum on the issues in question is required. We will at that time know how efficient or inefficient the convention is. If it is not working as proposed we will make changes as appropriate.

I thank Members for their input into this and for the contributions made by the representatives who attended the briefings, including Deputy Ó Fearghail on behalf of Fianna Fáil.

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